CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 27, 2020 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) currently has teams of chaplains in Sumter, South Carolina, where Sumter County Sheriff’s Cpl. Andrew Gillette was shot and killed, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after a mass shooting left six dead at the Molson Coors facility.
“Families and communities are grieving the loss of life, and the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is grieving with them,” said Jack Munday, international director of the RRT. “In these times of such sorrow, our chaplains will be there to provide emotional and spiritual care. We want people to know that God has not forgotten them and that He heals the brokenhearted.”
RRT chaplains deployed to Sumter after Gillette was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice Tuesday morning. Gillette—who had served as a Sumter County deputy since 2013 after 12 years in the Air Force—died of a gunshot wound to the chest, despite wearing a protective vest. The suspect was also fatally shot but no other deputies were injured.
“Our hearts are heavy to hear of yet another law enforcement officer tragically killed while serving his community,” said Munday. “At the invitation of the Sumter Fraternal Order of Police, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has chaplains on site to provide emotional and spiritual care to fellow officers and all of those impacted by this devastating event.”
In Milwaukee, RRT chaplains will attend Thursday night’s prayer vigil after a man opened fire, killing five co-workers before turning the gun on himself at the Molson Coors facility. More than 1,000 people work at the factory, which CEO Gavin Hattersley said would remained closed until further notice to allow people to cope with the deep sadness as a result of the events.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
About
the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team:
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by
Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of
chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained
to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 450 disaster
sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and
tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Blake Freeland
(704) 401-2124 – Office
bfreeland@bgea.org