Event will prepare participants to aid those who are dealing with pain and loss
CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 7, 2023 – From personal tragedies like health issues, suicide and financial difficulties to catastrophes on a massive scale such as shootings, fires and floods, many Christians may feel unprepared to offer comfort and hope to those who are grieving and in despair.
On July 15, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) – a nationwide network of crisis-trained chaplains ready to deploy whenever disaster strikes – will hold an instructional session at Watersprings Church in Idaho Falls titled “Sharing Hope in Crisis.” This one-day seminar will equip Christians to help those who are suffering. This is one of several events leading up to the Look Up Tour with Will Graham in September.
“We’ve seen people lose their loved ones in all kinds of storms of life. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. That’s why it’s so important to be ready to share the hope that we have in Jesus Christ,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15, ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.’ We are hoping and praying, as people desperately seek answers to life’s problems, we can equip them on how to respond and share God’s hope and comfort with them.”
The training will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at Watersprings Church, 4250 South 25th East, Idaho Falls, ID 83404. Seminar topics include:
- “A Biblical view of suffering”
- “Effects of trauma”
- “Places of grief”
- “Listening skills”
- “A ministry of hope”
- “What to say and what not to say”
The event is free. For more information and to register online, please visit BillyGraham.org/RRTSharingHopeinCrisis
Media Opportunities:
Interview with Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT
B-Roll and photos of deployments (please use with credit to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Interview request form
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 730 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes. For more information on the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, including videos, photos, news articles and interactive map of former and current deployments, visit billygraham.org/rrt. Updates can also be found at www.facebook.com/RRTchaplains.
About the Idaho Falls Look Up Tour with Will Graham:
The Idaho Falls Look Up Tour with Will Graham will be held at the Mountain America Center, Sept. 23-24, 2023. The free, family-friendly event will feature music from top Christian artists and messages from Will Graham. Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He has shared the hope of Jesus with more than 1 million people across six continents since beginning his evangelistic ministry in 2006. Access the Idaho Falls Look Up Tour online newsroom here.
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Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder – (704) 724-6851
Erik Ogren – (704) 577-2109