The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed crisis-trained chaplains to multiple areas across the southeastern United States in the wake of devastating Hurricane Helene. The category 4 storm slammed into Florida late last week before moving into Georgia, the Carolinas and beyond. The death toll has surpassed 125 people.
As of this time, deployments include:
- Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla.
- Perry, Fla.
- Valdosta, Ga.
- Buncombe County, N.C.
- High Country (Watauga, Ashe and Avery Counties in North Carolina and Johnson County in Tennessee)
“It’s heartbreaking to see the scale of the destruction from Hurricane Helene,” said Josh Holland, international director of the response team. “In my nine years serving with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, I’ve never seen damage as widespread. I know we are all praying for those impacted and especially those who have lost loved ones. We’re sending our chaplains to offer hope and comfort to the weary and broken in the midst of this horrific disaster.”
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The team is deploying in conjunction with Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian disaster relief organization also headed by Franklin Graham. Together, the two ministries will address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those who have been affected. In addition to the Hurricane Helene deployments, chaplains also are meeting emotional and spiritual needs in Northern California (wildfire); Brazoria County, Texas (Hurricane Beryl); and south-central Louisiana (Hurricane Francine). Chaplains also are offering hope and providing emotional comfort and spiritual care to families who have been forced to flee their homes in war-torn Ukraine.
For more information about the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit www.BillyGraham.org/RRT,
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice