A week after the deadly New Year’s terror attack that claimed 14 lives, chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are in New Orleans to help survivors deal with the aftermath.
“This level of violence and hate is unfathomable and heartbreaking,” said Josh Holland, international director of the team. “We weep for the many whose lives were forever changed through this senseless and brutal terror attack. In this dark hour, our chaplains will offer emotional and spiritual care — the hope and comfort of Jesus Christ — to the hurting and broken in New Orleans.”
The team now is ministering in five areas across the United States. In addition to New Orleans, the ministry’s crisis-trained chaplains are meeting emotional and spiritual needs following Hurricane Helene in Buncombe County, N.C.; Valdosta, Ga,; and Tampa. The crisis-chaplaincy ministry recently was deployed in Madison, Wis., following the deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in December. As of Thursday, they are also in Southern California assisting victims of the wild fires.
In addition to these domestic efforts, 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.
FBI investigators have confirmed New Orleans residents gathered for an emotional vigil Saturday evening along Bourbon Street, where the attack took place. A makeshift memorial of crosses and pictures of the 14 victims killed in the attack was featured along with candles, flowers and teddy bears. Victims’ relatives held each other, with some observed crying over the loss of their loved ones.
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 since has grown into an international network of chaplains in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia who specifically are trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 800 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
For more information on the ministry, visit www.BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates also can be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice