Billy Graham Rapid Response Chaplains Continue to Have Strong Presence in Kansas

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rapid Response Team
 (RRT) chaplains with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)
 continue to have a strong presence in the flood-stricken communities of
 Coffeyville and Independence, Kansas. BGEA RRT chaplains have been working
 around the clock alongside local churches and emergency management
 officials to assist and comfort grieving homeowners and families.
     "When tragedies like this happen, there's not only a physical need, but
 emotional and spiritual needs as well," says Paul Saber, Chief Operating
 Officer of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. "We're praying for
 the people of Coffeyville and Independence and want to be there to help
 bring God's comfort during these extremely difficult days."
     RRT chaplains visited area shelters providing physical and emotional
 support to those who have lost everything in the floods. Chaplains also
 offered words of encouragement to local first responders, many who continue
 to serve their community, even after losing their own homes in the
 flooding.
     BGEA Chaplain Coordinator Lamar Wick was the first RRT member to arrive
 in the region and made a strong connection with the local community. In
 working with the mayor's office and alongside the Coffeyville Ministerial
 Association, the RRT continues to support the local Incident Command Center
 and recovery efforts. In doing so, he ministered in the area with local
 Chaplain Willie Robinson, and at the request of the local ministerial
 association, taught four Biblical Grief and Trauma Trainings for the church
 community in order to recruit and mobilize volunteer chaplains for the
 Billy Graham RRT. As of today, RRT has trained an additional 88 leaders to
 serve as chaplains from the local region
     More than 20 inches of rain resulted in 18 Kansas counties receiving
 their worst flooding in recorded history. Flooding began on June 26, and
 waters only began to recede last week. A flooded oil refinery in
 Coffeyville caused more than 42,000 gallons of crude oil to spill into
 local rivers, adding to the already dangerous environment. President Bush
 declared the region a major disaster area on July 2, and ordered federal
 aid and relief into the communities. On July 12, local families were
 allowed back into their homes for the first time.
     The RRT will continue to maintain its presence in Coffeyville and
 Independence as the community begins the early stages of rebuilding. RRT is
 a corps of volunteers specially trained to pray with and counsel people in
 crisis situations as ministers of hope. The RRT was originally developed to
 respond to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York.
     The team has since worked with hurting people nationwide, including the
 Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina; California, after the wildfires
 around San Diego; and Warwick, RI, after the fatal nightclub fire.
 Recently, the Rapid Response Team deployed to Blacksburg, VA, following the
 deadly shootings on the Virginia Tech campus. Since 2001, more than 2,000
 chaplains and ministry volunteers have received training and served with
 the BGEA Rapid Response Team.
     For more information on the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, call
 1-877- 2GRAHAM or go to billygraham.org.
 
 

SOURCE Billy Graham Evangelistic Association