When disaster strikes, Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains deploy to comfort the hurting, offering emotional and spiritual support in the Name of Jesus.
In the past 25 years, BG-RRT has trained and sent out Christ followers in the aftermath of natural and man-made tragedy, from tornadoes to shootings to wildfires. The ministry has grown to an international network of chaplains across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia—all ready to offer a listening ear, compassion, and prayer in the midst of crisis.
While Sept. 11, 2001, began as any normal day, in a matter of hours coordinated terror attacks brought unprecedented chaos, fear, and grief to New York City. As thousands searched for hope in the days that followed, Franklin Graham opened a prayer centre in Manhattan to comfort and pray with those who stopped by or called in. This crisis ministry eventually led to the birth of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT).
Hurricane Charley struck Florida in August with wind speeds of 145 mph, the second strongest storm to hit the state since 1992. As stunned residents began picking up the pieces, chaplains—including Billy Graham’s cousin Ed Graham—offered prayer and the hope of Jesus Christ.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, chaplains spent over two years along America’s southern shoreline, encouraging people left heartbroken and homeless. As a result, more than 3,000 decided to follow Christ, finding lasting peace in a relationship with Him.
When an undergraduate student opened fire at Virginia Tech, killing 32 people, it was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history at that time. “You could have caught buckets and buckets of tears that flowed out on that ground,” said chaplain Jack Dooley, who helped comfort the grieving university.
In February 2008, an EF4 tornado tore through Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. BG-RRT chaplains prayed with students at the school who were shaken by the storm that leveled classrooms and around 70% of the dorms. Miraculously, no lives were lost.
After flood waters receded in Dallas, Georgia, many residents were overwhelmed with what to do next. BG-RRT chaplains were there to listen and mourn with them, but also to pray and share how much God cares for them.
Hours after a historic earthquake killed over 200,000 people in this small Caribbean nation, teams of chaplains arrived to minister to those who suffered tragic loss. In the days that followed, chaplains had an opportunity to pray and share the Gospel with more than 35,000 Haitians and relief workers.
A cluster of tornadoes ripped through Alabama, leaving many without shelter after the storm. “There is no set answer, no way for you to tell someone that you know how they feel—because we don’t,” said chaplain Denny Sanders. “Whatever needs to be said, the Holy Spirit always [leads] the right way.”
Eleven days before Christmas, a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and killed 26 people—most were children between the ages of 6 and 7. In the following days, chaplains prayed with over 850 community members and sat with teachers and first responders as they grieved this horrific event.
In May, a violent EF5 tornado flattened the town of Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 people, injuring hundreds more, and leaving residents along its 14-mile path in shock. At a makeshift memorial, chaplains offered comfort and encouragement to those who came to mourn and pay their respects.
Following an officer-involved shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, the town erupted in protests and civil unrest. Chaplains worked to breach the divide by showing the love of Christ to anyone who wanted to talk or pray.
A wave of terror attacks on Nov. 13 rocked Paris, France, leaving 130 dead and hundreds more injured. As people across the city grieved this enormous loss of life, French-speaking chaplains came alongside them to provide a ministry of presence—and helped equip local churches to share the hope and healing of Christ long after they left.
BG-RRT chaplains hugged the brokenhearted at memorial sites in Orlando, Florida, after a shooter killed 49 people at a nightclub. Over the course of several days, the team prayed with 1,600 mourners.
Throughout 2017, BG-RRT deployed to 45 locations, from Canada to Britain to Spain. After Hurricane Harvey hit southwest Texas, chaplains spent a month ministering to 5,000 grieving people who needed the Lord’s love.
Since Billy Graham’s death in 2018, chaplains have been available to pray with visitors at his gravesite on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the first year, 450 searching people found a relationship with Christ through this ministry.
During the U.S.-Mexico border crisis, thousands of migrants arrived at refugee centres in Del Rio and Laredo, Texas. Chaplains cared for the exhausted crowds with the love of Jesus. “They’re hungry to hear hope,” said one chaplain. Over 400 of them accepted Christ as their Saviour.
The COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe in 2020, bringing with it panic and fear. Chaplains ministered to areas hit hardest by the virus, from New York City to Italy to Native American reservations. Many served in field hospitals set up by sister ministry Samaritan’s Purse.
Life in Ukraine quickly turned into a nightmare when Russia invaded the country. Chaplains sprang into action in hospitals and shelters around the country, shining God’s light in the darkness. Their ministry in Ukraine continues today, including the training of local Christians to serve as chaplains in their own communities.
Shortly before summer break, Uvalde, Texas, experienced the unimaginable when 19 fourth-graders and two teachers were gunned down at school. When grief consumed the community, chaplains shared the truth of the Gospel to encourage residents with eternal hope.
When Queen Elizabeth II planned her funeral, she wanted her countrymen to hear one last message: the Good News of Jesus Christ. During the televised service—which many watched in London’s Hyde Park—chaplains were available to answer questions, pray, and share the Gospel.
The devastation of Hurricane Helene left thousands stranded and in need of rescue across Florida, Georgia, and even the mountains of North Carolina. Chaplains ministered in the storm’s wake, sharing the Good News of a Saviour who can meet their deepest needs. Over 250 people lost their lives, and hard-hit areas are still recovering.
From the very beginning, BG-RRT has sought to equip churches to help the hurting all around them—whether after a natural disaster or a family emergency. Sharing Hope in Crisis training has been offered around the world—including in Zambia—to prepare Christians to care for others.
“We want to make Christ known to everyone that we help,” said Franklin Graham as he gazed at burned-out buildings in Pasadena, California. Chaplains provided residents with emotional and spiritual support as they suffered devastating loss following widespread wildfires.
When floodwaters rose rapidly in Kerrville, Texas, no one was prepared for the loss of life—which totaled over 100 people in Kerr County, including many children. “That’s why it’s important to go in there with the Gospel and just help point people to Jesus Christ,” said Will Graham. “That’s the greatest hope that we can ever give anybody.”
Double earthquakes in Venezuela demolished miles of city blocks, leaving enormous piles of debris in the place of homes, schools, and businesses. Yet the greatest loss was over 6,000 lives, with loved ones wondering, “Where do I go from here?” Chaplains helped point them to the peace of Christ. In the years ahead, this crisis ministry will continue to share the news that even when our world is rocked, God can sustain us.