In Asheville, North Carolina, the Billy Graham Training Centre at The Cove suffered minor damage, but out of concern for its community, has paused ministry events to accommodate volunteers serving in and around the region.
In addition to housing North Carolina Highway Patrol officers who are helping with the area’s dire needs, The Cove is also a hub for Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief workers and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains.
Two of those chaplains shared their stories of ministry in Helene’s aftermath.
As she took a break from dumping buckets of water out of her flooded basement, Karen—who lives in Fairview, North Carolina—realised she had only a few bottles of drinking water left.
After hearing on the radio that some petrol stations and grocery stores were finally open, Karen decided to take the short drive to Asheville, North Carolina, one of the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene.
While waiting in line to enter the grocery store, she met Paula, a BG-RRT chaplain.
“How are you holding up?” Paula asked kindly.
Paula listened as Karen shared that she had stayed at home with her husband, son, and brother-in-law as the storm hit. They watched in fear as trees fell in their yard and water rushed into their basement.
“The whole community is just trying to survive,” she said. “I’m just happy to be alive. All this material stuff that everyone wants—it’s not doing you any good in times like these.”
Paula nodded in agreement, reminding her that Jesus Christ urged us to store up our treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19–21).
Paula is one of more than 50 chaplains currently serving across the Southeast and remembers how much it meant when a BG-RRT chaplain ministered to her in 2013.
As a former insurance trainer who worked with catastrophe response, she was on a work trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where communities had been flooded with over 30 inches of rain.
Heartbroken at the immense devastation around her, she went looking for more ways to help after work. That’s when she found Billy Graham chaplains who were serving there. They prayed with their sister in Christ and offered words of encouragement.
“The Lord said to me, ‘You’ll be doing this when you retire,’” Paula explained. She joined the network of chaplains in 2018.
Before they parted, Paula asked Karen how she could pray for her specific needs.
“Pray for everybody that’s lost anything—especially those who have lost family members,” the shaken resident answered. “Don’t take life for granted,” she added.
Below, Will Graham—executive vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association—also asks for prayers following the massive storm:
‘I’ve Got To Be Bolder’
“This is unreal. I’ve never seen anything like it in my 55 years of life,” said Michelle, another Fairview resident.
Pat—a BG-RRT chaplain from Snowville, Virginia—stood nearby as Michelle showed pictures of large trees that had fallen across her driveway and gaping holes where bridges used to sit in her neighbourhood.
One of the trees fell on her neighbour’s truck as he tried to evacuate with his elderly mother. Thankfully, the two survived with minor injuries.
“Right below our house, a two-lane, paved road is just gone,” she said, tearing up. “I’ve just sat and cried while seeing pictures.”
“We love you guys,” Pat said, compassionately placing her hand on Michelle’s arm. “We won’t quit praying for you.”
Michelle shared that a church down the street has 13 members who are still missing, and one died in the storm. The deceased woman’s husband is in critical condition, with multiple broken bones.
Of more than 200 people who have lost their lives in the storm, almost half of them were in North Carolina. Search crews and dogs are attempting to find those still missing, and many communities remain without power and water.
While Michelle’s home was not damaged, she’s struggled with anxiety and a lack of sleep over the past few days. She added that she’s already feeling the financial burden of not being able to work for the past week.
The two prayed together, and Pat reminded Michelle that Jesus is with her, will never leave her (Hebrews 13:5), and never breaks His promises (Psalm 145:13–14).
“I’ve got to be bolder to tell everybody I know about Jesus,” Michelle said, sharing what she’s learned through this experience. “He’s our only hope.”
Please pray that all those hurting after this terrible storm would place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ—who gives lasting peace even in painful times. Pray also for the chaplains who are offering them emotional and spiritual care.
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