Rapid Response Team Deploys to Flooded Missouri


April 4, 2008—STORIES FROM PIEDMONT

Black River Retreat is a low-lying, and low-income area of Piedmont, Missouri. The recent flooding has affected most of the homes there. Two Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains went to that area and met Delores and Frank who told them about Karen, their neighbor. Karen tried twice in the last year to commit suicide. She was taken to the hospital the last time for self-inflicted stab wounds. The chaplains made their way to Karen's house where she welcomed them in. They listened as she told them of the difficulties of her life. They shared with her the Good News of Jesus Christ which moved her to tears and she fully accepted Him into her heart to be her personal Lord and Savior. Karen was also given a Billy Graham Training Center Bible and other appropriate BGEA literature that will bring her comfort and encouragement through Christ.

WIDOW MEETS JESUS AFTER A LIFE OF TRAGEDY

In 1996, Barbara's* husband died after a two year battle with cancer. She was with him every step of the way. Then, a month and a half after his death, Barbara's 16 year old daughter, Hope, was hit by a car, while crossing a street on her way home from school. She was on life support for five days. Although communication with words was impossible, Barbara was able to determine that Hope's wish was to be an organ donor, so that was done after her death.

Fourteen months after Hope's death, Barbara's 18 year old son, Eric was changing a tire on a bridge when he was hit and killed by a drunk driver. This left Barbara and her only remaining child, Amanda stunned and alone. During the evening after Eric's funeral, Barbara received a call from one of the five people who had received Hope's organs. It was a young man, close to Eric's age, and he had Hope's heart! On such a dismal day, this was a big comfort to both Barbara and Amanda.

Barbara has been living in Piedmont, Missouri for the ten years since. Recently flooding caused much devastation in Piedmont and though the living area of Barbara's home didn't flood, the old retaining wall in her basement was about to give way late one night. In a panic, she called a fix-it man who came out and was able to temporarily divert the water. The next morning, as she was driving in town, she felt a prompting to make a U-Turn and drive into a church parking lot where a large Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief trailer and trucks were parked.

Upon entering the church, she was soon greeted by two Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains. With tears streaming down her face, she told the chaplains about the scare of seeing the water coming into her basement. Not even knowing of the prior tragedies in her life, the chaplains took time to pray with her, asking the Lord to provide her with the help that she needed and that He would bring her hope and comfort through Christ. Immediately after praying, a Samaritan's Purse Team Leader arrived and advised Barbara that a team of volunteers would follow her to her home to assess her needs.

As the team worked on her home, one of the workers spent time with her and asked if she had ever invited Jesus into her heart. She never had and this was the moment for her as she gratefully accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior!

Barbara came back to the church to have dinner with the chaplains and the volunteer work teams. At share time, she stood before the packed room full of volunteers and shared her complete story. She was greeted by applause, hugs, love and much encouragement. Afterward, Barbara stated that she felt she had a new family, and that she did not feel alone anymore.

*name has been changed


FIRST DEPLOYMENT

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed their crisis-trained chaplains in response to the recent floods across the nation’s midsection. A total of four chaplains are currently working with victims in the area of Piedmont, Missouri.

“Chaplains are already on-site and praying with those who are going through this tragedy in their lives,” says Jack Munday, director of the Rapid Response Team. “Pain and despair increases as the flood waters rise. We want to bring hope and support into this unbearable situation.”

Chaplains have already spoken and prayed with nearly 75 people in this town of 2,000. They are in communication with local law enforcement and area pastors.

As in past disasters of this magnitude, RRT chaplains are working alongside Samaritan’s Purse, a disaster relief organization also headed by Franklin Graham. While Samaritan’s Purse volunteers meet the physical needs of the victims, the chaplains will address the emotional and spiritual needs brought about by the floods.

“Often in these situations, the immediate need is physical: ‘What do I do about my house?’ ‘What about my possessions?’” says Munday. “However, after the immediate physical trauma, the questions start to come: ‘Why did this happen?’ The chaplains will be there to help them as they work through those questions.”

This is the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team’s third deployment of 2008, and its 22nd deployment overall. Earlier this year the chaplains deployed to Tennessee and Arkansas following the deadly tornadoes in the region, and to Northern Illinois University following the Valentines Day shooting of several students.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed following the attacks of September 11, 2001. It has since grown into a nationwide database of more than 2,500 chaplains and ministry volunteers who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations.

Read a story of salvation from the Missouri deployment!