Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are deploying to Orange, Texas, and will be in the area by Tuesday afternoon to offer emotional and spiritual care to residents in the wake of devastating flooding.
Relentless rainfall prompted the Sabine River—a natural border between Texas and Louisiana—to overflow and cause record flooding. The city of Orange borders this river, and to date, homes there still have standing water. Local shelters are at capacity with displaced people.
“It’s an unprecedented amount of rain water,” said Jeff Naber, manager of chaplain development and ministry relations for the Rapid Response Team. “Even through yesterday, rain has continued to just inundate this area. I’ve heard the comment from several people saying this is like a little Katrina where the water damage is the same, it’s just the geographic area isn’t as widespread.”
The eight chaplains deploying to Texas will be ministering specifically in Deweyville, Mauriceville and Orange—three areas hit hardest by the floods. The Mobile Ministry Center should be in the vicinity by Tuesday afternoon as well and will be stationed at Mauriceville Assembly of God.
A feeling of hopelessness and despair is creeping into the area that is slowly drying out. Just this past Friday, officials reopened a stretch of I-10 that was closed for four days due to flooding.
“It’s to the point now where rain has been falling there so long, the creeks and rivers and lakes have been rising continually, that it’s led to despair and hopelessness and helplessness,” Naber said. “God has shown us in the past how for His purposes He allows these things. He has given us this tremendous team of volunteer chaplains that are able to respond and help people through their worst days.”
Naber anticipates the chaplains will be in the area for at least a month, ministering alongside Samaritan’s Purse in the communities. Psalm 40, notably versus 1-3, was on Naber’s mind Monday afternoon when he discussed the deployment:
I waited patiently for the Lord;
He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
—Psalm 40:1-3, ESV
“What we hope to do is help people as God pulls them out of the mud and mire and has them standing on solid ground,” Naber said. “We know that from the situations that we’ve been through, sometimes when you land back on solid ground, you’re kind of shaken. It’s a great comfort to know someone is there to help you.”
This deployment comes on the heels of a deployment last week when 17 chaplains reported to two cities in northern Louisiana. These cities, roughly four hours driving distance from Orange, were also hit by deadly flooding. Mobile Ministry Centers were dispatched to Louisiana and Texas, and Naber said the Rapid Response Team loaded them up with double supply since tornado season begins in April.
“We don’t anticipate those vehicles are coming back anytime soon based on our past experience,” Naber said. “We know God will give people hope, and we know that there’s going to be a great opportunity for ministry so we can share the Gospel message. Even if it’s just standing with somebody—that’s why we go.”
