Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida last week, killing more than 20 people, flattening homes, and wreaking havoc on the coastline.
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains are ministering in Charlotte County—north of Fort Myers—reminding the hurting that there is lasting hope through Jesus Christ, no matter what’s happening around them.
Over the weekend, chaplains Marsha Duckwitz and Christine McKinley checked on Debby,* a homeowner who had prayed to give her life to Christ since the hurricane.
However, it wasn’t Debby who answered the knock on the door. It was her daughter, Anne.*
While Debby was out running errands, Marsha and Christine asked Anne how she was holding up.
Anne had evacuated to a safer part of the state before Milton hit. The last time a hurricane struck, she waited out the driving wind and rain in a truck, and she never wanted to relive that terrifying experience.
The chaplains also asked Anne—who’s in her early 20s—if she had faith in God.
“I went to church and vacation Bible school growing up,” she answered. “I’ve heard about God, but I am not a Christian.”
The two gently explained to her that God has a plan for her life and told her how she can have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Without hesitation, she said she would like to accept that gift of salvation, and she prayed to receive Christ with Marsha and Christine by her side.
“We could see the joy in her as we left,” Marsha said, adding that she believes the recent devastation has made many people think seriously about the future. “She must have hugged us five times at least.”
The next day, the chaplains stopped by again with a gift: a Bible for the mother and daughter.
But neither answered the door.
Debby’s nephew, Matt,* came to the door this time. His aunt and cousin were at work.
He told chaplains he was interested in roofing, and he was intrigued that Samaritan’s Purse volunteers tarping his roof didn’t charge the family for the repairs.
Marsha and Christine assured him that there were no strings attached. The work is done for free in the Name of Jesus Christ.
“I am not into Jesus,” he said.
They shared with him how his cousin and aunt had come to know Christ recently, and that the Lord has a plan for his life, too.
“Maybe I should look into it,” Matt told Marsha.
He was interested in reading the Bible the chaplains had brought for the mother and daughter.
“I really think he was seeking,” Christine said. “At first, he was kind of resistant to us, but he sure warmed up pretty fast.”
The two gave him a “Steps to Peace With God” booklet that communicates the Good News of hope in Christ, and assured Matt that they would be praying for him.
“The story isn’t over,” Christine said, mentioning that they will follow up again. “It felt like a domino effect—the mother, the daughter, the cousin—so ready and open.”
Please pray for Florida families like this one to grow in their relationship with God, and continue to pray for all those affected by the recent storms.
*Names and photo changed for privacy.
