Lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and nearby Lafayette were turned upside down after monstrous flooding inundated the area in August. Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are in the community offering emotional and spiritual care.
“What we see here is total mass destruction,” said chaplain coordinator Al New, one of 12 chaplains ministering in Baton Rouge. “All of the homes have completely flooded, some of them right up to the roof. We’re seeing residents pulling all their furniture, everything out of the homes, piling it up at the roads."
It's an emotional time for homeowners as they try to navigate next steps. Many have sought out the Rapid Response Team chaplains for conversation and prayer.
Chaplains are available for prayer in the community as well as at the Rapid Response Team's Mobile Ministry Center, which is stationed at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.
Circling up in prayer.
The piles of debris are more than just damaged goods. They're water-logged stacks of memories, and that's something the chaplains keep in mind as they offer emotional and spiritual care. Please pray for the chaplains as they minister in Jesus' name.
Pedaling through the unbelievable destruction.
Samaritan's Purse has fielded more than 800 work orders since deploying to Baton Rouge. Please pray for the volunteers who are helping homeowners during this emotional time.
A total of 12 chaplains have been offering emotional and spiritual care to the East Baton Rouge area. They have prayed with more than 200 people during the deployment, which began Aug. 15.
Every pile represents a collection of memories as residents wheel their damaged belongings to the curb.
You've heard of high fives and hand shakes? High elbows are the way to go when you're in the middle of mucking out a home.
It's a long road ahead for many families impacted by the flooding. Please continue to pray.
“We have found this to be a large faith-based area, so we have a lot of people who believe in the Lord and trust in the Lord,” New said. “Our chaplains just come alongside them and love on them and give them hope that they can get through this.”
