Since launching in 2014, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team’s (RRT) law enforcement ministry continues to grow. The RRT offers retreats, support groups and trainings to address the unique emotional and spiritual needs of law enforcement officials and their families.
More than 40 people from across the country traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, in mid-March for the RRT's Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Training Program. The ministry's first training took place last year in Dallas, Texas.
The specialized training is designed to equip experienced law enforcement officials with skills and resources to support their brothers and sisters in blue during times of crisis.
“Leaders of law enforcement realized that spiritual fitness is lacking, and in that realization, they have found the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team law enforcement ministry is a way of meeting that need,” said Jeff Naber. With a 35-year law enforcement career himself, Naber helped develop this ministry.
Officers share stories and struggles at the chaplaincy training program while learning how to create a safe space for officers in their own departments to do the same. Pictured on the right is Bob Gamble, an RRT chaplain and instructor with 30 years of experience in public safety.
When Billy Graham chaplains respond to tragedies such as mass shootings, civil unrest and terrorist attacks, they offer a ministry of presence for both affected families and first responders. Here, chaplains pray over a fallen officer in Kansas City.
RRT chaplain Denise Molatch was an officer for a couple years, but an officer’s wife for decades. She spoke briefly at the chaplaincy training program in Charlotte about her passion for supporting law enforcement families. “The better the marriage is, the better the officer is going to be,” she said.
Officers are often more likely to open up to people who understand the stresses of the job. Through this chaplaincy training, people with experience in law enforcement can offer a listening ear and the love of Christ in times of peace and crisis.
“Law enforcement officials adapt to functioning on a high level of stress all the time,” said David Rutledge, an RRT chaplain with nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement. The daily possibility of violence, conflict and death takes a toll on officers’ mental, physical, social and spiritual health.
While the chaplaincy training program is a fairly new branch of the law enforcement ministry, RRT has hosted retreats for officials and their spouses at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove for the past five years. Sign up to attend the upcoming retreat on October 21-23.
“These men and women have been under an incredible amount of stress,” said Franklin Graham. “The Rapid Response Team law enforcement ministry is providing emotional and spiritual support to help strengthen police officers in their careers. We will be working with them to strengthen their walk with Christ. … their marriages, their families.”
With the increasing awareness of spiritual health among law enforcement, the RRT is receiving more and more calls from top officials requesting chaplaincy training. Please join us in prayer for this growing ministry and for the men and women who sacrificially serve our country.
