In a 10-day period between April 15-24, one tragedy after another dominated U.S. headlines. On April 15 in Greensboro, North Carolina, an EF-2 tornado caused substantial damage and contributed to one death. Fallen trees, power lines and debris littered east Greensboro after the storm. More than a dozen Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
chaplains deployed and are ministering to residents who lost much.
After a conversation with chaplains, this Greensboro homeowner (right) prayed to receive Christ. In Luke 15:10, the Bible tells us, "There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
A few days later, on April 19, two sheriff's deputies were shot while eating a meal at this Chinese restaurant in Trenton, Florida (two hours southwest of Jacksonville). Both died from the apparent ambush shooting. Four Billy Graham chaplains deployed to listen, talk and pray with those shaken by this tragedy. Here, police look up as a helicopter flies over the area. News reports say the gunman was found dead in his vehicle from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Four people died after a man opened fire on April 22 at this Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee (near Nashville). RRT chaplains responded to offer emotional and spiritual care to a grieving community.
Crisis-trained chaplains were available at the memorial site if people wanted to talk or pray.
In Antioch, “things were very tense,” said Al New, RRT's manager of emergency response and logistics, referring to the earlier search for the suspect in the Waffle House shooting. During the manhunt, chaplains focused on minstering to law enforcement agencies involved in the search. After the suspect was apprehended, the ministry expanded to the memorial site, where community members gathered to pay their respects.
The day after the Tennessee shooting, on April 23, a van veered onto a Toronto, Canada, sidewalk, killing 10 pedestirans and injuring 15. Six Billy Graham chaplains from Toronto, Calgary, and Quebec are in Toronto to comfort the grieving and offer the compassion of Christ.
In Toronto, mourners came together at a candlelit vigil that night, near where the attack took place.
Near the site of the van attack, an RRT chaplain walks a man through Steps to Peace with God, a simple booklet that outlines how to find eternal life.
God has promised to hear our prayers when we earnestly call on Him. “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:11-13
In Texas, Dallas police officer Rogelio Santander (his police cruiser is pictured here) was killed after a shooting on Tuesday, April 24, at a Home Depot. Another officer and a store security guard were injured. Chaplains are ministering in Dallas and offering hope in Christ Jesus through these dark times.
Please pray for all who've been affected through these natural and man-made crises.
