The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team sent a small group of crisis-trained chaplains to the Island of Kauai in Hawaii, after torrential rainfall damaged or destroyed dozens of homes. The chaplains are working alongside Samaritan's Purse, which sent volunteers to help repair and rebuild people's houses.
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains went to Kauai to talk and pray with homeowners, some of whom said they just barely survived the rushing waters. Several news outlets are reporting that April's rainfall in Kauai may have set a national record. In one area, almost 50 inches of rain came down in 24 hours.
The goal of the Rapid Response Team is to offer hope and comfort in the midst of crisis.
When the chaplains encounter someone who has questions about God, they often walk through the "Steps to Peace with God," explaining how Jesus said He is the key to salvation.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." —Romans 15:13 (ESV)
The flooding caused extensive damage, and the chaplains sometimes found themselves going off the beaten path to make their way to residents.
Chaplains talk and pray with Kauai residents. One man they encountered said the rushing water came so fast, his family almost didn't make it to safety in time: "If my wife had not gotten up early for work and saw the water coming, you would not be talking to me now."
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34-35, ESV
As the chaplains have made their way around the hardest-hit areas of Kauai, they say the community has been loving and welcoming, and several people have begun or renewed their relationship with Christ. Are you looking for peace in the midst of a storm? Find out how you can have lasting peace with God.
