Franklin Graham and his wife, Jane, spent Christmas Eve in Mayfield, Kentucky, helping serve holiday meals to residents who experienced overwhelming loss in December's deadly tornadoes. Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) chaplains have been offering emotional and spiritual care in the community.
Set up in Graves County High School, Franklin Graham offered words of encouragement and hope at a time of year centered on the birth of Jesus Christ, the One who comforts and saves.
A chaplain prays with a family affected by the string of tornadoes that killed at least 90 people across multiple states. Chaplains have also served in Dawson Springs and Bowling Green, Kentucky, as well as Trumann, Arkansas.
Bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs (left), born in Cordell, Kentucky, joined Mike Rogers in leading families in some songs as they ate their hot meals. At a time of great stress and grief for so many, it was a welcome break for the holidays that helped focus minds on the humble but world-changing birth of Jesus Christ.
Side by side, Franklin Graham and Ricky Skaggs helped serve meals to about 1,500 people in a four-hour period. Members of the food services teams from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse were on hand to help with the Christmas Eve lunch.
Franklin Graham exchanges greetings with a chaplain. Several BG-RRT chaplains spent time in the area over Christmas, spending time apart from their families to be there for a city in need.
