Sharon Folsom, a crisis-trained chaplain with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, was moved to compassion, so much so she said she thought her heart might burst.
Standing in Albany, Georgia, in the aftermath of Sunday’s deadly tornado, Folsom and her fellow chaplains watched a family of five walk toward them. The chaplains, who have been ministering in Albany since early January when the first deadly storm impacted the area, experienced the most recent twister. They took shelter at a local church and were unharmed, but Folsom noted the water pouring under the door was a constant reminder of the storm’s severity.
Officials have reported that four people were killed in Dougherty county, where Albany is located, during the most recent storm. A 2-year-old boy was still missing as of Tuesday afternoon.
When the threat of severe weather finally abated in the mostly rural area, the chaplains immediately began to offer emotional and spiritual care to a bewildered community. The family of five was among the first residents they encountered.
As the family approached, the chaplains noticed the father, pregnant mother and three children each wore a shell-shocked expression and carried a white trash bag. The tornado had destroyed their home, so the bags contained what few possessions they had left. They welcomed a chance to pray with the chaplains.
“Seeing them walk up with what they had left slung over their shoulders. I think that touched every chaplain that was there,” Folsom said.
“You want to take some of their pain, to ease their pain,” she added. “That’s not possible, but we can offer them the hope through Jesus.”
Ten chaplains are ministering in Albany now, and there are plans to expand that effort after Sunday’s deadly storm impacted the bulk of Dougherty County. The team of crisis-trained chaplains will continue to offer emotional and spiritual care in the area alongside sister ministry Samaritan’s Purse.
Local response continues to be strong, Folsom said, adding that water and food donations were particularly high on Monday. Local churches also are resuming previous efforts to assist the community, which according to a recent census shows a poverty level above 30 percent.
Folsom said, “We are here praying with people as they come through bringing donations, and then we’re out in the field with teams praying with homeowners and anybody else God puts in our path.”
Please keep all affected by these deadly storms in your prayers as well as those who are volunteering to help in the aftermath.
Are you looking for peace in the storms of life?
