Chaplains to Minister in Tornado-Ravaged Mississippi

By   •   May 4, 2017

Michael Williams, left, and his daughter Kayshia Williams survey the damage to their cousin's home after a storm in Durant, Mississippi, last weekend. (Source: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Response Team (RRT) are deploying to Durant, Mississippi, following a tornado that ripped through the area on April 30.

News outlets have reported several deaths across the South since storms hit last weekend, including at least one person who died in Mississippi. The city of Durant in central Mississippi was one of the hardest hit areas. Downed trees and power lines there caused thousands of homes and businesses to lose electricity, and nearly 300 homes were destroyed. Many residents are cleaning up the damage and will be working to rebuild in the weeks to come.

Franklin Graham called for prayer shortly after the storms hit. “Pray for storm victims across the South this weekend—TX, MO, AR & more—deadly tornadoes & flooding,” he posted on Twitter Sunday.

RRT chaplains will be in Durant on Saturday to offer emotional and spiritual care to residents and first responders.

Earlier this year, chaplains deployed in response to three southeastern tornadoes. They ministered to locals in Albany, Georgia, and Forest City, Mississippi, in January, then in New Orleans after devastating storms in February.

Please pray for those affected by recent tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi, as well as Missouri, Arkansas and Texas.