The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has deployed more chaplains to Orlando to minister in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting.
The June 12 massacre left 50 people dead including the gunman. Another 53 people were injured. The incident has been described as an act of terrorism and is considered the worst mass shooting on U.S. soil.
As of Monday, 25 crisis-trained chaplains are in Orlando offering emotional and spiritual care at memorial sites and vigils.
Chaplains are also ministering in and around the Rapid Response Team’s Mobile Ministry Center, which is set up in the parking lot of Christ Church of Orlando.
“There’s a lot of hurting people,” said Jack Munday, international director of the Rapid Response Team. “Orlando’s been through an awful lot.
“We have been really intentional to have a presence in the LGBT community to engage, to listen, to share God’s message of hope with everyone,” Munday added. “It’s been a great deployment. Just in a week now, the Lord has opened up a lot of doors.”
Notably, chaplains were able to minister to first responders and the local church by helping Christ Church of Orlando, which is located near the nightclub. The church has kept its doors open 24/7 to law enforcement officials to provide them with a place of respite where they can get a snack, catch their breath in the air conditioning or just grab a few minutes of quiet in the sanctuary.
This past weekend, chaplains volunteered to staff the church at night so the church members could prepare for Sunday service. Chaplain Al New said 13 police officers came through the doors on Saturday night. The chaplains greeted each one.
One member of law enforcement approached New on Sunday and shared that his officers were struggling with the horrific event.
“He said a lot of the officers are recognizing already that they’re having some issues with everything they’ve seen and heard and smelled,” said New, a retired firefighter. “He said it’s going to be a long recovery time for some of his officers.”
An FBI chaplain also stopped by the truck with similar concerns. New and his fellow chaplains had the opportunity to minister to him.
Last week was a hard week, New said. He likened it to being on the front lines of a spiritual battlefield. But the chaplains are focused on one thing—serving God.
“We’re here doing what the Lord put us here to do, and that’s to love on everybody,” New said. “We’re here to serve the Lord in that manner.”
Tragedies like this leave many searching for peace. Find peace with God.
