The Cove Offers Rapid Response Training

You just found out your neighbor has cancer. A close friend lost her mother.  A family member lost his job.

Every day, tragedy happens all around us, sometimes within the walls of our own household, but how do we react? Do we reach out with the love of Christ, leading people to the hope and healing that only He can provide?

Do we even know where to start?

On June 11, the Sharing Hope in Crisis seminar at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C., will tackle different ways to share God’s compassion and hope with those who are experiencing a crisis.

“It will help equip God’s people to appropriately respond to the tragedies that happen in everyday life,” said Jack Munday, director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team ministry.

The one-day class (from 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.) also serves as the first part of a training regimen to become an approved Rapid Response Team chaplain. The second part is a 2-1/2-day Rapid Response Chaplain Training Conference, which continues Tuesday morning and includes one of five 13-hour CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) courses.

But not everyone attending the Sharing Hope in Crisis seminar has a desire for chaplaincy. The 2011 one-day seminar drew 160 people to The Cove but only about half were there to pursue chaplaincy. “The rest were just interested in helping their neighbors,” Munday said, “or the small group ministry at their church.”

The seminar gives practical tips on dealing with crisis or trauma situations, including what questions to ask (or not to ask) as well as how to effectively share the Gospel with those hurting people around you.

These CISM training courses are officially recognized by both Homeland Security and the United Nations. Two completed CISM courses are required to become a Rapid Response Team chaplain.

“We wanted training that was not only recognized in the U.S., but also in the U.K. and Australia, where we have other Rapid Response Teams,” said Keith Stiles, Rapid Response deployment manager, about the decision to use CISM classes.

CISM classes being offered from June 12-14 include: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support; Emotional and Spiritual Care; Grief Following Trauma; Pastoral Crisis Intervention I; and Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention.

“We talk about tragedy,” Munday said. “But where’s God in the midst of the tragedy?”

Training starts Tuesday morning after breakfast and a short morning time of worship and continues until lunch on Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings will be spent in worship along with a time of challenge/encouragement.

“This is a big time of the year for us,” Munday said. “I know there’s a lot of great people coming. This draws in people that already have compassion for other people.”