Chaplains Also Still Ministering in Haiti, Mississippi

Contact: Erik Ogren, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 704-577-2109, eogren@bgea.org

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- As the flood waters from the swollen Cumberland River spilled into Nashville during a record rainstorm that dumped 13.5 inches of rain in two days, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team began making plans to deploy in the face of the disaster. Now, as the deluge recedes and the recovery begins in earnest, the crisis-trained chaplains are prepared to begin ministering to the emotional and spiritual needs of the survivors.

According to news reports, several people have died in Tennessee as a result of the storm, and authorities expect to find more casualties as the water levels decrease. Thousands of homes have been damaged, along with many of Nashville's major attractions. 

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying in coordination with Samaritan's Purse, the international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, who is also president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Nashville, and especially with those who have lost loved ones in this tragic storm," said Jack Munday, director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. "At times like this, the survivors of the storm need hope and love, and need to know that they are not forgotten. Our team will come alongside the churches of the area, and those who are tragically affected, to provide emotional and spiritual care."

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is currently ministering in Mississippi (tornado) and Haiti (earthquake), and recently wrapped up deployments to Rhode Island (flooding) and West Virginia (coal mine explosion).
 
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a nationwide network of chaplains across 40 states that are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. Since the ministry was launched in 2002, it has deployed following dozens of natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings. 

About BGEA
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which is celebrating 60 years of ministry in 2010, directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project; My Hope World Evangelism Through Television; the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org. Get BGEA news updates on Twitter @ Twitter.com/BGEAMediaPR.