For more than 60 year the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. Today, we are sharing more with you about the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (one of the ministries of the BGEA which is now highlighted in the Compassion in Crisis display).

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a crisis response ministry developed by Franklin Graham and the BGEA following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The ministry currently has a nationwide network of chaplains in 48 states who are trained to provide relief—physically, emotionally and spiritually—to those affected by man-made or natural disasters.

Throughout the past 15 years, chaplains have deployed to more than 225 disaster sites, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes, and have prayed with more than 260,000 people across the world. The Rapid Response Team has grown to include offices in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, and they are considering further global expansion.

The ministry offers live and online training seminars and courses called Sharing Hope in Crisis. The training is offered to help Christians know what to say and what not to say when people grieve and to compassionately share the love and hope of Jesus Christ with those going through crises. The next live seminar will be held at The Park Church in Charlotte, N.C. on Oct 15, 2016.

To read more about the history and see memorabilia of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, visit the Billy Graham Library from now to Oct. 31 to see their new “Compassion in Crisis” display. The display highlights how the BGEA has impacted those affected by some of the most significant crises throughout the last several decades.

Learn more about the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, including how you can get involved in this ministry by visiting www.billygraham.org/RRT.