RAPID RESPONSE TEAM CHAPLAIN APPLICATION

Since September 11, 2001, with God’s guidance and direction, the RRT has responded to manmade and natural disasters in nine countries on six continents, offering emotional and spiritual care to more than 450,000 survivors and first-responders. Today, with RRT offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, we hope to reach even more people with the comfort and hope of Jesus Christ..

A Rapid Response Team Chaplaincy deployment can be physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally challenging, requiring tremendous effort of each team member. All applicants should prayerfully consider these challenges and apply to the Rapid Response Team only when they are confident that they can personally meet each one.

Applicants are encouraged to approach becoming an RRT Chaplain as a journey of discovering God’s plan for you and possibly your family. Self-selection is a major part of the process and it is possible that, at some time during the training, you may decide that it is not for you. Please do not consider that to be a failure, but rather the right decision made in the light of mature consideration of your God given skills and abilities.

Essential considerations prior to accepting deployments with Rapid Response Team (RRT):

I. RRT Essential Job Functions

To be considered as a RRT Chaplain for deployment, you must demonstrate an ability and a willingness to the below:

Physical Requirements and Responsibilities

• Demonstate you are in good physically health and have the ability to perform physical tasks.
• Be willing to complete the required training as stated.
• Be willing and able to sleep on the floor in a room with others in close proximity.
• Be willing to share toilet and bathroom facilities with several others.
• Be willing and able to minister outside in extreme weather conditions if required.
• Be willing to endure a deployment day lasting from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (14-hour days).
• Understand electricity may be limited or not available.
• Be willing and able to do daily tasks around the ‘home base’, including cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, showers, mopping floors, sweeping, and helping to clear rubbish.
• Be physically able to lift at least 10kg.
• Understand cell phone service may be limited or not available.
• Be willing to deploy at least one week every two years if called.

Emotional, Spiritual, and Mental Functions:

• Demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity.
• Always demonstrate a servant’s heart.
• Be a good listener for extended periods of time.
• Focus on the emotional and spiritual care of others.
• Demonstrate God’s love through compassion and care.
• An ability to be objective and to keep personal opinion and issues separate to the care of those we serve.
• Be free of any medication that would impair your thinking or activity.
• Be willing and able to share God’s hope through Jesus Christ and the Salvation He offers as is explained in the Bible.

II. Training Standard

In order to maintain a high standard of excellence while providing emotional and spiritual care, and operating in accordance with expected standards of the disaster community, all RRT chaplains will be required to complete the following minimum training requirements within 12 months of being accepted.

• Attend a ‘Sharing Hope In Crisis’ seminar
• Complete, or show evidence of having completed, at least one Critical Incident Stress Management course.

The RRT-recommended CISM courses are:

• Group Crisis Intervention
• Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support
• Pastoral Crisis Intervention

We are excited you are interested in becoming a BGEA - RRT chaplain, to share God’s love at a moment’s notice anywhere in the world. As you consider applying to be a RRT Chaplain, we encourage you to prayerfully review all the requirements listed.

God bless you.

Rapid Response Team, BGEA Australia & New Zealand