Molly* lost everything – her furniture and personal items tied to many precious memories – after her home was flooded.
Molly’s house was destroyed when 12 months’ worth of rain fell across Townsville in just over a week, flooding and damaging almost 3,300 homes. Crisis-trained chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) were on the ground within days of the flood, offering emotional and spiritual support to the community.
A Rapid Response Team chaplain speaks with a resident of Townsville in Queensland.
Volunteers started work on Molly’s house assessing the damage, and one of our chaplains sat with her and listened to her share what she had been through. He asked her how she could connect with God in the midst of this crisis. She didn’t know how to answer.
‘We talked about knowing peace with God,’ our chaplain said, ‘and how you can have that peace in the middle of a crisis and for the days ahead as well. The conversation wrapped up, and we left her house.’
About one week later, the chaplain received a call from someone on the volunteer work team who shared a Bible verse with him – 2 Corinthians 2:15 – ‘For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved’ (ESV). He said, ‘I need you to know what you’ve done; you’ve been the aroma of Christ. Molly, the lady you spent time with, gave her heart to Jesus today.’
With tears in his eyes, our chaplain rejoiced at what God had done. ‘It’s not up to me,’ he said. ‘I am who I am, but to know that I was a little part of her journey is a privilege.’
People struggling in survival mode need to hear of the One who “is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, ESV).
You can comfort many more like Molly and share the hope of Jesus in times of disaster and crisis. Through your gifts and prayers, you too can be the ‘fragrance of Christ’ when lives are turned upside down.
If you would like to be equipped to respond personally during the everyday tragedies of life, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association offers Sharing Hope in Crisis one-day training seminars. These classes, held in locations across Australia and New Zealand, will give you practical ways to comfort and care for people when they’re grieving. Visit BillyGraham.org.au/RRT to learn more about this ministry or to find a seminar near you.
If you would like to financially contribute to the work of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, please click below.
*Name changed for privacy