Franklin Graham Sends French-Speaking Chaplains to Paris
In the wake of the terrorist attacks that shocked Paris on Friday night, a team of chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is headed to France to offer emotional and spiritual care.
At the direction of Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), an international consortium of BGEA’s U.S., Canada and U.K. Rapid Response Teams has coordinated to send six French-speaking, crisis-trained chaplains to the French capital to offer care and support.
“Join me in praying for the French people, all those injured and the loved ones of the victims of these barbaric attacks,” Franklin Graham said.
Jack Munday, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, reflected on the situation.
“This has been reported as the worst tragedy in France since World War II,” Munday said. “We want to encourage them, let them know we’re here to support them.”
The chaplains, who will be working directly with a church in Paris as well as up to three other Christian organizations, are scheduled to arrive Monday morning. This will be the first BGEA internationally coordinated relief effort since the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Billy Graham‘s ministry in Paris included four evangelistic crusades, most recently in 1986. BGEA’s Internet evangelism ministry has partnered with Paris-based Jesus.net since 2011.
“We’ll be there for the people on the streets, the storekeepers, the café workers to listen and provide comfort,” Munday said. “They need to know that God loves them and hasn’t forgotten them.” {eoa}
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