A biblical flood

As residents displaced by last week’s flooding in Vallecito and Pagosa return home, they are being offered help, not just from neighbors, GoFundMes and the government, but none other than America’s original televangelical family.

According to a press release sent to the Telegraph this week, The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed to southwestern Colorado, where “unprecedented rainfall has resulted in widespread flooding across the region.” A team of crisis-trained chaplains will be ministering to the communities of Vallecito and Pagosa Springs, where a back-to-back storms brought several days of torrential rain that forced the evacuation of more than 400 homes.

“Our hearts go out to the people of southwestern Colorado who are reeling from the devastating floods that swept through their communities,” Josh Holland, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, said. “As residents return home and begin the recovery process, our crisis-trained chaplains will be there to offer a listening ear, a prayer and the hope of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that God is our refuge and strength through every flood or storm that we face in life – that’s the message our chaplains hope to bring to those who are hurting.”

The BG-RRT is deploying in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian disaster relief organization headed by Billy Graham’s son, Franklin. 

For those who are too young (or too old) to remember, Billy Graham was an American evangelist, Southern Baptist minister and civil rights advocate who rose to fame with his broadcasts, world tours and lively sermons. He was also criticized for his close ties with presidents as well as his views on women, homosexuality and minorities. He died in 2018 at the age of 99.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was formed following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 900 disasters across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes … and, now, rogue hot tubs.