Direct Mail 2025 RRT

Dear Friend,

Between the end of 2024 and the beginning of this year, so many people from coast to coast have suffered devastation. Cleanup efforts are still underway from hurricanes Helene and Milton all across the Southeast, while thousands in California are picking up the pieces after wildfires destroyed entire communities. As I write, many in Kentucky and West Virginia are recovering from historic flooding.

You are helping reach these men, women, and children with the Lord’s unshakable promise for all who trust in Him: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, ESV).

I am deeply grateful for your commitment to sharing His love with hurting people through the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT). Throughout these deployments—and many others—crisis-trained chaplains share the Gospel, and hundreds of individuals have reported decisions for Jesus Christ. This life-changing work would not be possible without you. Please keep these men and women in your prayers, and ask God to strengthen our chaplains as they serve Him.

May God richly bless you,

Franklin Graham | President & CEO

*Names and photos changed to protect privacy

Desperate for Peace

NORTH CAROLINA

Karissa’s* home in Buncombe County, North Carolina, was hit by Hurricane Helene. Samaritan’s Purse relief workers deployed to her neighborhood to help with cleanup and rebuilding. She was so thankful when they introduced her to our chaplains. They chatted for a while about the storm and how it changed her life. Karissa didn’t attend church and had no religious affiliation whatsoever—but she was eager for peace. She followed along as the chaplains told her about the peace found only through a relationship with Jesus Christ: “In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19–20, ESV). She prayed with excitement and joy to receive Him in repentance and faith. Afterward, Karissa told the chaplains she felt like a burden had been lifted.

No Barrier for the Holy Spirit

FLORIDA

Our chaplains connected with Hector* near his home in Tampa, Florida. The homeowner had been hit by both hurricanes Helene and Milton. Hector didn’t speak English—but our chaplain remembered enough Spanish from his military service decades earlier to converse with him. A Samaritan’s Purse volunteer also helped translate, and the two talked about faith. Our chaplain shared the Scriptures found in our “Steps to Peace With God” booklet, and Hector was overcome with emotion. With tears in his eyes, he prayed to surrender his life to Jesus Christ. We praise God for overcoming potential language barriers to draw Hector to Himself! Please pray that he will walk closely with Jesus Christ, who promises, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, ESV).

Tragedy Turned His Heart Toward God

CALIFORNIA

Luke,* a postal worker in Southern California, had been working in the same neighborhood for 18 years—and it was completely destroyed by the Palisades wildfire. One of our chaplains spoke with him and listened compassionately as he shared his grief. He was devastated to see how the fires had obliterated the homes of the families he had served for so many years. Soon, their conversation

turned to faith. Luke explained that he grew up in a religious home but never committed himself to God. The catastrophic damage and loss of life from the fires had changed his heart. Now, he knew he needed the Lord. After following along as our chaplain read through “Steps to Peace With God,” he decided to embrace the truth that “when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy” (Titus 3:4–5, ESV). Luke was eager to share that his daughter attends church, and he plans to join her there as soon as possible.

An Eternal Home in Heaven

GEORGIA

Chaplains visited Brad* after his home in Valdosta, Georgia, was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. The wind had downed a tree, which cut right through his house. He was inside when

it happened, and the experience had shaken him and made him think about eternity. Our chaplains asked Brad about Heaven, and he said he hoped to make it there. He listened with an open heart as they shared the Good News that for those who trust in Jesus Christ, “if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV). Brad was eager to respond—he wanted to fully surrender his life to Jesus Christ. With the chaplains by his side, he prayed to accept Christ as Savior and follow Him as Lord. We praise God for this new brother!

He Found What His Heart Was Longing For

KENTUCKY

Aiden* met a couple of chaplains at our Mobile Ministry Center in Pikeville, Kentucky. Devastating floods had hit his neighborhood, and he was hoping to find a generator and a heater. The young man was with Grant,* his girlfriend’s dad. After making sure Aiden knew how to find the physical resources, our chaplains turned the conversation to “the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12, ESV). Grant said he was a believer, but Aiden shared that he had never made a decision to follow the Lord. He listened to the chaplains share the Gospel with an open heart—and then prayed to surrender his life to Jesus Christ! We give God all the glory for this changed life! Will you join us in praying for our new brother and his family as they recover from the flooding?

You can bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to people enduring tragedy.

PRAY

Please pray for people across our nation and around the world who are suffering in the wake of natural and man-made disasters. Will you ask God to give BG-RRT chaplains strength and wisdom as they minister in Jesus’ Name to these men and women? Please also lift up in prayer the Sharing Hope in Crisis trainings taking place across the globe—and online.

GIVE

Your gift to the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team helps comfort the hurting with the hope of Christ by training and deploying chaplains into crisis situations throughout the U.S. and around the world.