The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

Last Christmas, we deployed into a non-crisis setting for the first time, serving as chaplains at Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoe box processing centers. Our success during this non-crisis deployment enabled us to pray for 450 individuals.

Because of this, we will now deploy Rapid Response Team (RRT) members to Vancouver, B.C. during the Games. The Rapid Response Team members will be prepared for crisis response but will also simply talk and offer to pray with Olympic employees, athletes, visitors, and residents of Vancouver.

A training session is planned for the B.C. lower mainland on November 6-7, 2009 at Willingdon Church in Burnaby. If you know anyone who might be interested, please help spread the word! Promotional materials with more details will be available mid-September. If you have questions before then, please contact Melanie at mneufeld@samaritan.org or 1.800.293.3717.

Schedule

Registration Friday 5-7pm

Session Friday 7-9pm

Session Saturday 8am-3pm

Ministry Opportunities

As most of you know, RRT will be present in Vancouver during the Winter Games! Here are some important ministry opportunities for you to consider participating in:

• Serving as “Community Chaplains” — RRT members with qualifications/certification as chaplains or pastors will be available should a crisis happen.
• Serving at prayer booths — Located beside Salvation Army canteens/warming tents, RRT members will distribute reading materials to visitors and be available for prayer. (Good for those who may not be as comfortable engaging strangers).
• Assisting with street evangelism in Vancouver — RRT members will attend several Christian concerts, creative arts events, and children’s events around the city to talk and pray with visitors.
• Conducting intercession/prayer walks — RRT members with the gift of prayer (our prayer warriors!) will be stationed at local churches or venues and pray for our chaplains, for the events, and for individuals.
• Serving in the RRT call center — RRT members with administrative skills will be armed with phones to direct volunteers, help in emergencies, and keep track of where each chaplain will be located and housed during the Games.
• Assisting with street ministry — RRT members will assist the poor, prostitutes, and drug addicts on Vancouver’s East Hastings Street.
• Providing hospitality — Christians living in the Vancouver area will open their homes to host chaplains during the Games. 
• Supporting RRT financially — Maybe you would like to get personally involved but can’t take time away from work. We encourage you to support the RRT team or a chaplain. All gifts are tax deductible and each one, no matter how big or small, makes a difference!