News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Billy-Graham-Rapid-Response-Team-Nice-main_article_image.jpg
Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
World News

Billy Graham team in Nice to pray after terror attack

by Hannah Tooley

The Rapid Response Team chaplains have made their way to the popular tourist destination after more than 80 people were killed by a man driving a lorry into crowds on Bastille Day on 14th July.

Ten children were killed during celebrations along the sea front.

Chuck Bender is the Chaplin Coordinator at the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and told Premier prayers are needed for forgiveness because people are angry and confused.

He said: "Pray for a healing, forgiveness.

"I know that's difficult, but that's the process of trauma.

"[We need to] take those steps and pray for the chaplains here that they'll have wisdom and clarity and can come alongside these folks and be able after all to share the Gospel."

Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

He added: "People are suffering from what we call post-traumatic stress.

"They're angry, they're confused, they question God, why would a good God have something like this happen to them?

"We want to reassure them that God does love them, He cares about them and that he's there to love and help them."

He told Premier how they are operating: "We come alongside of them, we carry candles, lighters, Kleenex [tissues] and a bottle of water.

"As they're mourning we ask them if they'd like to light a candle, or they'd like a drink of water, and just stand there and grieve with them.

"[We ask] would you like to pray? And of course they respond with a yes."

The trip to Nice is the fifth time in the last nine months that the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has sent chaplains into areas hit by disaster.

In November the team travelled to Paris following the terrorist attacks, in January they responded to the flooding in Shipley, West Yorkshire and Inverurie, Aberdeenshire and in March the team visited Brussels after terror attacks.

Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Chuck Bender here:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate