SURFSIDE, FLORIDA — Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are ministering at the Family Reunification Center near the collapsed condo tower in Surfside, Florida.

Relatives of the residents are arriving from all over the world as they await news about their loved ones. Many are sharing photos and even their own DNA in the hopes of identifying their family members.

RRT Chaplain:

Thursday 1:00 am is apparently when the building collapsed. Our team has been on the ground at what’s called the Family Reunification Centre.

Michelle Gawlinksi, Billy Graham RRT Lead Chaplain:

Family members are flying from all over the country, and from all over the world to come and wait and have hope for their families. While they’re here they’ve registering under their family’s name and they’re supplying their own DNA so they can be able to identify any of the victims that they do locate.

RRT Chaplain:

It hurts us because we see so many people that are effected. Part of chaplaincy is really just the ministry of presence, of just being there, it’s encouraging them, praying with them when we have that opportunity. Mostly sharing just the love of Christ by being there and helping out.

Michelle Gawlinksi:

I’m hoping that we can pray with people, we can give them comfort and we can uplift them. And we’re here to be the hands and feet of our Creator.

About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 300 disaster sites, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.

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