El Paso Strong: Chaplains Witness Lonestar State Shine in the Midst of Darkness

EL PASO, TX – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) is offering emotional and spiritual care in the aftermath of the deadly El Paso shooting that killed 22 and injured many more in Texas. “Only God can change a person’s heart,” RRT chaplain Joseph Morrison said. “We’ve got to keep pressing. Today could be our last day; we don’t know.” Along the border city of El Paso, Texas, a bright star sits resolutely atop one of the surrounding Franklin Mountains. Despite Saturday’s mass shooting that’s shaken thousands across the nation, the star—created by an electric company decades ago—still shines. Even in a time of darkness, the city below follows suit as people continuously cling to one another during candlelight vigils and at memorial sites, now crowded with roses, wooden crosses and mementos. “[Many] keep saying ‘El Paso Strong,’ and you are strong,” Wendy Pittman told several ladies near the Walmart where 22 innocent lives were taken and dozens more injured.

Offering a listening ear and prayers to the hurting, Pittman is part of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team that has chaplains in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, after the weekend’s double deadly shootings.

Nearby, crisis-trained chaplain Joseph Morrison wrapped his arm around the shoulders of community member Carlos Truax, encouraging him to overcome evil with good.

“Let His light shine before men that they may see Your good work,” Morrison asked the Lord.

And time after time, a dozen blue-shirted Billy Graham chaplains solemnly asked the God of the heavens to come down and bring His presence to El Paso.

A presence that can be found even in the midst of tears and deep loss; one that doesn’t discriminate between the city’s various colors and range of diversity, but gives love to all.

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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.

To read more news on Disaster Relief on Missions Box, go here.

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