In the wake of previous major national disasters such as the California fires in 2003 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many students and members of the Biola community have felt the urge to respond to those in need. Unfortunately, most are not trained in disaster relief nor are sure of how to help. On September 11 to 12, 2009 Biola University will be the first university to host rapid response training through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and ministry, created by the BGEA, sends teams of chaplains into disaster-affected areas to minister to the emotional and spiritual needs of hurting men, women, and children.

“We recruit and train the chaplains and volunteers, and then call on them to deploy when the need arises, often at a moment’s notice,” according to the BGEA.

The rapid response free training seminar gives people the skills and ability to share God’s hope and comfort with those who experience a personal crisis or those in a natural disaster. The two-day “His Presence in Crisis” training will prepare students and the Biola community as a whole to minister more effectively to those in our internal and external communities.

Those who attend the training may apply to become ministry volunteers with BGEA’s rapid response team, therefore being able to assist chaplains in the organization’s disaster response. Also, BGEA is assisting Biola in creating it’s own Soul Care ministry, which would offer prayer to individuals on campus who are struggling in any way. As students have often requested to be excused from classes in the past to help with natural disaster relief, the BGEA is willing to work with Biola to develop other opportunities for students to assist in crisis response without interfering with their education.

The Department of Spiritual Life at Biola believes this to be the kind of care Biola can and should be offering to those in need — a spiritual and emotional touch that brings the hope of Jesus Christ to those in pain in an immediate way. This seminar will assist Biola in continuing to impact the world as a first responder through training the community to bring the hope of Christ to individuals who are hurting and those in or surrounding the Biola community.

This training opportunity is open to the general public as well. There are 700 spots available for the training. The seminar will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009 and end at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Registration will close September 4, 2009.

Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator. Jenna can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.