It was a heartbreaking time as crisis-trained Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains attended a ceremony where the names of all 16 seniors who died in a June Manitoba bus crash were revealed to the public.
“We went not sure if we would gain entrance; however, we gained favor to bring God’s presence and His peace to this sober event,” said Wanda Burchert, who led our chaplain team in the town of Dauphin, where most of the bus crash victims lived.
The Lord gave chaplains many opportunities to greet people afterward, including Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak. Many expressed their happiness that chaplains were present. For this, we are thankful for the prayers and gifts of people like you, who made the week-long deployment possible.
At the naming ceremony, a chaplain had an opportunity to sit with and pray for an older lady who came alone. She was very appreciative and said she was blessed that the chaplain spent time with her.
Another chaplain met Roger,* a man sitting outside a church. He shared that his mother attended that church. When the chaplain asked Roger if he had the assurance of heaven or salvation. He replied he wasn’t sure.
“I want to show you how you can know for sure,” the chaplain said, and carefully showed Roger the organization’s ‘Steps to Peace With God’ booklet. At the end, she asked if Roger would like to read the prayer of salvation “I already just prayed it,” Roger said. The chaplain and Roger then also prayed it aloud together. Praise God!
Praying with Residents
We thank God that in the midst of this tragedy, He opened doors for the chaplains to pray with almost 130 Dauphin residents—including church leaders and police and fire officials—throughout the community and at a vigil for the crash victims.
In addition, we had the opportunity to present “God’s Hope in Crisis,” a two-hour class that equips people to deal with crises in their lives and the lives of loved ones. More than 60 residents and church leaders attended.
“This was a significant event after a week of ministering in this community,” said Wanda, who taught the course. “We pray this training was helpful and useful as the community heals and supports one another.”
Please pray for the people of Dauphin as they work through their grief and shock. And please consider how you can prayerfully touch lives with the hope of the Gospel through the Rapid Response Team ministry.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV).
*Name changed to protect privacy
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