Billy Graham’s ninja chaplains
Posted by Jesus on May 31, 2007
There’s a neat little story over at Christian Today about a group called the Rapid Response Team, part of Billy Graham’s ministry organization. This group is made up of highly-trained chaplains and can be dispatched pretty much anywhere in the world to comfort and save souls lost and trapped in tragedy. In fact, Graham sent this team over to Virginia Tech after Dad decided to have a message delivered there last month. You probably remember it. What’s even cooler is that even people who weren’t victims of the shootings at VT will also soon get to meet this crack ninja-chaplain team due to the wonders of television.
From the article:
In a first-of-its-kind programme, the next Billy Graham Television Special will delve into the work of the rapid Response Team at Virginia Tech, as well as the horror and hope resulting from that day.
The special, to air in cities across the US from 2 to 10 June, shares the story of Maria Gillian, whose best friend Rachael Hill was killed at Virginia Tech.
Yes, you too can feel personally involved in the tragedy at VT by listening to the stories of those who lost people and are now parlaying their loss into airtime and regognition. You too can feel what it’s like to benefit from such a nasty thing as a school shooting. Unfortunately you won’t be able to share in the mountain of cash this will make for Billy Graham and company, but you’ll be included in the prayers they say at night before crawling into a bed stuffed with shredded Benjamins and pulling the soft, dollar-bill lined sheets over their meticulously pampered skin.
More from the article:
Also in the programme, Columbine survivor Crystal Woodman-Miller tells her own story of deadly school violence, and how God has used her since that tragic day to help pull others through their own personal circumstances.
Several others intimately woven into the fabric of Virginia Tech tell their versions of the events that took place on campus, as well as how they kept their hope throughout the tragedy.
Student Bill Jones, who lost a classmate and a personal friend in the massacre, says, “I only knew two of them. I dont know the personal faith of all the other ones. But you sit there and you cant help but wonder: how many of them knew Jesus? How many knew?”
Only knew two of them. Only. You know, there are people out there who knew six, seven, perhaps even ten of the students killed that day. How do you think they feel? How hard is it, do you think, for them to wonder if all ten of their friends are going to Heaven? I guess I should set the record straight and let you all know that none of them actually got here. There were two on the fence, plus a professor who looked like he would definitely get in, but in the end none of them were up to par. Still, it’s good to know that their friends are concerned a little about these things.
Even more from the article:
“Knowing Jesus makes a difference because it gives me hope,” says Sandy Violand, whose son Clay miraculously survived the shooting in his classroom. “Hope that no matter whether we live or die, that we will live in eternity with Him. I cant imagine going through life not having that.
“With all of the horrible things that happen in the world - not only here at Virginia Tech, but all over the world - we have to believe that there’s another place for all of us.”
Well Sandy, knowing me should give you hope, but more importantly living like me should earn you salvation. Here you are thinking that just because you know me that you’re going to “live in eternity with” me. Yeah right. Your son Clay survived not because of a miracle, but simply because Dad wanted him to. Someday you all might learn why. In the meantime I’d like to point out that all of this focus on Heaven and living here when you die just because you sort of pretend sometimes to believe in me just isn’t going to cut it.
I can just imagine Sandy waking up one day to learn that she’s dead, and in response getting really excited. She jumps up and hollers for joy, she’s dead and on her way to Heaven! Then the processing department in Hell recognizes that she’s woken up and starts working her over. Big surprise. Gigantic. Eternal.
In any case, there’s just something about ninja chaplains that intrigued me. I hope you all enjoy the program when it airs - I know I’m going to Tivo the heck out of it.
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Sheila said,
All characters are entirely fictional, huh? Sandy Violand isn’t a fictional character and you write as if you know something about whether she believes in Jesus Christ or not. Is this true?
Jesus said,
I know a great deal about Sandy, just as I know a great deal about you, Sheila. Omnipotence has its perks.
I know that both of you believe in me, both of you attend church together, but neither of you really live a life similar to one I would lead if I were there.
That’s okay though, I still love you. And God thinks you’re special, so you’ve got that going for you.
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