In the dark of night on Sunday, June 6, a powerful tornado
touched down in Leamington, ON. The storm damaged or destroyed an
estimated 50 homes and caused millions of dollars in damage. The
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada (BGEAC) sent
Rapid Response Team chaplains to offer emotional and spiritual
support to residents who had their homes and possessions wiped out
by the tornado that swept through the southwestern Ontario
town.
The significant emotional and spiritual impact a disaster can
have on an individual is often overlooked "We are committed
to helping the people of Leamington recover by providing spiritual
and emotional support," said Melanie Neufeld, Rapid Response Team
Manager.
"We invited the Billy Graham Association to help address
people's deeper needs," said Jeph Maagdeleyn, pastor of
Leamington's Meadow Brook Fellowship Church. "People here have been
hit really badly by this - right to their core. They need help in
not just putting their houses back together, but their lives back
together. Together, we can offer them the love of Christ."
The four chaplains were able to talk and, when appropriate, pray
with 450 individuals in Leamington. As a result of his
encouragement from the chaplains, one lapsed Christian rededicated
his life to Jesus Christ. Four others also committed their lives as
new believers. The chaplains were deployed for 16 days in
total.
Linda's Experience
When we met Linda, she was hauling brush away from her property,
which had been brutally torn up in the storm. She allowed us to
share in her grief as we toured the devastation together. She was
visibly shaken and her body language appeared tense and
unreceptive. We were able to spend some time with her, relieving
some of her pent-up anxieties.
As we spoke with her, she began to connect and was open to
hearing about God and with this, the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
She made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior. Her whole
countenance changed as she experienced the peace Christ brings.
The next day our hearts were moved to assist with some of her
physical needs. We brought her lunch because she had confessed to
us that she had not been eating. When we delivered her little box
lunch, she was overjoyed. She said that she had never experienced
that kind of love and care.
Linda also shared that, for the first time that day, she
meditated on the Bible and let God give her direction in her life.
The challenges she was going through were something she would
normally flip over. She was thrilled and awed that she had peace
instead, and could see God already at work in her life.
By P.K. from B.C.
Doug's Experience
Recently our community was struck by a tornado, something we all
likely thought would never happen here. The landscape of our
scenic, southern Ontario town was forever changed. The storm came
through in the middle of the night and when daybreak came the
damage and devastation was a shock. Our town is along the shores of
Lake Erie and we have beautiful tree-lined streets, some trees
hundreds of years old.
Although there was no loss of life and no serious injuries, it
has still been very traumatic. Some people have lost their
businesses, homes, cars, greenhouses, and property. We are
creatures of habit and many people love familiarity. The landscape
that we've known our whole lives has changed.
I had the opportunity to volunteer a little with a Samaritan's
Purse relief team which was set up at our church. There were so
many wonderful, caring people with the team. I met a chaplain with
the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team one afternoon and, soon into
our conversation, I told him I had a great story to share.
Doug, who lived on a street that was one of the worst hit by the
tornado, was at the corner Mac's store a couple of days after the
tornado. A man asked him if he had been affected by the storm.
After talking briefly, the Rapid Response Team chaplain asked if he
could pray with him. Doug said he could. It happened to be the most
amazing thing anyone had ever done for him. When "the Billy Graham
guy" prayed, he felt it go right through him. He felt the power of
that prayer!
As I told the chaplain this story, he said to me with moist
eyes, "That was me who prayed with Doug. How exciting to hear how
much this meant to him!"
We sow seeds but don't often know the results, although God
always has a plan. How encouraging for us to know that we can reach
out anywhere, even at a convenience store, and God is there, right
in that moment touching someone's heart. Sometimes it takes a
tornado to do that.
By P.S. from Ontario