Unity in the Wake of Tragedy
Mass Shooting Brings Rapid Response Team to the U.K.
June 10, 2010 - The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team in the United Kingdom is responding to a tragic mass shooting.
On June 2, a taxi driver drove his vehicle on a shooting spree in a quiet rural area of Cumbria, spreading death across 10 miles in Seascale, Whitehaven and Egremont. The gunman later shot himself. At last count, 13 people are dead and 11 are wounded in northwest England. Rapid Response Team (RRT) chaplains are on the ground assisting.
Witnesses say many are reeling from the trauma and that grief is widespread. This is the deadliest mass shooting in England since 1966.
An Emergency Response Briefing, attended by 58 people representing at least eight churches, was held to equip local church members to counsel people in crisis situations. There has also been heavily expressed interest in holding a one-day Sharing Hope in Crisis (SHIC) Seminar as well as RRT returning to this district in the future to support and encourage local church communities.
There was also a school visit, along with an informal meeting with teachers to explore a coping strategy with them.
"Thank you so much for all your prayers and thoughts for the people of West Cumbria and also our team here in Whitehaven," said Mike Freeman, Rapid Response Team Manager for the U.K. “We have been very church- and church leader-focused. We are already seeing the fruit from relationships built over the past five days — unity within the church.”
Visit the BGEA United Kingdom website »
Help Us Share Hope
Rapid Response Team deployments are just one way the BGEA reaches the lost and hurting. Please donate online today. Is there anything more important than reaching a soul for eternity?
Please Pray:
- for the families of those who died,
- for the wounded,
- and for the RRT in the UK that God guides their steps and helps them respond with wisdom and compassion.
PRIVACY
