Billy Graham Anxious for Friends After Bridge Collapse
American evangelist Billy Graham said he was anxiously watching the news to find out if many of his friends and former staff members in the Twin Cities were safe after the sudden collapse of a vital Minneapolis bridge earlier this week.
"For more than fifty years, our office headquarters was in Minneapolis and we have many hundreds of friends and former staff members in the Twin Cities," said Billy Graham, in a statement Friday.
"Along with so many others in Minnesota and across the country, we continued to closely follow what occurred and were anxious to hear they were all safe," Graham said.
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The renowned preacher said that he was "thankful" to receive a report that the car carrying his friends to the Twins game at the Metrodome passed over the bridge at 6:03 p.m. – just minutes before the bridge collapsed.
"But while we were relieved and rejoiced to get this word, we mourn with those who mourn," Graham said.
On Wednesday, the eight-lane I-35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River in less than four seconds, bringing with it dozens of cars as well as construction workers that were in the midst of repairing two lanes on the bridge. The collapse has killed at least five people and injured some 100 people. Meanwhile, an estimated eight people are still missing as searchers continued to comb the river for a second day for the victims, according to The Associated Press Saturday.
Graham said that his organization has deployed its Rapid Response Team chaplains to serve in the aftermath of the tragedy. The chaplains will join the Salvation Army, which was on the scene moments after the accident.
Salvation Army emergency disaster services vehicles are serving food and water for relief workers and survivors. Meanwhile, Salvation Army officers (pastors) and volunteers trained in Critical Incident Stress Management are offering emotional and spiritual care. The Salvation Army has served more than 475 people.
The Southern Baptist disaster relief unit in Minnesota has also offered its relief response unit.
"We have been praying for comfort and strength for the families who have lost loved ones, the injured, and those traumatized as a result of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis this week," Graham assured.
"We are also much in prayer for the safety of the emergency workers who have been doing such a tremendous job of rescue and recovery," he said.
The collapse does not appear to be terrorism-related, but rather the 40-year-old bridge was "structurally deficient," reported the Minneapolis Star Tribune, citing the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory in 2005.
Investigators are currently trying to pinpoint what caused the massive bridge collapse, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday, according to CNN.
