Chaplain Training

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Sharing Hope in Crisis Course

Learn how to share God’s love and comfort with those suffering. As an individual or group you’ll be equipped with practical skills such as understanding trauma, being a good listener, and knowing what—or what not—to say to someone who is grieving. This course qualifies as a training requirement to become a RRT chaplain volunteer.

Register

Critical Incident Stress Management

Two CISM courses need to be selected from the list provided to meet chaplain requirements. These courses should be completed within the first 24 months of receiving approval as a chaplain.
*Completion of these courses does not automatically mean an applicant is approved.

Register

Training Events

FAQ’s

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) requires chaplains to complete the following five training courses: Sharing Hope in Crisis (SHIC), Spiritual and Psychological First Aid, and one additional Critical Incident Stress Management course (CISM) from this list, an online Chaplain Deployment Orientation, and the Christian Life and Witness Course (CLWC). However, if you have completed any of these trainings prior to approval, they will still be credited to you. Note: The online Chaplain Deployment Orientation and CLWC will be made available to you after chaplaincy approval is confirmed within the BG-RRT iServe system.

Sharing Hope in Crisis Live Seminar (6 hours)

The one-day Sharing Hope in Crisis (SHIC) seminar is intended for anyone and everyone in the church. All of us know a friend, neighbor or co-worker who is struggling with a life crisis. This seminar was developed to help you know what to say and what not to say when people grieve, and how to compassionately and appropriately share the love and hope of Jesus Christ. This training is also beneficial for first responders and church leaders who face suffering people on a regular basis.

This six-hour course, along with the online Sharing Hope in Crisis online course, meets the suggested requirements for RRT chaplaincy.

6

Sept

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Oakdale Baptist Church

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Register

27

Sept

Pasadena, California

Pasadena First Church of the Nazarene

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Pasadena, California

Register

4

Oct

Washington, District of Columbia

Bethesda Baptist Church

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Washington, District of Columbia

Register

18

Oct

Vancouver, Washington

Living Hope Church

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Vancouver, Washington

Register

The Sharing Hope in Crisis On-Demand Training Seminar was developed with you in mind. This is the same training as our one-day in-person seminar, but at your leisure, from your own home or with a group, and is free of charge.

Sharing Hope in Crisis On-Demand Training Seminar

Available

Sharing Hope in Jesus’ Name Conference

This training conference is a combined effort of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team ministry and Samaritan’s Purse North American Ministries group. Registration is now open for the 2023 conference in Orlando, Florida February 23-26, 2023 at the Orlando Renaissance Hotel.

register here

Critical Incident Stress Management

Spiritual and Psychological First Aid and one additional CISM course should be selected from the list provided to meet chaplain requirements. These courses should be completed within the first 24 months of receiving approval as a chaplain. Some CISM trainings are offered online while others require attendance.
*Completion of these courses does not automatically mean an applicant is approved.

Ongoing Classes

K-Love Crisis Response Care Training

More Info

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

More Info

Living Shield Ministries

More Info

Lake C.I.S.M Training

More Info

The Academy National Institute

More Info

Host a Live Sharing Hope in Crisis Seminar

If you are interested in hosting a live seminar, read the FAQ, hosting guidelines and equipment requirements. Then, fill out a request form.

Hosting FAQ
Hosting Guidelines
Equipment Requirements
Promotional Plan
Session Topics

In addition, if you’d like to host a seminar, please call the Rapid Response Team at (800)335-1337 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST Monday-Friday or email [email protected]. We encourage churches or organizations to see this as a regional event and invite others to attend.

Hosting Request Form

Testimonies

  • “May I just say personally and from responses and comments, thank you for bringing not only a meaningful teaching but even more so the inspiration to serve and love our ‘neighbor’ given to all from the heart of a pastor. The topics on the agenda were covered well but of additional significance was the opening of eyes to SEE and the desire in hearts to RESPOND which will have untold application. Thanks for ‘sharing hope!'”
    –Sharing Hope in Crisis Participant from Franklin, TN

  • “I felt the compassion and grace that we learned could be put to good use in most any ministry. The SHIC course had numerous tips to gracefully help those
    that were hurting and we have hurting people all around us.”
    –Sharing Hope in Crisis Participant from Melbourne, FL

  • “I felt the conference was very beneficial, the material was useful not only for occasional crisis situations which attract the attention of the national or even international community but also for daily crisis situations which people are experiencing daily.”
    –Sharing Hope in Crisis Participant from Melbourne, FL

  • “This may have been the best training for the local church I’ve witnessed. It was inspirational, educational and motivational. Compassion ministry is a critical pathway for the church today.”
    –Pastor attending a New York Sharing Hope in Crisis seminar

  • “At the undergraduate level, this is the best integration I’ve seen of Biblical principles and approach with crisis intervention.”
    –Regent University Psychology Professor

  • “Sharing Hope in Crisis not only equipped us for local ministry, but opened up an avenue of ministry for our people to respond nationally with BGEA.”
    –Cincinnati Care Pastor

  • “The Sharing Hope in Crisis training helped us think through some short-term missions concerns and now we are excited about sending our people with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team as part of our missions ministry.”
    –San Diego Pastor

  • “This is the first time I’ve seen a strong Biblical approach to the crisis intervention training that I’ve had over the years. It’s great to bridge the two together!”
    –Haitian Pastor

  • “Two trained RRT chaplains are members of the church I pastor. They have been using and sharing their training in the church’s compassion ministry and we’ve seen the hurting find hope in a relationship with Jesus. What an encouragement their training has been to our church family!”
    –Pastor from Grass Lake, MI

FAQ's