These people might disappear if they approached me after a disaster.

[Are_grits_groceries]

Collateral damage from the storm. They proselytize as they offer their help. People are very vulnerable and more willing to listen. IMHO help should be offered without any strings or sermons. Leave some material for someone to read but leave them be.

Hurricane Sandy: Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Chaplains Deployed Into Multiple Disaster Areas - Christian Newswire
<snip>
"We all watched this unique 'superstorm' coming from far off, and could see the potentially devastating course," said Jack Munday, international director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. "Sadly, it seems that the worst fears were realized and millions of people are now hurting as a result of Hurricane Sandy. I'm not sure that there are words that can adequately describe the enormity of this massive disaster. We'll do all we can in the face of this catastrophe to offer emotional and spiritual care and the hope and compassion of Jesus Christ."
<snip>
http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9545570765.html

[Uben]

1. Here's what I'd do......

...I'd say "Look fellow/lady, you have your beliefs, I have mine. Nothing you can say will change my beliefs, and I don't push mine on others, so you may as well move on down the the road brother, cuz you're not gonna find any cooperation here." I'd be cordial about unless they pushed.....and then they'd get both barrels (figuratively). I do not like being approached about religion because I'm not religious. I do not believe in organized religion. It is the biggest scam the world has ever known and more people have died because of it than any other reason. I have led a very good life, have never been in trouble for anything, have donated yearly and volunteered for many good causes. Not because I'm religious, because I believe in helping my fellow man. One doesn't have to be religious to be a good citizen.

[ananda]

2. If they came to my door I would say:

If you were practicing what you're preaching, you would
be raising money to donate to Red Cross and not here
wasting time and money.

[Uben]

5. That's a good response, too.

I believe everyone has a right to their beliefs as long as they don't push it on others. When they do, they open the door for my scorn, and I don't hold back!

[knitter4democracy]

3. After our really bad storm, we had the Baptists show up.

They had a whole crew, and I had several huge trees down I couldn't afford to take care of and was slowly whittling away at. They cut up all the trees, piled up all the firewood for me, even took care of the city tree we all knew the city would blame on me. At the end of a long, hard day, all they asked was to give me a Bible with all their names, and to pray with them. They saved me $2000 I didn't have, so I was glad to thank them and pray with and for them.

After the Mississippi flood in 93 or so, I went with some kids from my Christian college to do flood clean-up in St. Louis (that was nasty, nasty work!), and all we did was work to clean up a guy's home down to the studs so it could be cleaned properly then, dried out, and rebuilt. We didn't say anything of our school or faith or anything until he asked why we were there helping him. Then, we answered his question and kept on working. We found dead fish up in rafters and behind nasty drywall. Anyway, not all Christians helping out with flood cleanup or storm work are proselytizers or mean.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. I am sure they are not.

These people are vultures and notorious for their behavior.

[IdaBriggs]

6. The Southern Baptist & Mormon disaster relief teams are just flat out *AMAZING*.

I've never heard anything bad about them; they are the "put your time/energy where your mouth is" folk.

The Southern Baptist folk were feeding people during Katrina *before* Red Cross got there, and then when Red Cross got there, they would pack up and go to the next spot.

They also make a point about not proselytizing during disaster, but rather are *demonstrating* the whole "Love One Another" concept.

We have good people in this country; I am so grateful President Obama appointed a DISASTER PROFESSIONAL to be in charge of FEMA - they have been doing a GREAT JOB.

[knitter4democracy]

8. Exactly. They live their faith quietly and without show.

That's what we need, not missionaries.

[luv_mykatz]

7. I agree with the Op.

People can be in a very vulnerable position after a disaster. Folks should be able to receive help without having to endure being preached at.
If these teams can help without forcing their beliefs on people who need this assistance, than well and good.
If the teams insist on preaching to people in return for the help...well, I think that is dispicable.

[Octafish]

9. Billy Graham? The guy who wanted Nixon to bomb the dikes and flood North Vietnam?

Sorry I can't find the memo at the moment, but Mickey Z gives us a few details:

Dam Nation.

The Reverend also comes across as an anti-Semitic.