Pastors cryptic comments stun church after his missionary friend was murdered by wife in Angola
A pastor friend of a missionary feared to have been murdered by his wife in Angola said the victim wasnt a perfect man.
A pastor friend of a missionary feared to have been murdered by his wife in Angola said the victim wasnt a perfect man.
I want you to know, church, that even in the confusion and the pain around all of this, because of what Gods word reveals to us about who he is...about his heart and his will for his people...I want you to know that I am confident that God is near to the Shroyer family, and especially to his precious children...Beau wasnt a perfect man, Troy Easton, the current lead pastor at Lake Area Vineyard Church said Sunday.
He was just like the rest of us. He didnt get it right all of the time. Just like you dont, just like I dont. But he did believe in and trust Jesus...We can rejoice and find comfort in the truth that he is forever with the King.
Beau Shroyer, 44, a former lead pastor, was killed to a senseless and vicious crime that was already so evil on October 25 during a missionary trip with his wife, Jackie, and their five children.
In a letter sent out on Friday, Easton revealed that Jackie was arrested in connection to Beaus death.
The couples children are all stuck in Angola and being cared for, Easton shared during Sunday morning church service.
A friend of Beau Shroyer, 44, the missionary allegedly murdered by his wife in Angola, Africa on October 25, said he wasnt a perfect man. (Pictured: Beau with his wife Jackie and their five kids)
Troy Easton, the current lead pastor of Lakes Area Vineyard Church, hes been having a tough time navigating the sudden death of his brother, while also acknowledging that Beau didnt get it right all of the time
This morning, as you would expect, our gathering is marked by a deep sadness, Easton started off.
We are a grieving church right now, trying to process and comprehend the unimaginable.
This definitely has been a pretty heavy and emotionally complicated week. The news of Beaus death, along with, now, the heartbreaking news of Jackies arrest in connection with his death has overwhelmed us with grief and speculation and confusion.
Its been rough, losing my friend, our friend and brother, to a senseless and vicious crime that was already so evil, especially in light of the family that he left behind and the sacrifices that we know he willingly made to love and serve God but now, that grief is compounded by news that is unthinkable.
Im so sorry, church, for your loss, for our loss, for how much this hurts ... for all the unanswered questions and the confusion that creates for us.
Easton added that this is not the type of news they want to draw attention to, but that is what they have been faced with at the moment.
He and his wife, Jackie, became missionaries in 2021 - and became one of the first families to move to Angola after pandemic lockdowns eased
Beau, his wife and children moved to Africa in 2021 so he could become a missionary with the organization SIM USA. Jackie was later arrested for his death
As difficult as it might be for some of us, God has given us this opportunity now, as a community, to learn how to depend on the Lord for comfort, for wisdom, for strength, for courage, Easton added.
The pastor made it clear that media personnel were welcomed at the service, but he asked them to respect the grieving church community.
Lake Area Vineyard Church declined to comment further when contacted by DailyMail.com.
Beau, his wife and children moved to Africa in 2021 so he could become a missionary with the organization SIM USA.
The pastor previously described the African area as a remote bush village with no electricity, sewer or water systems, the Detroit Lakes Tribune reported.
Randy Fairman, the president of SIM USA, told congregants of the pastors church that he received a call informing me that Beau Shroyer was killed while serving Jesus in Angola and is now with his Savior.
It was later revealed that Beaus wife, Jackie, was arrested in connection to her husbands death.
This is unimaginable and yet it is very real, Easton wrote in a letter sent out last week.
I love you very much and I am heartbroken and in shock that I need to send this type of update to you today, he told the congregation, imploring them to sit down, take a deep breath and remember that God is our ever-present help in times of trouble before he revealed the news.
Beau had previously worked as a police officer, joining the Detroit Lakes Police Department in 2013, before becoming a real estate agent
A motive for his death has not yet been revealed, and the charges against Jackie remain unclear
The pastor went on to say our grief and sadness has deepened immeasurably with the news of Jackies arrest.
As a community, we must cry out to the Lord for his grace, mercy and comforting presence for the Shroyer children and family, Easton added.
A motive for his death has not yet been revealed, and the charges against Jackie remain unclear.
SIM USA leaders also said they were shocked and devastated by the news.
SIM is grateful to Angolan law enforcement for their diligence in investigating this matter and encourages patience and respect for all involved as the legal process unfolds, they told Valley News Live.
SIM remains committed to supporting the ongoing pursuit of justice for Beau and has taken steps to ensure that Jackie has appropriate legal representation, they added, noting its leadership team is also working with Lakes Area Vineyard Church to care for the Shroyers five children and everyone else affected by this tragedy.
We continue to keep them all in our prayers.
The late father previously worked as a police officer, joining the Detroit Lakes Police Department in 2013, before becoming a real estate agent, according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune.
He eventually changed careers again to become a pastor, and in 2021, he and his wife, Jackie, became missionaries - and became one of the first families to move to Angola after pandemic lockdowns eased.
Beau would often share updates about his missionary work on social media, as he appeared in good spirits the day before he died.
He spoke about making a connection with an Angolan student en route to his ministry project that day.
Beau would often share updates about his missionary work on social media, as he appeared in good spirits the day before he died
also shared a photograph of himself getting his first haircut in Angola on October 15, a couple weeks before he died (seen above)
It’s 11:18am. I’m just driving on the road to my ministry project, Shroyer wrote in his final post. I met a young man, Mauricio, walking who is one of my helpers. He’s walking to school. Something he does 5 days a week. His class starts at 1pm.
This is one of the reasons that the Nyneka people who we are serving are among the most marginalized people groups in Angola. They lack access to education, he wrote on Facebook.
Beau went on to link Mauricios plight to his ministry work, which he said provides vocational training to young men
Please pray for Mauricio and others like him who spend half of their day walking to school and back, he wrote.
Also, please consider a financial gift to our SIM project to help develop the still raw land into the thriving youth ministry center we envision.
He had also explained during a presentation that the government of Angola had given the ministry a parcel of land next to an orange farm that was constantly attacked by criminals, according to the Christian Post.
At the top of his list of needs for the property that he presented to Country Faith Church was the need to build a perimeter wall and hire more security.
Shroyer explained that the orange farm installed an electrified, 10-foot high razor wire fence and hired about 50 guards to protect the farm, but they still struggled with crime in the area.
