Posted on 05/24/2024 10:13:08 AM PDT by Drew68
Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker said Friday that his “heart is broken in a thousand pieces” after his daughter and son-in-law were taken hostage then later killed by a gang in Haiti.
Natalie and Davy Lloyd were among a group of missionaries who were ambushed as they left a church on Thursday, the nonprofit Missions in Haiti Inc. wrote on Facebook.
A gang of “3 trucks full of guys” whisked the group away, the nonprofit, which is run by Davy’s parents, David and Alicia Lloyd, wrote in a frantic Facebook post calling for “urgent prayers.”
“Davy was taken to the house tied up and beat. The gang then took our trucks and loaded everything up they wanted and left. Another gang came after to see what was going on and if they could help, so they say. No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode.”
Davy and Natalie tried to use an internet connection to call Davy’s parents, the nonprofit’s post continued. “So they are holed up in there, the gangs has shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot,” the post added. “Their lives are in danger. I have been trying all my contacts to get a police armored car there to evacuate them out to safety but can’t get anyone to do. I also am trying to negotiate with the gang so how much $ to stand down and let them leave and get to safety. PLEASE PRAY- Going to be a long night. The phones have all died I can’t get a hold of anybody for the past several hours now to know what was going on.”
However, a follow-up post three hours later said, “Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and killed by the gang about 9 o’clock this evening.”
Baker wrote on Facebook that he had “never felt this kind of pain.”
Violence has reached fever pitch in Haiti in the weeks since a new prime minister was announced last month, and kidnappings of missionaries and other foreigners are extremely common.
But just two weeks ago, Missions in Haiti said they felt the situation was stabilizing as the U.S. military sent personnel and equipment, and a Kenya-led international force was slated to arrive later in May.
“It may be the worst is behind us now and better days ahead,” the group wrote on Facebook. “We are believing this is the case and Haiti is coming out of this dark time.”
Five days ago, the group said things had calmed down even further. “Gang activity still happening with looting and destruction, but much less then before,” they wrote. “...For the past 2 weeks we have watched US military planes fly over several times a day. They are flying in equipment and supplies for the international force that is coming. It is reported the first 200 troops from Kenya are to land this week. Some gangs are realizing their rule is about to come to an end. 3 gang guys that come to the bakery for bread a couple times a week, I asked them what their plans are. They said ‘run to the Dominican Republic when the fighting starts.’”
Thank you
Yes, he was good. He not only paid his bills, he put him on his own donkey and took care of him as best he could. This was a parable of Jesus demonstrating how we should love our neighbor sacrificially.
If you mean to imply that benevolent works are fine without including gospel teaching, then okay - you are correct - we should not fail to do a good work even if we do not have the opportunity right then to share the gospel.
I do believe, however, that long-term planning of a missionary trip should include scheduling time to share the good news of Jesus. Any group can do "good works" - the rotary club, the shriners, and various cults can do benevolent projects. Christians are reflecting the light of Jesus as they serve sacrificially and bring the news of his salvation.
1 Corinthians 7:16-17 New International Version
16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
(Now we can fuss over what does THIS mean ;^)
I love that scripture. To me it sounds like the context is new Christians making decisions about their previous life choices and circumstances that have present day consequences. Paul tells them to not make radical life changes - but to live your new redeemed, repentant “believer” life within those circumstances.
Now everything in their lives will be blessed by the reality of the new life in Christ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.