Church rocked after slain missionary’s wife arrested

TO Leonardo Blairsenior reporter Monday, November 4, 2024

Members Vineyard Church in the Lakes Region in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where the late Beau Shroyer and his family were longtime members of the family before moving to Lubango, Angola to serve as missionaries in 2021, are now shrouded in a complex web of emotions upon learning that Beau’s wife, Jackie Shroyer, was arrested in connection with a murder in the southern African country just over a week ago.

“It was quite a difficult and emotionally difficult week. The news of Beau’s death, as well as the heartbreaking news of Jackie’s arrest in connection with his death, has left us overwhelmed with grief, speculation and confusion.” – Troy Easton, Lead Pastor, Lakes Area Vineyard Church said in a message to your congregation on Sunday.

Easton’s comments to his congregation regarding the death of 44-year-old Beau Shroyer came less than 48 hours after he announced in letter that Jackie Shroyer was arrested.

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“As you all know, our community is deeply saddened by the death of our dear brother and friend Beau Shroyer, who was killed in a brutal criminal attack in Angola, Africa on Friday, October 25th. Today, our grief and sadness deepened immeasurably when we learned that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, was arrested in connection with his death,” Easton wrote. “I am very sorry and I simply do not have the words to express my disbelief and regret at this news.”

The Shroyer family worked with a missionary organization. US SIM card During their stay in Angola, Easton said the couple’s five children were “well taken care of” despite the tragedy.

“What I can tell you is that the Shroyer children are well cared for and we will work together with SIM USA and SIM Angola to ensure that continues to be the case,” Easton explained.

In a presentation about his missionary work in Lubango Village Faith Church In June’s now private YouTube church, Jackie Shroyer, also 44, said she and her family moved to Angola about three years ago. She said it was the first time they had lived abroad as a family and their first time working as missionaries, and they had a hard time adjusting.

She explained that during their first year in Lubango, they focused on learning the Portuguese language and culture, while also constantly battling malaria and security issues.

“We have fought many other diseases. We had a lot of security problems. Mistrust of security guards. We went through a lot of security guards and our house was broken into several times during the night while we were sleeping at home,” Jackie Shroyer said.

“On top of everything else, trying to figure out how to live in this culture, we had so many changes, so many difficult experiences that caused a lot of fear and trauma,” she added.

The couple said they returned to the U.S. this summer for the first time since moving to Lubango in 2021, and Beau Shroyer, who previously worked as a realtor and police officer, quickly announced the move. his professional realtor Facebook page that he was open to work during his stay in the US.

“I’m back in Detroit Lakes for the summer and I’m still licensed to help you buy or sell your home in Minnesota. (…),” he wrote on June 1.

While ministry officials confirmed Bo Shroyer’s death was “violent,” it remained unclear Monday how exactly he was killed as the church asked for privacy during the grieving process. And while he doesn’t know exactly how God will work this tragedy out for the good of the church, Easton said he has faith that God will work it out.

“I understand that losing my friend this week, our friend and brother, to a senseless and brutal crime has already been very painful, especially in light of the family he left behind and the victims we know he has already brought to love and serve God. but now this grief is compounded by unimaginable news,” he told his congregation on Sunday.

“I’m so sorry, church, for your loss, for our loss, and for how much it hurts. “I apologize for all the unanswered questions and the confusion this creates for us, and I’m just deeply sorry that this is what we as a community have to go through and face right now.”