The wife of an American missionary killed in Angola last week has been arrested for his murder, the senior pastor of Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes, Minn., said Friday in a letter to the congregation.
Beau Shroyer was killed in a “violent and criminal attack” while doing missionary work in the southern African country on October 25, Pastor Troy Easton wrote in a statement to inform the community of “unimaginable” recent developments. » of this shocking story.
“Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I’m going to ask you to sit down, take a deep breath, and remember that God is our ever-present help in times of need,” Easton began.
“Today our grief and sadness deepened significantly when we learned that his wife, Jackie Shroyer, was arrested in connection with his death,” the pastor continued, adding that he was still in shock and that he didn’t even have the words. to express disbelief.
The couple moved to Angola with their five children three years ago to serve as missionaries with SIM USA, an interdenominational evangelical Christian mission organization based in North Carolina.
Last week, Easton said in a message to the community that Mark Bosscher, the organization’s personnel director and general counsel, informed him that Shroyer had been “killed in an act of violence while serving Jesus.” .
The pastor also said he had been in contact with Jackie Shroyer and that the church was doing everything it could to support the family “in this shocking and horrible time.”
In a separate letter to the community, SIM USA President Randy Fairman said the Shroyers were “among the first missionaries to begin serving with SIM USA after COVID lockdown measures were eased.” They have brought a faithful, energetic, growing, loving aroma of Christ into our family.
Before becoming a missionary, Beau Shroyer worked for the Detroit Lakes Police Department, according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune. He also worked as a real estate agent before moving abroad.
According to Easton, the couple’s five children are “well taken care of” and the church will continue to work alongside SIM USA and SIM Angola “to ensure that continues to be the case.”
A representative for the church did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday afternoon.
