Minnesota church pastor, father of 5, Beau Shroyer, killed in ‘act of violence’ after relocating family in Africa for ‘long-term’ missionary work

A Minnesota pastor was “killed successful an enactment of violence” successful Africa while he and his family were connected a Christian ngo travel to Africa.

Beau Shroyer, a pastor of Lakes Area Vineyard Church successful Detroit Lakes, was murdered successful nan Southern African federation of Angola connected Friday, lead pastor of nan church, Troy Easton, wrote successful a letter to his congregation.

“Our beloved relative and friend Beau Shroyer was killed successful an enactment of unit while serving Jesus successful Angola, Africa,” nan missive read.

Shroyer, 44, was successful Africa with SIM USA, an statement agelong progressive successful “cross-cultural missions,” with his family erstwhile he was killed.

Easton shared that “details astir what’s happened that are still unknown,” but they person been successful interaction pinch his wife, Jackie, and are doing each they tin for her and their 5 children during this “shocking and atrocious time.”

“As much specifications became disposable regarding what’s adjacent for nan family, what arrangements are being made to observe and grant Beau’s life, and applicable ways you tin emotion and service them, we will beryllium definite to stock them pinch you,” he wrote.

“In nan meantime, please beryllium successful dream that nan God of each comfortableness would make His love, His nearness and His beingness truthful evident to Jackie, Bella, Avery, Oakley, Iva and Eden, and that they would cling to Him.”

Shroyer, 44, had antecedently worked arsenic a constabulary serviceman for nan Detroit Lakes Police Department successful 2013 and past arsenic a existent property supplier earlier he became a pastor, according to nan Detroit Lakes Tribune.

In 2021, he and his wife, Jackie, started doing missionary work.

The Shroyer family had antecedently spoken pinch nan Detroit Lakes Tribune astir his plans to relocate his family to go semipermanent missionaries successful Angola.

The pastor described nan area they were moving to arsenic a “remote bush village” pinch “no message service, electricity, nary sewer aliases h2o systems.”

“We’re really going backmost successful time,” Jackie told nan outlet.

She explained that nan family’s occupation would beryllium school nan region’s youngest residents astir Christianity and God’s love.

“Most of these kids person ne'er moreover heard nan sanction of Jesus,” nan mother of 5 said.

“That’s why we’re going … to thatch them astir nan emotion that nan Father has for them — that they are important, and that they matter.”

The mates had antecedently been to Angola connected a two-week ngo task earlier relocating to nan African nation, but Jackie said they had ne'er been to nan colony wherever they planned connected mounting up shop and preaching nan gospel.

“I’m really excited to get into nan organization and meet tons of group and shape a batch of caller relationships,” their 13-year-old daughter, Bella, told nan outlet.

Following his death, SIM USA President Randy Fairman wrote to Lakes Area Vineyard Church that nan Shroyers were among nan first families to move to Angola aft pandemic lockdowns eased.

Fairman said he was heading to Angola to comfortableness nan family and supply much accusation to nan congregation.

“It is my belief that from his vantage point, he tin spot really his family will beryllium cared for, and it is not difficult for him to spot our bully Father,” Fairman wrote successful his letter.

“From our position and nan position of Jackie and nan kids, we must now spot Jesus successful a play that we ne'er imagined.”