Last week in Haiti, on Thursday, May 23, three Christian mission workers were murdered in Port-au-Prince, the capital city. Associated Press has a report on this happening and its context. Two of the victims were Americans, working for Missions in Haiti Inc., the third was a local Haitian, director of the mission. The Americans were a young married couple, ages 21 and 23, the Haitian was the father of two children. This event is a tragedy, of course. The killings are also a fulfillment of Jesus’ teaching, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (Jn 15:20). May the Holy Spirit comfort the grieving families.
The young husband killed was son to the American founders of Missions in Haiti Inc. and apparently had grown up in Haiti. He had met his wife in the U.S. when he returned to attend Bible college. The two were killed by armed gangs which are the de facto rulers of Port-au-Prince. Port-au-Prince is a very violent city.
Anti-Christian Sentiment
The gangs across Haiti are operating in a political vacuum caused by the corruption and weakening of national government, a phenomenon going on for years and years. The gangs seek power for themselves so they can extend their rule and utilize arms-trafficking and violence to this end. Recent gang-violence is aimed at all types of authority, including police stations, hospitals, airports, seaports and is not particularly anti-Christian. The motive(s) of the gang attack on the missionaries may have been economic, to steal money and vehicles, as well as political, to stamp-out any semblance of foreign control. The attack on the three missionaries, as they were leaving a church service, was complicated, as two distinct gangs were involved at different times, and the unfolding events were chaotic.
In any case, anti-Christian sentiment is found in the U.S.A. and worldwide, just as there is animus directed at other religions and also there is general anti-religious feeling based on atheism or other reasons. The world is perplexing and full of danger.
Paul's Place for Writing 
I was praying about this just before I read your post. It truly is a tragedy. May their shed blood become the seed that brings many to salvation and the Prince of Peace to Haiti. Their lives continue in Glory because precious in the Eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints. The anarchy highlights the need for a godly government to be established there. Thank you, Paul, for thinking and posting about these dear souls who were committed to serving. We still need to pray for the safety of the orphans they were caring for.
Thanks for reading, Jacquie and I commend your prayers to God, concerning the deaths of these dedicated Christians and for healing in Haiti.
Yes, I read this Paul, and it truly grieved my heart. My brother is a missionary, and it is a part of the risk they make; there are no guarantees when they sign up to serve Jesus. I recall some of the stories one missionary would tell us about the tribal rituals and ceremonies they unwillingly became a part of just simply for serving in a particular region. May God rest their souls and their families find comfort. 😦
Hi Ellie, thanks for reading and for your concerns and prayer for people following Jesus into difficult situations. God indeed blesses them and your brother too.
The world is going mad. Such tragic loss and so young.
Thanks for reading, Kevin. The world has been going mad for eons and gets worse, gets better, than worsens again. Yes Kevin, this was a loss in several ways, including Haiti, which lost the good influence and deeds this couple would have had in the future on the country. Also, the future impact, I would think for the better, of the native Haitian missionary is lost. May their surviving families be strengthened by God to carry on.
This is such a sad state of affairs. I pray their families be covered with grace and mercy during this time of sadness.