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4 Baptist workers from U.S. killed, 1 critically wounded in northern Iraq drive-by shooting by Rick Warren and BP Staff |
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| Aid workers killed Jean and Larry Elliott of Cary, N.C., Karen Watson of Bakersfield, Calif., and David McDonnall of Rowlett, Texas, died of gunshot wounds inflicted by a drive-by shooter as they were assessing humanitarian needs in northern Iraq March 15. Photo courtesy of Baptist Press |
A Note From Rick:
Four IMB missionaries were murdered in Iraq this week (see below for further details). We were shocked to learn that Larry and Jean Elliott, Karen Watson, and David McDonnall were gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Mosul. David's 26-year-old wife, Carrie, was also injured, but not killed in the brutal shooting.
These missionaries were serving in Iraq, in spite of the great risk of danger, in order to relieve the suffering of Iraqi people and share the Good News with them. All four died from bullet and shell fragment wounds from automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades used by the Muslim militants.
At this time I am calling our entire church family to prayer, and I ask that your congregation join us. The most powerful and effective thing we can do to help is pray for the families of these missionaries - that they will be comforted in their grief by our Heavenly Father's tender love and by the knowledge that these people gave their lives for the ultimate cause, God's Kingdom, and were immediately welcomed into heaven as heroes with great rejoicing. The Bible says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15 (NIV)
I also ask you to pray for the healing of those who were injured in the attack. At Saddleback, we support over 5,400 missionaries around the world through the International Mission Board.
Finally, I ask you to pray that this demonstration of sacrificial love in the name of Jesus will touch the hearts of many Iraqi people and cause them to be curious about why someone would leave the comfort and safety of America to travel to the other side of the world in order to serve those in need. History has shown repeatedly that the sacrifice of missionary lives has often been the catalyst for spiritual revival and church growth in many countries. The Bible says, "The greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for friends." John 15:13 (NLT)
In times like this, we are reminded that Jesus was crystal clear; following him could cost us our lives! He said, "If anyone wants to follow me he must take up his cross and follow me." As Mel Gibson's 'Passion' has vividly shown, when Jesus said that, no one took up a cross unless the Romans were planning to nail them to it. It meant certain death. Jesus was saying, "I'm going to die for you and you must be ready to die for me." This year millions of Christians around the world will give their lives for their faith.
But Jesus also said, "Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive A HUNDRED TIMES AS MUCH IN RETURN and will have eternal life." Matthew 19:29 (NLT)
A question we should all ask ourselves is this: Am I living for "here and now" or am I living for eternity? The martyred missionary Jim Elliott wisely said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose." These four people gave their lives for Jesus, and will be rewarded for eternity. What are we living our lives for?
Our church family has sent out over 4,500 people on different short-term mission projects around the world. Almost all of these places are extremely safe and secure for ministry. But as we press further into our global P.E.A.C.E. plan, we will no doubt pay a price - just as your church may one day pay a very high price for its missions work.
We are in a spiritual battle, and we must be prepared with a solid faith, a mature attitude, an unswerving commitment, a tender heart, and a willingness to do whatever Jesus asks of us.
God is going to use you, and those in your church family, to help bring about a New Reformation in the church and the world. We must be ready for anything.
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Four Americans researching needs for humanitarian projects in northern Iraq were killed and one was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting March 15 in Mosul. The workers were in the area under the auspices of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.
Killed were Larry T. Elliott, 60, and Jean Dover Elliott, 58, of Cary, N.C.; Karen Denise Watson, 38, of Bakersfield, Calif.; and David E. McDonnall, 29, of Rowlett, Texas. The Elliotts had served with the International Mission Board in Honduras since 1978 and transferred to the Middle East in February 2004. Watson had been with the board since March 2003, McDonnall since November of last year.
McDonnall's wife, Carrie, 26, also of Rowlett, Texas, remains in critical condition March 16.
David McDonnall died the morning of March 16 en route to a military support hospital in Baghdad. Four U.S. military surgeons had worked six hours to save his life.
IMB President Jerry Rankin said all Southern Baptists shared the sorrow and grief of the families and co-workers.
"In times like this, there are no words that will take away the pain of a loved one's violent death," Rankin said. "Everyone in the IMB family and everyone who loves Southern Baptists' overseas workers are grieving with the family members and co-workers of these precious souls.
"We are grateful that God himself comes alongside us in our deepest sorrow and comforts us in a way no one else can."
According to the IMB, the four workers died from bullet and shell fragment wounds reportedly fired by unidentified assailants wielding automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.
Before heading to the mission field the Elliotts were members of First Baptist Church in Cary, N.C. They kept close tabs with members of the church; whenever they were stateside, they stayed at First Baptist's mission house.
Watson, meanwhile, was a member of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Calif.
McDonnall was a member of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
The McDonnalls, who had met as IMB workers in the Middle East, celebrated their first wedding anniversary during a volunteer trip to Iraq last June.
The International Mission Board has mobilized its prayer network and is asking Christians everywhere to pray for the healing of the injured workers and the comforting of all the families involved.
The board is ministering to the families of the victims. A field representative has been dispatched to the injured workers, who are being treated at a U.S. military hospital.
The deaths of the Elliotts, Watson and McDonnall came barely a year after IMB missionary Bill Hyde was killed by a terrorist's bomb at the airport in Davao City, Philippines. Just 14 months ago, Southern Baptists also suffered through the deaths of three workers who were murdered by a terrorist at the Baptist hospital in Jibla, Yemen.
-Pastors.com®-
Related stories:
Baptists not alone in grief over 4 murdered relief workers in northern Iraq, IMB says
Elliotts knew service in Iraq 'was God's calling'
McDonnall gave his life in 'a collision between love and hate'
Watson remembered as one who 'sold out for Jesus'
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