Davy and Natalie Lloyd Are Two More Martyrs for the Cause of Christ
They were killed while serving the suffering children of Haiti
On May 23 a young missionary couple from the U.S., Davy and Natalie Lloyd, were murdered by a street gang in Haiti. They were attacked when they left a youth meeting at their church. The gang had arrived to rob the mission when shooting broke out. Davy, Natalie, and a Haitian pastor were killed. Natalie’s father, Missouri state representative Ben Baker said, ““My heart is broken in a thousand pieces…I’ve never felt this kind of pain.” Davy, the son of missionary parents had grown up in Haiti. He met Natalie at Ozark Bible Institute and after getting married they moved back to Haiti to work with the children of that beleaguered country.
Ozark released a statement: “On Thursday evening, May 23rd, we received news about the tragic martyrdom of our missionaries, Davy and Natalie Lloyd. They now join an ever-increasing number throughout Church history who have willingly laid down their lives for the sake of the gospel.”
They are now numbered in the long list of martyrs who have died for their faith and in the midst of this tragedy we learn a lot about our God and our Christian faith.
Why were they in Haiti? A statement written by Davy’s mother in the mission’s May newsletter gives you an idea: “As you may know, our Son Davy and his Wife Natalie are working full time with us now. We really appreciate all the help they have given us. Natalie has been helping with the kids at the House of Compassion and assisting in our ACE school. Davy has been working on a lot of badly needed projects around our compound. Davy built a laundry room on the back of the House of Compassion and now the ladies don't have to wash clothes outside!”
Typical of missionaries for the past 2,000 years the Lloyds were reaching out to a suffering people, trying to make life better for them and presenting the great and glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why is this so important?
The lives and martyrdom of Davy and Natalie Lloyd answers the question, why is Christianity the most powerful cultural force that has ever existed? Why is it the largest religion in world history?
Because, In the midst of the darkness of this tragedy there is a powerful ray of hope. Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ, produces people like the Lloyds who are willing to lay down their lives for the poor, the suffering, the orphan, the sick, and the forgotten of this world. And he has produced millions of them. One missiologist said that more people died for Christ in the twentieth century than in all the centuries before combined. And the 21st century is proving to be no different. But this level of commitment answers the above questions: Why is Christianity so powerful? Why will it be triumphant in the future no matter what the opposition?
One consistent criticism I have for Christianity’s competitors is that they do not sacrifice for what they believe. I was chatting with a young environmentalist in front of my house. She was dedicated enough to go door to door trying to get people to sign a petition for some green cause. I told her, “What interests me about you people is your unwillingness to make real sacrifices for your cause. I have a student (at Colorado Christian University) who is in North Africa right now learning Arabic. She intends to devote the rest of her life to reaching people with her beliefs. I have yet to meet an environmentalist with that level of commitment.”
When you ponder the future of the Christian faith, and for that matter the future of America and Western culture, remember the Lloyds. They were 23 and 21 years old. The Holy Spirit is producing young men and women today, as He has in every age, to go forth and change the world for Christ. Our future is in the hands of people like Davy and Natalie Lloyd. In the mist of this unspeakable tragedy this gives us great hope.
If you are watching this video you have not yet been called to die for our Lord. But we are being called to live for Him. In 1 Corinthians 15:31 the Apostle Paul tells us that he “dies daily” in his walk with the Lord. He was a daily martyr for the cause of Christ. And that is what we take from this tragedy. We are prevailed upon to die daily for Christ and serve Him to the end of our days.
Be sure and check the links below for pictures of the Lloyds and their work in Haiti. We celebrate their commitment to Christ and grieve for their families.
May our Lord give you the strength this day to live and die for Him.
The AP report on the tragedy:
The website for Mission In Haiti, under which to Lloyd’s served:
The Facebook post of Natalie’s father, Rep. Ben Baker:
The Lloyd’s May newsletter:
An article and pictures from Christianity Today:
Ozark Bible Institute memorializes Davy and Natalie Lloyd: https://www.obi.college/
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