Sunday Martyr Moment: Haitian Missionaries Davy and Natalie Lloyd

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to think about those who preceded us in death for the cause of Christ. In this series, all the past essays have presented honor to those who were persecuted unto death from Paul’s time through the first waves of persecutions, ending with persecutions under Marcus Aurelius in 162AD, with one essay leaping forward in time to present honor to the martyr Jan Huss who was killed in 1415.

Today I bring you sad news of a current persecution unto death for the name of Christ. On May 23, 2024, three missionaries, including an American couple, were killed by gang in Haiti

The CNN news reports, linked above, states,

Three missionaries, including a married couple from the US, were killed in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Thursday evening. Davy and Natalie Lloyd “were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed,” Natalie Lloyd’s father, Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker, said in a Facebook post. “They went to Heaven together.”

“Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well,” Baker said. Mission director Jude Montis, 45, was also killed. All three worked for Missions in Haiti, Inc., which has been operated by Davy Lloyd’s parents for more than two decades, according to the group’s website.

Davy Lloyd, 23, had a “love for Haiti,” his father David Lloyd told CNN. “His first language was Creole. He used to tell us when he was little that someday he was going to be a missionary in Haiti.” He and Natalie Lloyd, 21, were ambushed as they left church in Port-au-Prince on Thursday evening, according to David Lloyd.

The situation in Haiti had become volatile and excessively dangerous. In fact, the airport at Port-Au -Prince had been closed for three months due to gang violence and chaos. When it reopened last week, Davy’s father David Lloyd, who ran the mission from the US, asked if Davy and his wife Natalie wanted to leave. They said no, because there were children they were taking care of. They loved Haiti and the Haitians, and wanted to continue serving them in the name of Jesus, despite the fact that violence had severely escalated, and kidnappings were rampant, especially targeting Missionaries.

Davy was actually on the phone with his father David when the attacks occurred. He and Natalie had been beaten, but survived the first wave of attacks. But the gang returned, and shot Davy and Jude and set their bodies on fire. They also killed Natalie. The US Embassy eventually obtained the bodies of the two Americans and are currently searching for a plane that will return them home.

Though their bodies have not yet found eternal rest, their souls are now safe in the arms of Jesus, with eternal peace and a crown for their gift of life given to Him for His name.

No doubt hearing ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ upon their co-arrival to heaven.

James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [a]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10