In August 2024, David Lloyd Jr. – the father of a young missionary killed with his wife, alongside a local mission director, by an armed gang in Haiti – released a written update about the ongoing work of Missions in Haiti, Inc. on the gang-dominated Caribbean island.
David Lloyd III, 23, and his wife Natalie, 21, married in June 2022, were killed on May 23 2024 during an armed gang raid alongside local mission director Jude Montis, 45, as previously reported by Christian Daily International. David Lloyd Jr, father of the younger David, vowed at the time to carry on the work of Missions in Haiti Inc, which he founded with his wife Alicia in 2000.
The ministry is focused on helping children living in poverty in Haiti, bringing the gospel through projects such as a House of Compassion providing schooling for youngsters, Good Hope Boy’s Home for boys who lost everything in the hurricanes of 2008, and a weekly church program for children.
David Lloyd Jr’s August update recalled the terrible events of May 23. Details of the events are not all known, but the trio were under fire for two hours and the gang broke into a small house in a compound and killed them.
Haitian children and staff, locked for safety in the House of Compassion during the gang raid, heard the younger Davy preaching as he was killed.
“A lot of people heard the gospel message that night and for many it was probably the first time that they had heard it,” wrote his father, in the August newsletter. “It was a couple weeks after the murders that I learned of Davy’s preaching.
“Prior to that I had asked God many times, ‘how could you allow this to happen, when so many times before you showed up to protect us?’
“Then, after hearing how strong Davy’s voice was carrying the gospel message through the night air and the strength he had even after the first [gang] group pistol-whipped him and slammed his head into the concrete walls several times, causing blood to flow from the wounds and most likely causing major head trauma.
“I still don’t have all the answers, but I now realize that God did show up and He gave Davy anointing like he had never had before.”
The previous newsletter had recalled with excitement the fact that Davvy and Natalie had joined the mission in Haiti as full time workers.
“Davy and Natalie had a deep love for the people of Haiti, they witnessed firsthand the daily struggles of the average Haitian,” Lloyd recalled. “Davy, Natalie and Jude knew that Jesus is the only answer for Haiti and they shared that vision with the people in our area every day.”
Jude Montis had been mission director for 20 years, involved in all aspects of the ministry and “we all loved Jude dearly.”
“I still don’t understand the why, but we are resolved to keep trusting God and we believe that something great will be accomplished for His Kingdom through the testimony of these three,” wrote Lloyd.
“We are comforted knowing that the minute their souls left their bodies, they were in Heaven in the presence of Jesus!”
Looking to the future has been extremely challenging for all those who loved Davy, Natalie and Jude.
“We should have updated you on the current status of Missions in Haiti several weeks ago, but every time I tried to put my thoughts down on paper, my mind would go blank and I would become overwhelmed with emotion,” wrote Lloyd. “This is without a doubt the most difficult letter I have written during my 26 years as a missionary in Haiti.”
The mission base is still controlled by hundreds of gang members. The ministry has been unable to return to the area. The mission, school, church and bakery “remain closed until the gang situation is resolved.”
All the main staff and children from the House of Compassion and the boy’s home have been relocated to a safer site with food and shelter. This unanticipated measure has cost the mission a lot of money to get the new location “back into a usable condition.”
“Our older boys jumped in and helped with the move and the renovations and we are grateful to them for all their hard work! Our children will be able to continue their education at the new facility.”
Lloyd gave thanks for the generous financial donations given. For example, funds have replaced a truck stolen during the armed gang raid. Offerings sent to help the family of Jude Montis were also appreciated, which helped pay for his funeral and to support his widow and two children.
“Jude and his wife were in the process of building an elementary school in the area where his wife owns some land, and we have committed to provide the financial support that will enable Jude’s wife to finish building the school as soon as things are safe in that area,” wrote Lloyd.
Lloyd wrote that more than 100 gang members from the north of the island took part in the murders and property destruction during the terrible events of May 23.
“We will probably never know what prompted the gang to act that evening, but reportedly they were high on drugs and alcohol and full of satan.”
Lloyd wrote that the general picture for Haiti still seemed bleak. The U.S. had supplied weapons and Kenya had sent police to try and battle the gangs. But little progress had been made to restore stability and bring the gangs under control. Some 12,000 gang members control the daily lives of about 12 million Haitians, according to Lloyd, and 30 innocent people are killed on the island every day, including children.
“There is a deep sense of hopelessness and despair throughout Haiti. Please keep us in your daily prayers as we seek God’s will and direction for our ongoing works in Haiti.”
Lloyd has made three trips back to Haiti since the murders, including with Natalie’s father, Missouri State Rep. Ben Baker.
“Our Haitian kids were definitely glad to see us and we really enjoyed spending time with them and our staff.”
Lloyd vowed that “Haiti is our home and our hearts are there with the people of Haiti.” Even so, those involved from the outside in the mission are working through “a very difficult healing process and our mental state will not allow us to live in Haiti full time.”
Plans ahead include monthly visits, and particularly to show staff and children that they are loved and not abandoned.
“We do hope and we believe that at some point the gangs will be controlled or eliminated and we will be able to reopen the House of Compassion, our schools, our church and our bakery.”
Lastly, Lloyd vowed that the mission would never give up on the peoples of Haiti.
“To quit now would dishonor Davy, Natalie and Jude and the ultimate sacrifices they made for the people of Haiti. As Natalie’s father, Ben Baker, said in an interview, “Places that are the darkest need the most light.” Haiti needs Jesus!”
