DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — Lakes Area Vineyard Church Pastor Troy Easton welcomed the news media to join his congregation for the start of their morning church service on Sunday, Nov. 3, but at the same time, asked any reporters present to remain respectful of a church in mourning, by refraining from doing interviews, taking photos or recording video while on church premises. “I want you (the media) to know that I understand you have a job to do,” Easton said. “However, I’m going to ask that you also respectfully understand that I do too.” The Detroit Lakes Tribune chose to honor that request, to facilitate being allowed to sit in on the service as a silent observer.   “This morning, as you would expect, our gathering is marked by a deep sadness,” Easton said, referencing recent media reports that one of the Vineyard Church’s longtime members, Beau Shroyer, was killed on Oct. 25, while he and his family were serving as long-term missionaries in Angola, Africa. Less than a week later, Shroyer’s wife, Jackie, was arrested in connection with his death, leaving their five children in a foreign land, without parental supervision — though not uncared for, as Easton emphasized more than once during his remarks. “We are a grieving church right now, trying to process and comprehend the unimaginable,” said Easton. “This definitely has been a pretty heavy and emotionally complicated week. The news of Beau’s death, along with, now, the heartbreaking news of Jackie’s arrest in connection with his death has overwhelmed us with grief and speculation and confusion. Jackie and Beau Shroyer (center) and children (from left) Avery, Oakley, Iva, Eden and Bella. (Detroit Lakes Tribune file photo) “It’s been rough, losing my friend, our friend and brother, to a senseless and vicious crime that was already so evil, especially in light of the family that he left behind and the sacrifices that we know he willingly made to love and serve God but now, that grief is compounded by news that is unthinkable. I’m so sorry, church, for your loss, for our loss, for how much this hurts … for all the unanswered questions and the confusion that creates for us. “This type of news is not the kind we want to draw attention to this place or this people, but this is our reality right now,” Easton continued. “As difficult as it might be for some of us, God has given us this opportunity now, as a community, to learn how to depend on the Lord for comfort, for wisdom, for strength, for courage. “I want you to know, church, that even in the confusion and the pain around all of this, because of what God’s word reveals to us about who he is … about his heart and his will for his people … I want you to know that I am confident that God is near to the Shroyer family, and especially to his precious children. … Beau wasn’t a perfect man. He was just like the rest of us. He didn’t get it right all of the time. Just like you don’t, just like I don’t. But he did believe in and trust Jesus. … We can rejoice and find comfort in the truth that he is forever with the King.” Related Articles Crime & Public Safety | Firefighters pull 2 children from burning Vadnais Heights townhome Crime & Public Safety | After man killed in stabbing at his St. Paul apartment building, another resident arrested Crime & Public Safety | With 14-year-old Monica Joy Holley’s homicide unsolved in St. Paul for a year, family seeks answers Crime & Public Safety | Motive remains unclear in shooting, abduction near Brainerd, Minn. Crime & Public Safety | Wife of Minnesota missionary slain in Africa has been arrested in his death, church says