by Robert Earl Houston
The Faith Community around the world received the shocking news on late Sunday afternoon that internationally known preacher and author, Dr. Myles Munroe, his wife Lady Ruth Munroe, his executive pastor Richard Pinder, and several members of the staff of his congregation, Bahamas Faith Ministries, International, were killed in a tragic airplane crash in the Grand Bahamas Shipyard, on approach during a storm to the airport.
According to the church’s website, the souls who perished in the crash included, Dr. Munroe, his wife, Pastor Ruth Monroe, senior vice-president Dr. Richard Pinder, newly installed Youth Pastors Levard and Radel Parks and their son Johannan, and pilots Stanley Thurston and Farkhan Cooper, and one additional passenger.
Dr. Munroe, 60, was a trailblazer in so many areas. He was one of the first international voices that God raised up from the small nation of the Bahamas, as a prophetic voice in this generation. His teachings on leadership, on developing the next generation, on singleness, and life after divorce, have been cutting edge and the basis or echoes of many teachings that are commonly found within the Body of Christ.
There was not a medium of ministry that Dr. Munroe was not involved in. Whether it was writing books, speaking at auditoriums, stadiums or at private meetings with heads of state, or television ministry or internet, he was “everywhere” while encouraging everyone else to be “everywhere” as a believer.
I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Munroe on several occasions and he was in person like he was on television – smiling, laughing, full of joy, and serious about ministry. A clip that is found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noLu-9PauxU&feature=youtu.be had an interesting comment by Dr. Munroe about leadership. He stated that the problem in his country and others like his is that leadership is not preparing the next generation. He used an example of a runner who refuses to pass of the baton to the next runner and that the runner will wind up dead in a casket while someone has to pry the baton from his hands. He was intentional on raising up the next generations of leaders and, ironically, was on his way to a conference he was conducting on Global Leadership with an emphasis on growing new leadership.
His compendium of literary works include: The Principles and Power of Vision; Understanding the Purpose and Power of Woman; Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer; Rediscovering the Kingdom; Keys for Marriage; Power of Character in Leadership; The Purpose and Power of Love and Marriage; Kingdom Principles: Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion; Spirit of Leadership; The Purpose and Power of Praise and Worship; The Most Important Person on Earth; Understanding Your Potential: Discovering the Hidden You; Waiting and Dating: A Sensible Guide to a Fulfilling Love Relationship; Understanding Your Place in God’s Kingdom; Fatherhood Principle; Understanding the Purpose and Power of a Man; Single, Married, Separated and Life after Divorce; the Myles Munroe 365 Day Devotional; and many, many more. At his death he authored or co-authored over 100 books, and wrote from various publications, Bibles, and online magazines.
Dr. Munroe was born on April 20, 1954 and was a lifetime resident of the Bahamas. He graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Education and Theology in 1978. He earned his Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Tulsa in 1980. He has received many honorary doctoral degrees and briefly served as an adjunct professor of the Graduate School of Theology at ORU.
He is the founder of the Board of Trustees of the International Third World Leaders Association. He has been invited to over 80 nations as an ambassador of his nation, to address government bodies, business leaders, universities, and religious organizations. He received numerous civic awards including being the youngest recipient of the Queen’s Birthday Honors of the Order of the British Empire Award 1998 bestowed upon him by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II of England, for “his spiritual and social contributions to the national development of the Bahamas.”
His wife, Ruth, served as co-pastor with him at his church. The couple are survived by two adult children, Myles, Jr. and Charisa. Homegoing services are pending.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CHURCH:
On behalf of the Board of Governors and the entire Bahamas Faith Ministries Family we wish to extend our gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of love and support by the many persons who have offered condolences and prayers.
Among those confirmed to have passed away in yesterday’s tragic plane crash were Founder & President of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Pastor Ruth Munroe, Senior Vice-President Dr. Richard Pinder, Newly installed Youth Pastors Lavard and Radel Parks and their son Johannan, Pilots Stanley Thurston and Farkhan Cooper and one additional passenger.
Words cannot express our profound sense of loss for all of the team members on this tragic flight. Dr. Munroe was our visionary, our founder, our mentor, advisor, father figure and friend. He was a global leader and icon and was respected worldwide. His wife Ruth was a faithful companion and constant support for Dr. Munroe and was equally beloved.
Dr. Richard Pinder was the embodiment of a true Pastor who loved people, was faithful in service and gave his best to all. Pastor Rich as he was affectionally called was truly the glue that kept our ministry together. His warm smile and personal pastoral care was truly a comfort and a blessing to so many of our members throughout the years of our church.
Pastors Lavard & Radel Parks were recently installed as Youth Pastors of the Youth Ministry having both being officially ordained and installed as the church’s second full time Youth Pastors on Easter Sunday April 20th 2014. Both were products of both Dr. Munroe and Dr. Pinders’ leadership and were personally mentored by Dr.Dave & Pastor Angie Burrows.
Our pilots included Senior Officer Stanley Thurston who was an experienced pilot and served for many years as Pastor Myles’s personal pilot. Also on board was Co-Pilot Frakhan Cooper who was also a faithful member of our aviation team. Both gave excellent service.
Dr. Munroe taught us to have faith and to pursue purpose and advance the Kingdom Principles of Jesus Christ here on earth. He also taught us to be leaders. As a Church body and organization we will move forward as Dr. Munroe would have wanted us to. We recognize that there will be challenges but we have full confidence that God will see us through and we intend to make our founding leaders proud.
We ask for your continued prayers and support. We will issue further details on plans for home going services and other matters relating to the future of Bahamas Faith Ministries in due course.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.
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Filed under: Homegoing of a Saint
