Beyond the dangers faced by law enforcement, the life of a missionary often involves exposure to disease and, tragically, sometimes death. Last week, this reality struck Paraguay with the murder of an American Christian missionary.
Wayne Goddard, 50, who dedicated over 25 years of his life to missionary work among the Ava Guaraní and Paī Tavyterã tribes, was shot and killed on April 9, according to a FOX News report. Goddard served as a cross-cultural worker for Ethnos360, an international missions agency that trains and sends missionaries worldwide to reach unreached people groups. He had been working with the mission agency’s partner, Misión a Nuevas Tribus en el Paraguay, since 1994.
“We feel deep sorrow and are mourning the loss of Wayne Goddard, one of our own,” said Ian Fallis, a spokesperson for Ethnos360, in a statement to Fox News. “Please join us in prayer for his family and the people he served and loved in Paraguay. We also want to recognize the sacrifice that Wayne made as he followed our Lord in willing service for more than two decades.”
Goddard’s funeral took place in Paraguay on Sunday, and a memorial service is being planned for May in Nebraska. He is survived by his brother and father.
According to Ethnos360, Wayne Goddard, 50, was killed in Paraguay last week. Local authorities have one suspect in custody in connection with the killing, and the investigation is ongoing.
The mission group, originally founded as New Tribes Mission in 1942, has a global network of approximately 2,500 missionaries from various evangelical churches serving in Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. This tragic event highlights the risks that missionaries face while serving in remote and sometimes dangerous locations. The sacrifice and dedication of individuals like Wayne Goddard are a testament to their faith and commitment to spreading their message.
Police work isn’t the only dangerous profession. It is not uncommon for missionaries to be exposed to disease and death, as it just occurred in Paraguay. An American Christian missionary was shot and killed last week in the country, the mission organization that sent him confirmed. Wayne Goddard, 50, a missionary to the Ava Guaraní and Paī Tavyterã tribes for over 25 years, was gunned down on April 9, FOX News reported . Goddard served as a cross-cultural worker for Ethnos360 , an international missions agency, which trains and sends missionaries around the world to reach the unreached people groups, and worked with the mission agency’s partner, Misión a Nuevas Tribus en el Paraguay, since 1994. “We feel deep sorrow and are mourning the loss of Wayne Goddard, one of our own,” Ian Fallis, a spokesperson for Ethnos360, told Fox News. “Please join us in prayer for his family and the people he served and loved in Paraguay. “We also want to recognize the sacrifice that Wayne made as he followed our Lord in willing service for more than two decades.” His funeral was held in Paraguay on Sunday and a memorial service is being planned for May in Nebraska. His brother and father survive Goddard. American Christian missionary, Wayne Goddard, 50, was killed in Paraguay last week, according to the mission organization that sent him. (Ethnos360) One suspect is in custody in connection with his killing and the investigation is ongoing, according to local authorities. The mission group, founded as New Tribes Mission in 1942, has a global network of about 2,500 missionaries from a variety of evangelical churches serving in Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region.