In this issue
Hospital workers killed in Yemen
Mourning, rejoicing, asking why
Worth it all

Pray
Going
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Hospital workers killed in Yemen
“All Jibla weeps for them.”
—Malka al-Hadhrami, Yemeni friend of Dr. Martha Myers

Three International Mission Board workers were killed and another wounded Monday, Dec. 30, when a lone gunman attacked a Baptist hospital in Jibla, Yemen.

Those killed:
• Hospital administrator William E. Koehn, 60, of Arlington, Texas

• Physician Martha C. Myers, 57, of Montgomery, Ala.

• Purchasing agent Kathleen A. Gariety, 53, of Wauwatosa, Wis.

Injured:
• Donald W. Caswell, 49, of Levelland, Texas

Quotable
“People talked about the ways Bill encouraged them to be a leader, to think and listen and to care for the Yemeni people. They spoke about Martha’s great passion for the Lord and the selfless way she gave herself to Yemenis, no matter what the cost. They praised Kathy’s deep desire to serve people and the way she touched so many lives behind the scenes.”
—John Brady, leader of IMB work in Northern Africa and the Middle East

“This [gunman] did not take their lives; they chose to give their lives long ago when they responded to God’s call.”
—John Brady, leader of IMB work in Northern Africa and the Middle East

Mourning, rejoicing, asking why

You may already have heard of these deaths through the secular media, but we’re sending you this special e-letter because you’re part of the family. You and your church supported Bill, Martha and Kathy in their lives and ministry—through your gifts to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, through your prayers for their work and perhaps through volunteer service alongside them or encouragement through letters or personal contact.

Because you and your church are part of their family, we’ve provided tools to help you share the news with your church, rejoice in their lives and witness, mourn the loss and put their deaths into context.

• Read the latest news about their deaths and reaction in Yemen and the United States. Hear related audio and video clips.

• View a gallery of photos of each of the deceased workers during their work in Yemen.

• Download a sermon by Jerry Rankin, International Mission Board president.

• Download a 60-second video tribute to show in your church.

• Read commentary: Living and dying for God in a dangerous world.

• Send an expression of sympathy to the families.

Worth it all
When Matt Lauer interviewed Kathy Gariety’s brother, Jerry Gariety, on the Today show, Lauer asked him if his sister would want the work of the hospital to continue. Gariety’s answer: “I’m quite sure of that. I’m quite sure that if Kathleen was not one of the victims and she was there, that even with the concerns that we still would have, that she would remain. Absolutely!”

Thousands of other Southern Baptist workers, many in places where they also face danger, give that answer by staying on their posts after their colleagues’ deaths. Remember that you support these Christian heroes when you give through your church to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

You can give now to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Pray
The murdered workers’ colleagues ask that you pray ...

• that many Christians will continue to follow the examples of Myers, Koehn and Gariety and take Christ to the nations—even the most dangerous places.

• that God will encourage the workers in Yemen, giving them a new vision for what God wants to do there.

• that many people will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ through the testimonies of these who have died and their colleagues who remain.

See urgent prayer requests.

Going
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“A Southern Baptist Convention entity supported by the Cooperative Program
and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®.”

®Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.