Kelvin Austin, who was in his 30s, was reportedly shot twice in the head while praying with fellow believers in his evangelical ‘Independent Assembly of the Mantle’ church in the southern sea town of Moruga.
Local Christians said Austin wrote to the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, three days before his death asking for protection. Local media quoted police as saying that they believe people were paid to kill the pastor, who also traveled Trinidad with his believers as he preached.
A motive for Austin’s killing remained unclear Monday, March 26, and no arrests were apparently made. Salem Voice Ministries (SVM), a major mission group supporting Christians persecuted for their faith, said it learned that the Austin and church members were attacked as they gathered for prayers last Wednesday, March 21, at 5 am local time.
WOMEN AND BABIES
Some news reports said the shooting began when Austin his wife, and 14 members, including seven women and two babies, were gathering for a time of prayer.
"Unexpectedly there were two armed men wearing black wigs with red streaks entered into the
church and introduced themselves as police," SVM said in a statement. "They ordered the people to lie on the ground and asked: ‘Who is Pastor Austin and let him stand up’. After he stood up and said "I am Pastor Kelvin Austin," they shot him." Two bullets went through his head and he died on the spot, SVM added.
Pastor Austin is survived by his wife Natasha Austin and their two children. The family and some of the believers recently started the church at Gomez Trace village, which is part of Moruga. The congregation consisted mainly of young people, including even infants, SVM said.
The Christians gathered in a three bedroom, galvanized house, which was without electricity, telephone or running water. There were a few small tents outside the building where the Austins’ were sleeping.
"DEDICATED MAN"
"Pastor Kelvin Austin was a dedicated man of God. He founded the church about five years ago
with a vision to establish ‘Gospel villages’ and to train young people," his wife Natasha said in a statement. Some of neighbors reportedly said Austin preached every day in the yard outside the shack, and noted that "the group appeared happy."
Austin quit fishing several years ago and began preaching in the regions of Morvant, Lengua and Princes Town before moving to Moruha. John, 19, told local reporters that, "No one knows why it happened. He was always a man of God."
Nearly 60 percent of the Caribbean nation’s roughly 1.1 million people are Christians, while Hindu and Muslims comprise almost 30 percent of the population, according to a 2000 census. (With BosNewsLife Chief International Correspondent Stefan J. Bos and reports from Trinidad and Tobago).
