By Adedayo Odulaja
‘The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without purpose’ – so says one of the most compelling quotes of Myles Munroe, globally respected best-selling author, renowned preacher and business coach.
And true to the essence of that quote, Munroe, who led the Bahamas Faith Ministries International and his wife, Ruth Ann Munroe, died in a plane crash on Sunday, November 9, 2014 in the Bahamas.
According to The Associated Press, the plane, a Lear LEA -1.05% 36 executive jet, reportedly struck a crane at the Grand Bahama Ship Yard, exploding on impact and crashing into the ground near a junkyard area. And although investigations are ongoing regarding the actual cause of the unpleasant incident, which has led to an outpour of tributes all over the world, the Bahamas Ministry of Transport and Aviation reported that the Lear 36 executive jet departed the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau, Bahamas at 4:07PM for the Grand Bahama International Airport, a privately owned international airport in Freeport, Bahamas with nine people on board.
The plane then crashed while making an approach for landing at Grand Bahama International Airport at 5.10pm, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation said, killing all nine people on board the private jet with the identities of the other people on board yet to be fully confirmed.
The crash occurred as people were gathering in Grand Bahama for Dr. Munroe’s 2014 Global Leadership Forum, which was billed to start today, November 10 and former mayor of Atlanta and former U.S Ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young scheduled to speak at the popular leadership forum, has released a statement in the aftermath of the accident.
Released through his foundation, the statement says: ‘Ambassador Young expresses his deep sadness over the tragic death of his friends Dr. Myles and Mrs. Ruth Munroe. He offers condolences to the Munroe family and the families of the other souls who lost their lives as a result of this shocking plane crash.’
Known for his works and teachings on leadership, purpose and maximizing your potential, vision, individual and national transformation, the deaths of Munroe, his wife and one of their two children, Charisa; has left Chairo (Myles Jr.) Munroe as the only surviving member of the family.
On his Facebook page last night, President of the Bahamas Christian Council Rev. Dr. Ranford Patterson urged people to ‘join me in prayer for BFM and the entire Bahamas as we reflect on the life of Dr. Myles Munroe his wife and team who went down in a plane crash today.’
On his own, Prime Minister Perry Christie said: ‘It is utterly impossible to measure the magnitude of Dr. Munroe’s loss to The Bahamas and to the world.
‘He was indisputably one of the most globally recognizable religious figures our nation has ever produced. His fame as an ambassador for the Christian ministry preceded him wherever in the world he traveled, whether in the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe or Africa.
‘He was a towering force who earned the respect and admiration not only of Christian adherents but of secular leaders both here at home and around the world.
Among Myles Munroe’s last media interviews was the one granted KTN’s JKL Show in Kenya on October 24 and in which he talked about dying.
‘I want to challenge every Kenyan to go to the cemetery and disappoint the graveyard. Die like the Apostle Paul who said I have finished my course, I have kept the faith and I have been poured out like a drink offering. There is nothing left. I am ready to die. That’s how I wanna die because there is nothing else for me left to die,’ he told the show’s host, Jeff Koinange.
‘When you die, die like I am planning to die. Empty. It’s finished,’ he added
The 60-year-old preacher published more than 100 spiritual and inspirational works and was a government and business consultant to Fortune 500 businesses who travelled to over 130 countries. A total of 49 of his books were best sellers.
4 comments
I loved Dr. Munroe and Family. I was just thinking this last week how I wanted to make a trip to the Bahamas to hear Dr. Munroe and visit his church. Very thankful for his books and teachings. He enhanced our lives all around the world. Praying for Myles Jr. and the church family.
R.I.P mr and mrs Myles… am without words to express my condolence
I am still attempting to understand why,but I am accepting that I will never hear your wise and provoking teachings my mentor.Thanks Dr Myles for a life lived effectively.You will always be in our memories.
We were so sadden to hear of Dr Munroe's death. we were able to hear him preached when my wife and I went on vacation some years ago to the Bahamas to his church, we saw him at Bishop Roy Brown church in Brooklyn. we also heard him ministered in Oral Roberts Universary in Tulsa
Oklahoma.