Publishers react to sudden death of prolific author

Internationally renowned author Myles Munroe was killed Sunday, Nov. 9, when his private jet struck a construction crane and crashed at the Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, Bahamas. The Lear 36 Executive jet had taken off from the Bahamian capital of Nassau and crashed as it was landing. Munroe was 60.

The crash killed nine people on board, including Munroe’s wife, Ruth; his Bahamas Faith Ministries deputy, Richard Pinder; and another pastor and his family. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

Munroe was senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship. He has trained leaders around the world and served as a consultant to governments and Fortune 500 companies.

Munroe was on his way to his 2014 Global Leadership Forum. The forum was shortened but went on as scheduled.

Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, was scheduled to speak at the forum and released the following statement: “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.”

The prime minister of the Bahamas, Perry Christie, responded as well.

“It is utterly impossible to measure the magnitude of Dr. Munroe’s loss to the Bahamas and to the world,” Christie said. “He was indisputably one of the most globally recognizable religious figures our nation has ever produced.”

Munroe’s books include Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer (Whitaker House) and Burden of Freedom (Charisma House). Destiny Image planned to publish Rediscovering the Principle of Kingdom Citizenship in June.

Don Nori Jr., CEO of Nori Media Group, published Myles Munroe books, including Overcoming Crisis, Rediscovering the Kingdom and Understanding Your Potential, under its Destiny Image imprint.

“After 23 years of publishing partnership, it’s with a heavy heart that we at Destiny Image say goodbye to our longtime author and friend Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife, Ruth, whose lives were taken suddenly yesterday afternoon,” Nori said. “Let us join in praying for the Munroe family as well as their Bahama Faith Ministries congregation. Though they will be sorely missed, their spiritual and social impact will continue on through the many whose lives have been touched by their work.

“Dr. Myles Munroe will best be remembered for pioneering the message of the kingdom, how it operates and how each of us can fulfill our purpose within it,” Nori added. “Supporting this was his motivation to help others reach their potential by drawing on their own greatness and purpose in order to live fully.”

Bob Whitaker Jr., president of Whitaker House, with whom Munroe published more than 20 books, spoke of his “great sorrow” at the news of the author’s passing.

“Dr. Munroe’s engaging energy, coupled with his profound knowledge of the Bible and human nature, greatly impacted our world with a message of hope and inspiration,” Whitaker said. “A man from humble beginnings empowered by God, his teaching and influence crossed national, socioeconomic and religious boundaries.
“From everyday men and women whom he encouraged to lead their homes and communities with integrity and vision to heads of state who sought his expertise for leadership and motivational training, Dr. Munroe helped to mold a new generation of leaders.

“On a personal level, he is my friend; I shall miss him,” Whitaker continued. “Shortly after my father, founder of the company, passed away, Dr. Munroe flew to Whitaker House to encourage not only me and my brother John, head of Anchor Distributors, but our families and the entire company as well, taking time to minister to the staff one on one.”

For FaithWords, Munroe wrote Passing It On and In Charge. A third book was under development.

“We will miss Rev. Munroe, who was always a source of great joy and delight,” said Rolf Zettersten, publisher. “Those who had the privilege to work directly with him were blessed by his constant positive outlook and devotion to sharing the gospel.”

Charisma Media CEO Steve Strang said Munroe understood “ ‘the kingdom of God’ in a way few Americans could. As a Bahamian, Myles was used to a system that respected the role of the king and queen and how the population was subject to them. He felt Americans sometimes felt the church was a democracy like their government. It’s not—it’s a kingdom, and Jesus is king.”

The Munroes leave behind their daughter, Charisa, and son, Chairo (Myles Jr.). —Johnson

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