(Nassau, Bahamas) -The Bahamas Faith Ministries in a release on Monday morning November 10th, 2014 confirmed the identity of eight of the nine victims in the tragic plane crash that happened in Grand Bahama on Sunday.

The Department of Civil Aviation also advised early Monday that the Royal Bahamas Police Force had confirmed that recovery efforts are now underway for the nine souls aboard the US registered N17UF Gates Learjet which crashed while on final approach at Grand Bahama International Airport at approximately 5pm today. The private aircraft, Model 35 A, carried the serial number 258, and was registered to Diplomat Aviation (Bahamas) Ltd. Police have also confirmed that the aircraft was utilized by Pastor Dr. Myles Munroe of Bahamas Faith Ministries.

BFM’s release read:

On behalf of the Board of Governors and the entire Bahamas Faith Ministries Family we wish to extend our gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of love and support by the many persons who have offered condolences and prayers.

Among those confirmed to have passed away in yesterday’s tragic plane crash were Founder & President of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Pastor Ruth Munroe, Senior Vice-President Dr. Richard Pinder, Newly installed Youth Pastors Lavard and Radel Parks and their son Johannan, Pilots Stanley Thurston and Frahkan Cooper and one additional passenger.

Words cannot express our profound sense of loss for all of the team members on this tragic flight. Dr. Munroe was our visionary, our founder, our mentor, advisor, father figure and friend. He was a global leader and icon and was respected worldwide. His wife Ruth was a faithful companion and constant support for Dr. Munroe and was equally beloved. Dr. Richard Pinder was the embodiment of a true Pastor who loved people, was faithful in service and gave his best to all. Pastor Rich as he was affectionally called was truly the glue that kept our ministry together. His warm smile and personal pastoral care was truly a comfort and a blessing to so many of our members throughout the years of our church.

Pastors Lavard & Radel Parks were recently installed as Youth Pastors of the Youth Ministry having both being officially ordained and installed as the church’s second full time Youth Pastors on Easter Sunday April 20th 2014. Both were products of both Dr. Munroe and Dr. Pinders’ leadership and were personally mentored by Dr.Dave & Pastor Angie Burrows.

Our pilots included Senior Officer Stanley Thurston who was an experienced pilot and served for many years as Pastor Myles’s personal pilot. Also on board was Co-Pilot Frahkan Cooper who was also a faithful member of our aviation team. Both gave excellent service.

Dr. Munroe taught us to have faith and to pursue purpose and advance the Kingdom Principles of Jesus Christ here on earth. He also taught us to be leaders. As a Church body and organization we will move forward as Dr. Munroe would have wanted us to. We recognize that there will be challenges but we have full confidence that God will see us through and we intend to make our founding leaders proud.

We ask for your continued prayers and support. We will issue further details on plans for home going services and other matters relating to the future of Bahamas Faith Ministries in due course.

Source: Harris Media Group