Laken Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University who was murdered while jogging near the school’s intramural field in Athens, GA, home of the University of Georgia as well. Ms. Riley was a committed Christian whose pastor, following her tragic, horrifying murder, spoke out about how powerful her belief in Jesus was and how she tried to live it out in her life.
That pastor is Lead Pastor Samer Massad of Woodstock City Church in Athens. Pastor Massad, when joining with the community to remember Laken after her murder, commented on her rock-solid faith in Jesus and in the qualities with which she displayed that faith in her life, namely her kindness, intelligence, and compassion.
11 Alive reports that, when speaking to mourners about Laken, Pastor Massad said, “Laken was special. She was a gift to anyone who knew her.” That comment came when, explaining how she lit up the lives of those around her, he said, “When the world loses someone like Laken, whose light consistently shined so bright, it seems that much darker in their absence. Laken was special. She was a gift to anyone who knew her.”
Continuing, he spoke about how she served those around her and how she was someone who lived out her faith in daily life in a powerful way. He said, “She had a gift for making anyone she was around feel comfortable and seen.” He continued, “But the most special thing about Laken was her faith in Jesus. She didn’t just believe it, she lived it.”
Pastor Massad then noted that at least those who knew her can remember that, because of her deep faith in Jesus, Laken is now with the Lord in heaven, saying, “And because of her faith, as hard as days like today are, we grieve her loss and celebrate her life with the hope that she is now in the presence of Jesus, her Savior. We will miss her dearly.”
Additionally, Pastor Massad spoke about how the community could help Laken’s family, saying, “Laken’s family is family to us, and as their church family, we here at Woodstock City Church are committed to walking alongside them and carrying this burden with them. To John, Allyson, and Lauren – we love you all so very much, and we are with you!”
Laken’s family, in a statement on her passing, said, “Laken was an amazing daughter, sister, friend and overall person in general. Her love for the Lord was exemplified in every aspect of her life. She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way,”
Continuing, the statement her family released went on to add, “During this most difficult time, we ask that you respect our privacy, and provide us the time and space necessary to grieve our daughter’s life that was tragically cut short.”
Featured image credit: By Unknown – Original publication: c. 2023-2024Immediate source: https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/mynews/athens/laken-riley-murder-case-athens-georgia-what-happens-next/85-12c1447f-26f2-45eb-a07e-4842a4ca36eb, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76227921