Christian woman murdered
by Cindy Stephen

The January murder of Arcelie Laoagan by a northeast Calgary C-Train station has left her church congregation contemplating the prophetic message behind the gruesome event.

Len Zoeteman, lead pastor of Calgary Full Gospel Church, said there’s a bigger issue than just the death of a beloved member of his church – a 41-year-old mother of five trying to make a life for her family in Canada.

"Is it a prophetic message that the body was found near a church?" Zoeteman said. "What is the church doing to address the spiritual climate of our city? What is the role of church and prayer?

Zoeteman said the murder of Laoagan, a Filipino woman found beaten beyond recognition beside Grace Baptist church near the Franklin LRT Station, was headline news for eight days and spoke to the vulnerability of people in our city, particularly women.

"We share a stewardship of responsibility in our city in regards to the peace in our city. What’s going to change this?" he asked rhetorically.

As Zoeteman helps his congregation of 500 process the aftermath of this event, donations continue to pour in to the three different funds to assist Laoagan’s husband and five children, still living in the Philippines but waiting to immigrate to Canada.

One of the three funds was established by West Canadian, a printing and graphics company where Laoagan worked. The funds are being channeled through the Catholic Filipino Society to the family to pay for the education and care of the Laoagan children, and to help the family come to Canada.

"We have an immigration lawyer in our church who has made himself available to help," said Zoeteman.

Approximately ten per cent of the multicultural congregation at Calgary Full Gospel Church are Filipino, and Zoeteman said he is amazed at how the community has processed the devastating event.

"They have walked with forgiveness. There has been no overt anger displayed," he said. "Arcelie’s sister was interviewed by the media and she was asked if she was angry, and she said no. She felt sorry for the man – his life was ruined. The depth of forgiveness is astounding."

Ian Fraser was an usher at the funeral, and although he didn’t personally know Laoagan, he knew that she was instrumental in starting a home group for Filipinos. He said that the funeral was one of the most heartbreaking events he’d ever been to, even more emotional than that of his own parents.

"After the funeral, we were having coffee and the detectives arrived and announced that an arrest had been made. There was clapping and cheering – Arcelie’s brother and sister where so thankful," Fraser said, his voice broken and still filled with tremendous emotion.

"I believe that God used Arcelie just as he used Stephen the martyr when his opponents dragged him outside the city and stoned him. God will use this as a redemptive act to change our city," he concluded.

After sifting through hours of surveillance tape, police were able to find and charge 21-year-old Christopher James Watcheston with first degree murder.