When Stephen Ocean, 23, and Tite Sufra, 24, were gunned down in January while preaching in Boynton Beach, Fla., news reports quickly speculated that the men were murdered because of past links to a violent gang. But Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission isn’t so sure.
He says the men were “killed in the line of Christian duty,” and on May 16 he is leading a prayer vigil near the site where the evangelists were murdered to honor their service. “Just as we honor those who die while serving our country and communities, we must honor Stephen Ocean and Tite Sufra,” said Cass, who is hosting the vigil in partnership with the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition.
A suspect has been arrested in the attack on the men, who were known for encouraging boys to accept Christ and avoid gang life. Cass said he hopes Christians, especially street evangelists, will attend the vigil to help “take back the streets of Boynton Beach for Christ” and “pay these two men the respect they deserve.”
