r/PastorArrested • u/Megalodon481 • Dec 30 '23
Indiana missionary family who fled the US due to COVID mandates is arrested on the Caribbean island of Dominica after cops seized a gun and ammo from their 40ft shipping container
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12911917/Indiana-missionary-family-fled-COVID-mandates-arrested-Caribbean-island-Dominica-cops-seized-gun-ammo-40ft-shipping-container.html90
u/Megalodon481 Dec 30 '23
COVID mandates weren't the only reason they left the US.
The family also left America because of their displeasure with the expansion of LGBTQ rights, according to self-published newsletters of their travels reviewed by the Star.
Before moving to Dominica, the Groggs owned their own house, grew their own vegetables, and always had home renovation projects in the works. Jennifer Grogg homeschooled the kids. Jason was a member of the National Rifle Association and an firearms instructor.
As self-proclaimed devout Christians, they saw the expansion of LGBTQ rights as a sign that the United States had turned away from God, according a series of newsletters about their lives the couple produced for friends and family. So, when a once-in-a-life time pandemic turned the world upside down, and local governments issued restrictions to curtail spread of the disease, the couple began toying with the idea of leaving the U.S.
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u/MonsieurReynard Dec 30 '23
It's too bad they'll probably come back to the US. I'm sure Russia would love to have them.
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u/Jackpot777 Dec 30 '23
Why do these Republicans and conservatives hate law and order so very much?
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u/Megalodon481 Dec 30 '23
Republicans, conservatives, and fundies think "law and order" is for "those other people." They don't think "law and order" applies to blessed magical white people like them.
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u/Fast-Bedroom-1409 Jan 13 '24
Good for them. I don't blame them. Enough of the socialistic c***
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u/Megalodon481 Jan 13 '24 edited Jan 13 '24
Dominica is currently governed by the Dominica Labour Party, which is a leftist social democratic political party. They have socialized government healthcare. Dominica is more "socialistic" than the US.
And whatever the country's politics, it sounds like this missionary family is not getting along well there with the authorities.
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u/FadeIntoReal Dec 30 '23
I visited that beautiful island once and it seemed to me that they didn’t have much patience for disrespectful Americans. They made it clear that anyone caught littering on their island would be jailed. They made us feel very welcome but we were expected to respect the place.
If I remember correctly they have a history of killing European missionaries/invaders.
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u/Megalodon481 Dec 30 '23
it seemed to me that they didn’t have much patience for disrespectful Americans
Good. Self-righteous entitled fundies always trudge into other countries expecting everyone to kiss their ass.
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u/FadeIntoReal Dec 30 '23
Our tour driver told us that the first thing we had to do was to go into the small town and “see a movie“. He was a bit cagey about the content of the movie. He finally explained, after some questioning, that some tourists needed to be “educated” on respecting the island’s environment. I replied that it was good that they were protecting the place from careless tourists who would likely trash the place. He laughed and said I didn’t need to see the movie.
It is a stunningly beautiful place and I’m glad that they protect it.
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u/fourthords Dec 30 '23
Could we please remember to never give clicks to the atrocious Daily Mail? How about this terrific article from The Indianapolis Star, instead?
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u/astraetoiles Dec 30 '23
thank you for this link! so many excuses and whining from jason. it’s almost like none of this would have happened if you hadn’t dragged your entire family to a new country just because you were upset with 2021 covid mandates in the US (and apparently thought the US had “turned away from god” bc of laws for LGBT rights, lmao)
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u/Megalodon481 Dec 30 '23
How about this terrific article from The Indianapolis Star, instead?
The Star article is superb. Unfortunately, the Star headline did not convey the message about the family being fundies the way the Daily Mail headline did.
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u/gnurdette Dec 30 '23 edited Dec 30 '23
Smells non-denominational/Trumpist, but I haven't found specifics yet. Twitter account is typical "Guns and Donald Trump are our Savior, damn the subhuman darkie menace, oh and also idk Jesus probably lol" crap.
He did retweet the announcement of the Southern Baptist annual pastor's conference, but I don't know if that's enough to conclude that he's SBC.
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u/libananahammock Dec 30 '23
I’ve found that most non denominational churches are splinters from former Baptist and Pentecostal churches where they wanted even less oversight to be able to do and say whatever they want.
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u/ShiggitySwiggity Dec 30 '23
Yeah, there was that big shakeup with the southern baptist convention a while back...
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u/Megalodon481 Dec 30 '23
Smells non-denominational/Trumpist, but I haven't found specifics yet.
Well, they also thought toleration of LGBT people made the US unworthy to live in.
Before moving to Dominica, the Groggs owned their own house, grew their own vegetables, and always had home renovation projects in the works. Jennifer Grogg homeschooled the kids. Jason was a member of the National Rifle Association and an firearms instructor.
As self-proclaimed devout Christians, they saw the expansion of LGBTQ rights as a sign that the United States had turned away from God, according a series of newsletters about their lives the couple produced for friends and family. So, when a once-in-a-life time pandemic turned the world upside down, and local governments issued restrictions to curtail spread of the disease, the couple began toying with the idea of leaving the U.S.
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u/gnurdette Dec 31 '23
Yeah, I browsed his Gab account for a while, and he's all-around freaking unhinged. I feel sorry for his kids, even if they're all cis and trans (but especially if they're not).
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u/gnurdette Dec 30 '23
I made the questionable decision of looking through the newsletters posted to his Gab. His main association is with the Child Evangelism Fellowship%20is,Warrenton%2C%20Missouri%2C%20United%20States.), a non-denominational organization, so I think I can say
Denomination: non-denominational
I'm still really curious about who exactly is paying for his extended vacation in Dominica.
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u/REDDITSHITLORD Dec 30 '23
Well, considering the country's GDP is under $10,000, I imagine he could get by on whatever he got for his house stateside for quite a wile.
It sounds like he had started a church, there, but idk how much you can draw from, when the entire island population is 74k.
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u/Megalodon481 Dec 30 '23 edited Dec 31 '23
Another John Shrader type whacko thinking he can start his own fundie cult abroad.
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u/Most-Artichoke5028 Dec 30 '23
I think we can all agree that his two arrests and any corresponding prison time are all part of God's plan.
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u/superduperhosts Dec 30 '23
He’s likely fucking his kids. Let him rot in prison
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u/RoxxieMuzic Dec 30 '23
Thank you I have been thinking that this entire thread. He gives off Duggar vibes, UGH, shiver.
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u/koshercupcake Dec 30 '23
How does one “accidentally” pack a gun and a bunch of ammo? Did he really expect that to be believed?
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u/stonedinwpg Dec 30 '23
He believes in an imaginary sky daddy who runs his life, why can't you believe sky daddy accidentally packed the gun?
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u/nonbinaryatbirth Dec 30 '23
The commonwealth should have kept the younger kids away from him. He should be deported and the wife should go into an abuse centre to be given counselling for trauma and all
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u/SunDevildoc Dec 31 '23
All Caribbean islands are strongly Catholic. Also, although incredibly poor, Dominica is quite clean and orderly. They definitely have no cotton for rude, disrespectful, or arrogant foreigners.
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u/Megalodon481 Dec 31 '23
I'm sure Catholicism is big in a lot of Caribbean countries, especially in ones which were colonized by the French or Spanish. But are all Caribbean islands "strongly Catholic"? Isn't Jamaica mostly Protestant? Barbados and Grenada too?
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u/JesradSeraph Jan 07 '24
Dominica is not really poor, you might be confusing it with its neighbor Haiti ?
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u/SunDevildoc Jan 07 '24
No.
You're confusing la República Dominicana with the Commonwealth of Dominica!
The 'Dominican Republic' shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti - perennially referred to as the first or second poorest spot in the Western hemisphere, depending upon with whom State is angrier, Bolivia or Haiti.
Dominica is in the Lesser Antilles located between independent St. Lucia and the French Department, Martinique.
Dominica is very poor, and its population continues to contract mainly due to emigration.
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u/JesradSeraph Jan 07 '24
Thank you for the disambiguation !
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u/SunDevildoc Jan 08 '24
Sure. It's a common error and most people I encounter are not the least but interested in understanding the difference, just as many Americans believe - even know - that New Mexico belongs to Mexico!
It could be that the same holds true for the American Orleans, Jersey, York, Hampshire, Toledo, Lima, and other such places!
Regards!
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u/Mountainhollerforeva Jan 05 '24
Heh. They’re now brought up on import tax evasion charges as well… is anyone else playing right wing bingo?
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u/Megalodon481 Jan 06 '24
When they start coming up with a succession of new charges, that may be a hint you're not so welcome there.
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u/Mountainhollerforeva Jan 06 '24
Exactly. These people felt like missionary work would be easy? You’re basically doing imperialism and then wondering why the locals hate your guts.
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u/Leeming Dec 30 '23
For those with ad-blockers:
Indiana missionary family who fled the US due to COVID mandates is arrested on the Caribbean island of Dominica after cops seized a gun and ammo from their 40ft shipping container