“He enjoyed photographing the beauty and the people of Afghanistan; and he was compiling an album of photos he had entitled, “The Beauty – It’s not all War”

The final two names of the 10 missionaries killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan last week were made public early this morning by the International Assistance Mission, the medical missionary group they were affiliated with.

IAM identified them as Brian Carderelli of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Daniela Beyer of Chemnitz, Germany.

Carderelli, who is originally from Pennsylvania, is a member of a PCA church in Virginia. Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia released the following statement late Monday morning;

We have received word that Brian Carderelli was in killed in Afghanistan while working with the medical team giving aid in Nuristan. Brian Carderelli was a dearly loved member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. He grew up in the church, was a 2009 graduate of James Madison University (Digital Video degree), and after graduation volunteered in many capacities in the church. He loved people and was particularly concerned for the poor. He had been in Afghanistan since last September and was serving the IAM and various other organizations using his photography and videography skills to produce promotional materials and donor reports. Doctors Little and Woo had invited Brian on the Nuristan trip to document their work.

Brian was an eagle scout who loved the outdoors including hiking, snowboarding and surfing. In his spare time, he enjoyed photographing the beauty and the people of Afghanistan; and he was compiling an album of photos he had entitled, “The Beauty – It’s not all War”. Brian’s gentle spirit and witty sense of humor endeared him to all who knew him.

Brian was a Christian who was killed as he was fulfilling his life ambition to use his talents and training to show the love of Christ to the poor and disadvantaged. Our church family will greatly miss Brian.

Covenant Presbyterian has established a fund to help the Carderellis with expenses associated with Brian’s death. Please send contributions, payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church (“Carderelli” on the memo line), to Covenant Presbyterian Church, Attn: Kendal Butler, 32 Southgate Ct., Suite 101, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

We encourage our readers be sure to include both the Carderelli family and the church family at Covenant Church in your personal, family and congregational prayers.