Davey Blackburn, the Indianapolis pastor whose pregnant wife was murdered in a violent home invasion, has remarried two years after his wife's gruesome death.
Blackburn, the founder of Resonate Church, married Kristi Monroy at Laurel Hall in Indianapolis this past Sunday.
In an Instagram post of the special day, he quoted the Book of Isaiah: "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
The preacher had proposed to Monroy on November 8, and detailed how he met his now-wife in a lengthy blog post.
He shared how he had just starting writing the book Nothing Is Wasted: A True Story of Hope, Forgiveness, and Finding Purpose in Pain, when he met Monroy.
The process of writing the book, he said, "was bringing a lot healing, so much so that I started to feel like it was healthy enough to poke my head up and be open to God bringing another woman into my life."
"I realize for many people this may seem a bit soon and trust me, it did to me as well," he wrote. "But I had been exposed to some incredible people and environments over 2016 who helped me get to a healthy place after losing Amanda and I thought I was going to be ready soon to put myself out there again."
Still, Blackburn had some "hesitation and apprehension," but "the connection I felt with this girl seemed to outweigh the sadness I felt with the absence of Amanda."
"We can't wait to celebrate God's redemption in our story!" Blackburn concluded. "We're excited about sharing more of our stories (and our story together) with you over the coming weeks, months and years. Thank you for everything you're doing to remind us that truly Nothing is Wasted and that The Lord is using our pain to help you as you live learn and lead through yours."
Monroy, who according to court records was divorced in October 2015, has a young daughter, Natalia. Blackburn has a son, Weston.
"Kristi has quickly become like a mother to Weston and Natalia an older sister," Blackburn wrote on his Nov. 14 blog post. "And I have quickly fallen in love with both of them."
Davey and Amanda Blackburn had originally been on staff at NewSpring Church before they made the decision to plant their own church in Indianapolis.
Amanda had been at home with the couple's 15-month-old son when three young men, Larry Jo Taylor Jr., 18; Jalen Watson, 21; and Diano Gordon, 24, entered through an unlocked door in a robbery attempt. Taylor later admitted that he had shot Amanda when she charged at him during the invasion.
After his wife's death, Blackburn posted a statement on his church's website where he remembered Amanda as "such a beautiful, gracious, loving woman of God.
"I have not only lost my ministry partner and support but also my very best friend. My wife was such a beautiful, gracious, loving woman of God," he wrote. "As deeply as I am hurting I am hopeful and confident that good things will come of this. I rest in the truth of Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose."
Indianapolis police later learned that Blackburn's death was part of a violent, eight-day crime spree, court documents say. In October, Watson pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of burglary, according to court records. Taylor and Gordon are still awaiting trial.
