According to BND Southwest Illinois, Joyce Meyer Ministries has been named as a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the family of Sheri Coleman. The lawsuit was filed in Monroe County and its 27-pages indicate that Joyce Meyer, her son Danny Meyer, plus Meyer Ministries played a role in the death of a young mother and her two small boys.
Sheri Coleman’s husband worked as the security chief at Joyce Meyer Ministries in Jefferson County. He had sought marital counseling from his employer. The suit claims that the defendants should have known Christopher Coleman was a threat to his family because he was sending threatening messages to his wife from his employee issued laptop and cell phone. Additionally, the suit alleges that Joyce Meyer Ministries was aware of Coleman’s business travels accompanied by a woman who was not his wife.
Coleman was having an affair with the woman who had accompanied him to various trips. He wanted a divorce but such practice was frowned upon by his employer. Allegedly, in fear of losing his job, Coleman came up with a scheme to murder his family so that he could be with his girlfriend permanently.
Sheri Coleman’s family said that the tragedy could have been prevented had Joyce Meyer Ministries acted upon reasonable suspicion and threats, as well as extramarital affair and warned Sheri appropriately. Coleman’s mother and other family members claim they have been deprived of their love, companionship, guidance, support and affection and have incurred and become liable for large sums of money in burial and other expenses.