Church Leader Shot in Apparent Home Invasion. Then, His Wife Texted ‘We Need Prayers Immediately’ to Their Family By Toria Sheffield

The president of a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been shot in an apparent home invasion.

R. Tyler Wallis, 56, was shot by an intruder in his home during what church officials say was an attempted robbery in Mexico City on Saturday, Aug. 16. The incident occurred at about 2 a.m. local time, per a statement shared by church spokesperson Sam Penrod.

Wallis was taken to a local hospital, where he is in stable condition, according to the statement. Wallis’ wife, Elizabeth Wallis, was also home at the time, but she was uninjured.

“The Church is cooperating with local authorities as they investigate the incident. All missionaries are safe,” the statement said.

“Our prayers are with President and Sister Wallis, their family members and the missionaries during this challenging time. The Church is grateful for the thousands of missionaries and their leaders serving as volunteers throughout the world to extend the love and peace that the Savior Jesus Christ offers to each of us,” the statement concluded.

Elizabeth’s brother, Kevin Thorstenson, shared on Facebook what he said was a text from his sister after the shooting. 

“We need prayers immediately. We’ve had a robber break in our house and Tyler has been shot,” Elizabeth wrote, according to his post.

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A friend of the family shared an update on Tyler’s status on Facebook later that day, stating that he had been shot “just below the sternum,” but the bullet did “not hit any organs or arteries.” 

“An undeniable miracle that he is not dead,” she added.

PEOPLE reached out to the Mexico City Police Department as well as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for comment on Sunday, Aug. 17, but did not receive immediate responses.

The couple, who share four children, moved to Mexico City from Orlando, Fla., per a February release about new church leadership from Church News.