Three more kidnapped mission workers in Haiti released
Three of the North American mission workers held hostage more than seven weeks by a gang in Haiti were released Dec. 5, Christian Aid Ministries announced.
The Ohio-based organization posted on its website Dec. 6 the three individuals “are safe and seem to be in good spirits.” Christian Aid Ministries is a nonprofit organization largely supported by Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist churches.
A few days before Thanksgiving, the organization announced the release of two of the 17 individuals kidnapped in mid-October. Twelve continue to be held hostage.
“As with the previous release, we are not able to provide the names of the people released, the circumstances of the release, or any other details,” the Christian Aid Ministries website announcement stated.
Call to pray and fast
The organization asked Christians around the world to join in three days of prayer and fasting for the remaining hostages.
“Please continue to intercede for those who still are being held, as well as those who have been released,” the website announcement stated. “We long for all the hostages to be reunited with their loved ones.”
On Oct. 16, a dozen mission workers and their five children were returning to their home base after visiting an orphanage when they were abducted in Ganthier, about 20 miles east of Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince.
The 400 Mawozo street gang claimed responsibility and demanded $1 million ransom for each hostage, the Haitian Minister of Justice told the Washington Post.
The abduction of the Christian Aid Ministries missionaries occurred less than three weeks after gunmen attacked First Baptist Church in Port-au-Prince, killing 60-year-old deacon Sylner Lafaille and kidnapping his wife. Marie Marthe Laurent Lafaille was released four days later.
On Nov. 30, Christian Aid Ministries issued a call to prayer not only for their own mission workers, but also for others in Haiti who suffer.
“As we work through the kidnapping of our workers, we are aware that numerous kidnappings—mostly of Haitian people—continue to take place in Haiti. In addition to the families of our workers, we recognize that other families are anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones,” the organization stated.
“The political situation in Haiti remains volatile. As a result, millions of Haitians face huge challenges, encounter danger, and struggle to provide for themselves. Pray for our Haitian friends.”
The group also has asked Christians to pray for “the kidnappers, that God would touch their hearts and bring them ‘out of darkness into his marvelous light,’” quoting a New Testament passage from 1 Peter 2:9. “We desire that God would soften their hearts and that they would release our loved ones.”