An Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries located in Berlin, Ohio the largest Amish community in America had 17 missionaries and family members, mostly Americans kidnapped in Haiti.
Five men, seven women and five children are among the group.
The missionaires were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti who were on their way home Saturday from building an orphanage on Saturday.
The 400 Mawozo gang roughly translates to 400 “inexperienced men,” controls the Croix-des-Bouquets area that includes Ganthier, where they carry out kidnappings and carjackings and extort business owners.
One of the abducted Americans posted a message on WhatsApp during those terrifying moments. “Please pray for us! We are being held hostage, they kidnapped our driver. Pray pray pray.“We don’t know where they are taking us.”
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that they were aware of the reports on the kidnapping.”The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad are one of the highest priorities of the Department of State,” the spokesperson said.
Under the Biden Administrating that is not reassuring since they left behind Americans in Afghanistan.
Haiti is in turmoil from the assassination of its president on July 7. Kidnappings and violence are on the rise in recent months, missionaries have been targeted in several areas of the country by gangs who rule the streets.
More than 300 kidnapping victims were reported to the Haitian police in the first eight months of 2021. Gangs have demanded ransoms ranging from a couple hundred dollars to more than $1 million, according to authorities.
Gangs have been accused of kidnapping schoolchildren, doctors, police officers, busloads of passengers and others as they grow more powerful.
Two doctors were kidnapped at hospitals treating earthquake victims from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake killing more than 2,200 people in August in Haiti’s capital.
Last month, a deacon was killed in front of a church in the capital of Port-au-Prince and his wife kidnapped.
Missionaries who are called to plant churches and to reach people with the gospel are in danger in Haiti from gangs. Pray for the kidnapped missionaries and pray for all the missionaries who put their life on the line for Jesus.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Psalms 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.
1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Read about martyrs at: https://www.transformedbythetruth.com/foxes-book-of-martyrs-2/
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