10-Year-Old Girl, Kayla Gomez, Abducted From Church During Prayer Meeting Is In 'Grave Danger'

Kayla Gomez

A nationwide Amber Alert has been issued after a 10-year-old girl vanished from a church in Texas while her parents attended a prayer service.

Kayla Gomez disappeared from the First Assembly of God church, in Bullard, on Tuesday night and authorities fear she is in "grave danger" after being abducted.  

Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbell said in a statement: "The family seems to be a very good, hard-working, religious family with no problems."

Her disappearance has been met with shock and disbelief in the small community.

As police continue to comb the area with sniffer dogs, the community has rallied together to support the Gomez family.

A prayer vigil held for Kayla at the city hall in Bullard was attended by hundreds.  Among those showing their support was local pastor Scott Brown.  "Our hearts are heavy as clergy, pastors [and] as dads," he said, according to CBS19.

A relative of Kayla, Esther Zivalla, was also at the vigil.  As the family continue to hope for a miracle, she asked people to pray.

"My daughter and her [Kayla] are inseparable when it comes to church or anywhere we go," Zivalla said. "All we ask is for people to continue to pray."

A Facebook page has been set up to financially support the Gomez family as the search for Kayla continues.  

The FBI are involved in the investigation and Cherokee County Crimestoppers is offering a $13,000 reward for information leading to Kayla's recovery. Call Crimestoppers at 903-586-7867 to provide tips.

News
MP calls for emergency meeting to end case against suspended Christian nurse
MP calls for emergency meeting to end case against suspended Christian nurse

Shadow equalities minister, Claire Coutinho MP, has called for an end to the case against Christian nurse Jennifer Melle, who is facing disciplinary proceedings for misgendering a convicted paedophile.

Hundreds of churches in Germany being targeted with vandalism and theft
Hundreds of churches in Germany being targeted with vandalism and theft

The cost of the damage to both churches and chapels runs into hundreds of thousands of euros.

Nigerian authorities secure release of 100 kidnapped Catholic school children
Nigerian authorities secure release of 100 kidnapped Catholic school children

The fate of more than 160 other students and staff members abducted in the same attack remains unknown.

EU urged to combat violations of religious freedom in South Asia
EU urged to combat violations of religious freedom in South Asia

Citing a dramatic escalation of targeted attacks against Christians and other minorities in their countries, human rights advocates from South Asia called for stronger EU engagement on freedom of religion or belief at a conference in Brussels on December 4.