Christians asked to fast and pray for missionaries kidnapped in Haiti

 (Photo: CAM)

A day of prayer and fasting will be held on Thursday for a group of 17 missionaries and children kidnapped in Haiti.

Christian Aid Ministries (CAM) said it was praying for their safe release, as well as for the kidnappers to turn to Christ.

The group is formed of 16 Americans and one Canadian, and includes five children, the youngest of which is just 8 months old. 

They were kidnapped near capital Port-au-Prince on their way back from visiting an orphanage supported by CAM. 

The gang behind the kidnapping, 400 Mawozo, has demanded $17m for their release.

The US-based non-profit said it was working closely with government authorities to bring the group home. It has not commented on whether it will meet the ransom demand.

Asking people to pray and fast, CAM said: "We invite continued prayer for: the victims—for endurance, faithfulness, and a spirit of Christlike love ... the kidnappers—that they would experience the love of Jesus and turn to Him [and] government leaders and authorities—as they relate to the case and work toward the release of the victims."

One of CAM's ongoing projects in Haiti is to provide meals for school children. (Photo: CAM)

CAM is also asking for prayer for Haiti.

"This time of difficulty reminds us of the ongoing suffering of millions of Haitians," it said.

"While our workers chose to serve in Haiti, our Haitian friends endure crisis after crisis, continual violence, and economic hardship.

"Despite the difficulties and dangers involved in working there, both our Haitian and American workers carry a vision to minister the love of Jesus in Haiti.

"Our goal is to seize opportunities around the world, even in difficult contexts, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who 'went about doing good' (Acts 10:38)." 

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Calls for an end to the sexualisation of children in schools
Calls for an end to the sexualisation of children in schools

The Coalition for Marriage is taking on a "summer of sex" campaign planned by a Labour MP at Westminster.

Free speech concerns surround proposed conversion therapy ban
Free speech concerns surround proposed conversion therapy ban

Any law banning "abusive conversion practices" would almost certainly infringe on freedom of speech.

Pope warns of ‘digital neocolonialism’ and calls on Church to defend human dignity in age of AI in first encyclical
Pope warns of ‘digital neocolonialism’ and calls on Church to defend human dignity in age of AI in first encyclical

Pope Leo XIV has used his first encyclical to warn that artificial intelligence and emerging technologies risk deepening global inequality, concentrating power in the hands of a few and creating what he described as “colonialism in another form". 

A growing number of Protestants say others don’t know they’re Christian
A growing number of Protestants say others don’t know they’re Christian

The honesty of churchgoers about gaps in living unashamed reveals large numbers have room for growth in this important aspect of discipleship,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.