Christians kidnapped in Africa

We rejoice that our brother Andrew Brunson has been released from a Turkish prison! He was arrested on false charges of treason and imprisoned for two years, because he is a Christian missionary. Now I ask for prayers for two other Christians held against their will: Jeff Woodke and Father Pierluigi Maccalli.

Photo credit: Facebook/Blaise Gaidout

Jeff is an American missionary who was working with the Niger branch of YWAM. He was abducted from a northern village on October 14, 2016, and was only recently confirmed alive. Today marks 2 years since he was taken. Please pray for his safety and health, for the negotiation of his return, and for his wife, Els Woodke.

Photo credit: Society of African Missions

Father Pierluigi is an Italian Catholic priest who had been working in a small village called Bomoanga near the Burkina Faso border since 2002. According to a Niamey newspaper, he was well-loved in the village because he cared for all of their children as his own, feeding the hungry and organizing medical evacuations for those who needed surgeries outside of Niger's limited hospital resources. He had built a small church in the village that was known as the "Basilica of the Poor," and it is said that his door was open 24/7 to those who had need. He was abducted by militants between 9-10pm on September 17, 2018. Please pray that he can return unharmed to his village.

You might wonder, what is SIM Niger's response to such attacks against Westerners? We have two principles: pray, and act wisely. We turn to Nehemiah 4:9, which says, "But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves." We pray AND we post guards. We lock our doors, we don't travel into dangerous areas unless absolutely necessary, we keep an eye out for unusual activity, we register with the US Embassy, we don't go out alone after dark. I'm willing to be here because God has led me here, but I also don't take unnecessary risks. I always appreciate your prayers for my safety, and I pray for you, too; for protection from natural disasters, for an end to the gun violence in Chicago, for safety while traveling. Pray, and act wisely.