Posted on 10/19/2007 5:42:25 PM PDT by epow
N'DJAMENA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. evangelical church missionary working on a U.S. government-backed development project in northern Chad has been kidnapped by rebels, Chadian and U.S. officials said on Thursday.
"The governor of the northern BET region has told me that an American priest has been kidnapped in the Tibesti (mountains) by remaining members of the MDJT rebel movement," Secretary of State for the Interior Abderamane Djasnabaille told Reuters.
"The rebels took his vehicle and they are holding him at Zoumri," he added.
A leader of Chad's Evangelical Church, Pastor Ngardei Bako, identified the kidnapped American as Steve Godbold and said he had worked in Chad, especially Tibesti, for many years.
He said Godbold was seized earlier this month. Other people in his group were also abducted but later released, Bako said.
Djasnabaille said negotiations were under way with rebels of the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT) to obtain the release of the kidnapped missionary.
A source close to MDJT factional leader Aboubakar Choua Dazi told Reuters Godbold was suspected of working for Chadian intelligence and would be released if, after he was questioned, the group was convinced that was not the ca
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
I have known Steve since he was a child, and his parents are friends of ours. His parents are also missionaries to the Saharan Desert nation of Niger, and have served there since the mid-1960s. Between Steve and his parents, the Godbold family has probably brought hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Muslims to Christ in Chad and Niger over the last 40+ years. They are supported by our former church and they attended there while on furlough in the US.
My daughter (also a missionary BTW) is about the same age as Steve and they were friends when Steve was a kid and his parents were attending our church. Steve has a wife and 4 kids who are also in Chad, but were not with him when he was taken by the rebels. Please pray that God will protect Steve while he is in the hands of the rebels, and also pray for his family who I know are suffering as they pray for and wait for Steve's release.
Steve is not a priest. AFAIK he is still a member of the same independent Baptist church that I and my family were members of when we lived in that area.
Bump for
Steve
Prayer bump.
Prayer request for Kidnapped American Missionary.Please Pray for his safety and Faith. My prayers, my church and my children have been praying for a Child kidnapped in Africa for a week.Please keep us updated .
Satan is always using his minions to try and thwart, and torment, those who will bring God's Word to the lost. As a consequence troubles may abound, but we take confidence in knowing that the Lord's Will will be done.
Prayers that the LORD who doest all things well, will provide mercy and health and safety to Steve; and comforts to his family...
Giving thanks unto Him who hath delivered us from the power of darkness...
Satan is always using his minions to try and thwart, and torment, those who will bring God's Word to the lost. As a consequence troubles may abound, but we take confidence in knowing that the Lord's Will will be done.
Prayers that the LORD who doest all things well, will provide mercy and health and safety to Steve; and comforts to his family...
Giving thanks unto Him who we serve with joy...
You’ve got an awesome name.
I’ll pray for Steve too.
In the article I read, it made some mention that Steve might have been working for some American contractor drilling water wells. Is that true, or another mistake?
I join in your prayers!
“A U.S. evangelical church missionary working on a U.S. government-backed development project”
huh?
My sincere apologies for when I received the original request for prayer I had gathered that it was a child who was kidnapped. But as I received more detailed information I now understand that the request is indeed for Steve and he has been held already for one week. So sorry for the confusion! Prayers continue to be lifted.
No, he is a missionary that is supported by my home church.
At my age he is still a child :)! He is our Father’s Child! No apologies needed ,thank you and Bless you. Prayers will continue.
Thank you !
PRAYERS FOR THE SAFETY OF BROTHER STEVE AND FOR PEACE FOR HIS FAMILY.
MAY THE LORD PROTECT HIM!
If he was working for a well drilling company I don't believe that a paycheck would have been his primary motivation, although money is usually in short supply for those who do mission work as my family knows quite well. Finding clean water is no doubt a problem for the nomadic desert tribes, and I can see how helping provide it to them could be useful as a way of gaining their trust and opening opportunities for reaching them with the gospel. Maybe after he is released, God willing, we will learn more about the situation. And thanks to all of you for your prayers on his behalf, I know Steve's family will be appreciative also.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen ...
Dear Lord. Protect Steve as he is away from his family. Give them no fear for he is in Your hands. Let them shout hallelujah, for You will abide.
Let there be no negotiations, but Thy swift hand, to release Steve and overcome his captors. There will be no negotiations with the sons of satan.
We know our lives are in Your hands. No matter the outcome it is for the good of all. Give Steve the assurance to know You are with him.
Let all know that there is no God, but You. Your power and will are with us always.
Amen.
I just picked it in early '98 because we had to re-register login names at the FreeRepublic (the old names got lost), and I decided to go with my favorite movie made by the then President of the NRA...
Who knew that it would carry additional meaning after 2001...
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