I have been closely following the disturbing story of the kidnapping of 17 Christian Aid missionaries in Haiti this month. Christian Aid Ministries is based in Millersburg, Ohio, and those who were kidnapped, which includes one Canadian, range in age from 18 to 48, along with five children. The Haitian gang 400 Mawozo abducted the missionaries while they were on their way back from visiting an orphanage in Croix des Bouquets. Christian Aid Ministries is calling on believers across the nation to pray and fast as negotiations are underway with Haitian officials and the US State Department for a safe release. The hope is for a similar outcome of 400 Mawozo's release of a group of Catholic clergy in April, although reports have not been able to determine if the demanded ransom of $1 million was paid. The 400 Mawozo gang leaders are seeking to extort $17 million for the Ohio-based missionaries.

Doing missionary work in a country such as Haiti, which is currently in dire political, environmental and economic chaos shows the unwavering dedication and resilient courage of the Christian Aid delegation. Haiti is still suffering greatly from three devastating 2021 events: the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Tiburon Peninsula on August 14 and the tropical storm Grace that followed on Aug. 16 that brought huge rainfalls and landslides. Moise's murder has been an added catalyst for deadly violence from gangs such as 400 Mawozo. According to the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights, at least 782 kidnappings in Haiti had been documented by Oct. 16, and 400 Mawozo shows no respect of persons when seizing their victims. Foreign nationals as well as poor Haitians have been abducted, and the police force is viewed with fear and suspicion. It is a well-known fact that Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world, and poverty has been a breeding ground for crime and local and national government corruption. The Christian Aid missionaries knew the extreme risks in traveling to this troubled Caribbean country, but they were willing to put their lives on the line to supply resources to Haitians in the greatest need. Much of their ministry work has been in efforts to raise scholarship funds for the Haiti School Program so that poor children can receive an education. On this trip, they had also been conducting teaching sessions for Haitian pastors, distributing Bibles, providing medical supplies and feeding the hungry.

As I was looking on the Christian Aid website for updates on the missionaries, I could clearly see that this ministry is dedicated to sharing the gospel of Christ with a strategic, global focus to alleviate harsh poverty. In addition to providing aid in Haiti, they have also been diligently working to help impoverished people in Tanzania, Cambodia, India, Yemen and Bangladesh. Missionary work has never been safe since the days of the Apostle Paul's travels recorded in the Book of Acts. The threat of death was constantly a grave possibility for Paul and persecution was always certain. He was stoned and left for dead in Lystra and beaten and jailed with Silas, a fiery missionary of the early church, in Philippi. As of this writing, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang has threatened to kill the Christian Aid missionaries if he does not receive the millions he has demanded. His hatred for the US was on full display in a video where he said that he would "put a bullet in the heads of these Americans." The situation definitely looks bleak right now, but I strongly believe that since the Christian Aid missionaries were brave enough to travel to this dangerous region of the world that they have the same steadfast faith that Paul did. I also believe that they trust in God's delivering power, and as Psalm 20:6 says, "the saving strength of his right hand." I send my prayers to Haiti and to the families of the missionaries, believing for a miracle release like the one of the Catholic clergy in April.

Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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