33 Days: 17 Missionaries Kidnapped in Haiti

About 17 Christian missionaries were kidnapped more than a month ago in Haiti, they are alive, but still in jeopardy.

On October 16, 2021, it was reported that a group of missionaries from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries were kidnapped near the capital of Port-au-Prince in Haiti.

The missionaries were leaving their visit from an orphanage when a group of heavily armed men forced their vehicle off the road and kidnapped them, according to Haitian officials.

“Join us in prayer that God’s grace would sustain the men, women, and children who are being held hostage, in a world where violence and force are seen as the solution to problems,” said a statement released by Christian Aid Ministries.

The Haitian gang has asked for a ransom of $17 million, $1 million for each kidnapped missionary. 

Wilson Joseph, the alleged leader of the Haitian gang (400 Mawozo) that kidnapped the missionaries, said that the hostages would be killed if their demands were not met, according to a video posted on social media.

The kidnapped missionaries include 16 Americans and one Canadian citizen. In the group, there are six men, six women and five children. The children include an 8-month-old baby, a 3-year-old, a 6-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old child. 

Within the missionary group, they come from different parts of the country such as Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and also Canada.

A family of four from Ladysmith, Wisconsin is part of the kidnapped missionaries. They are members of a Mennonite Church in northeast Wisconsin, but no further information has been released.

“Join us in praying for those who are being held hostage, the kidnappers, and the families, friends, and churches of those affected,” according to a statement released by Christian Aid Ministries. “Pray for those who are seeking God’s direction and making decisions regarding this matter.” 

Prior to the kidnapping, the missionary groups worked to support thousands of disadvantaged school children. They also delivered Bibles and Christian literature, supplied medications to multiple health clinics, educated Haitian pastors, and provided meals for the elderly.

In addition, the group has been heavily involved in managing a rebuilding initiative for families who lost their homes in the August 2021 earthquake in Haiti, according to Christian Aid Ministries. 

“I feel very distraught that this happened because I am just now hearing about this,” said Graciela Cortez, an 18-year-old from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Cortez said that she has a cousin who is a missionary and has travelled to places like Pakistan and Brazil.

“This is a very tragic and sad situation,” said Cortez. “I would like to know what government officials are doing to prevent these issues and hope that they bring these families home.”

After the Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in an attack at his residence, it sent shock waves to the country and set the tone for grave dangers.

The increase in violent crime rates, theft, roadblocks, and the presence of armed gangs have fractured the structure of Haiti. The U.S. urges Americans to leave Haiti due to these issues.

Both the FBI and Haitian officials are working together to bring the missionaries back home safely.

According to UNICEF, it is estimated that 71 women and 30 children were abducted in the first eight months of this year, up from 59 women and 37 children in 2020. They represent one-third of the 455 kidnappings reported this year.

Christian Aid Ministries released a statement highlighting three key messages ​for others to consider and share: to pray for the hostages and for their release, to pray for the kidnappers so that they turn to God, and to pray for government leaders and authorities so they can continue to work towards the release of the hostages.