Haiti Kidnapping

[QuietlyListening]

Today's missionaries have things a little 'easier' in many ways when it comes to physical comforts and keeping in touch with family and friends. I'm not judging either way, just stating a fact. But back in the days of Hudson Taylor and many other missionaries they faced death from many avenues, including from the people who lived there and illness. They all went knowing the risks, the hardships and that rescue was not thought of, after all communication took a long time to even alert anyone to serious health issues or problems with indigenous peoples. Many even had their children with them where they were serving.

In our day and age of instant communication, higher quality medical care and access and so many other advantages we forget that there is a cost to those who go into new mission fields- even today.

I'm not weighing in on ransom and whether it is right or not etc. I am just saying- there can be a cost when we act in obedience to the Lord. And we may never know the results of that obedience and how it may affect others looking on. In the case of Jim Elliot and the other missionaries who were killed in SA- many in that tribe came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

If you act in obedience to God in any circumstance- we aren't promised that we won't suffer hardship or even death, we are promised He will never leave us or forsake us and He will hold us close as we rest and trust in Him.

[Ken]

As I said earlier, I've been around frontier missionaries long enough to know that many of them truly trust God to take care of them and they don't worry about the kinds of things most of us do. When they get into scrapes, they pray and try to find their way out of bad situation. From my "safety" perspective, some of them take this too far, but in the end, they stand before God. Who am I to judge? They don't need to answer to me. They get into scrapes that I never get into. But they also get things done I would never get done.

Are we actually talking about veteran experienced “frontier missionaries” in this particular case? Or are we talking about a group of Americans on a short-term mission trip to Haiti? I was under the impression it was more the latter.

[Ken]

Today's missionaries have things a little 'easier' in many ways when it comes to physical comforts and keeping in touch with family and friends. I'm not judging either way, just stating a fact. But back in the days of Hudson Taylor and many other missionaries they faced death from many avenues, including from the people who lived there and illness. They all went knowing the risks, the hardships and that rescue was not thought of, after all communication took a long time to even alert anyone to serious health issues or problems with indigenous peoples. Many even had their children with them where they were serving.

In our day and age of instant communication, higher quality medical care and access and so many other advantages we forget that there is a cost to those who go into new mission fields- even today.

I'm not weighing in on ransom and whether it is right or not etc. I am just saying- there can be a cost when we act in obedience to the Lord. And we may never know the results of that obedience and how it may affect others looking on. In the case of Jim Elliot and the other missionaries who were killed in SA- many in that tribe came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

If you act in obedience to God in any circumstance- we aren't promised that we won't suffer hardship or even death, we are promised He will never leave us or forsake us and He will hold us close as we rest and trust in Him.

The problem with taking this attitude is that your actions actually affect more than just you and your immediate family. This particular case is going to have widespread ramifications for all missionaries and aid workers in Haiti and other similar countries. It will affect extended families. It will affect minor children who had no role in making any decisions. And it could well affect the lives of many innocent Haitians depending on what kind of policy response happens on the part of the US government and international community.

[Ernie]

As I said earlier, I've been around frontier missionaries long enough to know that many of them truly trust God to take care of them and they don't worry about the kinds of things most of us do. When they get into scrapes, they pray and try to find their way out of bad situation. From my "safety" perspective, some of them take this too far, but in the end, they stand before God. Who am I to judge? They don't need to answer to me. They get into scrapes that I never get into. But they also get things done I would never get done.

Are we actually talking about veteran experienced “frontier missionaries” in this particular case? Or are we talking about a group of Americans on a short-term mission trip to Haiti? I was under the impression it was more the latter.

I cannot answer this. My impression is that it was some long term and some short term. Not sure if any could be considered veteran or not. The mission director who did not go with the party has been there for some time. Recently he wrote a book about humanitarian aid / evangelism and how this looks in Haiti. https://christianlight.org/awake-o-church

[Ernie]

Most recent CAM update that addresses some of the questions and concerns raised in this thread...

As we continue to work toward the release of our workers in Haiti, we are planning another day of special prayer and fasting on Wednesday, October 27. We invite believers from around the world to join us. We again request ongoing prayer for those being held, government officials who are assisting, and the kidnappers themselves.
Recent media attention has focused on the kidnapping of our workers and loved ones, but a civil society group reports that 600 kidnappings in Haiti were recorded from January to September 2021, compared with 231 over the same period last year. While fasting and praying, we encourage you to remember others who are being held hostage as well as those recovering from the experience of being kidnapped.
Occasionally we are asked why our workers were in Haiti. Why travel to dangerous places? Why not let these countries take care of their own issues? These are good questions which deserve an answer.
We live in a very broken world. A world of broken relationships, broken trust, and broken political systems. It is a world of loneliness, fear, and violence. And Jesus came, not just so men could go to heaven when they die, but also to show the kind of a world God intends right here on earth.
God desires a world where the hungry are fed, abandoned orphans are cared for, and where lonely refugees are provided for. Jesus came to redeem this broken world, and has called His church to work with Him. We go to places like Haiti because we have found Jesus and His teachings to be the answer for our own lives and we want others to enjoy the joy, peace, and redemption we have experienced in the kingdom of God.
We travel to Haiti to help, but we can always return to our comfortable lifestyles here in the United States. But many in Haiti do not have this luxury. In their current lawless situation, where anarchy reigns, Haitians live under constant fear. They have no way to escape. For many, every trip to the market is overshadowed by the continual threat of violence. As we continue to pray earnestly for our American staff, we also encourage fervent prayer for the Haitian people.
Christian Aid Ministries | October 26, 2021 12:45 p.m.

[PeterG]

I deeply appreciate this part of the CAM update—

Recent media attention has focused on the kidnapping of our workers and loved ones, but a civil society group reports that 600 kidnappings in Haiti were recorded from January to September 2021, compared with 231 over the same period last year. While fasting and praying, we encourage you to remember others who are being held hostage as well as those recovering from the experience of being kidnapped.

[Josh]

I deeply appreciate this part of the CAM update—

Recent media attention has focused on the kidnapping of our workers and loved ones, but a civil society group reports that 600 kidnappings in Haiti were recorded from January to September 2021, compared with 231 over the same period last year. While fasting and praying, we encourage you to remember others who are being held hostage as well as those recovering from the experience of being kidnapped.

I really appreciated this too.

[MaxPC]

I deeply appreciate this part of the CAM update—

Recent media attention has focused on the kidnapping of our workers and loved ones, but a civil society group reports that 600 kidnappings in Haiti were recorded from January to September 2021, compared with 231 over the same period last year. While fasting and praying, we encourage you to remember others who are being held hostage as well as those recovering from the experience of being kidnapped.

I really appreciated this too.

Likewise. There are hostages in Africa as well as other nations. We keep them all in prayer.

[TruthSeeker]

Does anyone have an update on the Haiti kidnapping situation?

[Josh]

Does anyone have an update on the Haiti kidnapping situation?

I have heard no gossip or rumours.