Hundreds of people are abducted every year, in many cases by terrorist groups that often specifically target members of other religion or belief groups, but sometimes a country’s own authorities may be responsible.
This week, we pray for four people from around the world who have been abducted due to their religious beliefs, or the actions their beliefs inspire them to take. Join us in asking God to bring peace and comfort to their families and communities, and to move powerfully to restore their freedom.
Leah Sharibu
This Wednesday is Leah Sharibu’s 22nd birthday. It is the eighth birthday she will mark as a captive of the Islamic State West Africa Province, who abducted her along with 109 others from their school in Dapchi, Nigeria in February 2018.
While all of her surviving classmates were released a month later, Leah was denied her freedom because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. Please pray that the Nigerian government would finally deliver on their promises to secure her release. Ask God to continue to comfort, sustain and protect Leah and her family.
Pastor Raymond Koh
Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted in broad daylight in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on 13 February 2017. He was on his way to see a friend when he was kidnapped by 15 men in balaclavas who were later found to work for the Special Branch of the Malaysian police. The whole process took just 42 seconds.
Pastor Koh’s family have not heard from him since, and the authorities have repeatedly attempted to deny their involvement. Please pray for his wife, Susanna, their children and their entire church as they continue to await truth, justice and ultimately his safe return.
Archbishop Boulos (Paul) Yazigi & Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim
Archbishop Boulos (Paul) Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church and Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim of the Syriac Orthodox Church were abducted on 22 April 2013. They were among a number of prominent clergy to be targeted around this time in one of the first clear indicators of a religiously motivated campaign against Syria’s Christian community.
Over a decade later – and six years since the last Syrian village controlled by the Islamic State was liberated in March 2019 – the two bishops’ whereabouts remain unknown. Pray that recent developments in the country would allow their communities to finally find answers.