Three Pastors Kidnapped, Beheaded in Nigeria

Unspeakable brutality that reminds us that the hostages we pray for are not only the victims of pirates but of political and religious terrorists with no regard for human life. Via Jihad Watch:

Nigerian Christian pastors beheaded by Boko Haram -- "Education Is Sin" -- Islamic jihad group for refusing to convert to Islam.

No Compulsion In Religion and Education Is Sin Updates: "Boko Haram: How 3 pastors were beheaded eyewitness," by Timothy Ola in the Daily Sun of Lagos, Nigeria (thanks to Skydeexie):

One of the victims of last week’s attack by the Yusufiya sect in Borno State has given a shocking account of how the Islamic extremists killed three pastors who were captured along with other victims on the second day of the insurgence. The victim was among those held hostage in Yusuf’s enclave.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Sun in Maiduguri, the eye witness who preferred anonymity disclosed that the three pastors were beheaded on the instruction of the sect leader, Mohammed Yusuf shortly after bringing them out of his inner chamber.

“The pastors alongside one Ibo man were asked to change their faith to Islam like they did to other people taken as hostages. I think there was an argument by one of the pastors which gave the others some level of confidence to also resist accepting Islam.

“The Yusufiya men who were armed on that Tuesday afternoon were not comfortable with the pastors and they took one of them to the sect leader in his inner chamber. They came out later to the courtyard within the compound and cut their heads one after the other and thereafter, shouted allah akbar in wild celebration accompanied with several gun shots,” the eye witness disclosed.

The article goes on to describe how Pastor George Orjih preached the love of Christ to his murderers up to the moment he was beheaded. While we mourn his loss, and the loss of the other two pastors who refused to convert, we can only give thanks for their courageous witness and take comfort in the knowledge that they have entered into an eternity with their Savior where there is no more suffering and fear.

The article does not say what happened to the other 50 hostages who were kidnapped at the same time. Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusef, however, was killed by Nigerian police after being captured earlier this week.

Please continue to pray for all the hostages and victims of persecution and oppression throughout the world.

Matthew Maguire Freed in Nigeria

Robin Hughes (left) and Matthew Maguire (right)

British oil worker Matthew Maguire, kidnapped in Nigeria more than nine months ago, was finally released by his captors Friday. The MEND rebels who abducted him along with 27 other oil workers in September 2008 had originally promised to free him on his birthday, June 1, later reneged on that agreement, claiming he chose to stay behind as "an advocate for change." Via The Guardian:

Gordon Brown yesterday officially confirmed the safe release of a British oil worker held hostage in Nigeria for over nine months.

Matthew Maguire, 35, from Birkenhead in Merseyside, was among 27 oil workers taken hostage by militants in the Niger Delta area in September 2008.

The group behind the kidnapping, The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), had demanded the release of their leader, Henry Okah, in exchange for the hostages. Okah is currently being held by the Nigerian government on arms trafficking charges.

The group announced Maguire's release through an email, saying he had been handed over to Nigerian officials.

In a statement the prime minister said: "I am pleased to confirm the safe release of Matthew Maguire ... This news comes a great relief to all concerned, and I am glad that, for Mr Maguire and his family and friends, this ordeal is over. I should like to thank all those who have worked so hard on this case. We remain in close contact with the family and I urge the media to respect their privacy at this time."

Ironically, Mr. Maguire had indeed refused to be released earlier this year, but it was to save the life of fellow hostage Robin Hughes, who was dangerously ill and was not likely to survive further captivity. Via The Echo:

Despite missing his family and surviving on little food Mr Maguire begged his captors to free the boat’s ailing captain Robin Hughes, 60, from Dover in Kent.

Mr Hughes had a severe infection in his right foot and ongoing circulation problems.

Mr Maguire, from Birkenhead, feared he may die if he were not freed.

The ex-West Derby comprehensive pupil told press in Nigeria – where he is awaiting a flight home – how he begged the militants to free Mr Hughes who was released in April.

He said: “I was really worried about the captain. He wasn’t well. He wasn’t breathing right. I told the militants if they didn’t release him he would die.

“They didn’t want to release him but the villagers helped as well – they put pressure on the militants saying ‘he needs to go to hospital’ and we got them to release him.”

Mr Hughes’ brother Simon, 48, said his brother was now recovering with his family in Brazil.

He said: “It was such a relief to us Mr Maguire was there and could see how bad he was. The doctors managed to cut out the infection which made all his leg swell. But if it had been left things could have got very bad.

“We’re all just so pleased Mr Maguire is out now. Because it was awful to think Robin was safe and being treated and he was still there.

“We just want to thank him for everything he did.”

Thank God for this answer to prayer, and for this example of selfless sacrifice. May God continue to bless Mr. Maguire and Mr. Hughes and their families.

Nigerian Rebels Kidnap Child of Oil Worker

Update: The child has been released safely

A disturbing turn of events in Nigeria, where the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) have kidnapped the 9 year old son of an oil worker and killed the child's 11 year old sister as she tried to protect her little brother (via Reuters):

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead an 11-year-old Nigerian girl and abducted her 9-year-old brother as they walked to school in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt on Thursday, police said.

Their father worked for Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) in Port Harcourt, the hub of Africa's top oil and gas industry, a company spokesman said.

Violent crime has surged in the Niger Delta since militants, who claim to be fighting for a fairer share of the region's natural resources, launched a campaign of sabotage against the oil industry three years ago.

The attackers shot the girl as she tried to prevent them from dragging her brother into a car in the Rumuokwuta area of central Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state.

"A red Honda car intercepted them on the way (to school). The gunmen came out of the vehicle and grabbed the boy," said Rita Inoma-Abbey, police spokeswoman for Rivers.

"While the sister was struggling with them, she was shot. The gunmen went away with the boy. Passers-by rushed the girl to hospital but she died on the road."

Please lift up this grieving family in your prayers, and pray for the protection of this kidnapped little boy. We mourn the loss of the young girl who tried so valiantly to save her brother, sacrificing her life for him. May her sacrifice be rewarded by the safe return of the abducted child, and may the justice of both God and man be brought against the captors.

Pray For The Hostages Resumes Monday on BTR

After a week away, the daily Pray For The Hostages radio program on BTR will resume on Monday the 8th at noon eastern time.

Pastor Ed will co-host the show with Vicki on Monday and Wednesday.
Wyatt will co-host with Vicki on Tuesday and Thursday.
Annieb will be Friday's co-host with Vicki.


Click this link to go to the live show or to listen on archive.

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hello everyone - My name is Pastor Ed Boston, aka Cyber Pastor, and I'm honored to be the Chaplain for Pray for the Hostages. I've wanted to write this post for over a week now, but my laptop has been/is being worked on so it has had to wait.

When Vicki asked if I would serve along with her, Matt, and Wyatt, I was excited to be a part of such a fine group of people, but told her I would like a few days to pray about taking on another commitment.

I pastor a small church in south central Indiana, am the campus Chaplain for the Adult Services branch of an extension site of a Christian University, the Chaplain for the local police department, on-call Chaplain once a month at the closest hospital, I am an Ambassador for the Presidential Prayer Team, blog regularly, and my wife and I host a Blog Talk Radio program each Monday through Friday night.

Now you see why I wanted to pray about another commitment.

However, when praying I kept thinking about what a need there is for "Prayer for the Hostages". Vicki didn't know it, but she had hit my soft spot and that is prayer. I knew I had to join forces with this group.

Right now, I'm working on a training session for those who are part of this group and want to participate. For now, I would suggest a couple of things that maybe you are already doing but if not, please consider it.

1) Take a time-slot to commit a specific time where you will pray for those who this group was founded to pray for. You don't have to pray for an entire hour, but wouldn't it be awesome to fill up every time slot 24-hours a day, every day of the year.

2) Utilize the list of the hostages, and pray for each person - by name - at least one time a week, more if you can. It doesn't have to be a specific time, and no one has to know you are doing it but God and yourself.

Please let me know if there is any way I can help you personally. You can contact me at pastoredboston@sbcglobal.net .

May God Bless you, and may He especially be with each person we are praying for!

Pastor Ed