An American Missionary's Hostage Ordeal
A California church is now praying desperately for the safe return of an American missionary working in Niger after he was forced to strip down to his underwear and then kidnapped from his home by armed men on Friday.
The missionary, identified as 55-year-old Jeffery Woodke of McKinlyville, California, in the North Coast Journal, is a longtime aid worker with Youth With A Mission charity, according to the Independent.
"We are praying for the safety of Jeff, for the victims' families and for peace in the region," the Arcata First Baptist Church said in a statement on Facebook on Saturday.