In recent times,
attacks on Christian missionaries have increased in several parts of the world.
According to a report in Christian Today, an American aid worker kidnapped by
gunmen in Niger was a Christian missionary who had links to Youth With A
Mission (YWAM), a spokesman has confirmed.Pete Thompson told The Independent
that Jeffery Woodke was abducted from his home in Abalak in western Niger at
around 9pm local time on Friday."At the time of the abduction, two other
men were killed including a local Tuareg night guard and a national guard. It
is not known where he has been taken and no group has yet claimed
responsibility for his abduction" Thompson said."His family have been
informed and the US government is tracking the situation."Woodke – who has
lived in Niger since 1992 – has been working with JEMED, a local organisation
linked to YWAM which helps people struggling from such issues as drought, lack
of access to education, and disease. Recently, in Russia, A Baptist preacher,
Ossewaarde was fined 40,000 rubles for holding religious services in his home.
Canadian Pastor Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced to life in prison in North Korea
for sharing the gospel. Daniel Courney, a missionary to India, recently posted
on facebook: “"If you are ever inclined to pray for a missionary, do it at
once, where ever you are. Perhaps he may be in great peril at that
moment."~Amy Carmichael, 19th century evangelistic missionary to Tamil
Nadu, India who worked to save young girls from being forced into temple
prostitution (a practice still prevalent today here).”