Haitian Baptist leader released unharmed

CAP-HAITIAN, Haiti — The Haitian Baptist leader who was kidnapped early Sept. 29 was released unharmed later that day without a ransom payment, the Baptist World Alliance reported Sept. 30.

Emmanuel Pierre, general secretary of the Baptist Convention of Haiti, was kidnapped by armed men who broke into his home at about 2 a.m. Sept. 29 and demanded a ransom. But that afternoon at about 5, they let him go without payment, the BWA said.

Emmanuel Pierre greets a representative of the American Baptist International Ministries after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

“We are glad to inform you that Rev. Emmanuel Pierre was safely released this afternoon,” Joel Dorsinville, coordinator for disaster relief for the Haiti convention, told the BWA. “He is now back home with his family. Thank you all for your support in prayers.”

Other regional Baptist leaders also expressed relief.

“We do praise the Lord. Let us continue to pray for [Pierre] and his family,” said Jules Casseus, president of the convention-owned Northern Haiti Christian University.
 
Everton Jackson, executive secretary/treasurer of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship and BWA regional secretary for the Caribbean, said, “We join with family, friends and the Baptist community in celebrating the safe release of the Rev. Emmanuel Pierre. The family and the Baptist convention [in Haiti] have expressed their appreciation to all for standing with them in prayerful solidarity.”

“It is with joy that we receive news that Emmanuel has returned safely to his family,” said BWA general secretary Neville Callam, a native of Jamaica. “We thank God for God’s grace and protection upon our brother and express appreciation to Baptists around the world who prayed along with our Baptist brothers and sisters in Haiti.”