The need for the Church in Nigeria and across the globe to heightening her intercessions towards the release of the kidnapped American born female missionary, who according to reports is said to be in her 80s cannot be overstressed.
Barely nine days ago, a female American born and Free Baptist Church’s missionary, Rev. Phyllis Sortor was abducted from Emiworo community within Kogi central. Kogi state police command has since confirmed the report. Reports also said that, the unknown kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of 60 million Naira before reducing it to 30 million Naira.
While the State Department and the FBI is working with local security authorities to find her and secure her release (according to unconfirmed reports), the church has a duty to be in faith with her and intercede for her release. Recall that, her challenge is akin to Peter’s ordeal in the hand of monstrous Herod who incarcerated him and was determined to kill him before the church prayed, believing that, the same God that secured Peter’s release will also come to her aid.
A brief research into Rev. Sortor life’s profile divulges that, apart from running Hope Academy and an NGO, until her abduction, the female missionary is also said to have secured a grazing land specifically for herdsmen in a move aimed at discouraging clashes between herdsmen and farmers. How best could a philanthropist act? One wonders! She is not a Nigerian Politician. She is not a partaker of the national cake. She neither enjoys constituency allowances nor security votes but she still considered it expedient to embark on this charity inclined investment out of her love for the peace and the welfare of the people of the land.
There is indeed an invitation to intercession. There is clarion call to the place of prayer. God is calling on us to pray for the liberation of our sister, who in a bit to propagate the gospel and extend the horizon of the influence of our kingdom got hooked in the enemy’s net as orchestrated by the children of Beliah.
A called servant of God with over ten years missionary experience, reports from a U.S radio station, NBC station King5 indicates that Sortor is an alumna of Seattle Pacific University.
Lamenting the ordeal, her stepson, Richard Sortor, who find it difficult to believe the news of the abduction of her stepmother, described the scenario as surreal, adding that, her stepmother believes in God whose commitment to God’s work, according to him, was unwavering.
Who will go for us to the place f prayer? Who will stand between the gap on her behalf? Who will raise this holy cry to the high heaven? Who will say no to her perpetual incarceration by asking for the spontaneous intervention of the Almighty God? Who will raise a lamentation for this daughter of Zion? A five minute prayer from you can do it. An hour prayer could do more. As it happened in Acts 12:1-14, if we care to raise this intercession, God will certainly hear us. Kudos to those that have started this before now. Let’s do more. Let’s not rest on our oars until her freedom is secured, bearing in mind that, when men intercede, God will intervene.
It is truly a strange and a dreamlike incident. One’s imagination will remain rattled, how a servant of God, an expatriate who is neither an oil worker nor a hired contractor could be a victim of kidnapping mayhem. In my letter to Kogi state Governor a few weeks ago on the security situation of the state, I elucidated the need for the state’s security architecture to be empowered towards curtailing youth restiveness and other forms of vicious tendencies in the state. While I appreciate the various commendations and appreciations from well meaning Nigerians both within and outside the state, I am still using this potent medium to appeal to the state government to ossify its efforts in handling such an incident as this as this does not speak well on the good image of our lovely state.
I see her enjoying a miraculous release in the name of Jesus, (Amen). Let’s keep on praying for her until we finally celebrate her freedom.
Thank you.
Oyigu OnucheOjo Elijah
