Posted on 07/29/2014 8:52:37 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
Alexander Kobzev, Pastor of the Church of Christ has almost certainly been abducted by Kremlin-backed militants. His wife informs that contact with him was lost near 10 p.m. on July 27 near the approach to Ilovaisk. The bad news comes from Said Ismagilov, Mufti of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Ukraine. He and Pastor Alexander have both been taking part in the inter-faith prayer marathon in the centre of Donetsk which has been continuing now for almost 150 days.
One other priest (at least) remains in captivity. Father Yury Ivanov, from the Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate was abducted on July 8. According to Said Ismagilov, militants had earlier turned up at Father Yury’s home and demanded that he ask Archbishop Serhiy of the Donetsk UOC KP to urgently come to his home, obviously so that the militants could abduct him.
In its latest report, published on July 28, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that the whereabouts of 375 people believed to have been taken prisoner by the militants remain unknown.
It listed examples of some of the 812 people who had been abducted or detained by these armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since mid-April. “Some of those detained by the armed groups are local politicians, public officials and employees of the local coal mining industry; the majority are ordinary citizens, including teachers, journalists, members of the clergy and students.”
It says that armed groups “continue to abduct, detain, torture and execute people kept as hostages in order to intimidate and “to exercise their power over the population in raw and brutal ways.”
Prayer List ping
“PRAYER REQUEST Rev Alexander Kobzev, Church of Christ abducted”
http://www.unian.ua/politics/945166-na-donbasi-teroristi-na-zamovlennya-zvilnyayut-vyazniv-dpts.html
Not a good sign at all....
Prayers for he and his family
Prayer warrior ping...my prayers are with the Reverend for safety and a return to his family. God, please watch over your servant and see him safely home.
We have missionaries in Ukraine [also church of Christ] and pray that they are safe and that this minister is found safe!
prayers for all those who are persecuted in Ukraine and the world -> special care for Rev Alexander Kobzev
Prayers up for the Rev. Kobsev
I’m not surprised by Russian-supported gangsters anymore. Kidnapping would seem like a normal duty in their job description. That the man they snatched is a religious leader is no surprise either. Putin tolerates religion as long as it supports his political agenda.
I received this from our preacher today....
“Yes, Sasha [Alexander] is a graduate of UBI [Ukraine Bible Institute] and was one of our earliest students. We all know him as “Uncle Sasha” and his wife Svetta was one of the schools interpreters for several years. They are wonderful people and have a daughter who is close to 16 now. “
Keeping in prayer.
Thank you. People are very worried!
What about the Priest?
“What about the Priest?”
I don’t know. Maybe UMCRevMom@aol.com or LUV W have heard something?
May the Lord protect him.
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