TEAM Sends Plane For Hostage Steve Godbold (Kidnapped Missionary)

Liberté sans frontières ^ | 4/30/08 | unknown

[epow]

For Immediate Release

April 30, 2008

The faith-based organization TEAM, located in the United States, announces that it has arranged for an aircraft operated by a medical non-governmental organization in Chad to fly to Bardai to receive Steve Godbold, who has been detained by rebel forces since October 10, 2007. TEAM also offers to allow a representative of the international media to accompany this flight to observe the process.

On April 28, 2008 the President of the MDJT, Mr. Choua Dazi, stated in an interview published by Liberté sans frontières and posted at www.dabio.net that Mr. Godbold is “free” and that the MDJT is seeking a means to facilitate his departure from the Tibesti region of Chad.

Mr. Godbold is a missionary with TEAM and has lived and worked in Chad for a number of years. On October 10, 2007 he was on a humanitarian mission, delivering equipment for water wells in the Tibesti when he was detained by MDJT forces in Zoumri. Mr. Godbold has been in the custody of the MDJT ever since.

During this period, spokesmen for the MDJT have promised several times to release Mr. Godbold:

* On October 18, 2007 Mr. Dazi told a reporter from RFI “This is the beginning of our investigation. I think that in a week’s time it will be decided. If he is innocent, then he will be freed, no problem.” * On October 24, 2007 Mr. Dazi told a reporter from Reuters “In two or three days we will conclude (our investigation) and then we’ll see what preparations we can make to free him”. * On November 5, 2007 Mr. Hissein Yaya Barka, Assistant General Secretary of the MDJT, told a French website “After a two-week investigation we have made the decision to liberate (Mr. Godbold) in the coming days.” * On January 8, 2008 Mr. Barka issued a press release that said “On November 5th, 2007, we made the decision to release him (Godbold)”. * During this time, leaders of the MDJT also made private promises to a large humanitarian organization to release Mr. Godbold.

TEAM issued this statement today: “Although we do not understand why the MDJT did not follow through on its earlier public promises to release Steve, we appreciate and respect Mr. Dazi’s announcement yesterday that Steve is ‘free’. We have arranged for an airplane from a medical NGO based at a hospital in Chad to fly to Bardai as quickly as possible so that the MDJT can complete its commitment and return Steve to freedom. The airplane will go to Bardai on Friday, May 2. We call on Mr. Dazi and the rest of the leadership of the MDJT to honor their promise and their commitment and send Steve to Bardai to meet this plane.” TEAM also confirmed that it is seeking a member of the international media to accompany the flight as a guarantee of transparency and good faith in the process.

For further information, contact:

Keith Rascher, TEAM

(+1) 626.345.1297

cmt.presse@googlemail.com

[epow]

I just received this from Google Alert. Praise God, the Chadean rebel group has apparently released Steve and he will soon be back in the US with his family! God DOES hear and answer prayer!!

I have known his parents Cash and Ann since the 1960s, and I can only imagine what they are feeling now. They have been on the north African mission field since the mid-'60s, and Steve and his sisters spent much of their early years in Niger where Cash and Ann were serving at that time.

[epow]

The link on the article heading doesn't work, try THIS

[norge]

Are you connected to CIU?

[Between the Lines]

Prayers for everyones safe return.

[jer33 3]

Thanks for the update! Prayers continue for the family.

[tajgirvan]

Praise God! God is so Good! Prayers for a safe return. Thank you for the wonderful praise report!

[epow]

Are you connected to CIU?

No I'm not. In fact I don't know what that acronym stands for, but I assume it's a mission organization. My daughter serves with OM (Operation Mobilization) but I'm not familiar with CIU.

[norge]

CIU is Columbia International University in Columbia, SC. I believe Cash Godbold is an alumni and something tells me that Steve may have gone to Ben Lippen School, CIU’s high school, which at one time was in Asheville and is now in Columbia.

By the way...I was raised, literally, at TEAM headquarters (actually lived at TEAM for several years).

[epow]

OK, now I remember the name change, CIU was called Columbia Bible College when I was a young man. I attended a spring conference there in April of 1958 and considered applying for admittance while I was there. But since I didn't believe that I was called to formal full time Christian service I decided it wasn't the right school for me. The CBC/CIU choir came to our church on it's yearly winter concert tour for several years in the 1960s and 70s.

And you're right, Cash is a CBC/CIU alumni, and if I'm not mistaken Ann is also. I'm not sure about Steve's formal schooling, but IIRC the Godbolds took a much longer than usual sabbatical when Steve was an adolescent, so it's quite possible that he went to Ben Lippen during that time.

[epow]

I just received an email from Keith Rascher saying that Steve has not yet been released by the rebels. No details such as what is holding up the release or whether or not the plane was sent as planned. This is disappointing news of course, but it may be just a minor problem of some kind that is holding up his release and it will soon be resolved. But continue to pray that this delay works out for the best, and that Steve will be released according to God's perfect timetable instead of ours.

tajgirvan, I don't know how to activate a ping list, so would you mind pinging the people on your prayer ping list who have been interested in Steve's situation? Also let me know by FRmail if and when there is any improvement in Mathew's circumstances. Thanks.

[tajgirvan]

Thank you epow for the update on Steve Goldbold.
Pinging to The FR Prayer Warriors. Please come and pray Steve home for the Glory of God and His Kingdom.
Thank you and may the Lord Bless and keep you, in Jesus Name, amen.
Please ping those that you know will pray for Steve, thank you again.

[Pegita]

Thank You, Most Merciful Heavenly Father, that You are Watchman over Your servant, Steve. May it be soon, O Lord, that he is released back into the Christian community. Thank You that You have sustained him these seven months and that much fruit will be born from his days in captivity. Blessed be Your Name, both now and forevermore, Amen ...

[tajgirvan]

I agree with your prayer and thank God for you and your faithfulness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,amen. :)

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you for the Ping, Dear Sister in Christ, and I Somehow Missed your Prior Ping on this Thread. I will be Lifting Steve Up in Prayer, as we Look to our Lord for His Wonderful Grace.

Our Merciful Master, we Praise you for Your Servant Steve, and Thank You for Your Care of Your Child. We Ask that he will be Set Free, to the Glory and Praise of Your Name. Thank You, our Abba, that you have Nourished him with Your Manna. Thank You that he has Partaken Daily of the Water of Life. Oh, Your Goodness, my Lord; Your Compassion and Your Love! We Exalt You for Keeping Steve Safe Within Your Hand.

Please Grant that Your Child will be Released, Loving Lord. We Look to You; our Trust is in our Great God. Thank You for Hearing us, and Answering our Prayers. In the Name of Christ, our Beloved One, amen.

[tajgirvan]

Thank you for your prayer for God’s servant Steve. There has next to nothing in the MSM about this fine young American Christian Missionary being held by Muslim rebels in Africa.
Thank you sweet sister for ALWAYS being there when anyone asks you to pray!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!