28083: Wharram (news) U.S. Missionaries to Haiti Thwart Kidnapping Attempt (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From Bruce Wharram <bruce.wharram@sev.org>

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U.S. Missionaries to Haiti Thwart Kidnapping Attempt

To: National & International Desks

Contact: Ken Reed, 316-734-6125

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Mar. 7 /Christian Wire Service/ -- 12 missionaries
from the U.S., 8 from Wichita, Kansas, and 4 from Supply, North Carolina,
survived an armed attack on the mission where were working last week. The
mission is a children's aid and feeding program in Haiti, the Croix Des
Bouquet Feeding Program.

On March 4, while the missionaries were doing their routine chores of adding
power and plumbing to the facility, four armed gunmen attacked the guarded
facility.

James Richards of Wichita, initially resisted the gunmen and escaped after
being pistol-whipped.  One gunman pointed his gun directly at Richards' head
and fired twice, missing both times.

Other missionaries responded by charging the attackers.  David Schoenhals,
Pastor Stuart Ortman and Mike Finley, chased the gunmen from the facility,
while facing several rounds of gunfire from both .45 caliber and .38 caliber
pistols.

Schoenhals and Richards were taken to the local hospital by Haitian police
escort. Richards had been wounded by the gunfire twice to his head.
Schoenhals was shot three times at close range, in both arms and in the
face. Both men were released from the hospital with no major injuries.

?We love the Haitian people, and regardless of this attempt to kidnap these
missionaries, we will not stop sharing the love of Christ with the Haitian
people and meeting the needs of this area,? said David Schoenhals.

The Supply, North Carolina missions team returned to the states on Sunday,
March 5.

The Wichita missions team will be returning to Wichita on Tuesday evening,
March 7, on American Airlines Flight 3701.  The Wichita missions team also
includes Ken Reed, Mike Foster and Tracy Cass.


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