Kidnapped Archbishop Peter Imasuen

Today’s lectionary reading says it all.
Psalm 44:4-8 (New International Version)
You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. Selah

More info on kidnapped Archbishop

As best as I can tell, militant groups in oil-rich Edo, claiming that more of the oil wealth should go to the people, commonly kidnap people for income. Archbishop Imasuen’s ransom is an unusually high one.–JW

From The Will:

A relative of the Bishop said the kidnappers have made contact demanding N50 million naira for his release.
Abductions have been rampant in the ancient city of Benin. Anyone can be taken for a ransom: Doctors; nurses; businessmen and women, petrol attendants; vulcanizers; street traders; students; etc, have been kidnapped in the past for ransoms ranging from N5, 000 (Five thousand naira) to N30, 000,000 (Thirty million naira).

From Vanguard:

BARELY one month after Federal Government withdrew soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force, JTF, code named Operation Thunderstorm created by Edo State Government, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese and state Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Peter Imasuen, was abducted, yesterday, by suspected kidnappers. . . .
It would be recalled that the spate of kidnapping in the state reduced drastically after the military were drafted into the security outfit which was set up by Governor Adams Oshiomhole to check the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers.
However, residents of the state were gripped by fear last week when the Minister of Defense, General Godwin Abbe, an indigene of the state, surprisingly ordered the withdrawal of soldiers serving in the security outfit for alleged political reasons.
Thousands of indigenes of the state throng the streets to protest the decision, prompting the Benin monarch, Oba Erediuwa, to also call on the Federal Government to recall the soldiers after the weekend’s Etsako Central House of Assembly re-run election, which was the reason the soldiers were withdrawn.

From IOL–

“We are trying to establish what exactly happened but we understand the kidnappers are asking for 15 million naira (about $100 000),” said Salifu.

Anglican Archbishop kidnapped

From This Day:

Archbishop of Benin Diocese, Anglican Communion and Edo State Chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Peter Imasuen, was yesterday abducted by unknown gunmen.

Daniel 6:19-22 (New International Version)
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”

O God,
You are our king. You live forever. Archbishop Peter Imasuen serves You continually. He is Your servant. Send Your angels to shut the mouths of these lions and guard him from harm. Amen.

Hebrews 8:8-12

============ 1/25/2010, #26, 1st Quarter 2010

Because finding fault with them, he says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–” (Hebrews 8:8 )
      Lord, you know our faults; help us return to your covenant with us.

“not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.” (Hebrews 8:9)
      Jesus, lead us by the hand; bring us out of bondage to sin and captivity to our culture.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Hebrews 8:10)
      Holy Spirit, write your laws anew in our minds and on our hearts. Help us to be your faithful people.

“None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Hebrews 8:11)
      Father, please bring us all to a saving knowledge of you.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)
      Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. Please help all of us in this diocese respond to your love. Thank you.

Monday: 44; Genesis 14:(1-7) 8-24; Hebrews 8:1-13; John 4:43-54
Tuesday: 47, 48; Genesis 15:1-11,17-21; Hebrews 9:1-14; John 5:1-18

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Pray for Welcome Home Initiative Monday – Wednesday of this week.

***** Jean was able to go to church Sunday and we taught the Adult Class together. Torre

Albany Intercessor

To tell of the mighty works of God

Genesis 11:9
That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Acts 17:26-27
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

O Lord,
You are near to all the peoples of the Earth. May the words of our languages be instruments of praise for You. Amen.

Out from the presence of God

Genesis 4:16-22 (New International Version)
So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. . . . Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

O Lord,
Have mercy upon us. In the ashes of a broken covenant with You, mankind establishes cities, agriculture, artistry, and industry. Our cultures are pervaded by covetousness and greed.
Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy.
We humbly lift up the city of ____ and ask that its government, agriculture, artistry, and industry will be established on godly principles. We cannot do this on our own. Only with Your help can we bring our culture back into the Lord’s presence. Amen.