Archbishop asks for prayer for captive Fijian soldiers

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014

Anglican Archbishop Winston Halapua has asked all parishes in the Diocese of Polynesia to pray for the safe release of 44 Fijian soldiers held captive by a militant rebel group in the Golan Heights.

“We join with our leaders and with all people of faith in Fiji to pray for our soldiers who have been held captive,” Archbishop Winston said in a statement.

“We pray also for the families and communities whose loved ones are victims of violence in the Middle East.”

“This situation of crisis for Fijians serving in the UN Peace Keeping Force brings home to us strongly our deep connections with many other victims of violence.”

“It brings home to us the need to work and pray for peace in our communities, our countries and our world.”

Archbishop Winston called on all parishes in Polynesia to pray intentionally this Sunday and the week following:

for the well-being and the release of those held captive,
for families and friends of Fiji soldiers,
for the UN Peace Keeping Force and its mission.

Fijian Army Commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga said they “are continuing negotiations at all levels”.

He said they had been assured that the men were being treated well and had come to no harm.

“However, we are still very concerned that we cannot confirm at this stage their exact location, whether they are still in Syria or whether they have been moved to neighbouring countries,” he said.

On Monday afternoon Tikoitoga said the situation surrounding the detained Fijian peacekeepers remained unchanged.

In a statement, he said the Fijian army is coordinating closely with the United Nations team for the safe release of the 45 Fijian troops.

He emphasised that despite the situation, the troops have access to food, water and medical supplies and all are reported to be in good health.

The U.N. peacekeepers from Fiji were seized by Islamist militants on Thursday, one of several groups attacked in the volatile frontier between Syria and Israel. U.N. officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that they were now treating it as a case of kidnapping.

Archbishop Winston encouraged parishes to use this prayer for peace from the NZ Prayer Book:

O God,
it is your will to hold both heaven and earth
in a single peace.
Let the design of your great love
shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows,
and give peace to your Church,
peace among nations,
peace in our homes and peace in our hearts.

Source