Abducted missionaries detail how they prayed to God for guidance while planning their escape, after two months in captivity.
17 missionaries including an eight-month old baby, were kidnapped by a gang in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in October 2021.
The group, made up of American and Canadian citizens were abducted after a visit to an orphanage supported by Christian Aid Ministries.
Gang members intercepted their vehicle and placed them in a room no larger than 10ft x 12ft with a ransom of $1 million per person demanded for their release.
Two hostages were initially released in late November followed by three others in the first week of December.
Last week, following appeals for prayer and a statement that the US government was doing all it could to ensure the hostages' safe release, Christian Aid Ministries published a statement declaring that the 12 remaining missionaries who had been held in captivity were now free.
Speaking at a news conference in Ohio on Tuesday, the charitable organization shared details of the hostages' journey to freedom.
Weston Showalter expressed how prayer and the words of Psalm 34 brought them comfort during their darkest moments of captivity.
"As the kidnappers took over their van and drove wildly to get them to a secluded area, our workers prayed out loud and sang the song, 'The Angel of the Lord Encampeth Round About Them.'
"They started each day with a time of worship, sharing inspiration with each other, singing, and praying." One of the hostages shared, 'It wasn't unheard of if singing and encouraging got on a roll, to find us finishing morning devotions sometime close to noon'".
During their time in captivity various appeals were made for Christian communities across the word to pray for the missionaries' safe release, Weston explains: "In times when they faced fear and danger during the night, they prayed that God would wake believers around the world and nudge them to pray for them. And that truly did happen. On this side we hear of people who were awakened at night with a sense of urgency to pray."
During daily devotionals, according to Showalter, the hostages began to feel a leading from God to make an escape plan.
"They all were united that yes, God was calling them to leave," he said.
The twelve postponed their exit several times while waiting for God-given signs to make their move and "placed their situation in God's hands, depending on Him for protection and guidance."
On the night of 15th December the group - including a baby girl, a three-year-old and two teenagers made their preparations to leave and "found a way to open a closed and blocked door."
"[They] filed silently to the path they had chosen to follow, and quickly left the place they were held, despite the fact that numerous guards were close by.
Journalists heard that the group, led by the light of the moon prayed to God to show them which direction to walk in.
"After a number of hours of walking day began to dawn and they eventually found someone who helped them make a phone call for help. They were finally free. Thanks be to God," Showalter added.
The group were later flown on a coast guard flight to Florida.
