Statement by Bishop Michael J. Coyner, Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church on the abduction of Jeffrey Ake

April 13, 2005

Statement by Bishop Michael J. Coyner, Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church on the abduction of Jeffrey Ake

Bishop Coyner said, "My prayers and the prayers of United Methodists in Indiana are with Jeffrey Ake and his family today. His kidnapping brings the horrors of war home to us. As people of faith, we plead with his captors to realize that Jeffrey Ake is a man of faith in our United Methodist Church at Rolling Prairie, Indiana, and not to harm him. I also ask United Methodist everywhere to remember Jeffrey and his family in their prayers during this trying time. May God grant us all the peace we seek."

According to numerous news sources, Jeffrey Ake, 47, was kidnapped in Iraq and shown on the Al-Jazeera television station. Ake is president and CEO of Equipment Express, a LaPorte based company that make machines that fill, label and cap water bottles. He was kidnapped Monday while working on a water treatment plant near Baghdad, according to AP. Jeffrey and his family are members of the Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church. The Rev. David Tripp is his pastor.

Submitted by Dan Gangler, director of communication Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church

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