(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Pastor Michel Louis was one of two people kidnapped while traveling through Egypt on Friday during a church mission trip.
Pastor Louis is the founder of the Free Pentecostal Church of God in Mattapan. His son, Reverend Jean J. M. Louis tells FOX 25 that his father was on a mission trip to Israel with a group of 23 church members when their vehicle was stopped. Pastor Louis, a 39-year-old church member named Lisa Alphonse, and their tour guide were taken captive.
Jean Louis tells FOX 25 his father is a diabetic.
The Egyptian Bedouin who abducted Alphonse and Louis and their guide on Friday vowed he would take more hostages of different nationalities if police do not release his uncle from prison.
Speaking to The Associated Press by telephone, Jirmy Abu-Masuh of the Tarbeen tribe in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, said the captives would remain safe, but that more would be abducted if his uncle is not released.
"If my uncle gets 50 years (in prison), they will stay with me for 50 years. If they release him, I will release them," he said of the captives. "Tomorrow I will kidnap other nationalities and their embassies will be notified for the whole world to know."
Abu-Masuh, a 32 year-old truck driver, said that Louis, 61, and Alphonse, 39, were treated as "guests" and given tea, coffee and a traditional lamb dinner reserved for special occasions in Bedouin culture.
"I told them 'nothing will happen to you. You are my guest'," he said.
U.S. Embassy spokesman David Linfield said the embassy was looking into the kidnapping and working closely with Egyptian authorities who were doing everything to ensure their safe release.
Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown commented on the kidnapping Saturday, saying he is also working with officials to bring Alphonse and Louis home.
"The kidnapping of Massachusetts natives in Egypt is extremely distressing news, and my office has been in close contact with both the State Department and the families. While the negotiations between the Egyptian law enforcement and the kidnapper continue, I will continue working with U.S. officials to do everything in our power to bring these folks home to Massachusetts safely," says Senator Brown.
Senator John Kerry's office also commented on the kidnapping. They say Senator Kerry's office is staying in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to receive regular updates on the situation.
Reverend Jean Louis, speaking for the family on Saturday, thanked the public for their help and concern during this time. They are asking for prayer for the safe return of everyone.
Cox Media Group
