Jailed American Missionary Pilot Remains ‘Committed to God’s Will’
An American missionary pilot, has been denied bail along with two other Mission Aviation volunteers who were arrested four months ago for “supporting insurgent activity” in Mozambique.
Mission Aviation Fellowship says Ryan Koher, 31, detained in Inhambane on Nov. 4., has a “peace from God and is committed to His will.” Koher and 77-year-old W.J. de Plessis and 69-year-old Eric Dry were loading supplies into an aircraft to be taken to church-run orphanages in the Montepuez district in the trouble Cabo Delgado province when they were arrested by airport security.
Mission Aviation Fellowship reported that “the flight bound for Montepuez in Cabo Delgado raised more suspicion since conflict in the region is rife. There is a general mistrust of foreigners who handle goods in the area.”
To date, however, no formal charges have been filed in the case.
Last Wednesday, hundreds from around the world joined MAF for a global day of prayer and fasting for Koher, the ministry said. In a video message on the MAF website, Koher’s wife, Annabel, compelled Christians to join her and the ministry staff to pray for her husband every Wednesday until he is exonerated and released.
Annabel Koher says her husband has been experiencing a deteriorating medical condition, which causes him to suffer from itching that affects his sleep. She added that Ryan has begun sleeping better and attributes that to the ongoing prayers and fasting of other believers.
She and their children were recently able to speak to Ryan.
“It was encouraging to hear Ryan’s voice and to know that he is really doing well considering the circumstances,” Annabel says. “Waking the boys with Ryan’s voice on speaker and seeing their huge smiles was such a sweet moment. I felt an increased sense of peace and steadfastness as well continue praying and waiting on the Lord. Those nearly two hours will be cherished until we next talk or when he is released.”
Contrary to the allegations against Koher and the two South African volunteers, MAF says it “does not support insurgents.”
“Ambassador Aviation has actually helped people in the past flee from insurgent attacks,” says David Holstein, CEO of MAF US. “Ambassador Aviation has long sough to care for those who have been harmed by the insurgency, including evacuating innocent residents following a March 2021 insurgent attack.” {eoa}
Bring Charisma magazine home with a subscription today!
Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
