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<\/source><\/picture>A group of student missionaries from the Harmony Hill Baptist Church<\/a> in Lufkin, Texas, were safely on their way back to the U.S. Thursday after their return from a mission trip in Niger was delayed by the ousting of the country\u2019s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum by soldiers last week.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have boarded a plane to America! Continue to pray as they spend the day traveling home,\u201d the church announced in a post on Facebook<\/a> Thursday morning with a photo of the smiling group.<\/p>\n The missionaries who had traveled to Niger\u2019s capital, Niamey, as part of Harmony Students<\/a>, the church\u2019s youth ministry, had been stuck in the landlocked West African nation since the coup was launched against Bazoum on July 26.<\/p>\n Harmony Students explained in a statement on Facebook<\/a> that the students were originally scheduled to return to the U.S. on Sunday but the coup disrupted that plan.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to everyone who has been praying for our Student Team serving in Niger, West Africa. They have had four great days of ministry serving alongside our partner Church! Our team was scheduled to return Sunday, July 30. However, due to a military coup, the airport has been temporarily shut down, delaying the team\u2019s return,\u201d the ministry said. \u201cAt this point, Niamey is peaceful, and the citizens and team are going about their day as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement to The Christian Post, Charles Roberds, a spokesperson for the church, said their congregation is \u201celated\u201d that the 12-member missionary team<\/a>, which was relocated to Rome thanks to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Niamey, are now \u201con their homeward voyage from Italy, marking a triumphant moment of unity and faith.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe prayers of the faithful were answered as the Lord made a way for the missionary team’s safe return journey to begin from Italy. The collective dedication of the church community, along with the unwavering support of countless individuals, has brought about this joyous occasion of progress and celebration,\u201d Roberds said.<\/p>\n He praised the efforts of Lufkin Mayor Mark Hicks, and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions and Sen. Ted Cruz, both from Texas, who exhibited \u201cremarkable dedication and prioritized the repatriation of the missionary team, exemplifying the spirit of compassionate leadership and community collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n Roberds also thanked the Italians on behalf of the church for their \u201cexceptional act of kindness\u201d in finding a way home for the missionaries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe church extends its sincere gratitude to the representatives from Italy, who displayed an exceptional act of kindness by accommodating the missionary team on their homeward-bound flight. This gesture of international goodwill serves as a testament to the interconnectedness of humanity and the boundless compassion that transcends geographical boundaries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The return of the missionaries comes as the U.S. Department of State reissued a Level 4 Travel Advisory<\/a> Wednesday warning Americans not to travel to the West African nation.<\/p>\n \u201cU.S. citizens have previously been advised to reconsider travel to Niger due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. On July 26, President Mohamed Bazoum was placed under house arrest amidst efforts to overthrow the democratically elected government of Niger. Subsequent events have severely limited flight options. Given this development, on August 2, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and eligible family members from Embassy Niamey,\u201d the advisory said.<\/p>\n It was further noted that \u201cthe U.S. Embassy in Niamey has temporarily reduced its personnel, suspended routine services, and is only able to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Niger.\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday, United Nations Envoy L\u00e9onardo Santos Sim\u00e3o warned that the crisis could worsen security in the region.<\/p>\n \u201cThe unfolding crisis, if not addressed, will exacerbate the deteriorating security situation in the region. It will also negatively impact the development and lives of the population in a country where 4.3 million people need humanitarian assistance,\u201d Sim\u00e3o said, according to a U.N. release<\/a>.<\/p>\n U.N. Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/a> has also expressed\u00a0deep concern<\/a>\u00a0over reports that several members of Niger\u2019s government representatives have been arrested.<\/p>\n \u201c(He) urgently calls for the strict adherence to Niger\u2019s international human rights obligations and the prompt restoration of constitutional order,\u201d U.N. Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said.<\/p>\n The coup in Niger comes as El Roi Haiti<\/a>, a Christian education ministry in Haiti, waits for the release of New Hampshire nurse Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter who were kidnapped on July 27 as she did work for the ministry in Port-au-Prince. Gang members from the unstable Caribbean nation have reportedly demanded<\/a> a ransom of $1 million.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the missionary team commences their journey back to their awaiting families and loved ones, Harmony Hill Baptist Church earnestly requests the community to continue uplifting prayers for their safe passage, as well as for the people of Niger. The church also asks people to continue to pray for Americans in Niger still waiting to be evacuated,\u201d Roberds said. \u201cThe outpouring of support and unity thus far has been a beacon of hope and strength, and the congregation believes that these continued prayers will provide peace and assurance to all involved.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact: leonardo.blair@christianpost.com<\/a> Follow Leonardo Blair on Twitter: @leoblair<\/a> Follow Leonardo Blair on Facebook: LeoBlairChristianPost<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST<\/strong> newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.christianpost.com\/images\/cache\/image\/14\/98\/149886_w_760_570.webp\")
<\/source><\/picture>Free<\/span> Religious Freedom Updates<\/h2>\n