Local missionary narrowly escapes kidnapping

SIKESTON - A local pastor and missionary became the victim of a kidnap and extortion plot while on a recent annual missionary tour to the Philippines.

Charles Warren of the Sufficient Grace Apostolic Church in Sikeston returned to the United States earlier this month but the man he believes was taken in his place has still not been returned to his family.

Warren said he has nearly become a target of opportunity for Filipino kidnappers and thugs in the past but on this occasion he thinks he was the original intended target. "I believe it was planned before my arrival," he said.

A Filipino pastor, Toribio Anlog, had arranged a religious convention at the Shalom Hotel in the Butuan area of the Mindanao province.

During an inspection of the once-nice but now rundown hotel's facilities on Feb. 14, Warren found the ballroom needed to be cleaned and mopped but was otherwise suitable.

The room where he would be lodging, however, appeared to have not been cleaned for some time, had no running water and the air conditioner's cooling ability was questionable.

Fernando Cauder, the mission director, and Warren decided to seek lodging elsewhere and agreed to split a room at the Luxury Hotel which, in addition to being in somewhat more serviceable condition, had security personnel.

The next day, Anlog "said something about a pastor calling and went to meet him," Warren said. "He never came back that day."

The next morning, text messages began arriving by cell phones demanding a ransom for the Filipino pastor.

"One of the local pastors had got a message on his cell phone. They said 'We have Pastor Anlog - he is not hurt,'" Warren said. "'We are not hurting him, but we want $100,000 from the American.'"

Not having $100,000, paying the ransom was never an option, so Warren sent back the following message: "Tell them I do not have $100,000 and you tell them even if I did I would not play the game of 'hostage for money.'"

The ministerial group suspected Warren was originally the intended victim but the unexpected change in lodgings forced the kidnappers to improvise an alternate scheme.

Cauder, the local pastors and Anlog's family all agreed that for the safety of all involved it would be best if Warren left the area early. Warren was escorted by the Luxury Hotel's security to the airport where he caught a plane to Manila.

The missionary work continued there and in nearby provinces and cities and was very successful, according to Warren. He said in addition to spreading the gospel they were also able to give some aid to those who had suffered losses from the four hurricanes that ravaged the Philippines in December.

While his 29 years of missionary work is very rewarding, Warren said the world has become much more dangerous than when he began in 1976. Nevertheless, he said he intends to return to the Philippines again although it probably won't be until early next year.

Anlog's wife has recently reported her husband "is still in the hands of bad people," Warren said, adding that prayers for the pastor and his family are needed and appreciated.