Korean hostages almost home

UPDATE: The last Korean hostages are free!! From PMSNBC.

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Four more hostages have been freed, and the release if the remaining three is said to be "imminent". According to Guardian Unlimited,

JANDA, Afghanistan (AP) - Taliban militants freed four more South Korean hostages in central Afghanistan on Thursday, witnesses said, and the release of the three remaining captives was believed to be imminent.

The two men and two women were handed over to officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross on a road in the Janda area of central Afghanistan, an Associated Press reporter at the scene said.

Reto Stocker, the head of the ICRC delegation to Afghanistan, said representatives were on their way to pick up the three remaining captives from an agreed location elsewhere.

However, lest we remain too upbeat, there are still more hostages besides these:

A German engineer and four Afghan colleagues kidnapped a day before the South Koreans are still being held.

Here's praying these come home safe as well.

YESSSS!!! Korean hostages to go free!!!

When I say "Hallelujah!!", I mean it!! All praise and glory to God!! If the reports are true, the Taliban will indeed release the remaining 19 South Korean hostages they have held since July (From FOX News):

GHAZNI, Afghanistan — Taliban militants in Afghanistan agreed to release 19 South Korean church volunteers held captive since July 19, a spokesman for the insurgents and the South Korean government said Tuesday.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said South Korean and Taliban delegates at face-to-face talks Tuesday in the central town of Ghazni had "reached an agreement" to release the captives.

In Seoul, South Korean presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-sun confirmed a deal was reached.

"We welcome the agreement to release 19 South Koreans," said Cheon Ho-sun.

The South Korean government said the hostage release was based on the condition that the country withdraws its troops from Afghanistan by year end as previously planned and stops missionary work.

As excited as I am at these people's release, the last part of this report is sad. These people left their homes to bring aid and comfort to people who truly needed it. And they brought something even more important: the gospel of Christ.

However, the Taliban has shown that their hearts are truly hardened, and they would rather go down to destruction than follow the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. That said, Christ has indeed been magnified in the bodies of these hostages. They did all they were led to do. The gospel has been preached, and God's will has been done.

Hebrews 13:3--The Korean hostages (Updated)

STICKY NOTE: This post will be kept at the top of the page.

UPDATE: Since reports have slowed to a trickle, this post will fold in with the rest. Updates as they come.
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Keep the South Korean hostages who are being held by the Talibanimals in your prayers. And remember Hebrews 13:3--"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body."

Pray that they will remain brave in the face of death. And remember that if they are killed, they will be in the presence of our Lord, and will unite with all the others who have been slain for the name of Christ underneath the altar of GOD. (Revelation 6:9-11).

UPDATE: Besides the pastor, who was killed earlier in the week, no more deaths yet. The South Korean government is in negotiations.

UPDATE: Apparently, the Talibanimals have murdered one more with an AK-47 (h/t--Hot Air).

UPDATE: The Jawa Report has a video letter from the husband of one of the female hostages to his wife. To all of you who say, "Why should we feel sorry for them? They were warned not to go, etc.": They knew what they were getting into. They knew the risks. But doing the work of the LORD, and showing His love and spreading His gospel is more important than even our own lives. And if they perish, they will receive a martyr's crown.

UPDATE: This is why we should not cave to Islamofascists (via The Korea Times). They want everybody to cave to their violence. But when the people they terrorize don't give in, they don't know what to do. Take notes Pelosi, Reid, Dhimmi Carter, etc.

UPDATE: Jawa Report has a video plea from the families of the hosatges to the Afghan people. People who can watch it and still say that these people "deserved" to be taken hostage, probably would have told Elizabeth Elliot not to go preach to the people who killed her husband.

UPDATE: Being the humanitarians that they are, the Talbanimals are saying they may release two sick female hostages (FOX News). Hey, I've got a better idead for the Taliban. How 'bout you let ALL the hostages go, and stop killing people! And why is it that in the years before 2001 that all the liberals were wanting us to do somehting about the Talibanimals, but when we do, the same liberals are saying we should respect their government?

UPDATE: South Korea's government has ixnayed military intervention twice, saying it would be better to negotiate (via Toronto Globe and Mail). As much as I would like to see these hostages go free, it is not worth caving in to the demands of this bloodthirsty group. Remember Philippians 1:20-21--"...Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

UPDATE: Two hostages released!! Via FOX News. However, there are still 19 who need your prayers! Please remember them!

UPDATE: Not much news until yesterday (8/21). Three of the hostages are on a hunger strike (via Jawa Report):

Three South Koreans held in Afghanistan by Taliban militants have gone on hunger strike to demand that all 19 remaining hostages be held together rather than in separate groups, South Korean state news agency Yonhap reported yesterday.

Citing an informed source speaking on condition of anonymity, Yonhap said one male and two female hostages went on hunger strike from Sunday morning.

The hostages are reported to have been split into as many as five groups and are being detained at different locations in Ghazni province in central Afghanistan, where they were taken hostage on July 19.

Pray for their strength, and for Christ to be magnified through them.