It is now four years since three Americans working with New Tribes Mission were kidnapped in Panama by Colombian revolutionaries.
In the village of Pucuro, Panama, just 15 miles from the border with Colombia, phase one of chronological Bible teaching was completed. The entire village had been given the opportunity to hear the gospel in their own language. The New Tribes missionaries, Dave Mankins, Mark Rich and Rick Tenenoff were now discipling Kuna believers.
But suddenly on January 31 1993, armed guerrillas came into the village and held Dave, Mark and Rick at gunpoint while their wives were allowed to hastily pack a few belongings, including Bibles, for their husbands. In just a matter of a few terrifying moments the armed attackers disappeared into the jungle taking the three missionary men with them. The wives, unharmed, were left with the stunning reality that their husbands had been kidnapped.
