Missing pastor’s family still in the dark

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Esther (left) asking for prayers for the safe return of her father, Pastor Raymond Koh, as well as for strength during the trying times. Standing next to her are Jerry (centre) and her mother, Susanna.

Esther (front row, 2nd from left) and her mother (front row, 4th from left) lights a candle and pray with the congregation.

Lighting the candles of hope at the prayer vigil.

KOTA KINABALU: After 46 days, Pastor Raymond Koh’s family is still in the dark about what happened to him.

“We still do not have much news about his whereabouts,” said his wife, Susanna Liew at the prayer vigil for peace and harmony held at Padang Merdeka near here.

“It has been difficult for us as a family and it is only by God’s grace that he has kept us all this while,” she said.

She added that her family hoped that God, in his perfect time would cause Pastor Raymond to be released and reunited with the family.

His daughter, Esther shared that her family was shocked and confused by his abduction.

“We fear what has happened to him,” she said.

She added that her father left his job as a pastor to be a social worker.

“He was inspired to help the poor.”

Sobbing by this time, Esther expressed that she missed her father and that it has already been 46 days since his disappearance.

“He is a good father to me. I remember how he used to cook oats for us every day. That was his way of showing his love for us,” she said.

She added that her only wish was that he would return home safely and unharmed and share an oat meal with the family once again.

“This time I will cook for him,” she said.

Esther also said that she had many questions in her mind, one of which was how such an act could be taken against a man who had dedicated his life to charity.

Another question that plays in her mind was why, despite the many close circuit television (CCTV), the case has remained unsolved.

She then requested for prayers from the masses, stating that her family needed them.

“We are not always strong and at times we are weak. Pray for our family that we will be strong in the challenges now and for the police, so that they will be able to solve this case,” she said.

She added that in the video footage on her father’s abduction, a convoy of vehicles with 15 men carried out the operation in less than 60 seconds.

Some 500 people attended the prayer vigil which started at 7.30pm and ended at 9.30pm.

Also present at the event were Sabah Council of Churches’ president, Bishop Melter Tais and the council’s deputy president, Reverend Datuk Jerry Dusing.