“God Was Always There”: A Missionary’s Seven-Year Ordeal in Al-Qaeda Captivity

Dr. Ken Elliott, a seasoned Christian missionary, spent over seven years in captivity under Al-Qaeda in Burkina Faso. Through it all, he says his faith never wavered.

Ken and his wife, Jocelyn, had dedicated 44 years to serving the people of Burkina Faso, running a clinic that treated everyone, regardless of their beliefs. Their work earned them the respect of the local, predominantly Muslim, community. But in 2016, their peaceful mission was shattered when Islamist militants kidnaped the couple.

While Jocelyn was released after a few weeks, Ken remained a prisoner, enduring years of hardship. He spent those years with another captive, Romanian Julian Ghergut, who had already been held for nine months when they met. “How can anyone stand this for nine months?” Ken wondered. But his ordeal would stretch to an agonizing seven years and four months.

During his captivity, Ken suffered greatly. He lacked proper nutrition and medical care, which took a severe toll on his health. His legs swelled painfully, and scurvy—a disease he had seen only once in his medical career—became a personal affliction.

Despite these physical trials, Ken’s spiritual resolve remained unbroken. His captors pressured him to convert to Islam, but he refused. “The Lord has been good to me,” he said, “there's no way I was going to dishonor Him by converting to Islam or even pretending to convert.”

Living in a filthy shelter, tormented by scorpions, and exposed to extreme temperatures, Ken never doubted his faith. “Never. No. He was always there,” he affirmed.

The exact circumstances of Ken's release in 2023 remain a mystery, but he attributes his freedom to the power of collective prayer. “The only reason we were released is because there were a few hundred, if not thousands of people praying for it. And we believe in prayer,” Ken told ABC News.