United Methodist missionary assaulted in Algeria Jan. 24, 2005
By Elliott Wright* NEW
YORK (UMNS) — A United Methodist missionary with more than 40 years of
service in Algeria was stabbed Jan. 19 on a downtown street in Algiers. The
Rev. Hugh Johnson, president of the Protestant Church in Algeria, was
hospitalized and is expected to recover from the assault by an
unidentified assailant. He successfully underwent surgery, and the wound
is not considered life threatening, according to his wife, Fritzi, who
was reached at the home of the couple’s son in Virginia. The
Johnsons had officially retired as missionaries only two weeks before
the attack. They returned to the United States in October on
pre-retirement assignment after serving more than 41 years in Algeria.
Johnson had returned to Algiers on Jan. 10 to attend to church business. “We
thank God that his chances for a full recovery look good,” said the
Rev. Edith Gleaves, head of the mission personnel unit of the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries. “Hugh and Fritzi are revered and
beloved missionaries. News of the attack and his injury are deeply
disturbing.” The
Rev. R. Randy Day, the board’s chief executive, asked United Methodists
to join in prayers for the Johnson family and the church in Algeria. Johnson,
a native of Middleboro, Ky., studied at Wesley Theological Seminary in
Washington and received a doctorate in international relations from
United Methodist-related American University.
Reuters news
agency speculated that the attack on Johnson might be related to Islamic
militants in the predominantly Muslim country. Johnson has been pastor
of a united Protestant congregation in Algiers and superintendent of
United Methodist work in North Africa for many years. He serves under
appointment of the United Methodist Church in France and Switzerland. The
Protestant Church of Algeria is one of only two officially recognized
Christian organizations in the country. It is a union of Methodist,
Presbyterian, Mennonite, Assemblies of God and Salvation Army groups.
The Roman Catholic Church is also recognized and is the larger of the
two organizations. *Wright is the communications officer of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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