Missionary Son Begs for Kidnapped Parents' Freedom

The son of the kidnapped Australian missionary couple, Ken and Jocelyn Elliot, is pleading for their freedom after they were kidnapped by al Qaeda over the weekend.

Days after the terror attack in Burkina Faso that left 28 dead, devastated family members of the missionary couple still do not know why or where they were taken.

Stephen Elliott, one of their three children, is asking for their safe return and for peace.

"Our family would urge those who have taken Ken and Jocelyn to strive constructively for peace to the benefit of all people in the region and release our parents safe and sound so that they may continue to assist those who are in need of their services," Elliot told The Australian.

Since 1972 the elderly couple have been the sole surgical care providers in Djibo. They operated a 120 bed surgical clinic where Dr. Elliot served as the only surgeon to 2 million people in the region.

"Our ultimate aim is to show the love of God and the goodness and power of Him through medicine," Dr. Elliott once said.

The missionary couple have not been seen since being dragged by radical Islamists from their beds at 4 a.m. on Saturday.

Stephen Elliot expressed his gratitude for the supportive messages from the Burkinabe people who "share in our feelings of loss at this time."

"We also want to extend our sympathy to the victims of the recent tragedy in Ouagadougou and to the people of Burkina Faso as they mourn," he said.

Residents are still recovering from the terror attack and continue to pray for peace and freedom for the missionary couple.