Boston church prays for pastor abducted in Egypt

BOSTON (WHDH) -- While family and church members prayed Sunday for the Dorchester pastor kidnapped with two others, including a woman from Everett, in Egypt, their abductor said he has had conversations with intelligence officials about their release.

The two were taken Friday while riding on a tour bus.

Negotiations were underway with the man who took them on Sunday.

The Egyptian kidnapper told the Associated Press intelligence officials came to his home to negotiate the release of the hostages. He told local media he moved the captives to a secure location until the officials left.

Rev. Michel Louis, a 61-year-old pastor at Haitian-American churches in Dorchester and Mattapan, and a 39-year-old church member from Everett were both kidnapped on Friday. Their tour guide was also abducted.

Rev. Louis was leading a missionary trip to the Middle East when armed men stopped their bus between Cairo and Mount Sinai.

When the kidnapper tried to kidnap a woman. Rev. Louis offered himself. The abductor then took both Rev. Louis and the woman.

Their captor has told the press he's interested in a trade; he'll release the hostages once his uncle is let out of prison. The abductor claimed his uncle was arrested because he did not pay a bribe to police.

The kidnapper claims his uncle was arrested because he didn't pay a bribe to police.

Rev. Louis' family told 7News on Saturday -- while the kidnapper claims he's treating his hostages like guests -- they're still concerned for his health.

“The only concern is that he is diabetic and the longer they hold him, I'll assume it won’t work in his favor,” said Louis’ son Jean Louis.

A senior U.S. official said secretary of state Hilary Clinton, who happened to be in Egypt, brought up the incident with officials she met there.

There were other kidnappings in that part of Egypt earlier this year. In those cases, all the hostages were released unharmed within two to three days.

Forty-eight hours has now passed but negotiations are underway in this kidnapping.