Morung Express News
November 1
DIMAPUR: Close on the heels of reports received here through a stream of SMS about the impending execution of Ferdie Flores, a missionary working in East Timor, family sources are reportedly refuting the facts of the information which had been circulating via e-mail and SMS for the last few days. Several people in Nagaland had also got similar messages of the impending execution and had been ‘urged to pray’ for the missionary and his family.
“The information you have received is not correct. That information has been going all over the Philippines and even to the States the last couple of days”, a family source reportedly told Robert D. Monteith, a Pastor.
“As of this morning we had received dozens of e-mails and phone calls from several countries from many concerned parties requesting information concerning rumors about the impending execution of Bro. Ferdie Flores. Apparently the information is wrong”, wrote the Pastor in a message posted in the internet.
“I’ve contacted a source close to Bro. Flores regarding those rumors. That source has refuted the rumors about the arrest and execution of Bro. Ferdie Flores”, the Pastor said.
The family source however mentioned that Flores and his family had experienced persecution recently instigated by the Roman Catholic Church. Several threats were reportedly made by priests, but no physical harm was done to Flores. “Although last week a mob of about 250 people did surround Ferdie with stones, sticks, and machetes, but the Lord intervened and the crowd was dispersed without incident. As of now things are calm, but could erupt at any time. Ferdie has requested much prayer. But, he was never arrested and was never scheduled for execution as was reported. Hopefully this will clear things up for you”, the family source reportedly wrote to Pastor Robert D. Monteith.
