Missionary Pilot Kevin Rideout Reunited With Family After Ten-Month Abduction

Missionary pilot Kevin Rideout, a 50-year-old father of four, has been reunited with his family following a ten-month abduction in Niger. Rideout, who has served with the organization Serving In Mission (SIM) for two decades, was kidnapped outside his home in Niamey last October. Following his release, Rideout and his wife, Krista, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on August 21, 2026, to acknowledge the efforts of the U.S. hostage recovery team.

In a statement, the couple expressed deep gratitude to the government, their colleagues at SIM, and the global Christian community for their support and prayers during the ordeal. Rideout and his wife shared that they found strength in the biblical promise of Deuteronomy 31:6, which assures believers that God will never leave or forsake them. They testified that they experienced the truth of this promise throughout their separation, noting that they felt the Lord’s presence and faithfulness even during the most uncertain moments of the captivity.