Missionary Debbie Dortzbach Reflects on 1974 Kidnapping and Lifelong Ministry

In 1974, while serving as a volunteer nurse at a hospital in Ethiopia, 24-year-old Debbie Dortzbach was abducted by guerrillas from the Eritrean Liberation Front. During the forced march into the mountains, her colleague Anna Strikwerda was killed. Dortzbach was held captive for 26 days before being released unharmed and without a ransom payment. During her time in captivity, she says she found comfort in stitching Psalm 34:4 onto a bandage, describing the experience as a moment where she sought the Lord and felt delivered from her fears.

Her husband, Karl, who was working as a missionary teacher at the time, negotiated for her release. The couple, who met at Wheaton College and were raised in families dedicated to Christian service, later returned to Africa to spend over two decades working in global health and peacemaking. Reflecting on their lives as they approach their 77th birthdays, the couple credits this traumatic event as the foundation for their long-term ministry. Karl states that God met them in their pain, providing them with a perspective to support others facing violent conflict and trauma.