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Mercer's letters indicate she has resigned herself to being imprisoned "for some time," says Oddy.

"She said she and her fellow hostages all agree that the trial is at a dead end. She continues to be concerned by the bombings and expresses great concern for the Afghan people who are suffering," Oddy wrote.

"I am indifferent to the fact that the trial will not be continuing," Oddy added. "Since the bombing began on 7 October, I have not believed that the hostages' best hope was in the trial process."

The United Nations' 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the right of everyone to freedom of religion, including the freedom to "manifest one's religion" to others. If found guilty under Taliban law, however, the Shelter Now workers could face penalties ranging from expulsion to death by hanging. Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar reportedly favors an "exemplary punishment."

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church—which now lasts a week, with Christians free to select either November 4 or 11 and all days in between to make concerted petitions—is expected to involve 100,000 churches in the United States and 300,000 worldwide.

Dayna Curry's aunts in Denham Springs, Louisiana, are planning a November 4 charity birthday celebration for their niece. The party is expected to draw as many as 200 town residents.

"We're calling it a 'Birthday Blanket Blast,' in which people can donate money to buy blankets for street children in Afghanistan, which is one of Dayna's big concerns," Jackie Covington, Tilden Curry's sister, told CT. "There'll be a space-walk and cake and ice cream. We were hoping Dayna was going to be home in time for it, but it looks like that's not going to happen."

Jeff M. Sellers is associate editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The International Day of Prayer site has articles and prayer requests from around the globe.

Recent media coverage of the Shelter Now trial includes:

Taliban deny access to detained aid workers — Reuters (Nov. 1, 2001)

Don't forget our hostages — The Washington Times (Nov. 1, 2001)

U.S. raids affect Kabul trial of aid workers — Reuters (Oct. 23, 2001)

Aid worker trial 'bogged down' in Afghanistan — CNN (Oct. 23, 2001)

Lawyer says aid staff to go free in days — The Guardian, London (Oct. 20, 2001)

For continuing coverage, see Yahoo's full coverage and Christianity Today'sWeblog.

The Web site for the German-run Shelter Now is regularly updated with releases on the prisoners.

Antioch Community Church in Waco, which both Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer attended, also has updates on the prisoners, including e-mail messages from both Americans.

Previous Christianity Today coverage of the Shelter Now workers' imprisonment includes:

Caught in the Crossfire | Family, churches press for release of American missionaries in Kabul. (Oct. 31, 2001)

Aid Workers Held Captive | Taliban alleges housing group's staff engaged in evangelism. (Aug. 30, 2001)

In Perspective: The Friendliest Murderous Militants in the World | The Soviet Union, United States, and others helped create Afghanistan's ruling Taliban. Will the world's most Islamic state backfire? (Aug. 30, 2001)

Diplomats Receive Visas Into Afghanistan, but Will Only Meet with Officials | Over a week after the raid on Shelter Germany, future for workers still unclear. (Aug. 13, 2001)

Jeff M. Sellers writes Christianity Today's "Bearing the Cross" articles on persecution in countries such as Laos, China, Indonesia, Sudan, and North Korea.

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October (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45