BATAVIA, Ohio--Churches and ministers with a personal connection to the two Americans captured recently in Iraq have initiated prayers for their safe return.

Pfc. Keith M. Maupin, the Army reservist taken hostage in Iraq, grew up near Cincinnati and once attended youth services at the First Baptist Church of Glen Este. According to the Associated Press about 900 people who attended two Sunday morning services there prayed for the safe return of the 20-year-old soldier known as "Matt."

"We all must have hope - great hope - that God will deliver Matt Maupin and give the family strength," Pastor Brent Snook said. He called the soldiers in Iraq "heroes" and prayed for God's presence with them and their families.

Maupin has been missing since his convoy was attacked April 9 outside Baghdad. He was seen in videotape footage on Arab TV surrounded by his captors, who offered him in exchange for imprisoned Iraqis.

Maupin is the first U.S. serviceman and the second American kidnapped in Iraq.

The other American, Thomas Hamill, was last seen on a videotape in which his captors threatened to kill him within 12 hours if U.S. forces did not withdraw from Fallujah, according to Baptist Press.

There has been no word or video of his status. Christians in Hamill's hometown of Macon, Miss. are praying for him.

Greg Duncan, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church there told BP that Hamill was very aware of the danger in Iraq. He took work there as a means to pay off debts incurred after he sold off a family dairy farm.

Hamill has been in Iraq for six months, working as a fuel truck driver for a subsidiary of Halliburton.

Hamill's wife Kellie said she is troubled over his capture, but hopeful.

"It makes you worry, but I have faith in the Lord that he's coming home safe to us," she said.

Church members and residents of Macon held a prayer vigil for the family and many continue to pray for safety, Duncan said. A group gathers every night at 7 p.m at the courthouse while area ministers lead prayer for Hamill, the other hostages and the military.

"We don't know the rest of them personally, but they're someone's daughter or son, husband or wife," Duncan said.

"We do believe in prayer and trust in the Lord that His will would be done and through it all His mercy and grace would abound and Jesus would be glorified," Duncan said. "We don't understand those things, but we know we need to trust Him with those things."

Ohio church member Mary Allen, 55, of Amelia, said she has been praying for Maupin and the other soldiers in Iraq.

"Prayer is the answer to everything," Allen said. "I don't know the Maupin family, but my heart goes out to them, and I have no doubt that if it's the Lord's will, Matt will be returned to them safely."

Lee Kresser, 53, of Cincinnati, said he hopes that something good can come out of the events of the past week.

"Times like this can bring many people closer to God," said Kresser. "This is an opportunity for God to show his power, his grace and his providence."