Last week, U.S. citizen Ryan Corbett was reunited with his family, after being held hostage by the Taliban for nearly 900 days, according to a statement from his family.
Pastors from across the country who knew the Corbett family are praising God for his safe release and long-awaited reunion with his family.
David Theobald, senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Dansville, New York, said he has known the Corbett family for more than a decade. In his sermon Sunday, he described how God “providentially” carried out the rescue when he did.
“I happen to think that the Lord providentially carried out this rescue,” Theobald said. “Smack dab in the middle of the overlap of two administrations with all kinds of ambiguity as to which party was responsible — so that we would know that the Lord is responsible, that he is our only hope.”
Corbett was released along with William Wallace McKenty last Tuesday in exchange for a Taliban member, according to the AP News. While Biden officials made the agreement with Afghanistan leaders, the swap didn’t occur until after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
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A Biden administrator told CNN that the Trump administration was briefed on the exchange and had no objections.
Corbett’s family credited both the Biden and Trump administrations for returning him in their statement. They also thanked leaders in Qatar for aiding negotiations.
Grace Church is ‘ready to serve’ Corbett family
Pastor Theobald, who has known the Corbett family for 15 years, told Spectrum News, he almost “ball(ed) like a baby” when he learned that Corbett was returning home. Corbett’s wife, Anna, shared the news with Theobald in a brief phone call.
“And to be honest with you, it was not an articulate conversation on my part. I was just overwhelmed. I was trying to find words,” Theobald said. “I just rejoiced with her. And it was the culmination of all that we’ve been praying for and working towards for two and a half years. So just overwhelmed with joy and praise.”
Now that Corbett is home, the family asked for space to focus on his recovery and time together, they announced in a statement. They are filled with praise for God and ready to begin the “healing process.”
Theobald told Spectrum News that the church is working to give the Corbett’s the “space they need.”
“They’ve got lots of time to make up,” Theobald said. “We’re standing by, ready to serve them in whatever way that we can, even as simply as having their house ready for them clean and warm . . . and then just embracing them slowly back into the life of this church (by) offering counseling and encouragement and whatever help they need.

Theobald said he first met the Corbett family when he took over leadership of Grace Church from Corbett’s father.
He was then one of the first people in Danville to learn that Corbett had been detained by the Taliban in August 2022.
“It was a huge responsibility to be among the few people. Relatively few people that knew what was going on,” he told Spectrum News. “It was intimidating. And so, we considered it a mission from God.”
Corbett was taken while on a business trip in Afghanistan. He had worked for years to serve the Afghan people, something he and wife were “passionate” about, according to the family’s statement.
A year after his detainment, the U.S. State Department determined that Corbett was being wrongfully held in Afghanistan, the family said. Corbett was never charged with any crime while there.
During his detention, Corbett’s wife, Anna, and children found solace in Grace Baptist Church’s community, Theobald said.
“It’s just this idea of how Anna and the kids have served this church in the midst of this whole trial that we thought to be a blessing to them,” Theobald said. “But they’ve been a real source of blessing and encouragement to us.”
Theobald said that all of Corbett’s children are a part of the church’s worship team, either singing, playing instruments, or helping in the sound booth.

Kentucky pastor says Corbett’s story will be used for God
In Louisville, Kentucky, senior pastor Brad Weldy, said Corbett’s release and experiences will be used to accomplish the “great purposes of God,” during this Sunday’s service.
Weldy leads Cedar Creek Baptist Church where Corbett’s father, Drue, attends, he said.

“Brother Drue spoke with confidence that God will use Ryan’s experience for something great,” Weldy said. “Ryan will be used to accomplish the great purposes of our God, and I think he already has done something uniting the body of believers here, our church partners and our friends.”
Weldy continued that the younger Corbett’s story will increase church members’ “compassion for the lost for those held captive by the cords of sin.”
“I also believe (Corbett’s) example will renew courage,” Weldy said. “Hopefully he has already done that for you — to live sober-minded lives boldly for the Lord.”
Weldy told congregants that for part of his detainment, Corbett was held in a 9-by-9-foot prison cell with four other male prisoners. Corbett was only allowed to be outdoors for a total of 20 minutes every month.
“Ryan ‘s release and return provide us with a visible hint and taste of what reunion, rescue, (and) reconciliation look like and we long for that,” Weldy added.
More Americans still detained in Afghanistan
While Corbett has been returned home, there are still other American citizens detained in Afghanistan.
George Glezmann, an airline mechanic, was seized by the Taliban while visitng Kabul, Afghanistan as a tourist in December 2022, according to the James Foley Foundation. Mahmoud Habibi, a businessman, was kidnapped on the same day as Corbett.
A third American, author Paul Overby, has been missing since 2014 after he disappeared while traveling in Afghanistan.

In their statement, the Corbetts urged for a safe return home for Glezmann and Habibi.
“It was our hope that Ryan, George and Mahmoud would be returned to their families together, and we cannot imagine the pain that our good fortune will bring them,” the family said. “We recognize the immense privilege of our family’s reunion today, and pledge to keep praying – and fighting – for George and Mahmoud’s swift release.”
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.