“I’m really encouraged” – Susanna Koh’s heartfelt gratitude for your letters

This week marks eight years since the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh in Malaysia. As the court case into his disappearance continues, his wife, Susanna, expresses her thanks to all of you who’ve written messages to her and her children.

Susanna Koh has expressed her deep gratitude for the countless number of you who have written to her and her family following the disappearance of her husband, Pastor Raymond, which happened eight years ago this week.

On 13 February 2017, the pastor was abducted in broad daylight in what many believe to have been a state-sponsored act. CCTV footage appears to have captured the moment when several 4×4 SUV vehicles surrounded his car and forced him to stop. He is then seen being pulled from his car, bundled into another vehicle, and driven off. He has never been seen or heard from again.

Since 2020, Susanna has been in a legal battle against the government for their negligence in the case and to discover what happened to her husband. “All I want is justice! I want to know the truth – where is my husband and what happened to him?” she says.

Letters bring encouragement and endurance

Over the past eight years, you have been a constant and unwavering source of support for Susanna and her three adult children (Elizabeth, Esther and Jonathan), and one of the ways you’ve expressed your love is through your overwhelming response to a letter writing campaign we set up for the family.

Picking up one card, she says, “This letter was really encouraging because it has God’s Word in it that says, ‘I pray you are reminded amidst any uncertainty or struggle you are facing, that your Jesus has already overcome it all for you.’ (John 16:33)

“In another card, it says, ‘I’m thanking God for you today. You bring peace to every situation you encounter. Thank you for being a great role model for me. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness (James 3:18).’ This has been encouraging for me, because these days you hear of wars, conflicts and broken relationships, but we know that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We can have peace in Him.

“I’m really encouraged by all these verses and all the prayers of Christians across the world. This means a lot to me and my family. And I see that people have addressed my children and personally written letters to them, and this has been very encouraging to them as well.”

A special message

A letter that particularly means a lot to Susanna is one written by Fiona Bruce, when she was in the role of Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief. “This card is very special to me,” she says. “She met me in March 2024 when I was visiting the UK and she said, ‘Susanna, be assured of my ongoing prayers for you and for Raymond.’

“We even had the opportunity to meet and to get to know each other. She prayed for me, and I was really touched that she would give that time to me, being such a busy person. Most of all, she assured me that she would try her very best to bring up Pastor Raymond’s issue in the House of Commons, for which I am very, very grateful.”

Who is Pastor Raymond Koh?

Coming from an underprivileged background, Pastor Raymond Koh understood the plight of the poor and marginalised, and it inspired him to create his own charity called Harapan Komuniti (meaning ‘Community of Hope’).

Through the charity, Pastor Raymond Koh worked tirelessly to provide support for vulnerable communities, including those living with HIV/AIDS, recovering addicts, single mothers and children in need. Harapan Komuniti became a lifeline for many, offering not just practical care, but also hope and dignity to those often on the margins of society.

“Raymond has a big heart for the people he served,” says Steve, a friend. “Anything he could imagine doing for them, Raymond took it on. Whenever he saw people who needed help, he would quickly try to help. He did not discriminate based on race or religion. This led to the authorities thinking he was involved in the proselytisation of Muslims.”

“I have known Raymond and his family for more than 30 years” says Pastor Daniel Ho. “He is a very good friend, a wonderful man; humble, selfless, and sacrificial. He was an unassuming man who went all out just to serve God and to love people. I pray that there will be many more Raymond Kohs, who are willing to serve the people.”

Pastor Raymond’s influence extended beyond his own charitable work, inspiring countless individuals and churches to actively engage in serving marginalised communities. His approach to compassion, which transcended race, religion and background, encouraged others to see the dignity in every person and respond with kindness.

Alongside fighting for justice, Susanna continues the work of her husband, helping people from all backgrounds. Just like Pastor Raymond, her life is profoundly impacting the lives of many people.

“The truth will always prevail”

Meanwhile, the court case into Pastor Raymond’s abduction is ongoing, with the next hearing due for 7 and 8 April. The current witness is Mr Ali Asra Abu Bakar, who was the investigating officer for Pastor Raymond’s disappearance at the time, and his statements are still being presented to the court. The process is slow, but Susanna is not giving up and she holds onto the words, “The truth will always prevail.”

“I want to see the perpetrators brought to justice and prosecuted,” she says. “They interrogated me. I was already traumatised, and as a result, I got panic attacks; I still get panic attacks. My children are also affected; they’re depressed, and they had to seek counselling.” In the midst of this, your prayers and encouragement mean so much.

“Thank you so much for your love and support,” says Susanna. “They keep us going in difficult times.”