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BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Family and friends of a church youth ministry leader from Utah missing in the Sawtooth Mountains since Saturday have called in outside help after state officials called off the search.
"I have become very distressed that rescue efforts were called off on Tuesday, and I have called Gov. Jim Risch of Idaho, as have numerous of our Minnesota representatives and senators, both statewide and nationally," said James Jelinek, a retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota.
Jon Francis, 24, director of youth ministry for the Ascension Lutheran Church in Harrisville, Utah, told co-workers at a Bible camp near Ketchum that he planned to hike up Grand Mogul in the Sawtooth Mountains on Saturday.
When he didn't return on schedule, authorities started aerial and ground searches.
In a statement released Wednesday, authorities said they determined Francis reached the summit, but that search teams with dogs found no sign of him on two descents from the top of Grand Mogul.
The statement said the search went as far as possible with the resources available.
Francis' father, Davis Francis, who is running for state senate in Minnesota, hired professionals to search for Francis Wednesday and Thursday, said Ascension Lutheran Church financial secretary Candy Ostlie, who has been in contact with the Francis family.
Wednesday evening, the congregation held a prayer service for Francis.
"He's just like one of the kids," said youth group member Krista Davis, 15. `I hope he's OK. Jon's a good hiker."
Ostlie asked the congregation to call Idaho Gov. James Risch to ask that the search for Francis be reinstated.
"He is in very good shape," Ostlie said in the meeting Wednesday. "I think he could survive days out there."
Ostlie plans on sending congregation members experienced in hiking to Idaho to help with the search in coming days.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
