N.Y. man held hostage by pirates visits the BX

Bronx leaders and residents met Wednesday at Eastwood Manor with one of the men held hostage by Somali pirates on the Maersk Alabama. William Rios, a native of New York City who resides in East Harlem,

News 12 Staff

Apr 23, 2009, 12:00 AM

Updated 5,710 days ago

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Bronx leaders and residents met Wednesday at Eastwood Manor with one of the men held hostage by Somali pirates on the Maersk Alabama.
William Rios, a native of New York City who resides in East Harlem, says he came to the Bronx to share a message of faith and hope. He was joined by Pastor Joel Osteen, the leader of Lakewood Church in Texas. Together, the two addressed an excited crowd of Bronx residents and discussed believing in God during times of crisis.
"It was a nightmare," Rios says. "My experiences that I went through make me believe there's a God. I want to share that."
Osteen says the sermon he delivered is just a glimpse of the performance he will give Saturday at the new Yankee Stadium.