(CNN) -- A family friend of a U.S. soldier captured by the Taliban said his friends and family want Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl to "stand tall, stand firm."



Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl in a video made by his captors, members of the Taliban.



"Bowe, if you see this, know that we love you and we are praying fervently for you and prayers are going up for you from all over the world," Tim Baker told CNN affiliate KTVB-TV in the soldier's hometown of Ketchum, Idaho.



"To all of our valiant men and women, know that the American people believe in you, support you and are 100 percent behind you, and we thank God every day that you have our back."



In a video released Sunday, apparently made by his captors, Bergdahl spoke of being "scared I won't be able to go home."



"It breaks our heart," Baker said. "It's like having one of our own kids in this situation."  Watch friend's comments about Taliban captive »



The Bergdahl family is not speaking with media, but Baker said prayer is helping. "Prayer means that we are extremely powerful because God is not limited by where we are when we pray. He is there with Bowe, and so we know that he is protecting him and is with him, so we don't feel powerless against these people," Baker said. "We feel very empowered."



Bergdahl, 23, was captured June 30 from Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.



The Taliban has threatened to kill Bergdahl if foreign troops continue targeting civilians in the name of search operations in Ghazni and Paktika provinces, Taliban commander Mulvi Sangeen said by telephone Friday after being contacted by CNN at an undisclosed location.



NATO-led forces in Afghanistan and the U.S. military have repeatedly denied targeting civilians.



U.S. forces in Afghanistan are doing everything possible to free Bergdahl, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday.



Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference they were disgusted at the video that Bergdahl's captors released.



"My personal reaction was one of disgust at the exploitation of this young soldier," Gates said.



In the 28-minute video, Bergdahl becomes emotional when he speaks of his family -- his parents, siblings, nieces and nephew -- and the girlfriend he hopes to marry.



"I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America, and I miss them every day that I'm gone," he says. "I miss them, and I'm afraid I might never see them again and that I'll never be able to tell them I love them again. I'll never be able to hug them.



"I'm scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner," he said. However, his captors are treating him "like a guest," he said.



Asked by his captors if he had any message for Americans, the soldier said, "To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them, you have the power to make our government bring them home. Please, please bring us home so we can be back where we belong and not over here."



It was not clear whether some or all of Bergdahl's remarks were scripted by his captors.  Watch excerpt from the video »



The last few minutes of the video show him eating a meal.



The Bergdahl family expressed how they are feeling to Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling. "We've been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and concern towards Bowe and our family. As you know, the situation is extremely difficult for everyone involved. We'd like to remind all of you our sole focus is seeing our beloved son Bowe safely home.



"Please continue to keep Bowe in your thoughts and prayers, and we ask for your continued acceptance of our need for privacy in this
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U.S. forces in Afghanistan are doing everything possible to free Bergdahl, might never see them again forces in Afghanistan are doing everything possible to free "stand tall, stand firm." I might never see them again and that I'll never be able to tell them I love them again. I'll never be able to hug them. U.S. soldier Ketchum, Idaho.
question: What did the Defense Secretary report?, answer: U.S. forces in Afghanistan are doing everything possible to free Bergdahl, | question: What captured soldier said about his future?, answer: might never see them again | question: What U.S. Defence Secretary said about finding Bergdahl?, answer: forces in Afghanistan are doing everything possible to free | question: What friend to soldier said?, answer: "stand tall, stand firm." | question: What is one soldier from Idaho afraid of?, answer: I might never see them again and that I'll never be able to tell them I love them again. I'll never be able to hug them. | question: Who was captured?, answer: U.S. soldier | question: Where is the soldier from?, answer: Ketchum, Idaho.