Fate of NTM Missionaries

Has anyone here been keeping track of Martin & Gracia Burnham, New Tribes missionaries to the Phillipines? Below is the most recent update, and information at the bottom if you'd like to regularly receive updates.
PLEASE PRAY for these people, that they might be safely rescued, and able to go home to their 3 children (who are being kept by grandparents at present, in Kansas)!
javalady
No evidence hostages are in house
MANILA, the Philippines (Jan. 29, 2002):
New Tribes Mission has been unable to
find any evidence to substantiate reports that kidnapped missionaries Martin
and Gracia Burnham have been moved to a house.
Some news outlets have been reporting that Martin and Gracia may be in
Zamboanga city on Mindanao Island. However, the Philippine military is saying
all indications are that the Burnhams are still being held captive in the
jungles of Basilan Island. NTM's sources concur with the Philippine military
information.
However, there is hope.
Monday, Gracia's sister, Mary Jones, broadcast a radio appeal to the
kidnappers, members of the Abu Sayyaf Group. During a trip to the Philippines,
arranged by the US Embassy, Mary said the family could not pay a ransom, and
appealed to the ASG to begin a dialog for their release. As of Tuesday evening
in the Philippines, there has been no response.
Responses in the USA to last week's television reports on the Burnhams' plight
continue to be strong. NTM is asking interested people to contact the
President and request that he elevate US efforts for Martin and Gracia's
release. Tuesday night in the USA, President Bush will have that opportunity
during the State of the Union address. Pray that he will make a strong
statement calling for the immediate release of the Burnhams, and committing
the US government to work for their safe return.
Amid these hopeful signs, we are mindful that God is the only true source of
hope. While we work for Martin and Gracia's release, we are trusting Him for
the outcome.
Martin, 42, and Gracia, 43, from Kansas, were kidnapped May 27, 2001, by the
Abu Sayyaf Group from a resort off the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
Martin grew up in the Philippines, where his parents have been missionaries
for more than 32 years. The Burnhams have been members of NTM since 1985.
* * *
New Tribes Mission plants indigenous churches among unevangelized people groups in remote areas around the world. For more information, go to: www.ntm.org

To subscribe to this group, send an email to:
[email protected]

 

Here's the latest from New Tribes Missions, asking your prayerful action:

More must be done
SANFORD, Florida (Jan. 30, 2002): New Tribes Mission is greatly concerned that
the Administration is not giving the situation of kidnapped missionaries
Martin and Gracia Burnham the priority necessary for their survival.
President Bush's State of the Union address, while excellent, did nothing to
address what New Tribes Mission believes is a crucial question: What about the
Burnhams?
We commend the President for partnering with the Philippine government in
taking steps to counter this terrorist threat in the long term, by providing
military training and assistance. But more must be done to address the immediate needs of the hostages. Their physical and emotional condition has continued to deteriorate throughout their eight months of captivity. Their lives are at stake daily due to disease, poor nutrition, exposure to the elements and ill-planned military engagements. They will continue to be at
risk until they are freed.
New Tribes Mission asks the Bush Administration to respond to the eight-month
captivity of Martin and Gracia Burnham in the same way it has to terrorist
threats and activities around the world: clearly and decisively. A statement
to that effect would encourage the Burnhams' families in these difficult times. It would also put the kidnappers, the Abu Sayyaf Group, on notice that the USA will not tolerate this situation any longer.
You can help by calling on your representatives and senators to lend their
voice in a cry for the release of the Burnhams, and to express their deep
concern to the Administration. You can call, write and e-mail the White House to ask the President, "What about the Burnhams?" The urgency you express could be a way of breaking the inexplicable silence of our President.
Please continue to pray that the Burnhams and their fellow hostage, Philippine
nurse Deborah Yap, will soon be released.
Information for contacting the White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Information for contacting representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Information for contacting senators: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm

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New Tribes Mission plants indigenous churches among unevangelized people groups in remote areas around the world. For more information, go to: www.ntm.org

 

Martin's parents to be on Good Morning America
SANFORD, Florida (Feb. 4, 2002): Paul and Oreta Burnham, parents of kidnapped NTM missionary Martin Burnham, are scheduled to appear on ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday.
Martin and his wife, Gracia, were kidnapped May 27, 2001, and continue to be
held hostage, along with Filipino nurse Deborah Yap. Paul and Oreta are also
NTM missionaries in the Philippines. However, they have been in the USA taking
care of the Burnhams' three children -- Jeff, 14; Mindy, 12; and Zach, 11 --
since the kidnapping.
Paul and Oreta are scheduled to be on in the Eastern time zone between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Tuesday. Check your local listings for the time for your area.
Please pray for Martin, Gracia and Deborah. Pray for their physical, emotional
and spiritual health. Pray that they would be released soon. Please also pray for the NTM crisis team.
**From the NTM website

 

Here is the latest from New Tribes Missions:

Letter an encouraging sign

SANFORD, Florida (Feb. 12, 2002): New Tribes Mission is grateful for an apparent contact in the form of a letter from kidnapped missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.
NTM is still awaiting a photocopy of the letter today to confirm its authenticity. Martin's parents, Paul and Oreta Burnham, have also seen a photocopy of the letter, and believe the handwriting to be Martin's and Gracia's. The letter was dated in late January and apparently demonstrates
that the Burnhams were still alive at the time. It was addressed to the Burnhams' family, but they have yet to see the original letter.
Nonetheless, NTM is grateful to God for this apparent communication from Martin and Gracia. We continue to pray that they would be released soon. Until that day, please pray for their health and safety.
Pray also for their family. Martin and Gracia's oldest son, Jeff, celebrated
his 15th birthday on Monday. The couple's captivity has now spanned the birthday of each member of their immediate family.
The men and women involved in military operations against the Burnhams'captors also need your prayers for safety. And all of us need prayer for perseverance, wisdom and strength.
Thank you so much for praying.

 

Please continue to pray for Martin & Gracia, and nurse Deborah. Also for the Burnham children. Our troops are fighting the Muslims on the island that the Burnhams are being held on now.

 

Here is something encouraging from New Tribes Missions, on the situation of Martin & Gracia Burnham. Please keep praying! Thank you!!
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Missionaries alive, safe, well
MANILA, the Philippines (April 9, 2002): New Tribes Mission has reason to believe that kidnapped missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham are alive, and relatively safe and healthy.
Sources that NTM considers reliable have recently reported that Martin and Gracia are alive and together. Their kidnappers, the Abu Sayyaf Group, are reportedly holding the third hostage, Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, at another
location. She is said to be tending members of the ASG who were wounded during combat with the Philippine military.
Over the Easter weekend, we were concerned by reports of combat in the area where Martin and Gracia were being held. However, there are now indications that the couple has been moved to a safer location.
The information NTM has received says that the Burnhams are in relatively good health and not suffering from any illness. However, we know they have been physically weakened by their ordeal, which has included stress, almost
constant movement in rugged terrain, and inadequate nutrition. At the same time, food is reported to be more plentiful at their new location.
Praise God for the good reports we have received. Pray that soon, we and their
families will be able to see them alive, well and free.
Martin, 42, and Gracia, 43, from Kansas, were kidnapped on May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf Group from a resort off the island of Palawan in the Philippines. Martin grew up in the Philippines, where his parents have been
missionaries for more than 32 years. The Burnhams have been members of NTM
since 1985.
* * *
New Tribes Mission plants indigenous churches among unevangelized people groups in remote areas around the world. For more information, go to: www.ntm.org

To subscribe to this group, send an email to:
[email protected]