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Missionary Feature Story of the Month: 8-02-2001
Martin and Gracia Burnham, missionaries to the Philippines
MANILA, The Philippines (Aug. 2, 2001): The Philippine government's
efforts to crack down on supporters of the Abu Sayyaf Group appear to be disrupting the
supply structure for those holding hostage several people, including NTM missionaries
Martin and Gracia Burnham.
The Burnham children recently made a radio
appeal...
to the kidnappers asking them to release their parents, but the
kidnappers have not responded so far. In fact, the Abu Sayyaf Group has not made contact
with either the Philippine government or Malaysian negotiators, and negotiations have not
resumed.
Over the past several days, the kidnappers and the Burnhams have been reported
sighted at several locations on Basilan island. While these
sightings have not been confirmed, they indicate that the group is having to move
quite a bit in order to find support.
While some are raising questions about why the kidnapping has gone
on for more than two months, despite the presence of more
than 6,000 Philippine soldiers on a small island, NTM
continues to...
Continued from our prayerletter...
be grateful for the efforts of the Philippine
government.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in an impromptu 30-minute meeting with the Philippine
vice president, expressed the USA's desire that the kidnapping be resolved quickly. He
mentioned the kidnapping four times and ended with an appeal to the kidnappers to release
the Burnhams and the Filipino hostages.
NTM appreciates this high-level US involvement, and asks for prayer
that it will lead to the release of Martin and Gracia unharmed. Pray also that this will
give the Philippine government renewed impetus to seek freedom for all the hostages.
Martin, 41, and Gracia, 42, from Kansas, were kidnapped May 27 by Abu Sayyaf from a resort
off the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The Burnhams have been members of NTM since
1985.
Please continue to pray for the safe release
of all those held hostage. Pray for their health,
and for their safety as the military continues its
efforts. Pray that negotiations would be reestablished.
And pray for their families and others involved in
this incident.
Please visit the NTM Hostage pages for more
current information regarding the hostage situation both with the Burnhams and the other 3
men held in Columbia.
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