May 27, 2001, New Tribes Mission, Official Press Release, 

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

New Tribes Mission

May 27, 2001

New Tribes Mission is asking for prayer for two NTM missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham, who were among 20 people abducted in the Philippines early May 27.

Martin and Gracia, from Kansas, have been members of NTM since 1985, and part of the team planting tribal churches in the Philippines since March 1986. Some 125 foreign missionaries, working alongside Filipino nationals, have established 79 indigenous churches, with another 90 in various stages of growth.

The Burnhams and 18 others were kidnapped by a group of approximately 20 unidentified men. They were forcibly taken from the Dos Palmas Island resort at Honda Bay, near the island of Palawan. Martin and Gracia were on Palawan to do some work at a mission station at Puerto Princesa.

There had been no previous reports of terrorist activity on Palawan Island, so NTM had no reason to suspect the Burnhams were in danger in that area.

Please pray for a speedy resolution to this situation, and for safety for all involved. Pray for the Burnhams and their three children, 14, 11, and 10 years old, who were not with them at the time. Pray for wisdom for the Philippine military officials involved in this operation, and for those members of NTM who are involved.

Pray also for those who took these people hostage; they are in need of God too. And pray also that in all that happens, God would glorify His name.

Martin's parents are Paul and Oreta Burnham, who are also NTM missionaries in the Philippines.

For additional information please contact: New Tribes Mission 1000 E. 1st St. Sanford, FL 32771-1487 Phone: (407) 323-3430 http://www.ntm.org/connect/headlines/burnham.shtml