Christian Message Boards: Latest update on Gracia Burnham

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Posted by Kindgo (Member # 2) on :

A taste of God's faithfulness [Prayer]

SANFORD, Florida (July 3, 2002): Your prayers continue to play an integral
part in the Burnham family's lives. We thought you would be encouraged to
hear of some of God's answers to those prayers.

Gracia (Jones) Burnham and her children are building good memories this
week at a Jones family reunion. Gracia's leg wound is healing. Now she can
take a few steps without crutches.

This week of July 4th celebrations also holds special challenges. During
their captivity, Martin and Gracia were exposed to many firefights.
Understandably, loud noises now startle Gracia easily, and firecrackers
sound a lot like gunfire. Please pray for the Lord's calmness for Gracia.
He will answer, because He is faithful. Reflect for a few moments.

In November 2001, the video that showed the Burnhams' frail appearance
caused many to pray for their health. Gracia spoke of sores on their feet.
As people began praying, the sores healed. Martin and Gracia's feet
remained free of infection throughout the rest of their captivity. Their
health also improved and, in spite of their weakened condition, they
suffered no major illnesses from that time onward.

People also prayed for them to have food. Because their captors did not
value women, and American women in particular, Gracia received the worst
treatment of everyone. When food was handed out, she was the last to
receive it, if there was any left. Martin protected her as best he could.
She learned to eat quickly and as much as she could whenever there was
plenty. Although there were days when the Burnhams went without food, they
never starved.

People also prayed for their protection. A big concern was that the couple
might be separated from each other. This never happened. Martin and Gracia
were treated as a family unit, so Gracia was not put under some of the
pressures that the other women faced.

On numerous occasions the Burnhams came under heavy gunfire, with bullets
striking the leaves around them, yet missing Martin and Gracia. Over and
over, they experienced God's protection.

For reasons that only God knows, more could be accomplished through
Martin's death on June 7, 2002, than his rescue. The Lord lifted His
shield of protection and Martin was killed. At the same time, God proved
through Gracia's rescue that He is able to protect His children in the
most dangerous of circumstances.

A Wycliffe missionary, speaking at Martin's memorial service in the
Philippines, said that for ten years their organization had been praying
and trying to send missionaries to Basilan Island -- where Martin and
Gracia were held captive -- but the location was too dangerous. He
continued, "God sent His chosen missionaries to Basilan, to the very heart
of resistance." Martin was free to preach to the very people who would
normally have killed him if he had been serving as a missionary in one of
the villages.

Like the Apostle Paul, Martin was chained to his guards. For a year he had
a captive audience for the Gospel. Please pray with us that God will
continue to produce fruit through that witness.

As Martin said, "I'm not called to the Philippines or to be a missionary.
I'm called to serve Christ." And he did.

* * *

New Tribes Mission plants churches among unevangelized tribal people around the world. For more information, go to: web page

Posted by helpforhomeschoolers (Member # 15) on :

Thanks for sharing this with us. This lady's name fits her so well, for she is certainly gracious. I will never forget her words. "Terrible things happened to us, but God was good every day!" What a testimony!!!