Podcasts about gracia burnham

Chris Voss excelled as a lead FBI international kidnapping negotiator. At the start of his career, he thought it was all about being tough and direct. But over time, he discovered the secret to cracking negotiations—tactical empathy. Today, he teaches business leaders how to read emotions, build trust, and avoid leaving money on the table. In this episode, Chris explains why empathy is a world-changing skill and shares tactics for getting what you want in business and life. Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator with over two decades of experience in high-stakes crisis negotiations. He's the CEO of Black Swan Group and author of Never Split the Difference.  In this episode, Ilana and Chris will discuss: - How Chris became an FBI hostage negotiator - Why empathy is the secret weapon in business and life - Turning a “no” into a powerful negotiation tool - Why decision-making is emotional - The surprising power of vulnerability in negotiations - “It's not what you say, it's how you say it” - Why a positive frame of mind makes you 31% smarter - How to get your boss to pay you more - And other topics…   Chris Voss is a former FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator and expert in high-stakes negotiations. He is also the CEO of Black Swan Group and author of Never Split the Difference. With over 24 years of experience at the FBI, Chris negotiated some of the most challenging hostage situations. He represented the U.S. at G8-sponsored international conferences on kidnapping. Chris has received prestigious awards, including the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement. He has also taught negotiation in top MBA programs at USC, Georgetown, and Harvard, as well as lecturing globally.  Connect with Chris: Chris's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophervoss/   Chris's Twitter: https://twitter.com/fbinegotiator Resources Mentioned: Chris's Book, Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805  Chris's Documentary, Tactical Empathy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21383310/  Chris's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7jHqdlFFDBhC1QIFqi54w   Negotiation Mastery Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/negotiation-mastery-6998634991547006976/  Shawn Achor's TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJsdqxnZb0  The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How. by Daniel Coyle: https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Code-Greatness-Born-Grown/dp/055380684X  In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham and Dean Merrill: https://www.amazon.com/Presence-My-Enemies-Gracia-Burnham/dp/0842381392 

Dr Greg Smalley is the Vice President for Families at Focus on the Family and he and his wife Erin joined host Don Hawkins to talk about the importance of caring for each other's hearts.   In our next segment, missionary Gracia Burnham addresses the students at Southeastern Bible College to describe her experience when she and her husband Martin were taken captive by terrorists.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On Culture Friday, WJI student questions about worldview, definitions, and IVF; Cabrini and Kung Fu Panda 4 honor overcoming obstacles; and Yiddish words on this month's Word Play. Plus, the Friday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Compelled Podcast. Gracia Burnham was a kidnapped missionary who realized Christ commanded she forgive her enemies. Episode 30 on any podcast app or CompelledPodcast.com.From The Missionary Conference. October 16th to 18th with John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Conrad Mbay-way, Mark devv-uhr, and others. Early bird registration at missionary.net.And from Cedarville University, offering in-person and online undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrollment programs, taught with academic excellence and a biblical worldview. cedarville.edu/WORLD.

A new posture in the GOP; the cause and prevention of wildfires; and the advances in AI music. Plus, diving for Apple Watches, Cal Thomas on political deception, and the Thursday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Cedarville University, offering in-person and online undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrollment programs, taught with academic excellence and a biblical worldview. cedarville.edu/WORLD.From Compelled Podcast. Gracia Burnham was a kidnapped missionary who realized Christ commanded she forgive her enemies. Episode 30 on any podcast app or CompelledPodcast.com.And from The Missionary Conference. October 16th to 18th with John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Conrad Mbay-way, Mark devv-uhr, and others. Early bird registration at missionary.net.

On Washington Wednesday, the obstacles before the Speaker of the House; on World Tour, protests over economic burdens in Tunisia; and the challenges of starting a new church. Plus, a magical disappointment in Scotland, Janie B. Cheaney on finding hope during hard times, and the Wednesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from The Missionary Conference. October 16th to 18th with John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Conrad Mbay-way, Mark devv-uhr, and others. Early bird registration at missionary.net.From Cedarville University, offering in-person and online undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrollment programs, taught with academic excellence and a biblical worldview. cedarville.edu/WORLD.And from Compelled Podcast. Gracia Burnham was a kidnapped missionary who realized Christ commanded she forgive her enemies. Episode 30 on any podcast app or CompelledPodcast.com.

A unanimous Supreme Court rules Trump stays on the Colorado ballot; Canada delays an expansion of euthanasia for mental illness; and on Classic Book of the Month, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. Plus, jet suit racing in Dubai, A. S. Ibrahim on religious intolerance, and the Tuesday morning newsKeep track of Super Tuesday results online at https://wng.org/election2024Support The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Compelled Podcast. Gracia Burnham was a kidnapped missionary who realized Christ commanded she forgive her enemies. Episode 30 on any podcast app or CompelledPodcast.com.From The Missionary Conference. October 16th to 18th with John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Conrad Mbay-way, Mark devv-uhr, and others. Early bird registration at missionary.net.And from Cedarville University, offering in-person and online undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrollment programs, taught with academic excellence and a biblical worldview. cedarville.edu/WORLD.

On Legal Docket, social media content moderation; on the Monday Moneybeat, the inflation cycle; and on the WORLD History Book, the U.S. Constitution takes effect. Plus, the Monday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from Cedarville University, offering in-person and online undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrollment programs, taught with academic excellence and a biblical worldview. cedarville.edu/WORLD.From Compelled Podcast. Gracia Burnham was a kidnapped missionary who realized Christ commanded she forgive her enemies. Episode 30 on any podcast app or CompelledPodcast.com.And from The Missionary Conference. October 16th to 18th with John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Conrad Mbay-way, Mark devv-uhr, and others. Early bird registration at missionary.net.

Are you someone who deeply desires to find love, but feels like you've been searching in all the wrong places? Do you ever think it might be too late for you, that perhaps God won't bring the right person your way? Whether you've experienced the loss of a spouse, been through a divorce, or have yet to find your match, this episode is for you.In this episode, we're joined by Wendy Griffith, author of the empowering book 'You Didn't Miss It: God's Best is Worth the Wait'. Wendy will delve into her personal journey of waiting for God's perfect match in her own life.Throughout our conversation, Wendy shares the importance of faith, prayer, and trusting in God's perfect timing. She highlights the significance of self-love and taking care of oneself physically, mentally, and spiritually while awaiting God's plan to unfold. Tune in for a message of hope and inspiration as we explore the beauty of waiting for God's best.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest's Background04:15 Writing the Book05:45 Emotional Journey and Waiting Season07:15 Realizing God's Best08:07 The Frustration of Waiting10:28 The Purpose of Waiting11:52 The Importance of Faith and Prayer12:55 The Mental Mindset in Waiting16:05 Full Circle Moments20:10 Overcoming Bitterness and Resentment21:39 Preparing Yourself for God's Best24:15 Loving Yourself and Pursuing Passions27:35 Protecting and Nurturing Your Marriage30:15 Best Place to Get Wendy's Book31:17 Interesting Facts about Wendy Griffith33:46 Journey of FaithResources mentioned:Wendy Griffith WebsiteConnect with today's guest:InstagramFacebookWendy Griffith is a Co-host for The 700 Club and an Anchor and Senior Reporter for the Christian Broadcasting Network based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In addition to The 700 Club, Wendy co-anchors Christian World News, a weekly show that focuses on the triumphs and challenges of the global church.Wendy started her career at CBN on Capitol Hill, where she was the network's Congressional Correspondent during the Impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton. She then moved to the Virginia Beach headquarters in 2000 to concentrate on stories with a more spiritual emphasis. She has traveled internationally, covering stories like the hostage drama of missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham in the Philippines, the spiritual crisis over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church, and the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in northern Israel. Wendy also traveled to the Middle East for an in-depth look at the plight of Syrian refugees who escaped from their war-torn country to find refuge in Jordan.Wendy began her television career in 1987 at NBC affiliate KYEL-TV in Yuma, Arizona, after graduating from West Virginia University in 1986 with a B.S. in Journalism. She then worked in several television markets across the country as an anchor/reporter, including two stints at ABC affiliate WCHS-TV in Charleston, West Virginia, her hometown. Wendy became a first-time author in September 2011 when she co-authored her first book, Praying the News, Your Prayers are More Powerful than You Know. Her second book, You are a Prize to be Won! Don't settle for Less than God's Best was released in January 2014. P.S. If you're just checking out the show to see if it's a good fit for you, welcome!If you're really serious about becoming Visibly Fit, you'll get the best experience if you download the worksheets available at

This week we talk about Gracia Burnham, celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary with her husband when they get kidnapped from their resort. We also talk about Victoria, a 26 year old who suffers from a headache. Her family makes her go to the hospital when this headache lasts for three days straight and she got to the hospital just in time. Listen to how they survived now! Drink of the Week: Frozen Vanilla Latte

In the aftermath of Terri's death, the Schindlers and Schiavos try to move on and find healing…even as Terri's legacy continues to play out in the public square.Lawless is listener supported. Find out more at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Compelled Podcast. Listen to unique and compelling testimonies like Gracia Burnham, a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by Muslim terrorists and held hostage for over a year, yet who chose to forgive her captors.Or listen to the testimony of Stu Fuhlendorf, a staunch atheist and alcoholic with a tremendous success record on Wall Street... but during a booze-filled trip around the world he couldn't shake the idea... What if God actually was real?Every story on Compelled is true, vivid, and told by the person who lived it - and saw God working through it. Listen on your favorite podcast app or at CompelledPodcast.com.

After Terri's feeding tube is removed once again, the Schindlers' allies scramble for any last-ditch rescue plans. Some are lawful. Others, less so. Police arrest nearly 50 people who try to bring Terri water. Meanwhile, protesters around the hospice mark the deadly advance of time: Starvation, Day 1…Starvation, Day 2…Lawless is listener supported. Find out more at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Compelled Podcast. Listen to unique and compelling testimonies like Gracia Burnham, a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by Muslim terrorists and held hostage for over a year, yet who chose to forgive her captors.Or listen to the testimony of Stu Fuhlendorf, a staunch atheist and alcoholic with a tremendous success record on Wall Street... but during a booze-filled trip around the world he couldn't shake the idea... What if God actually was real?Every story on Compelled is true, vivid, and told by the person who lived it - and saw God working through it. Listen on your favorite podcast app or at CompelledPodcast.com.

In the aftermath of Terri's death, the Schindlers and Schiavos try to move on and find healing…even as Terri's legacy continues to play out in the public square.Lawless is listener supported. Find out more at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Compelled Podcast. Listen to unique and compelling testimonies like Gracia Burnham, a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by Muslim terrorists and held hostage for over a year, yet who chose to forgive her captors.Or listen to the testimony of Stu Fuhlendorf, a staunch atheist and alcoholic with a tremendous success record on Wall Street... but during a booze-filled trip around the world he couldn't shake the idea... What if God actually was real?Every story on Compelled is true, vivid, and told by the person who lived it - and saw God working through it. Listen on your favorite podcast app or at CompelledPodcast.com.

After Terri's feeding tube is removed once again, the Schindlers' allies scramble for any last-ditch rescue plans. Some are lawful. Others, less so. Police arrest nearly 50 people who try to bring Terri water. Meanwhile, protesters around the hospice mark the deadly advance of time: Starvation, Day 1…Starvation, Day 2…Additional support comes from Compelled Podcast. Listen to unique and compelling testimonies like Gracia Burnham, a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by Muslim terrorists and held hostage for over a year, yet who chose to forgive her captors.Or listen to the testimony of Stu Fuhlendorf, a staunch atheist and alcoholic with a tremendous success record on Wall Street... but during a booze-filled trip around the world he couldn't shake the idea... What if God actually was real?Every story on Compelled is true, vivid, and told by the person who lived it - and saw God working through it. Listen on your favorite podcast app or at CompelledPodcast.com.

Being kidnapped, held hostage, and running for their lives in the jungle isn't what Gracia Burnham and her missionary pilot husband had in mind when they went to serve God in the Philippines. Only Gracia would return a year later, with a story to share of God's faithfulness—and of His power to help us forgive and love our enemies. Don't miss this unforgettable conversation on Zero Compromise!

Kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in the Philippines in 2001, Gracia and her husband Martin found that God's Word became the source of their strength. Listen as Gracia in her own words, tells how that became a living reality throughout their year in captivity.

Today, Megan is sitting down with Gracia Burnham. If you don't know her already, Gracia is a Christian missionary who was held hostage and was in captivity for 375 days by Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group in the Philippines. She has an incredible testament and aspiring story as she has found herself in some of the most tragic and difficult situations that a Christian can endure. Gracia is a widow, mother, grandmother, speaker, author, and friend of Megan's Grammy who led way to their introduction. This is an episode that you won't want to miss. Links Gracia's book, In the Presence of My Enemies - https://rstyle.me/+wI0YytM1Sm1SwB8P5hAEXA https://graciaburnham.org/ Get 10% off your first month of Christian Online Counseling with Faithful Counseling: faithfulcounseling.com/shelivespurposefully Crunchi: Get $10 your first order of $50 or more at crunchi.com/meganedmonds She Lives Purposefully Bible Studies (Ruth, Esther, Psalm 23 and 1, 2 & 3 John) https://www.shelivespurposefully.com/slp-studies/ Girl, Read Your Bible FREE Bible Studies Tool Guide https://mailchi.mp/3628f0c0cad7/read-your-bible Shop She Lives Purposefully Crewnecks and Totes: https://www.shelivespurposefully.com/products/shop/ My Bible Bibles and Journals I Love Daily Grace Co Prayer Journals: https://rstyle.me/+_xjG2-XhNRl63D-mA-Cx8Q Daily grace Co Prayer Collection: https://rstyle.me/+ysYDgFWu0tpRq6jNFqeS8g Shop my favorite Christian Living Resource: https://www.shelivespurposefully.com/resources/

November 4, 2022. Gracia Burnham. "Grace Under Fire" 2022 Ladies Conference. www.machiasvalley.org

November 5, 2022. Gracia Burnham. Session 2. "Grace Under Fire" 2022 Ladies Conference.  www.machiasvalley.org

November 5, 2022. Gracia Burnham. Session 3. "Grace Under Fire" 2022 Ladies Conference. www.machiasvalley.org

Gracia and her husband were missionaries in the Philippines, when they were kidnapped at gunpoint by terrorists, and held hostage in the jungle for ransom. They endured every hardship you could possibly imagine including gun battles, beheadings, and starvation... yet Gracia was confronted with one continual question, was Jesus asking her to forgive these men?  Full show notes at https://compelledpodcast.com/episodes/behind-the-scenes-gracia-burnham Note: This special behind-the-scenes episode is normally only accessible to our monthly Patreon supporters. Please consider supporting our work to access all of our behind-the-scenes episodes and listen to all our episodes 1 week early! https://www.patreon.com/compelledpodcast ++++++++++++ Compelled is a seasonal podcast using gripping, immersive storytelling to celebrate the powerful ways God is transforming Christians around the world. These Christian testimonies are raw, true, and powerful. Be encouraged and let your faith be strengthened! Support the podcast on Patreon and listen to episodes 1 week early: https://www.patreon.com/compelledpodcast Help us create more stories by donating on PayPal or Venmo: https://compelledpodcast.com/support-us Show notes, emails, and more at: https://compelledpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just before dawn three young men with machine guns burst into the hotel room of missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.       

One of the pleasures of summer is taking time to relax with a good book that both entertains and informs. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss does both. It's a book that will raise your relational intelligence. You would do well to put it on your summer reading list. I review it in today's episode. Get ready for summer Some magazines and newspaper articles will soon be writing pieces about the top ten, or top five, books to put on your summer reading list. I'm not going to put out a list, but I do have a recommendation of one book that I'm pretty sure you will enjoy. It's a non-fiction book that reads like a novel. I found it to be well-written, entertaining, and something that taught me a few things to increase my relationship skills. I'm going to talk about the book in today's episode because I think you're going to find it helpful, too. So keep listening. You're going to like this one. Never Split the Difference - Negotiating as if your life depended on it [NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, Caring for Others, sponsor of this podcast, earns a small commission from qualifying purchases.] The book I'm referring to and reviewing is in some ways a follow-up to episode 154 of this podcast, “How to Listen Like a Hostage Negotiator.” The name of the book is Never Split the Difference, with the subtitle Negotiating as if your life depended on it. It's by Chris Voss a former hostage negotiator with the FBI. Now at first glance, you might think a book about hostage negotiation as something not terribly interesting. Becoming a hostage negotiator may not be one of your five-year goals. You're probably not going to suggest it as a career for your children. This book is so much more than that. I first came across the book when I heard the author on a podcast I listened to. The stories he told from his experience in negotiating the release of hostages were fascinating. He got me hooked, so I read his book, Never Split the Difference. I recommend you put it on your summer reading list. Amazon Reviews For this review, I looked on Amazon to see what others who read the book thought of it. At the time I checked, Never Split the Difference had over 23,000 reviews and was number 19 on Amazon's bestseller list. 94% of the ratings were either 4 or 5 stars. The few negative reviews either complained about a printing problem with pages being cut off or blank pages. The other complaint was some readers thought the author was too egotistical and self-promoting. I get that and see a little of it more in the beginning of the book. I'm usually sensitive to this kind of thing, but frankly, it didn't bother me in the least, especially as I got into the book and saw the compassion he had on occasion for people. Other reviews said there were too many stories of negotiating sessions he was involved in and that the book doesn't have much to offer for the rest of us. My perspective, however, is just the opposite. I actually loved the stories because they were well-written, first of all, and secondly, they all illustrated principles of human interaction. The 94% who gave it a 4 or 5-star rating had good reason to do so. The rest of this review is my reasons for recommending you put the book on your summer reading list. Who the book is for If you like stories of good guys going after bad guys you'll like this book for that reason alone. You'll also like it if you're involved in sales or running a business, as I was for 25 years. There are many strategies the author used in hostage negotiation that are applicable in the business world. If you're a parent or interact with other people, you'll find this book helpful. If you plan to ask your boss for a raise, you'll find a few useful suggestions in the book. When you're selling or buying stuff at a garage/rummage/yard sale this book will save you money. Furthermore, and this is most interesting and another reason to put this book on your summer reading list. We have a number of missionaries who listen to this podcast, and if you're one of them, especially if you serve in a part of the world where hostage-taking is not unusual you would do well to read Never Split the Difference. The author was deeply involved in the negotiations to secure the release of New Tribes missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham held hostage by a radical Islamist group in 2001. He comments at length on what went wrong and calls it the “biggest failure in my professional life.” He talks about it in the first few pages of Chapter 7. It's a tragic story that didn't have to end the way it did. Finally, if you hate conflict, this book is a must-read. Especially the last chapter. There's really good stuff here that you won't find in most other books on dealing with conflict. Structure of the book The paperback version I have is 258 pages in length, which includes a helpful appendix. A footnotes section and index follow. The table of contents lists ten chapters, with a brief phrase that describes each chapter. One of the helpful things about how the book is structured is that except for the first one, each chapter ends with a section he calls “Key Lessons.” It reviews and summarizes the main points the author is trying to get across. I wouldn't recommend reading only this section, as you'll miss the stories the author uses to illustrate each of the key concepts. The book is an easy read for your summer reading list and it won't take long to get through it. The premise of the book The experiences the author shares in hostage negotiations are all interesting and engaging. And there's a heavy dose of that. But more than this, I enjoyed and learned from how he related to people so very different from the kind of people you and I interact with. Reading the book will raise the relational intelligence level of most readers. I've been a student of listening for many years and I learned principles and techniques of listening I have not come across anywhere else. In fact, if I were to teach a college course on listening, this book would be required reading in my syllabus. While I'm waiting for the teaching offers to pour in, I'm content for now to just recommend you put Never Split the Difference on your summer reading list. Passages from the book that grabbed me I'll start by sharing some passages from the book that grabbed me, because I think they will grab you, too. One line from the book that I won't soon forget is this question, “How am I supposed to do that?” You can use it when buying a car and the salesman wants you to pay more than you want to pay. I used it when I sold a car for my son when the buyer wanted to pay less than what my son wanted to sell it for. It worked! Our daughter used the same line when she and her husband sold a house they had rehabbed. “How am I supposed to sell the house for X, when we've already put in Y thousands of dollars to fix it up?” It worked for them, too. The author goes into the psychology of why this one question is so effective. I won't go into it here. It's another reason to put Never Split the Difference on your summer reading list. The author suggests several other questions in chapter 7 to ask that would be helpful for the parties involved in dealing with marital issues, parenting, and differences between friends, neighbors, and co-workers. I will list them in the show notes, but for now, here they are: What about this is important to you? How can I help make this better for us? How would you like me to proceed? What is it that brought us into this situation? How can we solve this problem? What is the objective?/What are we trying to accomplish here? People who lie to us Following this, in chapter 8, author Chris Voss cites a Harvard University study showing that “on average, liars use more words than truth-tellers and far more third-person pronouns. They start talking about him, her, it. one, they, and their rather than I, in order to put some distance between themselves and the lie.” Throughout the book, the author sprinkles in results of various research studies that show me he's not just shooting from the hip in presenting his arguments. “My name is Chris” Also in chapter 8 is an interesting relational technique I'm going to try sometime. The author writes: “A few years ago I was in a bar in Kansas with a bunch of fellow FBI negotiators. The bar was packed, but I saw one empty chair. I moved toward it but just as I got ready to sit the guy next to it said, ‘Don't even think about it.” “Why? I asked, and he said, “Because I'll kick your …. [I'll stop and let you figure out what part of the anatomy the guy was going to kick].” Back to the author's story. “He was big, burly, and already drunk, but look, I'm a lifelong hostage negotiator - I gravitate toward tense situations that need mediation like a moth to the flame. “I held out my hand to shake his and said, ‘My name is Chris.' “The dude froze. and in the pause my fellow FBI guys moved in, patted him on the shoulders, and offered to buy him a drink. Turned out he was a Vietnam veteran at a particularly low point. He was in a packed bar where the entire world seemed to be celebrating. The only thing he could think of was to fight. But as soon as I became ‘Chris,' everything changed. I just love this story of how he diffused the guy's anger, and how once he knew more of the man's story he viewed him with compassion. It's another reason to put the book on your summer reading list. I've learned over the years that when I see an angry person, there's usually a hurt, sad, or fearful person underneath the angry exterior. The Chris discount The author goes on to tell another story right after the bar incident. He was in a shopping mall and picked out some shirts he wanted to buy. The checkout clerk asked him if he wanted to join their frequent buyer program. “I asked her if I got a discount for joining and she said, ‘No.' “So I decided to try another angle. I said in a friendly manner, ‘My name is Chris. What is the Chris discount?' “She looked from the register, met my eyes, and gave a little laugh. ‘I'll have to ask my manager, Kathy,' she said and turned to the woman who'd been standing next to her. “Kathy, who'd heard the whole exchange, said ‘The best I can do is ten percent.' “Humanize yourself. Use your name to introduce yourself. Say it in a fun, friendly way. Let them enjoy the interaction, too. And get your own special price.” I love this guy's approach. I wish this guy was a neighbor. This second story Chris Voss shared certainly humanizes himself for me. It's a great example of what I've been saying lately at the end of each episode, spread a little relational sunshine this week. Use a little humor. Lighten things up in our relationships. Make people smile every now and then. Bargaining In chapter 9 he tells two stories of how what he learned in hostage negotiation that helped him buy a car that listed for $36,000. He got the dealership to sell it to him for $30,000. He also shared a story of one of his MBA students negotiating a rent decrease after it had just gone up. The Author says this about negotiating that applies to any relationship, “It's not how well you speak, but how well you listen that determines your success.” For me, the most inspiring part of the book comes near the end, in chapter 10: “Every engineer, every executive, every child - all of us want to believe we are capable of the extraordinary. As children, our daydreams feature ourselves as primary players in great moments: an actor winning an Oscar, an athlete hitting the game-winning shot. As we grow older, however, our parents, teachers, and friends talk more of what we can't and shouldn't do than what is possible. We begin to lose faith. A map to joy “But when someone displays a passion for what we've always wanted and conveys a purposeful plan of how to get there, we allow our perceptions of what's possible to change. We're all hungry for a map to joy, and when someone is courageous enough to draw it for us, we naturally follow.” What he says here so reminds me of a text I received a few months ago, completely out of the blue, from a former student of mine decades ago when I was a teacher. Geraldine has stayed in touch with Janet and me over the years and wrote the following: Hi John! I hope this finds you and Janet happy and healthy! I just want to let you know how you inspired my life. I would not be a nurse without you. You told me so many years ago that I was smart enough to go to college. I have touched so many lives because of you. Thank you for that! Sincerely, Geraldine This brought tears to my eyes. Without even knowing it I drew a “map to joy” for her so long ago. I bet many of you have done the same thing for others, too. It's such a great privilege to do so. Conflict Back to the author. He writes: “If this book accomplishes only one thing, I hope it gets you over the fear of conflict and encourages you to navigate it with empathy. If you're going to be great at anything - a great negotiator, a great manager, a great husband, a great wife - you're going to have to do that. You're going to have to ignore that little genie who's telling you to give up, to just get along - as well as that other genie who's telling you to lash out and yell.” And finally, the last few lines near the end of the book read as follows: “… I'm going to leave you with one request: Whether it's in the office or around the family dinner table, don't avoid honest, clear conflict. It will get you the best car price, the higher salary, and the largest donation. It will also save your marriage, your friendship, and your family. “One can only be an exceptional negotiator, and a great person by both listening and speaking clearly and empathically; treating counterparts - and oneself - with dignity and respect; and most of all by being honest about what one wants and what one can - and cannot - do. Every negotiation, every conversation, every moment of life is a series of small conflicts, that managed well, can rise to creative beauty. “Embrace them.” So what does all this mean for YOU? Are you creating a map for joy for anyone? Has anyone done it for you? If so, thank them, even if it's decades later, like Geraldine did for me. Finally, and I hope this is obvious by now, put Never Split the Difference on your summer reading list. If you buy it from Amazon, please use the link I have at the bottom of the show notes. This will generate a very small commission for our missionary Care ministry, Caring for Others. The book won't cost you any more. Here's the main takeaway I hope you remember from today's episode Reading Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss will raise your level of relational intelligence in an entertaining way. It will increase your relationship skills and bring more joy into your life. Please let me know what you think about today's episode. I'd love to hear from you. Closing In closing, I hope your thinking was stimulated by today's show, to get the book Never Split the Difference and put into practice some of the things you heard today. It will help you experience the joy of relationships God intends for you. Because after all, You Were Made for This. That's about it for today. Be sure to check out the links at the bottom of the show notes. And remember to spread a little relational sunshine with the people you met this week. Oh, and don't forget to ask for the “John discount.” That's “John with an h.” Let me know how that works for you. Until we meet up again next week, goodbye for now. Related episodes/resources you may want to check out 154: How to Listen Like a Hostage Negotiator 139: Why Should I Listen to This Podcast?- Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss NOTE: As an Amazon Associate, Caring for Others earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. Our Sponsor You Were Made for This is sponsored by Caring for Others, a missionary care ministry. We are supported by the generosity of people like you to continue this weekly podcast and other services we provide to missionaries around the world.

Gracia Burnham and her husband were celebrating their wedding anniversary when militant Muslims kidnapped them. Hear Gracia's story of faith and forgiveness.

Semse Aydin and her husband, Necati, were expecting a baby. Necati had been arrested for gospel work in Turkey, and now the couple had a decision to make. Would they continue advancing the gospel among their countrymen, in spite of the risk of more persecution? Or would they choose a safer path for their now-growing family? Together, Necati and Semse made the decision: they would continue boldly in their Christian work. The decision led them to Malatya, where Necati was murdered in 2007. This week we continue our conversation with Semse and Gracia Burnham. Both women are widows whose husbands were killed serving in front-line ministry work. Both have experienced God's faithfulness in the years since, and both consider their suffering for Christ an honor. Listen as they discuss their husbands' legacies and what their ministry looks like today.

Semse Aydin and her husband, Necati, were expecting a baby. Necati had been arrested for gospel work in Turkey, and now the couple had a decision to make. Would they continue advancing the gospel among their countrymen, in spite of the risk of more persecution? Or would they choose a safer path for their now-growing family? Together, Necati and Semse made the decision: they would continue boldly in their Christian work. The decision led them to Malatya, where Necati was murdered in 2007. This week we continue our conversation with Semse and Gracia Burnham. Both women are widows whose husbands were killed serving in front-line ministry work. Both have experienced God's faithfulness in the years since, and both consider their suffering for Christ an honor. Listen as they discuss their husbands' legacies and what their ministry looks like today. You can hear in-depth interviews with Gracia and Semse in the VOM Radio Archives. Please continue to pray for them, and their children. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe to the podcast!

Gracia Burnham was serving as a missionary in the Philippines with her husband, Martin, when they were taken hostage by a radical Islamist group. Martin was killed in a rescue attempt, leaving Gracia to raise their three children alone. But she was not alone; God has been with her. “I've seen God be faithful…He takes special care of the widows,” Gracia says. Semse Aydin also experienced the loss of a husband when Necati was murdered with two other Christian men in Malatya, Turkey in 2007. The couple had two young children. Listen this week as these two women share the stories of their pain and loss, but also how God has written a different story, one of joy and forgiveness and provision

Gracia Burnham was serving as a missionary in the Philippines with her husband, Martin, when they were taken hostage by a radical Islamist group. Martin was killed in a rescue attempt, leaving Gracia to raise their three children alone. But she was not alone; God has been with her. “I've seen God be faithful…He takes special care of the widows,” Gracia says. Semse Aydin also experienced the loss of a husband when Necati was murdered with two other Christian men in Malatya, Turkey in 2007. The couple had two young children. Listen this week as these two women share the stories of their pain and loss, but also how God has written a different story, one of joy and forgiveness and provision. You can hear in-depth interviews with Gracia and Semse in the VOM Radio Archives. Please continue to pray for them, and for their children. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe to the podcast!

If you were old enough to be aware of the events that day, you likely know exactly where you were on September 11, 2001.  In this special 20th anniversary edition of The Unfolding, we are sharing a collection of stories from 9/11.  With each story we move closer to Ground Zero.  We begin 8,000 miles from Manhattan in the jungles of the Philippines. Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were being held captive by terrorists with ties to Al Qaeda. Mel Torre shares how a supernatural experience helped him get out of the city that day.  From her vantage point overlooking the World Trade Center complex, Christina Stanton was close enough to not only witness the events but to feel the shockwaves.  The final story takes you inside the South Tower, sharing how Brian Clark, one of only 18 survivors from above the impact zone, saw the hand of God that day.

07/06/2021 – Gracia Burnham – missionary and author, on what God taught her after being held hostage for a year in the Philippines.

In part 1 we introduced you to Emily Lassiter of Birmingham, Alabama. We had some straight talk about finances as a widow. In part 2 we understood what God was doing while He had Emily benched for a season. In this final episode, we will learn how she practically lives out the concept of God as her husband, the first time she really laughed after losing her husband, and some great advice for new widows and those who walk with them. We tackle the doctrine of the sovereignty of God a little and give some book recommendations. Emily says this to her girls: God is in control. His plan is perfect. And He loves us.  www.wealthedit.com www.somersetadvisory.com Books: To Soar Again by Gracia Burnham; A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sitser; Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Drawing from her experience being held captive in the Philippine jungle and beyond, Gracia shares what God has taught her about grief and keeping her eyes always fixed on His truth.

We continue our discussion with Gracia as we discuss trusting God's goodness in difficult times.

We continue our discussion with Gracia Burnham about her incredible story.

Gracia Burnham joins me to discuss on her missionary life with Martin, being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf, and God's provision during the 20 years since being freed from the jungle and losing Martin. Questions Gracia and I Discuss: (4:38) You met and married Martin and eventually moved to the Philippines where you served as missionaries for 17 years.  Tell us what led you to the Philippines and what ministry looked like for you and your family while there. (7:56) What makes you say Martin was born to fly in the jungle? (10:01) You and Martin decide to take a rare trip alone as a couple to celebrate your 18th wedding anniversary.  Walk us through what happened on May 27, 2001 at the Dos Palmas resort.  (12:17) Who were the Abu Sayyaf?  (17:30) You and Martin, along with many other captives were held hostage by Abu Sayyaf, but the majority were released.  Why did they keep you and Martin for another year?  (19:51) How would you describe the conditions overall? (22:37) What thoughts about your kids would go through your mind during captivity? (24:27) Martin often was the one that would kind of pull you up when you were down.. What were some of the things he would say to point you back toward the Lord? (26:02) 911 put you and Martin in the forefront of people's minds. What happened after 911?  (29:56) How did the events of June 7, 2002 unfold Quotes to Remember: "Our job to run a good flight program and Martin wasn't just an ordinary pilot. He was born to fly in the jungle. And he loved what he did." "Martin just knew how to get a loaded Cessna down on a short jungle strip and get it stopped in the next few hundred feet." "These militant Muslims stormed the resort. There was a banging on the door. Before Martin could even get to the door these three guys within M-16's broke the door in and one took him right out. One of them came over to the bed and lowered his weapon at me and yelled, 'Go go go!'. And I said, 'No, no, no, I'm not dressed properly.'. They took me out to after I put on what I'd worn to the beach that night.""At the very beginning, they told Martin we will deal with you last. You'll be political prisoners." "For the most part, we hiked. We moved all the time, because we were trying to stay in front of the Philippine military who were trying to rescue us." "Every once in a while, we would come to a place where we thought we were safe....and we would spend weeks. During those days [we were] totally bored. We were either exhausted or we were bored and witnessing the atrocities." "This huge gun battle, number 17 (we've been through 16 of these before), this Rambo style shooting up the camp... and before I could hit the ground...I was shot in the leg and kind of slid down the slick grass....I came to rest beside Martin and I looked over at him and he was bleeding from his chest. I knew from experience that leg wounds might heal, but chest wounds don't." SHOW NOTES cont. Connect with Gracia Burnham at graciaburnham.org ------------------------------------------------------ Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB and www.graceenoughpodcast.com ------------------------------------------------

Today we have a special guest who knows what it's like to be a mom, wife, missionary, and even a hostage. Gracia Burnham lost her husband at the end of their long captivity at the hand of militant terrorists in the Philippines. In our talk today she shares the importance of missions in her life and the world today. Check out more at graciaburnham.org.

Gracía Burnham and her husband, Martin served with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines for seventeen years. Martin was a jungle pilot delivering mail, supplies, and encouragement to other missionaries. He also transported sick and injured patients to medical facilities. Gracia supported him whenever he was in the air by maintaining radio contact and home-schooling their three children. On May 27, 2001, while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at Dos Palmas Resort off Palawan Island, rebels from the Abu Sayyaf Group seized the Burnhams and several other guests of the resort and took them as hostages to Basilan Island. In the ensuing 376 days of captivity they endured incredible hardship and emotional fatigue. On June 7, 2002, Martin was killed in a firefight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group. Gracia was wounded in the leg but was freed. Gracia now resides in Rose Hill, Kansas. She is the author of the book In the Presence of My Enemies, which gives a gripping account of their year of terror in the Philippine jungle. In her second book, To Fly Again, Gracia reflects on the lessons and spiritual truths learned while in the jungle. She is a popular and engaging speaker in high demand at churches, colleges, and conferences across the United States. She is also the Founder and Director of The Martin & Gracia Burnham Foundation. Connect with her at www.graciaburnham.org.

02/01/2021 - Gracia Burnham - Talks about being held hostage for a year by terrorists in the Philippines.

02/02/2021 - Gracia Burnham - Missionary and speaker, on what God taught her after a year of captivity in the jungles of the Philippines.

For missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, a night of celebration turned into a nightmare. On May 27, 2001, they were kidnapped from a resort in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf. They were held hostage for more than a year, forced to march through the jungle with little food, no clean water, and witnessing atrocities along the way. It was a year that would test their faith beyond anything they had experienced before.

It was a story that was talked about in newscasts around the world. Gracia and her husband Martin were serving in the Philippines. Martin was a missionary pilot, and he and Gracia were raising 3 children who were born while serving. During an anniversary getaway on a nearby resort island, Martin and Gracia awoke to a nightmare - as a radical Islamic terrorist group broke in, and took several hostages from the resort. They staying in captivity in horrendous conditions, always moving through the jungles while this group was running from the Philippine military. Sadly, during a rescue attempt, all three remaining hostages including Martin and Gracia were struck by gunfire, and only Gracia survived and was rescued. Her story and her faith are purely amazing.

Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving as missionaries in the Philippines, where Martin was a pilot with New Tribes Mission (now called Ethnos 360). The Burnhams went away for a few days to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Those few days turned into more than a year in the jungle when they were kidnapped and held hostage by radical Muslim terrorists. Listen this week as Gracia tells how she wrestled with God and even with her own faith during those dark days of captivity. She’ll also share how she experienced the prayers of God’s people, even as Martin was killed during a rescue attempt. Gracia says at times in the jungle she couldn’t allow herself to even think about her three children because it was just to difficult. Yet now she knows the full story of God’s faithfulness to them. She will also give an update on how God continues to work in the hearts of the terrorists that held them hostage. Gracia’s story will inspire you to find ways to glorify God, regardless of what challenges you may be facing.

Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving as missionaries in the Philippines, where Martin was a pilot with New Tribes Mission (now called Ethnos 360). The Burnhams went away for a few days to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Those few days turned into more than a year in the jungle when they were kidnapped and held hostage by radical Muslim terrorists. Listen this week as Gracia tells how she wrestled with God and even with her own faith during those dark days of captivity. She’ll also share how she experienced the prayers of God’s people, even as Martin was killed during a rescue attempt. Gracia says at times in the jungle she couldn’t allow herself to even think about her three children because it was just to difficult. Yet now she knows the full story of God’s faithfulness to them. She will also give an update on how God continues to work in the hearts of the terrorists that held them hostage. Gracia’s story will inspire you to find ways to glorify God, regardless of what challenges you may be facing. You can read the whole story in her book, In the Presence of My Enemies (affiliate link). Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast.

For 17 years, Martin and Gracia Burnham were missionaries in the Philippines with New Tribes Mission. Martin was a jungle pilot in the Philippines and delivered mail and supplies to missionaries and transported sick and injured patients to medical facilities. On May 27, 2001 while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary in a resort in the Philippines, the Burnhams were taken captive by a militant group of Muslims.  For more than a year under the total control of their captives, they were constantly on the move living in primitive conditions in the jungle and evading capture from the Philippine military and witnessing gun battles.  On the afternoon of June 27, 2002, the Philippine military attempted another rescue, Martin was killed during the gun fight. Gracia was wounded but rescued.   Hear more about her story in the jungle and how the experience changed her life. For more information, contact graciaburnham.org. 

New Tribes missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were kidnapped and held for more than a year by terrorists in the Philippines, an ordeal that ended with Martin’s death. In the book that describes her experience, Gracia tells how the Scriptures were a source of comfort to her. One Sunday, she found a piece of paper and began writing down all the promises of God she could remember. “A couple of days later, when I was in a slightly less spiritual mood,” Gracia writes, “I thought of another divine promise to add to my list: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord’ (Rom. 12:19).” David resisted the temptation to take revenge on Saul once before (1 Samuel 24). He had another opportunity while hiding in the hill country east of Ziph. At that time, he snuck into Saul’s camp while the king was sleeping. David’s nephew Abishai offered to pin Saul to the ground with one thrust of a spear, arguing that God had delivered the king into David’s hands. Once more, David chose to leave matters in God’s hands. He explained to Abishai, “The Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed” (v. 11). Saul’s behavior continued to be erratic and although he admitted sin in verse 21, David was not inclined to trust him and asked for his spear in verse 22. David balanced his desire for retribution with His belief that vengeance belonged to God alone. As Christians, we often use the language of grace. We sing: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” It is one thing to sing about being a wretch. But it is something else to have to worship next to a person who acts like a wretch. Although we often sing about grace, we sometimes long for revenge. >> Patience informed by faith is the remedy for revenge. When we leave room for God, we open the door not only to justice but also to the possibility that God may offer others the same grace that He has shown us.

Gracia  and her husband Martin were missionaries in the Phillipines.   They were kidnapped by muslim extremists in the Philippines in 2001 while on an anniversary trip to a local resort.   They were hostages for a little over a year, when the Phillipine Military rescued them but Martin was killed in the gunfire. Her story is well documented.  She has a website graciaburnham.org 

Listen to today’s Laugh Again with Phil Callaway called “Captured by Joy – Gracia Burnham”. Enjoy!

Listen to today’s Laugh Again with Phil Callaway called “10 Questions for Gracia Burnham”. Enjoy!

I Am With You Always - Gracia Burnham - Nov 19, 2019 by Prairie College

Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 1Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 2Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 3FamilyLife Today® Radio Transcript  References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. Love Finds a Way to the Philippines Guest:                         Gracia BurnhamFrom the series:       In the Presence of My Enemies (Day 1 of 3)  Bob: Martin and Gracia Burnham had served for years as missionaries in the Philippines. Back in 2002, they got away for a few days of rest and recuperation when, one morning, the door of the cabin where they were staying was kicked in. Gracia: We knew that we were in big trouble, and we knew that we were being kidnapped; but we didn't know by whom. And then, when we realized it was the Abu Sayyaf, we knew what was going to happen because everyone follows all those hostage situations. It's like one starts, and then it ends. Everybody breathes easy for a bit. Then another one starts, and another one ends; and here it was us in the middle of this. Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Wednesday, July 1st. Our host is the President of FamilyLife®, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. We'll hear from Gracia Burnham today about the events that led up to the kidnapping and the 12-month hostage ordeal that she and her husband went through. Stay with us. 1:00 And welcome to FamilyLife Today. Thanks for joining us on the Wednesday edition. It was back more than a decade ago that we had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Gracia Burnham. Together, with her husband, Martin, Gracia had been held captive for more than a year by Islamic terrorists in the Philippines. Her story had been followed by the American media. It was a powerful, compelling story and a story of God's grace and His very real presence in the midst of suffering. We thought it would be good to revisit that story and listen back to what stands out for us as one of the most compelling programs we've featured on FamilyLife Today in our 20-plus years of ministry.  2:00Here is Part One of our interview with Gracia Burnham, originally recorded in 2003. [Previously Recorded Interview] Dennis: We are going to feature a story over the next couple of days, Bob, that, personally, I've been looking forward to hearing the rest of the story. I don't know that I've ever heard of a couple getting away for a romantic weekend that was interrupted in such a dramatic way. I mean, picture yourself in full-time ministry overseas and needing a break. Now, that occurs in missionary staff, and they need to get a break. So this couple decided that they would find a cool spot. They found a cool spot and were sleeping when there was a [knocking sound] at the door. 3:00 And the rest of the story is—man! It's a story of faith, of courage, of suffering that—well, I was riveted by the book, In the Presence of My Enemies, written by Gracia Burnham. And Gracia joins us on FamilyLife Today. Gracia: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Dennis: Gracia, I really have been looking forward to meeting you. Barbara watched me read your book; and she said, "That must really be good!" Bob: A page-turner? Dennis: It is. Gracia and her husband Martin served with New Tribes Missions for more than 17 years.  Gracia: Yes. Dennis: They have three children. I want you to tell us about that romantic getaway. You really needed it; didn't you? Gracia: Well, yes. New Tribes Mission Aviation—Martin was a jungle pilot—had been after Martin to become their new chief pilot from the Philippines. He'd just been in the States two weeks.  4:00 The Palawan pilot's dad died. That pilot had to go home to the States for a funeral, which meant that there were Bible translators that needed to get from one village to another; and there were kids that needed to get home from Faith Academy—there was a busy flight schedule on Palawan. Martin called me from the States and said: "I'm not going to be able to come home. I'm going to have to go to Palawan and fly."   So, I cleared up my schedule and went to meet him in Palawan. I got someone to take care of the kids where we live, but I knew that he would have jet lag and would need some time to rest. Bob: Right. Gracia: So I called our co-workers on Palawan and said, "Where is a good place where we can go for, you know, just even 24 hours, so Martin can rest, and sleep, and get ready for a heavy flight schedule?" They told me about Dos Palmas, a resort that was an island all of its own, off the coast of Palawan.  5:00 To get there, you had to take kind of a fishing vessel. I told my friends to book us in, and then they told me the price. It was right on the tip of my tongue to say, "Oh, could you just find us a place in town?" And I didn't say it because our anniversary was coming up; and I justified the cost by saying, “This will be our anniversary treat.”  And we did. We went to Dos Palmas and had a wonderful time—a beautiful meal / it was really, really nice—and went to bed that night. Then, even before dawn the next morning, that knock on the door—the pounding on the door—woke us up. Three men with M-16s ran into the room and took Martin immediately out. Then a guy came over to me, and pointed his weapon at me, and said in English, "Go, go, go!"   6:00 I said: “No, no, no! I don't have clothes on.” I was just trying to grab something right there by the bed. I grabbed what I'd had on at the beach the night before—just shorts and a t-shirt. They took me right out the door. They emptied all the little cottages that we were staying in that were on stilts over the water. When they emptied all those out, there were 20 of us hostages—3 Americans and the rest were Filipinos. As we pulled away from the dock, they raised their weapons in the air. I guess there were about 15 of these guys. We knew, right away, it was the Abu Sayyaf. They're a Muslim terrorist organization which funds itself by kidnapping and ransom. Dennis: Yes. Gracia: But they'd never been known to be on Palawan.  7:00 We always avoided the hot spots in the Philippines. For some reason, the Abu Sayyaf chose Palawan and Dos Palmas. Bob: So, was it not until that moment on the boat, with the guns raised, that you knew who these people were and what the agenda was? Gracia: Yes, that's when we knew who they were. Bob: Prior to that, when somebody is in your bedroom with a gun pointed at you, what are you thinking? Gracia: Well, we knew we were in big trouble. We knew that we were being kidnapped, but we didn't know by whom. Then, when we realized it was the Abu Sayyaf, we knew what was going to happen because we read the newspapers. A year before, they had taken a bunch of European business people from an island down closer to Malaysia, and everyone follows all those hostage situations. It's like one starts, and then it ends; and here it was us in the middle of this. 8:00 Dennis: Let's leave the speedboat for a moment, and let's go back to when you and Martin met—all the way back to the beginning of your relationship.  Gracia: Yes. Dennis: You both were really missions-minded from the very beginning; weren't you? Gracia: Yes, we were. Martin grew up on the mission field. His parents are tribal missionaries. When Martin was a little boy, they moved their family to the Philippines and started working with the Ibaloi tribe—a tribe up in the mountains, where there are no roads. To reach those people, they built a small airstrip. That's how they would get their supplies—a pilot in a bush plane would bring their supplies, and their medicines, and stuff to them.Dennis: Martin grew up with that? Gracia: Martin grew up there. He went off to boarding school at Faith Academy, which was a very common thing to do back then—people didn't really home school back then. 9:00 Dennis: Yes. Gracia: When he graduated from high school, he went to Calvary Bible College in Kansas City. That's where I met him. I was a Calvary student, and we got to know each other. I liked Martin because he was different. A lot of the guys I knew—you know, they really cared about how they looked and had to be—we didn't us the word, "preppy," back then, but they were—you could tell they were just trying their best to be preppy. [Laughter] Well, Martin truly wasn't. He loved jeans, and flannel shirts, and cowboy boots. He was just himself, and I just really liked that. We got to know each other and— Dennis: It started out as a friendship. Gracia: Yes; yes, for sure. Dennis: And then when did he ask you out?  Gracia: Ha! Dennis: When it really became a relationship—you became an item for him. Gracia: Well, I broke up with this guy—you know the story—my heart was broken.  10:00 I had just broken up with this guy and thought: “You know, I will never date again. That's it—my life is ruined."  And the very next day, Martin walked into the Dean's office, where I was the Dean of Students' secretary, and asked me if I wanted to go to the fall concert, of all things. Well, I decided to say, “Yes.” Dennis: Your broken heart was not healed, but— Bob: A little salve on it pretty quick. [Laughter]  Did you, prior to knowing Martin, did you have a missions' orientation? Gracia: Oh, I did. My favorite books were the books about Amy Carmichael and Mary Slessor—you know, who went into tribes in Africa and told the chief off. Those were my heroes. [Laughter] I always had a heart for missions. 11:00 Bob: So, your friendship with Martin, which was beginning to grow and increase / his friendship with you, growing and increasing—both of you with a heart for the field—there had to be conversations, in those early days, about where you thought you were both headed in service to the Lord. Gracia: Yes, I'm sure there were. I just really fell in love with him, truly. I was thrilled that he was going to be a missionary; but if he had chosen to be an airline pilot, I would have been happy with that because I just wanted to be with him—if that makes any sense. Dennis: And you were married. Gracia: Yes. Dennis: And how long, then, before you headed off on your overseas adventure? Gracia: We crop-dusted for one summer in Nebraska so he could get some real good training for the mission field. Then we, right after that, we went into New Tribes Mission training; and their training is quite extensive.  12:00 You go to—they call it Missions Institute now—it used to be called Boot Camp. You go for a year of Boot Camp just to see if you can live in Spartan conditions—I guess is what you would call it.  Bob: Well, I have to imagine a young bride at Boot Camp.  Gracia: Oh, my goodness! Yes! [Laughter] Bob: You know—part of the romance of being married—you can think about: “The mission field will be exciting. It will be fun,” but about the 40th time you're carrying the slop water up the hill, did you have some doubts? Did you think, "Couldn't we serve the Lord in some other capacity?" Gracia: I had doubts about whether I could do it. There were several girls in my shoes—who had just gotten married and gone off to Boot Camp—and, you know, it came time to cook. I didn't know, really, how to cook yet. I remember buying a chicken—you know, if you buy a whole chicken, it's cheaper. I got the chicken home, and I didn't know how to cut it up.  Bob: Yes. Gracia: So, you know, I had to go to the neighbor and say, "Could you teach me how to cut up a chicken?"  13:00 How good that was—you know, on the mission field, you end up catching your chicken, and plucking your chicken, and cutting up your chicken. [Laughter] So, you have to learn someday. Bob: But there was never any thought of "I don't know that I want to live for the next 10 years / 15 years in conditions like we're simulating here at Boot Camp"? Gracia: No, no, I was happy to do that. Bob: I mean, you're not talking about, “What kind of wallpaper do you want in the kitchen?” Gracia: No, oh, my goodness. Bob: You know, and a lot of young ladies grow up dreaming of that domestic life. Gracia: Yes; well, you know what? I really loved Martin. It might not make a whole lot of sense, but I was happy to do anything God had called him to do. Maybe I wasn't going to have that little house, with the white picket fence; but life was going to be good because I would be with him, and I would be doing what God had called us to do. 14:00Dennis: You then went to the Philippines, and Martin began to fly. And the reason I wanted to say that is—I want to read a paragraph from your book that struck me because it gives us a glimpse into the character of the man you married. You write:  "Before long, Martin knew everything about every missionary. He knew who was struggling financially; he knew which husbands and wives weren't getting along; he knew who was discouraged with language study because they weren't catching on as fast as they had hoped; he saw the newborn babies; he got to congratulate missionary kids on their home school projects; he met villagers who had recently become believers. Martin was the perfect person to hear it all. He just had a heart for everyone he came in contact with, and everyone who knew him loved him.” He was more than a pilot!  Gracia: Yes. Dennis: I really like that because, you know, we think sometimes that a pilot for New Tribes Mission is just going to be on a task—flying supplies in / flying people in and out. Gracia: Yes. 15:00 Dennis: And yet he took an interest in the people he served. Gracia: Yes. You know, Martin used to say: “We didn't think of ourselves as the ‘real missionaries.'  In our minds, the real missionaries were the people in the tribe—learning the language, doing literacy, doing medical, learning a new culture, planting churches, doing Bible translation. We were just there to keep the tribal missionary in the tribe—that was our goal.” Dennis: In the midst of all these flights, in and out, God was growing your faith at the same time. In fact, there's a story you tell about a time when you were moved to pray for Martin during one of these trips. Gracia: Yes. That was one year just before Christmas. I think it was his last flight before Christmas break.  16:00 It was kind of an unusual flight for us because it was a businessman who wanted a flight to Davao. Martin took him and our buyer. The buyer is the person who buys everything for these eight to ten families that you service out in the jungle—he just buys, all day long, and boxes things up and makes sure they're in the hangar on the right day.  Martin was about ten minutes into his flight; and he called me and he said, "We have a problem here.” Then there was silence. I waited and nothing happened for a minute. I called him back and said, “Are you going to tell me what your problem is?” And he said: “I'm losing oil pressure. Something's wrong here. I'm above the clouds—so I don't know what's below us." A few minutes later, he called and said, "I've turned the engine off because we were pumping oil overboard.”  17:00 Before the engine seized on its own, he turned it off. He had just broken through the clouds, and he could see the valley below him. Well, now, he was just gliding into the valley. Bob: And our listeners need to understand that, when you turn off the engine on a plane, you don't just go into a nose dive—you glide for a while. Gracia: You glide; yes. Bob: So he was able to control the plane and keep it flying—  Gracia: Yes. Bob: —even though the engine was off. Gracia: Yes. We have an interesting photo—the buyer took a photo of the stopped propeller. It was so quiet in the cockpit and, especially, that businessman was very quiet. They started gliding into the valley, and Martin started looking. There was an SIL Wycliffe Bible Translators' Center down in that valley.  18:00 Martin said, "I'm going to try to make it to the SIL base"; and he did. He said he cleared their fence by about 50 feet—he said—and came to a dead-stick landing. He had called them ahead to tell them about the emergency. They said they had a hallelujah meeting when he got on the ground. [Laughter] Bob: I bet his wife, on the other end of the radio, was having a hallelujah meetin'. Gracia: She was. Oh, Martin!—you know, he always had a sense of humor. That day, when he came home—you know, it could have been a dramatic: “Oh! I was so worried about you!” He walked in the gate. He looked at me, with this twinkle in his eye—he glanced at his watch—and he said, “I told you I'd be home by 10:00.” You know, it was just— Bob: —just another day. [Laughter] Gracia: That's how he was—he just always saw the good. Bob: But didn't you, in the back of your mind, after moments like that, think, "We've done enough here"? 19:00                                                                               Gracia: No, I never thought that. In fact, that was the best Christmas we ever had because we were enjoying each other so much. We knew that things could have happened much differently, and we had the most wonderful Christmas. No, we never talked about not doing that again. We loved what we were doing. Bob: But the next time—he might not have made it to the base. Gracia: That's true. Bob: And that's just part of how you live. Gracia: These things happen, I guess; huh? Those things happen in America—you can go off to work, and you have no guarantee that you're going to come home at night. Dennis: Yes, the folks— Gracia: You just forget— Dennis: —on September 11th—you know, the same thing— Gracia: That's right. Dennis: —God has a plan for us.  Gracia: Yes. Dennis: We just live under the illusion thinking we're in control. We're really not in control.  20:00 And you're going to hear a dramatic story, over the next couple of days, that, if you were in the middle of that story—as I had to put myself and my wife Barbara—and I had to think, "How would I have translated what was happening?" It was such insanity to think of being captured and kidnapped by a terrorist group and to watch the conditions under which Gracia and her husband lived for more than a year.  Today, there are people listening to us who are living in circumstances—that may not be in a jungle spot in the Philippines—but they are in a jungle of their own. The God of the universe wants to reach out to you and let you know He wants to take the insanity and make sense of it. He wants to teach you to trust Him. Jesus Christ is alive from the dead. It's not a myth / it's not a story that somebody made up—He's here—He's alive / He can guide you even through the darkest moment. 21:00 [Studio] Bob: I think about the hundreds of thousands—really, millions of people who heard a testimony of your faithfulness back when this happened in 2002. In the years since then, Gracia has written a book called In the Presence of my Enemies. It was a New York Times best-seller that sold more than 350,000 copies.  In fact, you have—since the book was published, you have gone back and revised it, and updated it, and included information in the book about a return trip to the Philippines that you have taken since all of this happened. We've got copies of the updated version of the book, In the Presence of my Enemies, in our FamilyLife Today Resource Center.  If our listeners are interested, they can go, online, at FamilyLifeToday.com to request a copy. Go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper left-hand corner of the screen that says, “GO DEEPER.”  22:00 You'll see information about Gracia's book right there. You can order it from us, online; or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to place your order. Again, FamilyLifeToday.com is the website. The toll-free number is 1-800-358-6329. The title of the book is In the Presence of my Enemies, written by our guest today, Gracia Burnham. You know, I think one of the things that Gracia's story illustrates is the importance of us having a firm foundation, spiritually, in our lives because none of us knows what's around the corner. None of us knows what's coming tomorrow for us—what events / what circumstances we may have to face. The time to pour a solid spiritual foundation in your life is not when the storms are coming—it's before they come so that, when the storms come, you can stand firm and find your hope and your strength in Christ. 23:00 We're committed, here at FamilyLife, to helping you with that. Our goal is to provide practical biblical help for your marriage and your family, day-in and day-out. We want to effectively develop godly families who change the world, one home at a time. And we're grateful that there are listeners, like you, who share that burden and who have joined with us in this ministry as financial supporters. We're listener-supported. More than 65 percent of the funding that we need to operate this ministry comes from people making donations—either as monthly Legacy Partners or as folks who contribute, from time to time, in support of the ministry. In fact, if you'd like to make a donation right now, it's easy to do. You can go to FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says, “I CARE,” and make an online donation. Or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to make your donation over the phone.  24:00 Or you can mail your donation to us at FamilyLife Today, PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR. Our zip code is 72223.  Now, tomorrow, we're going to hear more about the 12-month ordeal as Martin and Gracia Burnham were in captivity, held by Islamic terrorists in the Philippines. We'll hear more of that story tomorrow. I hope you can tune in for that. I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back tomorrow for another edition of FamilyLife Today FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. Help for today. Hope for tomorrow.  We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?   Copyright © 2015 FamilyLife. All rights reserved. www.FamilyLife.com    

Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 1Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 2Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 3FamilyLife Today® Radio Transcript  References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. Getaway Takes a Wrong Turn Guest:                         Gracia BurnhamFrom the series:       In the Presence of My Enemies (Day 2 of 3)  Bob: Back in 2002, for more than 12 months, missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were held hostage, having been kidnapped by an Islamic terrorist group.  Gracia: For the first few weeks, we were both chained together to a tree. Then they saw that I wasn't going to go anywhere without Martin, and they quit chaining me. Bob: The Burnhams lived for months in the remote jungles of the Philippines, always under the watchful eye of their captors and always on the run. Gracia: We never knew when the guns were going to start blaring—you know, they had found us again; and we would start running. Many times, we would lose everything in one of those gun battles because we weren't prepared every moment. When there are bullets whizzing over your heads, you don't think, "Oh, I have to get my brush, and I need to get my clothes that are drying on the bushes." 1:00 Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Thursday, July 2nd. Our host is the President of FamilyLife®, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. We'll talk today with Gracia Burnham and hear a dramatic, compelling story of her life in captivity. Stay with us. And welcome to FamilyLife Today. Thanks for joining us on the Thursday edition. We're spending some time this week revisiting a program that was originally recorded and first aired in 2003, as we had the opportunity to sit down with Gracia Burnham. She and her husband Martin had been in the news that year because they had both been kidnapped and held by Islamic terrorists in the Philippines for more than a year. That capture had ended with a rescue attempt. Gracia's husband, Martin, was actually killed in that rescue attempt. 2:00 Gracia shared her story in a book she had written called In the Presence of My Enemies. Honestly, the story she shared was so powerful, it's one of those programs that listeners have talked about for years since it was aired. We wanted you to hear the story again. So here is Part Two of our conversation from 2003 with Gracia Burnham. [Previously Recorded Interview] Dennis: Gracia Burnham has joined us here for a second day. She is the author of In the Presence of My Enemies. She and Martin served in the New Tribes Mission Ministry in the Philippines for more than 17 years. Gracia—welcome back to FamilyLife Today. Gracia: Thank you very much. 3:00 Dennis: When we left off on the story yesterday, you had decided to greet Martin to help him get over his jet lag at a nice, romantic island; but in the middle of the night, you were awakened by a terrorist group who kidnapped you and threw you on a boat, along with 20 others? Gracia: Yes, there were 17 others—there were 20 of us. Dennis: In a boat that was not that large. Gracia: Yes, it was totally overloaded, which is typical for the Philippines, though. They overload everything.  Dennis: The boat ride lasted how long? Gracia: All day long—sun-up to sundown. And then, they transferred us onto a fishing vessel that they had commandeered—which was bigger—but by the time you got 20 hostages—and I think there were about 20 Abu Sayyaf and 10 or 20 fishermen—that vessel was overloaded too. For the next three days, we were out across the ocean on that fishing vessel. Bob: What did you and Martin talk about as you were on the boat? I mean, you had to be kind of trying to figure out: “What's going to happen? How long is this going to go? How do we get out of this?” 4:00 Gracia: You know, we weren't doing a whole lot of talking because we were trying to figure things out. We were trying to listen more than talk. Dennis: You said that, on that boat, the hardest thing, however, were your three children— Gracia: Yes, yes. Dennis: —and the memory of what was being taken away from you, at that point. Gracia: Yes. Right away, the words I'd spoken to my kids: "We'll be gone for one week," came back to me. I knew we weren't going to be gone for just one week. I knew it was—this was going to take a while. I felt so bad for them, and I started praying for them. Bob: And did you think that the ordeal would end—did it typically end with a ransom being paid?  Is that what had happened with the Europeans? Gracia: Yes. It always ended with a ransom being paid. 5:00 Bob: And so, did you think, “That's what will happen—somebody will come up with the ransom”? Gracia: Well, when they were going around the hostages—talking to each one, asking them, you know: “How much can your family pay for you?”—they got to Martin and me. They said: "We will treat you differently. We will ask for political concessions for you, and we will deal with you last." I kind of wish now that we had just said, "Well, you give us the phone; and we'll try to get a ransom together."  Bob: Yes. Gracia: We knew that New Tribes Mission would not pay a ransom. We never expected that because that would put all the missionaries in danger. Bob: Yes, I want to ask you about that because, after you got back, there was an article that appeared in Christianity Today—. Gracia: Oh, yes. Bob: —just because some folks may have read that. Gracia: Yes. Bob: There was some concern that maybe your heart was that New Tribes should have paid a ransom. Gracia: Yes, I don't know how that happened.  6:00 We had a really great interview, but somehow what I meant to say never got communicated in Christianity Today. That article really broke my heart because, in that article, it basically said I had issues with New Tribes Mission; and if they had paid a ransom, Martin would still be alive; and Martin had died needlessly. I never said those things—that's not my heart. The thing that bothered me most about the Christianity Today article is that I don't feel like God got any glory from that article. If that doesn't happen, we wasted a year in the jungle. Bob: Yes. Gracia: That's what hurt me most, I think. Bob: So your heart was—New Tribes should not pay a ransom— Gracia: No. I knew they wouldn't. Bob: —and it's appropriate not to—it puts other missionaries in jeopardy, as you said.  Gracia: Yes. 7:00 Bob: And so if they're not going to do that, you're there at your own peril. Gracia: Oh, yes; and we knew that / we understood that. Bob: It's what you'd signed up for at one level. Now, you never expected it would happen—it doesn't happen to most missionaries—but in the back of your mind, you always knew there is, at least, the possibility that “We could be in danger,”—and that was okay. Gracia: Yes, for sure. Yes, that's part of the job. Dennis: You landed on an island. That began, really, your jungle trek. Gracia: Yes. Dennis: I mean—on, and on, and on you ran from the Philippine Army.  Gracia: Yes. Dennis: Explain to our listeners what the living conditions were like. I mean, it was as primitive as I've ever heard anyone describe it. Gracia: Well, we basically had the clothes on our back. We would walk all day, trying to get to a safe area—"safe."  8:00 Now, most of the Abu Sayyaf guys had hammocks. When it got time to rest or time for the night, they would put their hammocks up between trees. For the first six months, Martin and I just slept on the jungle floor—wherever we happened to be. We didn't have possessions—we didn't have soap—we didn't have, really, anything. Bob: Were you given time to bathe in a river / to shampoo your hair?—there was no shampoo. Gracia: Well, every once in a while, they would let us take a bath.  Bob: Was that a weekly bath that maybe you got? Gracia: Maybe weekly—not usually weekly—every several weeks. I remember—once, Martin went six weeks without a bath. Dennis: The things you treasured were what I found interesting—I mean, a bar of soap/ a toothbrush— Gracia: —a toothbrush, a brush for my hair / a comb—those were wonderful things to have. Bob: And were you wearing the same pair of shorts / same t-shirt that you had put on the night you were captured? How long did you wear that? 9:00 Gracia: Well, pretty much that's what I wore for weeks and weeks. I should explain that our clothes would come and go. You know, what you had on your body is what you had. We never knew when the guns were going to start blaring—you know, they had found us again—and we would start running. When the bullets start whizzing— Dennis: —and when you say, "they had found you again," we're talking again about the Filipino Army. They were in pursuit of this terrorist group, trying to catch them, and free you all. Gracia: Yes. And we never knew when another "encounter"—they called it—was going to start. Many times we would lose everything in one of those gun battles because we weren't prepared every moment. When there are bullets whizzing over your heads, you don't think, "Oh, I have to get my brush— Bob: "I need to pack now." [Laughter] 10:00 Gracia: Yes; "I need to get my brush, and I need to get my clothes that are drying on the bushes." So, our belongings would come and they would go.  Dennis: Many times, Martin would sleep chained or tied to a tree. Gracia: He was always chained to a tree. They had handcuffs for him. At night, they would put a chain through the handcuffs and chain him to a tree. Dennis: But not you? Gracia: Well, for the first few weeks, we were both chained together to a tree. And then they saw that I wasn't going to go anywhere without Martin, and they quit chaining me. Bob: I'm guessing that sleeping with handcuffs on, chained to a tree, is not your preferred method—not the most comfortable way to try and sleep. Gracia: Oh, no; and neither is the jungle floor—you know, we could always find the root if there was a root on the ground—we would find it right where our ribs were. It's like we could never find a flat place—there was always something poking us. 11:00 Dennis: Were you covered with mosquito bites? Gracia: Oh, yes. Oh, for sure. Dennis: I think of the Philippines—I mean, did they just buzz you all night long? Gracia: Yes, they did. We had, for most of our time, what we called malongs. They are big, long pieces of material that have been sewn up the middle to make a tube. Dennis: Kind of like a sleeping bag? Gracia: Kind of—just one-ply—one piece of material. Dennis: Right. Gracia: And that was our blanket. We would just cover as much of us as we could with those malongs to keep the mosquitoes off; but it is also the tropics—and you just start sweating in there. You know, the sweat just starts dripping. So, you can choose to have mosquitoes in your ears and all around, biting you; or you can choose to be sweaty and hot. Dennis: And it would rain too. 12:00 Gracia: Yes, many times we walked and sat in the rain, and we would just be soggy until we drip-dried. Bob: Did your captors feed you? Gracia: They fed us when they had food. There was never enough food. When we first started out, there were about 120 Abu Sayyaf; and that's a lot of people to feed.  Bob: Yes. Gracia: That's a lot of sacks of rice. Bob: So, you would go sometimes days without anything to eat? Gracia: Yes; yes, we would. Bob: Gracia, there had to be, in the midst of this—nights, or days, or times when you are physically exhausted, you are starving, you are covered with mosquito bites—and you are crying out and going, "Lord, I cannot survive this." Gracia: Yes, I said that a lot. And the crying out—I cried a lot. You know, the Abu Sayyaf didn't even like to see that. They hated to see me sitting around crying, but I did it a lot. 13:00 Dennis: Were they cruel to you? Gracia: Yes; I don't know how you define cruelty. On one hand, they were very kind; and if they ate, we ate. But I remember—like, one instance, my reaction to the stress, and the gun battles, and the living conditions was stomach trouble and diarrhea—you know, I always had problems.  One night, I knew I was going to have to go into the forest in the night because I had diarrhea. I told the guy, as he was chaining me: "Could I just be free tonight?  I won't go anywhere. I'll be here in the morning." They refused, and they chained me anyway. I had to go to the bathroom in the night—I thought, “What do I do?” I called my guard, who had the key—who could let me free—he wouldn't let me free.  14:00 To me, that was cruel. They could have let me go to the bathroom. Bob: Their hope with you and with the other hostages was that someone would step forward and pay a ransom. Was that happening? Were there hostages being set free because ransoms were being paid? Gracia: Yes. One by one, the hostages were set free when their families came through with a payment. As time went on, we saw that these political concessions they wanted were not going to happen for us. Bob: Yes. Gracia: And it got to be where they wanted a ransom. Bob: How soon was the earliest hostage set free? Was it a month into the ordeal—do you remember? Gracia: No; one couple was released like less than a week into our captivity. Dennis: Yes. Gracia: And it took about another week for a couple more / and another week for a couple more—then it was several months. 15:00 Bob: How long before it was just you and Martin? Gracia: Six/seven months. Actually, it wasn't just me and Martin—it was me, and Martin, and Ediborah Yap, a Filipina nurse, who had been taken with us, until the end. Dennis: Even in the midst of the cruelty / the suffering, there were moments of brilliant sunshine. It came one day in the form of some letters from your children. Gracia: Yes. Four times during our captivity, mail came into camp in the jungle. How did that happen?—I have no idea. Bob: The Filipino government can't get in and rescue you, but they can get the mail through—alright. Gracia: But mail did come through. That was so neat, and we always loved those letters. We would read them over, and over, and over. Dennis: Well, I want you to read Jeff's letter to you guys— .Gracia: Okay. Dennis: —because I want our listeners to hear this letter.  16:00 I want you to explain the conditions in which you were reading it. Gracia: Okay. The night before, we had been in a gun battle that had lasted all day. We had kind of been trapped by the military in a field. Each way we would go, new gunfire would erupt; and then, under the darkness of night, we snuck out of there and walked all night. Every time we were stopping for a rest, I would go to the bathroom. I took my backpack off once to go to the bathroom. When I came back, the line was starting to move already. I just got in line behind Martin, and then I realized I'd left my backpack behind. I turned around to get it—I could see it. There was a new guard with the group, and he pointed his weapon at me. He said, "No, you go." I said, "My backpack—it's right there," and he wouldn't let me get it.  17:00 I had just lost everything—you know, I had a sheet, I had toothpaste, and I had some underwear. I had just lost everything, and I was heartbroken. I said to Martin: "Oh, Martin, how can you ever forgive me? I've lost everything." And Martin said, "I forgive you, and now you need to forgive yourself."  So, that night—just the heaviness of having lost everything—the next morning we got to a Muslim village. They cooked for us and carried off the wounded for us. As we were sitting there, like, a backpack came into camp with stuff for us. Inside were letters from our children, and every single thing that I had lost the day before was replaced. I couldn't believe it—God just did that for me.  Inside were letters from the kids. Jeff—he was 13 at this time.  18:00 His letter reads: "Hey, my cool parents. We are having fun here with Grandma and Grandpa and all our cousins. Aunt Felicia took us to rent movies just now. It was great. I didn't really enjoy the movie we got, but that's okay. I just wanted to say hi and that I'm looking forward to seeing you again. I'm praying for you. Bye, Jeff (the cool one)." [Laughter] But the letter I love is Zachary's—Zach was 10. He said: "Dear Mom and Dad, how are you? I am fine. We went to Walmart® today. It is fun here. At Mega Mall, we bought two computer games. I will write you back. Love, Zach." “I will write you back,”—[Laughter]—we laughed and laughed. We said: "No! Don't write us back. We're going to be out of here—don't write us back." Dennis: I read those, and I thought how surreal that must have been—to be in the jungle and be hearing about shopping at Walmart.  19:00 Gracia: Yes, it gave us a little glimpse into our children's lives. Bob: Video rentals and computer games. Gracia: Yes, I love it. Dennis: Wow! Bob: Did it also, though, not tear your heart out? Gracia: Oh, yes. Yes, but— Bob: —“they're safe”? Gracia: —but we knew they were fine, and we knew life was normal for them. It felt so good. Bob: But you still gotta get out of there. Gracia: I know. Dennis: I mean—a mother's heart, at that point—that's what, as I read your story here, I just, again, pictured Barbara and how her heart would want to be—“be with my kids / to be with my children—to be a mom—to be a family again.” Gracia: Yes; yes. Dennis: And yet, that had been taken away from you. Bob: And to think, again, Dennis, that this wasn't something that happened because Martin and Gracia were on a vacation—but they were in service for Christ.  Dennis: Right. Bob: This was the reason for the ordeal—because they were faithful followers of Jesus Christ and willing to—even when they went to the field for the first time—to say, “The world behind me, the cross before me—  Dennis: Right. Bob: —you know, “no turning back.” 20:00 Dennis: And I think it's at these points we need to re-read what it means to be a disciple. Jesus said, “If they hated Me, they'll hate you” [John 15:18]. If you're a Christ-follower, then you should expect persecution / you should expect trials and difficulties. Yet, it's in these moments that the Scripture comes back to remind us of the truth: "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me,” [John 14:1]—Jesus said.  Bob: I think about, Gracia—you reading stories about Amy Carmichael as you were growing up. Gracia: Yes. Bob: And I think about the kids, who are growing up today—they're going to be reading this story. Dennis: Yes. Bob: Yes, Mom and Dad ought to be reading it to them. Gracia: How cool! What a good thought! Dennis: Oh, it's happening. I'm going to tell you—it's going to happen because there needs to be another generation of missionaries. And I believe, Gracia—someday, there will be a young lady who will tell of reading your story— 21:00 Gracia: Oh. Dennis: —and having had God touch her life profoundly to give her the courage and the faith to step out. In fact, I don't believe there will be one lady—I believe there will be many men and women who have drunk deeply from your life, and Martin's, and your courage and your faith. That's really what we wanted to do, here today, on FamilyLife Today—is to challenge families to raise the next generation of missionaries. We have a shortage of missionaries around the world, and we have the greatest news that's ever been proclaimed. If there has ever been a time when it needs to be proclaimed, it's today.  Bob: Yes. Dennis: And I think we just need to be giving our children a vision and a heart for the Great Commission. [Studio] Bob: Yes, and this is a book that can be a tool to help do that. In fact, this is a book that families may want to read together, a chapter at a time, at the dinner table or on vacation this summer. The book is called In the Presence of My Enemies.  22:00 In the ten years since all of this happened, Gracia has had the opportunity to do a revised and updated version of the book that includes information about a trip back to the Philippines—a secret trip that's all in the new version of the book In the Presence of My Enemies. Go to FamilyLifeToday.com if you'd like to request a copy. Click the link in the upper left-hand corner of our website that says, “GO DEEPER.” You'll see a copy of Gracia Burnham's book, In the Presence of My Enemies. Again, the website is: FamilyLifeToday.com. If you would prefer to order the book by phone, our toll-free number is 1-800-FL-TODAY—1-800-“F” as in family, “L” as in life, and then, the word, “TODAY.” That's 1-800-358-6329. You know, I want to add a quick word here, where I thank the folks who made today's program possible—those of you who are supporters of the ministry of FamilyLife Today—whether it's as Legacy Partners, who give each month, or as folks who, from time to time, will make a donation in support of the work we're doing, here at FamilyLife.  23:00 We're grateful anytime you choose to invest in this ministry. Our goal is to provide practical biblical help for your marriage and your family every day—on this program; on our website; through the resources that we're creating, here at FamilyLife; through the events we host. We're joined in that mission by those of you who support this ministry and help cover the cost of, well, for example, producing and syndicating this daily radio program and keeping it on the air in your community.  If you'd like to make a donation today in support of FamilyLife Today, you can go to our website, FamilyLifeToday.com. Click the link in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that says, “I CARE.” Make an online donation. Or call 1-800-FL-TODAY to make your donation by phone. Or you can mail your donation to us at FamilyLife Today at PO Box 7111, Little Rock, AR. Our zip code is 72223. 24:00 Now, tomorrow, we're going to hear about the eventual rescue attempt that was made. After 12 months of captivity, there was an attack on the rebels in an attempt to free the hostages. We'll hear that story from the perspective of one of those hostages, Gracia Burnham, on tomorrow's program. I hope you can join us for that. I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, along with our entire broadcast production team. On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine. We will see you back next time for another edition of FamilyLife Today.  FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. Help for today. Hope for tomorrow.  We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?   Copyright © 2015 FamilyLife. All rights reserved. www.FamilyLife.com    

Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 1Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 2Captured For Ransom in the Philippines - Part 3FamilyLife Today® Radio Transcript  References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. Rescued! Guest:                    Gracia Burnham           From the series:   In the Presence of My Enemies (Day 3 of 3)  Bob: Back in 2002, there was a story that made international news—the story of missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham, who had been taken hostage by Islamic terrorists in the Philippines. They were being held primarily for money—the terrorists wanted a ransom. Others, who had been taken captive with them, had ultimately been freed because that ransom had been paid. Here is Gracia Burnham. Gracia: My family arranged a ransom. Some of the money came into camp, and there was so much excitement. The leaders of the group called us over, and Martin and I sat down beside them. They said, "There's a ransom been paid for you, but we've decided that it's not enough."  They said, "We're going to ask for more." I begged them not to do that—I told them: "This is not going to end well. Please don't do this." 1:00 Bob: This is FamilyLife Today for Friday, July 3rd. Our host is the President of FamilyLife®, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine. Gracia Burnham had no idea how prophetic her words to her captors were. We'll hear today about the concluding days of her captivity. Stay tuned. And welcome to FamilyLife Today. Thanks for joining us on the Friday edition. Back in 2002/2003, many of us were praying for a husband and wife who had been captured by Islamic militants. They were being held for ransom somewhere in the Philippines. We had heard about this capture—we were praying for Martin and Gracia Burnham.  And then the news came that there had been a rescue attempt.   2:00 I remember it was in USA Today—it made national news—as U.S. forces, together with Philippine forces, attempted to rescue the hostages being held by these Islamic militants. It was not long after that rescue attempt that we had the opportunity to sit down with Gracia Burnham, who had shared the story of her captivity and the rescue in the book she'd written called In the Presence of My Enemies. That conversation is just as compelling, today, as it was back when it just happened, more than a decade ago. This week, we have been listening back to our interview as Gracia Burnham shared her story of the capture and the rescue attempt that happened back in 2003. [Previously Recorded Interview] Dennis: Gracia, welcome back to FamilyLife Today. Gracia: Thank you very much.  Dennis: She has written a book called In the Presence of My Enemies. Gracia, I remember that news report Bob's talking about.  3:00 In fact, I can still remember where I was standing in my kitchen, looking at you on TV, hearing you plead for someone to pay the ransom for you to get out. I remember weeping with you—I thought, "Here is a sister in Christ, and a brother." You know, we had no idea the conditions you were living under, obviously. Bob: You had been taken captive by a terrorist group in the Philippines—a group with ties to al-Qaeda. They had captured you, along with 17 other people for the purpose of funding their operation. This is kind of their annual fundraising drive—is to take hostages and get the payoff. In your case, there wasn't going to be a payoff. Tell us about the videotape that Dennis saw. What were the conditions that led to that being shown on television? 4:00 Gracia: Oh my. Well, one morning, out of the clear blue, we were in a camp. It must not have been too far from civilization because there had been people come in and out of camp—just civilians—bringing notes and stuff like that. They came to us one morning and said: "There is a television reporter here to interview you. This is your chance to make a plea.” Then Abu Sabaya—one of the head guys—turned to me and said, "Gracia, if you could cry or something—that would help."  I looked at him and I said, "Sabaya, how many days of this captivity have you not seen me crying?"  [Laughter] And he said, "Oh, yes, that's going to be no problem for you." Bob: You'd been captive now for six, seven, eight months? Gracia: Yes, seven months, I think. Bob: All the other hostages, with the exception of one other woman— Gracia: —they were gone. 5:00 Bob:   So it was you, and Martin, and this other woman. The funding sources had dried up. This reporter was there to try to help them finish up their fund drive, basically. Gracia: Yes, and we were out of money. A lot of the other leaders had gotten tired of the whole thing and gone home—and taken the money with them—so, we were on our own. We were depending on supporters of the Abu Sayyaf in different villages to feed us. We were going from farm to farm, eating unripe fruit—just whatever we could find.  Bob:   It's hard to imagine a scenario where a television reporter can come in and videotape something; and yet the Filipino government, which had been trying to affect a rescue, couldn't come in and rescue you guys.  Gracia: That is hard to understand, except when you've been in the jungle. You can be several hundred feet from something and not see it for the foliage and everything. I remember—one day, we could hear the military over on the next ridge; but there was no way they could see us or we could see them.  6:00 It's just dense jungle—so it's not that difficult—maybe if their intelligence had been a bit better, they could have found us—but just by sight, trying to find us the way they were finding us, it was going to be a chance thing. Dennis: You mentioned earlier that in order to feed the number of captives, along with your captors, it took a lot of food. They actually killed civilians to be able to provide food for you. Gracia: Yes. There was one day they had us rest in this—kind of a logging area. A group of guys went off. As the day wore on and we sat there, I started to wonder. Then I heard gunfire not very far away. This group came back, and all of them were carrying food—you know, sacks of rice, and treats, and stuff.  7:00 As we got out of there, we started to hear the story—they had waited by the road until a jeepney came along that had just been to the marketplace. They were going to get the food from the jeepney, but someone had a gun on the jeepney and had pointed the gun. They didn't use rifles to shoot that guy—they used machine guns—and just mowed everybody down. It was a massacre. Dennis: It killed like eight civilians. Gracia: Yes. It ended up that some of those civilians—they were Muslims, and some of them were relatives of these guys who had killed them—but you know, they just kind of shrugged their shoulders and said, “That was their destiny.”  8:00 That was always their answer if they killed someone else—“It was their destiny,”— but if anyone ever killed a Muslim, that was an atrocity. I never quite understood how— Bob: Yes, how one works one way— Gracia: Yes, one's an atrocity and one's a destiny. Bob: What were you and Martin thinking, at this point, would be the end game?  I mean—here it's been weeks now—did you figure: “These guys are going to get tired and go home, and we're going to just be released”?  What did you think? Gracia: You know, by then, we didn't know what to think—it had gone on for so long. We just kept asking the Lord to deliver us. It seemed like God would answer every prayer but for us to go home. You know, there would be days we would say, "God, could You just do something really special for us to show us that You still love us?"  Something freaky would happen—like a Coke would come into camp. The other guys wouldn't take it—they'd give it to us—you know, just a gift from God. That happened so many times.  9:00 One day, I told Martin, "Okay, I'm going to start praying for a hamburger because that means, if I get a hamburger, I'm outta here."  And Martin would look at me, with a twinkle in his eye, and say, "Have you prayed for your hamburger today?" You know, right about Easter time, a ransom was paid for us. My family arranged a ransom, and some of the money came into camp. There was so much excitement, and the leaders of the group called us over. Martin and I sat down beside them; and they said, "There is a ransom been paid for you, but we've decided that it's not enough." I begged them not to do that. They said, "We're going to ask for more."  I told them: "This is not going to end well. Please don't do this."  But they hardened their hearts—and they were greedy and asked for more money—but there was money then.  10:00 They hired a fishing vessel to get us off the island we'd been on—Basilan, which by this time, was overrun with soldiers. We were running all the time. They took us to another island. For less than 24 hours, we were in a little fishing village near a city. Someone went into the city to their version of McDonald's®—Jollibee® they called it—and brought Martin and me a hamburger, French fries, and a Coke. It's like God took a baseball bat and hit me over the head and said: "Can't I provide a hamburger for you in the jungle?  Couldn't I get you out of here if I wanted to get you out of here?" 11:00 I think it's then that Martin and I started thinking neither of us was going to get out of the jungle. Our prayers started to change. Our prayer—of course, we always asked God to get us out of there—but our prayers were more focused on, "Lord, would You please teach us what You have to teach us, right now, and help us to be good learners so You can get some glory?" He started to do it—I know it was Him because I had tried and couldn't bring that up, but the Lord put that in me.  Dennis: You didn't have a Bible. Gracia: No. Dennis: There was no access to the Scripture. Gracia: There was nothing—it was what we had in our hearts—and we realized how little we knew. Dennis: All of us have experienced, Gracia, the—well, a prayer that goes unanswered; or a prayer where God says, "No"; or he says, "Wait."  As I was reading your book, I kept thinking, "What must she have been thinking as this ordeal continued on, and on, and on?"   12:00 And you prayed—you prayed on the boat, you prayed on the island, you prayed on the second island / you were being chased. What keeps a person from losing hope in those circumstances? Gracia: I don't know—I remember one of my hardest days—we had prayed with the young girls that weren't married because, one by one, the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf—they would "sabaya" them—that's the word they used. Sabaya means you become their booty of war. One guy would pick one girl, and she would have to live with him—you know, share his hammock and sleep with him. We would pray with these girls, and we would beg God to not let that happen. One by one, that happened. I thought, "How can this be God's plan for these girls?" And you know what?  I guess I don't have any answers.  13:00 I know some things from my experience [emotion in voice]—I know that God will not test you above what you are able. He will, with the testing, make a way to escape, that you can bear it [1 Cor. 10:13]. I chose to believe that God was not going to bring anything our way that we could not bear. The other thing I decided was true is that God is good. I may not feel, right now—like God is good—but He is [Ps. 100:5]. My feelings don't matter. I don't have a lot of answers about unanswered prayer. You know, I haven't become a real theological person through this; but I have become a trusting person—and I'm clinging to what's true. 14:00 Dennis: But the thing I don't want our listeners to miss—you did not lose hope. You may have had a lot of prayers that seemingly went unanswered, or the door was slammed shut, but you never stopped praying. Gracia: No, that's all we had to cling to—was our faith in God—we had nothing else. When you have nothing, you have nothing—but when you have the Lord, you have everything, on the other hand—He was our everything. Bob: Take us to the final night. Gracia: Yes; we had gone nine days without food. I didn't know you could go nine days without food—I thought you go three days, and then you drop dead—but you don't. We had salt, and we had water. The guys knew which leaves we could— Bob: You had to weigh 80 pounds? Gracia: Yes, I definitely didn't have much fat on my body—I'll tell you that. We were skin and bones.  15:00 We were looking for the elusive village—the village where there was—the second ransom was there. They were going to turn us over to civilians, and this was all going to be over; but we were actually kind of lost. Our guide didn't exactly know where we were. We came to some logging roads—in that area of the Philippines, they plow out these roads so these big vehicles can drag logs out of the mountains.  One night, we were going to cross a logging road to get to this village that we thought was over there. I said to my guard: “Could you go tell them not to cross this road? I don't have a good feeling about this. Someone's going to see our tracks and follow us.” Of course, they didn't pay any attention to me. As the sun went down, and no one could see us, we crossed the road—hiked all night.  16:00 There were three kinds of rules with this war: one was we never fought in the rain. We never fought after dark; and they never pursued us—we would have our gun battle—then we would go our way, and they would go theirs.  Well, it clouded up to rain that day. We put our hammocks up, and we put our little plastic shelters over the hammocks to keep the rain off. We laid down for a rest. We didn't know that that morning they'd seen our footprints and had been following us all day. The soldiers came over the hill and opened fire on our camp.  There was no selective gunfire—there never had been before. This was gun battle number 17. I knew what to do right away—I dropped—but even before I got to the ground, I'd been shot in the leg. There was enough rain already that I kind of just slid down the hill and came to rest beside Martin.  17:00 I looked over at him, and he was bleeding from his chest. I knew from experience that leg wounds heal, but chest wounds don't. Dennis: You didn't have any words with him, then? Gracia: No, I didn't say anything to him. Bob:   The two of you had had a conversation—what?—the night before? —as you'd gone to sleep? Gracia: No, just minutes before. When we were sitting down in our hammock to have our rest, Martin had said to me: "Gracia, I don't know why this has happened to us; but Psalm 100 has been just running through my head all day, especially the verse that says, 'Serve the Lord with gladness.'"  He said, "This may not seem like serving the Lord, but let's just choose to serve Him with gladness."  Those are the last words he ever said.  18:00 Well, we prayed together and lay down.  Well, when I didn't hear the languages of the Abu Sayyaf coming from the river, I started moving my hands just very slowly so someone would know I was alive. I didn't want them to be startled and shoot me. Some soldiers saw me right away and came down the hill and started dragging me up to the ridge. As they drug me up the hill, I looked back at Martin. He was white, and that's when I knew he was dead; but, you know, the Lord gave me real grace right then [emotion in voice]. We had been praying that we would get out of there. To be quite honest, we didn't care how anymore—we had just had it.  19:00 Right in that moment, I thought: "This is God's answer. Martin is with Him, and they're going to take care of me."  I just had a real peace. You know what?  That peace has never left me. I have a real peace in my heart that this is God's plan—and it is not how I would have planned it. I would never have had this hostage-thing happen in the first place. I certainly wouldn't have had it go on for a year, and I certainly wouldn't have chosen Martin to die; but you know what?  God is God. I'm not the one that does the choosing—He is the One that does the choosing. I trust Him, and I trust that He is good. Dennis: Gracia, you had one last assignment, however, that would be difficult. That was the assignment of sharing with your children in the Embassy. 20:00 Gracia: Yes, they fixed up my leg and flew me to Manila. I was in the Embassy, and I wanted my children to hear from me what had happened to their dad. I didn't want them to turn on the TV and see the media version. I called the kids, and they had a speakerphone. I just told them the story I had told you. I wondered how they would take that. You know, I could hear the sniffling on the other end, and I could tell they were crying; but right away, I just sensed that God took care of my kids too.  After I was done talking about Martin, they started asking me questions: "Well, how are you?"  I told them I was fine, and everybody was being so kind to me.   21:00 And then my daughter said: "Mom, are you going to have a nervous breakdown?  Because everybody here thinks you are."  I said: "Oh, honey, I had my nervous breakdowns in the jungle. I am through with those, and things are going to be fine now."  And then she said, "Are you going to make us move from here?" You know, it's like the kids were already thinking through how life was going to be, and we had a good conversation. We have had a lot of good conversations, and it's like the Lord is just upholding my children. You know, I think God brought me home for my kids. I don't think God brought me home to do a book tour and to have some great message. I think God brought me home to raise some godly children, and that's my goal. If—I don't care what my children do—if they are godly, and they are following the Lord, then oh my—what more could you ask? 22:00 Dennis: That's right, and we can say we have not lived in vain nor fought in vain. Gracia: Yes, isn't that great? Dennis: Well, Gracia, I want to thank you for being on FamilyLife Today. I want to thank you for sharing your life, not only in this book, but with us over the past couple of days. I have the feeling you have helped some moms and dads, some husbands and wives, and single people. I think they've maybe drunk from a spiritual fire hydrant, Bob. [Laughter] Bob: I'm just thinking: “Problems? I've got no problems!” Dennis: “I haven't got any problems!” I have one last question for you, though, before we let you go.  [Studio] Bob: Let me interrupt you long enough to let our listeners know how they can get a copy of Gracia's book before you ask your last question. The book that Gracia has written is called In The Presence of My Enemies. This was a New York Times best-seller when it came out. We have the book in our FamilyLife Today Resource Center. You can order from us when you go to FamilyLifeToday.com, or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to request the book.  23:00 Again, the website is FamilyLifeToday.com. When you get there, click the link in the upper left-hand corner of the screen that says, “GO DEEPER.” You'll see Gracia's book there. Or call 1-800-358-6329—that's 1-800-“F” as in family, “L” as in life, and then, the word, “TODAY.”  Dennis? [Previously Recorded Interview] Dennis: Well, I'm grateful you've shared with our listeners how you can get a copy of this book. I do hope they will read In the Presence of My Enemies to their children. I think we need to raise a generation of young people who have God's heart for the world.  I promised you, Gracia, I had one last question for you: “Will you go back?” Gracia: Well, I would love to go back, and the kids would love to go back; but we're New Tribes Mission missionaries. I was a good pilot's wife, and there is no pilot anymore. I think my ministry—I would want to be in a tribe somewhere, which would mean learning a new language / learning a new culture. So, I would love to go back. 24:00 If God really laid it on our hearts, we would be back there in a minute—the children were born there. When they had to pack their bag that day and get out of the Philippines, they were ripped from their home; and they would love to go back. Dennis: Well, Gracia Burnham, you may have cried your way through the jungle, as you wrote about in your book, and felt like you had your nervous breakdown in the jungle, but you are exactly who I thought you would be. As I told Bob—I said, "I believe she is one gritty warrior for Christ."  You are a warrior for Christ, and I want to thank you for being on FamilyLife Today. Gracia: Thank you. It's been my pleasure. FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas. Help for today. Hope for tomorrow.  We are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs?   Copyright © 2015 FamilyLife. All rights reserved. www.FamilyLife.com    

Is there someone who seems to offend you every day?

Is there someone who seems to offend you every day?

Gracia Burnham was serving as a missionary in the Philippines when she and her husband were kidnapped by Muslim terrorists. They spent over a year in the jungle as hostages enduring hardships of all kinds, including constant shortage of drinking water, near starvation, and 17 gun battles. Even more difficult than the physical challenges were the questions Gracia wrestled with. How could God still love her? How could she forgive those who had so horribly mistreated her?   God worked in miraculous ways through Gracia’s time in captivity to change her heart, all for his glory.

Gracia Burnham tells how she and husband Martin were taken captive by militants for ransom on this episode of Mid-South View Point. For 17 years, Gracia and Martin Burnham served as missionaries in the Philippines; where Martin was a jungle pilot and Gracia served in supporting the aviation program and also home-schooling their three children. On May 27, 2001, while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary; the Burnhams were taken captive by a militant group of Muslims called the Abu Sayyaf Group for over a year. Gracia is one of the featured speakers at the Voice of the Martyrs Conference in August in Millington, Tennessee. Mid-South View Point radio show with host Byron Tyler airs Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:00 pm central time on the Bott Radio Network affiliate 640 AM, 93.7 FM, and 100.7 FM in Memphis, TN.

Gracia Burnham grew up in a home that put the Lord and his Word at the centre of their lives. She could sing hymns from memory even before she could read! Upon graduation from high school, Gracia chose to attend Calvary Bible College in Kansas City because of their music program. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree majoring in Christian education. While she was at Calvary, a friendship flourished with a fellow student by the name of Martin Burnham. Gracia learned that Martin was the son of missionaries who were serving in the Philippines. Martin’s primary interest was aviation....and Gracia! She and Martin were married in 1983. After several years of training with New Tribes Mission, they headed for the Philippines in 1986. For 17 years, Martin and Gracia Burnham served as missionaries in the Philippines with New Tribes Mission. Martin was an experienced jungle pilot who brought mail and supplies to the region. In 2001, they were taken hostage by militant Muslims. After 376 days of captivity, Martin was killed during a rescue attempt, but Gracia was freed. JOY Radio's Program Director, Don Millar, recently talked with Gracia who is now a popular speaker and a New York Times bestselling author of two books. During our extended podcast interview, hear Gracia's incredible story of enduring near starvation, constant exhaustion, frequent gun battles, and cold-hearted murder. Her intense soul-searching about a God who sometimes seemed to have forgotten them will inspire you. Find Gracia: Website: https://graciaburnham.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gracia-Burnham-263558310327731 Stay Connected: Online: www.joyradio.ca Facebook: www.facebook.com/myJOYRadio Twitter: www.twitter.com/myJOYRadio Instagram: www.instagram.com/myJOYRadio

Season 2 of Compelled is launching on June 18th! Compelled is a weekly podcast with unique stories from the Kingdom of God told by the people compelled to live for Him. We have a brand new lineup of guests during Season 2 including: -  Hannah Overton, a mother of 5 who was falsely accused of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Yet instead of growing bitter, she chose to thrive where God had placed her. - Ryan Dobson, the son of Dr. James Dobson. Even though Ryan grew up in a loving Christian household, he still had significant struggles in his life, including divorce, depression, and doubts about whether or not God even existed. - Gracia Burnham, a missionary to the Philippines who was kidnapped by Muslim extremists and held hostage for over a year. During that time her faith was stretched to the limits. All of these stories from Christians from all walks of life and more will be shared during Season 2 of Compelled. Visit our website, https://CompelledPodcast.com and join our email list for exclusive updates and notifications whenever we release new episodes. Tune in, next Tuesday, on June 18th!

Gracia Burnham

featuring Gracia Burnham.  Gracia answers questions on how the Lord used her trial to change her and further the gospel.   Visit Gracia's ministry site: https://graciaburnham.org/the-ministry/

featuring Gracia Burnham.  Gracia shares how God kept His eye on her during her captivity in the Philippines.  She emphasizes God's faithfulness in every circumstance and that hardship is never wasted.

In her book To Fly Again, Gracia Burnham[1]quotes a devotional written by E. Stanley Jones, Methodist missionary to India. The devotional is entitled “Worry is Atheism.” Jones writes,  A person who worries says, “I cannot trust God; I’ll take things into my own hands.” Result? Worry, frustration, incapacity to meet the dreaded thing when it does come. With God, you can meet it, overcome it, assimilate it into the purpose of your life. Alone, you fuss and fume and are frustrated.

Gracia Burnham and her husband Martin served with New Tribes Missions in the Philippines. They were kidnapped by Islamic terrorists and held for ransom in the jungle for over a year. During their rescue, Martin Burnham was killed, leaving Gracia a single mother of 3 children. In our interview, she shares about how she ministered to her children, ensuring that her "public" ministry did not rob her children of their remaining parent. Her words bring encouragement to every single mother. To learn more about Gracia or to contact her, visit www.graciaburnham.org. Video summary of the Burnham's story: https://vimeo.com/271737911

Gracia grew up as a good pastor's daughter near Witchita Kansas. After marrying Martin Burnham, a man who was called to fly supplies to missionaries living in remote jungle villages, Gracia and Martin moved to the Philippines where they served for sixteen years. Little did she know that she would one day be in the national news headlines for having been kidnapped by Muslim Terrorist for over a year. Gracia and Martin slogged through mud, rain, hunger, and gun battles as they were dragged along by the captors who were trying to avoid the Philippino military. Gracia's Husband, Martin, would not survive the ordeal. In this week's podcast, Gracia share her story with us and reveals how the Lord used this horrific ordeal to sanctify her and how He even helped her to forgive those responsible for her husband's death.Here is a link to Gracia's books:https://www.amazon.com/Presence-My-Enemies-Gracia-Burnham-ebook/dp/B007D5UE3Ihttps://www.amazon.com/Fly-Again-Surviving-Tailspins-Life-ebook/dp/B000FCKGBG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528993395&sr=1-1&keywords=To+Fly+Again+BurnhamDo you like What you Hear? Why not support us?https://www.patreon.com/karlgesslerSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/karlgessler)

Gracia Burnham and her husband, Martin, were forced to live with their captors in the jungles of the Philippines. Food was often scarce, water was often dirty and their captors could be brutal. And their journey didn’t end the way they prayed it would. “I remember thinking, ‘This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. This isn’t what we were asking for.’”

Audio recording of Gracia Burnham's ministry at BFC, March 17th, 2018. We experienced technical difficulties; the audio is rough, but usable.

Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving as missionaries in the Philippines, where Martin was a pilot with New Tribes Mission. The couple went away for a few days together to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Those few days turned into more than a year in the jungle when they were kidnapped by radical Muslim terrorists. Listen as Gracia tells how she wrestled with God and even with her own faith during those dark days of captivity, and how she experienced the prayers of God’s people, even as Martin was killed during a rescue attempt. Gracia bears witness to God’s faithfulness to the Burnhams and their children, and she gives an update on how God continues to work in the hearts of the terrorists that held them hostage. Her story will inspire you to find ways to glorify God, regardless of what challenges you may be facing. Find a VOM Advance Conference where Gracia will be speaking, and purchase Gracia's book, In the Presence of My Enemies, at VOM Books.

Today we interview Gracia Burnham, a missionary who was held hostage by Muslim terrorists for over a year. You’re going to hear how to understand what’s going on in the world and how to keep your faith no matter what happens next. Gracia and her husband, Martin, were in the Philippines with New Tribes Missions. They were hostages for over a year before they were rescued. In the attempt to rescue them, they were all shot, Martin’s wound was fatal. The post Gracia Burnham, Former Hostage appeared first on Home Front with Cynthia Davis.

Special guest speaker Gracia Burnham joins us during our Sunday School hour and shares the story of her and her husband, Martin, and the struggles they faced while being held hostage in the Philippines, keeping their faith when tragedy struck. Garcia continues to speak for churches, conferences, and schools, and if you ask Gracia about life these days, she will say that "the Lord's mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness."

Special Guest Speaker

Special Guest Speaker

For American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, what started out as a relaxing, once-in-a-lifetime anniversary getaway at an exotic island resort turned into one of the most horrific nightmares imaginable.

For American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, what started out as a relaxing, once-in-a-lifetime anniversary getaway at an exotic island resort turned into one of the most horrific nightmares imaginable.Kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group with ties to Osama bin Laden, the Burnhams were snatched away from friends and family and thrust into a life on the run in the Philippine jungle. During a perilous year in captivity, they faced near starvation, constant exhaustion, frequent gun battles, coldhearted murder—and intense soul-searching about a God who sometimes seemed to have forgotten them.

Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving as missionaries in the Philippines when they went away for a few days together to celebrate their anniversary. Those few days turned into a year in the jungle when they were kidnapped by radical Muslim terrorists. Listen to this exclusive VOM Radio interview as Gracia tells how she wrestled with God and even with her own faith during those dark days of captivity, and how she experienced the prayers of God’s people, even as Martin was killed during a rescue attempt. Gracia bears witness to God’s faithfulness to the Burnhams and their children. Her story challenges each of us to glorify God regardless of what trials we may be facing. Purchase Gracia’s book “In the Presence of My Enemies” at https://secure.persecution.com/p-5134-in-the-presence-of-my-enemies.aspx?source=VOMRADIONT

Gracia Burnham shares her testimony of her nightmare as a hostage of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippine jungles and God's work in her life through it. It's an incredible story of forgiveness.

Her powerful testimony of being held captive for 376 days!