Gracia Burnham

Martin Burnham

Gracia displays Muslim underpants and the malong, a useful piece of cloth natives use for clothing, a backpack, or cover.

Gracia in hijab, the Muslim head covering

Gracia Burnham was a missionary in the Philippines for fifteen years, working as a wife and assistant to her beloved husband Martin, who was a missionary aviator. The Burnhams were affiliated with New Tribes Mission, and they spent their days serving the native people up in the mountains; taking them food and medical supplies. Gracia was also a homeschooling mom for her own three children. Gracia Burnham couldn’t have been happier.

In 2001, while enjoying a special weekend anniversary outing, Martin and Gracia Burnham were kidnapped by the radical Muslim group Abu Sayaf. Martin and Gracia spent one year as hostages, tramping through the jungle, sleeping on the ground and cramped together in the same hammock. Martin was killed in an ill-conceived rescue attempt by the Philippine government.

Listen to this podcast with Gracia Burnham, and hear what she has to say about finding out who you really are in times of crisis, getting mad at God, life as a widow, and more.

Gracia now heads the Martin and Gracia Burnham Foundation whose mission is to pursue missionary aviation causes, tribal missions, aid the persecuted church and Muslim Ministries.

Patty Ridenour is a wife and mother. She has been married to Craig for almost 40 years. Patty is a fomer staff member of Campus Crusade For Christ and was on staff with SCOPE ministries for twenty years. Patty shares some of her life struggles and how God brought her through being molested as a child, marital difficulty, strains of motherhood and now challenges of being a grandmother. Patty shares how God worked through her children’s problems to show her that He wanted her to worship Him. After we hung up Patty said,” I wish I had told the listeners that even though I’ve had a lot of struggles in my life, I wouldn’t change any of them, because that is what has made me who I am.” And why is it that we have to go through hard times to learn anything? I love the poem that Patty shared on the podcast!

Mike Southerland will visit with us about a father’s calling, and what it is like to be the father of seven children. Mike will also share about family worship and rites of passage that he has authored for two of his seven children. These rites of passage are complete with ceremonies, symbolism, and artifacts. (Be sure to get the name of that cool sword!)

Tom Pace, founder and CEO of the Pace Butler Corporation, will share with us about his childhood and troubled youth. This will be a packed half hour as Mr. Pace talks about his faith, his business, and his book, Mentor.

Pedro Gismondi, a rheumatologist, has been helping other people for a long time. Now he and his wife Glenda don’t worry about holding down an office or charging their patients, because they are full-time missionaries. You won’t want to miss any of their inspiring faith stories, from the time Pedro was a little boy and his mother prayed for bread, to his miraculous admission to medical school, a residency at the Mayo clinic, and how God finally called them into the walk of faith of full time medical missions. Pedro and Glenda work under the umbrella of their non-profit organization, Regency Ministries. Pedro is originally from Peru, so much of their ministry focuses on Peru. Last year they took a team to Peru, and will be doing the same this year. Pedro also talks about the salve he developed for joint and muscle pain, Dr. Gismondi’s Rub.

Pedro leads home Bible Study in Oklahoma

Dr. Pedro learns a folk dance in Peru

Dr. Gismondi ministers to a missionary with Hard Hats For Christ who was having hand pain

Street Ministry in Peru

Pedro in Red Square, Bejing, China

Free Medical Clinic in OKC

John was born in Oklahoma City, attended K-9 at Millwood School, and graduated from Edmond High School in 1975. He is a long-time member of Metropolitan Baptist Church.His Bachelor of Science degree was earned at the College of Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University. He worked for several years with a private consulting firm in Oklahoma City and Austin, Texas, and is a registered Professional Engineer. John earned the Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1989, and joined UFM International that same year. He currently resides in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he has worked since 1992 at the Séminaire de Théologie Evangélique de Port-au-Prince (STEP). At STEP John has served as professor of Bible and Theology, academic dean (1992-1997), director of Institutional Development (1997-2001), Executive Vice President (2001 to 2004), and President (2005 to present). He is also Vice President of the Caribbean Evangelical Theological Association (CETA). STEP is affiliated with Crossworld Ministies.

John is going to talk about his background, and how a civil engineer becomes president of a theological seminary. He also will share with us some stories from the mission field. (One story concerns a gang member who kidnapped some staff members of the seminary, and the other is about a seminary student who is the son of a witch doctor. We will also talk about the vision of the seminary. Click the forward arrow on the player to hear this exciting podcast with John Berger. (podcast player will be up by Febraury 5, 2008.)

Proud graduates of Evangelical Seminary In Port au Prince, Haiti

Graduation crowd

Class in session

John Berger with graduate Odman

Our guest this week is Helen Williams of Heart and Hand ministries. Helen is a true servant who gives the Lord her all by serving mothers who need a place to live and summer camps for inner city children. Hear Helen’s personal testimony and about her faith journey with Heart and Hand ministries.

Paul and Oreta Burnham were missionaries with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines for many years.

Their son Martin returned to the Philippines as a missionary pilot with his wife Gracia. Martin and Gracia were kidnapped in 2000 and held captive for nearly two years by the Muslim group Abu Sayyef. Martin was killed in the rescue attempt by the Philippine government. Gracia was freed in this attempt.

The Burnhams will talk about their time in the Philippines with New Tribes Mission, how they dealt with the captivity of their son and daughter-in-law, the death of their son, and also how Gracia and the children are doing now.

Folks, Casey delivered the goods today. I am still overwhelmed by this wonderful faith story. If you have teenagers, personally download this to their ipods! Casey tells his story of how he got involved with all of the wrong kids, developed a drug habit that nearly destroyed him, and how God reached down and lifted him out of despair. There’s a faith story within a faith story of how God worked miracles to send him to Bible college and allowed him to graduate debt free. Casey is one of the coolest guys I know. Download his story for your jolt of Christian encouragement!

Robin

I’ll get his picture as soon as I can. (Casey. email me your picture!)

Robin