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.