A U.S. missionary held hostage for more than a year by Muslim terrorists was executed by his captors and his wife was seriously wounded June 7 during a rescue attempt by the Philippine military.
Martin Burnham, 42, was “executed by the Abu Sayyaf rebels” when they realized that a rescue attempt was under way, military officials told The Philippine Star.
Burnham’s wife, Gracia, was wounded by gunfire. The 43-year-old missionary was taken to a military hospital in the southern city of Zamboanga where she underwent surgery on her right leg.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Monday that Gracia arrived Monday at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philppines, where she was greeted in her first public appearance since the tragedy. From there, Gracia returned to the United States, accompanied by Gracia’s younger sister Mary Jones and Martin’s sister Cheryl Spicer. The trio landed Monday afternoon in Kansas City.
Burnham demonstrated love toward “the military men, the Filipinos and the Americans who risked and even gave their lives in order to rescue us. May God bless these men in their ongoing efforts,” she said.
Burnham said the terrorists who kept them in custody “repeatedly lied” to her, her husband and other hostages.
“They are not men of honor and they should be treated like ordinary criminals. We support all efforts of the government in bringing these men to justice.”
A third hostage, Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap, also was killed in the intense firefight between the rebels and Filipino forces.
The Burnhams were career missionaries with New Tribes Mission, an interdenominational agency based in Sanford, Fla. The Burnhams joined the missions agency in 1986—Martin as a pilot and Gracia in a variety of roles assisting the aviation program.
They have three children, Jeffrey, 15, Mindy, 12, and Zach, 11. The children are living in Kansas with Burnham’s parents.
Doug Burnham, Martin’s brother, told CNN he is thankful Gracia is alive.
“Obviously, it hasn’t turned out the way we hoped. But we are grateful Gracia is alive. Our faith in the Lord is still the same. That hasn’t changed.”
Details of the rescue attempt were sketchy. However, Doug Burnham said their family was appreciative of the rescue efforts.
“We are grateful for everyone who tried to rescue them,” he told CNN. “I’m sure in the future we’ll get more details.”
U.S. officials said no American troops were involved in the raid. CNN reported that a U.S. helicopter was deployed for medical assistance.
Four Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and seven Filipino soldiers were wounded in the battle.
Officials at New Tribes Mission in Sanford, Fla., released a statement on their Web site, noting Burnham’s death.
“Our hearts are heavy over the loss of Martin and Deborah [Ediborah],” the statement read. “We are grateful for Gracia’s survival and we ache for her, their children and the families.
A spokesman for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, Mark Kelly, stated, “We are sobered and deeply grieved by the deaths of Martin Burnham and Ediborah Yap and the wounding of Gracia Burnham after more than a year in captivity
“We ask God to pour out His comforting grace and love on them, especially on Gracia as she recovers from her wounds and on their children as they suffer the loss of their father. (BP, TAB)
Share with others: