Posted on 03/26/2002 4:20:38 PM PST by repubmom
NTM not party to ransom
SANFORD, Florida (March 26, 2002): New Tribes Mission denies any participation in attempts to pay ransom or raise money for ransom for the release of kidnapped missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.
A US news network is reporting this week that the US government has facilitated a ransom payment, but no source is cited and they have failed to verify this with the US government. If such a payment was made, it was done without our consent or knowledge. Over the course of the Burnhams' captivity -- which will span ten months tomorrow -- there have been numerous unverified and unsubstantiated reports originating from unreliable news sources in the Philippines.
NTM has long held a "no ransom" position for a number of reasons, none of which has to do with the value we place on our missionaries. Paying ransom only increases the risk of future kidnappings. As missionaries, the nature of our work makes us vulnerable to kidnappings. Therefore, major mission organizations have agreed to establish a no ransom position in order to send the message that it is not profitable to kidnap missionaries. Although there has been a shift in US government policy, NTM will continue its no ransom policy.
Increased fighting between the Philippine military and the kidnappers has also been reported in the last several days. Amid these reports have come rumors of sightings and other indications of the presence of the hostages, but these have not been verified. Such information underscores the danger that the Burnhams and their fellow hostage, Filipina nurse Deborah Yap, are in.
These reports and the danger are also very difficult for the Burnhams' families. Please continue to pray for God's peace and strength in the midst of this storm. Last weekend Martin and Gracia's oldest children, Jeffrey and Mindy, made a plea for their release. This was aired on Radio Mindanao. The children communicated their love to their parents and urged the captors to free their mom and dad.
Please pray that the Burnhams and Ms. Yap will be released soon. Pray for their health and safety, and for them to remain confident and encouraged in the Lord.
Pray also for the troops and the military and government leaders. Pray that the kidnappers' hearts will be softened to God's message of salvation. Above all, pray for God's will to be done and His name to be glorified.
Martin, 42, and Gracia, 43, from Kansas, were kidnapped on May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf Group from a resort off the island of Palawan in the Philippines. Martin grew up in the Philippines, where his parents have been missionaries for more than 32 years. The Burnhams have been members of NTM since 1985.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.