Gracia Burnham's TV appearances/Book Release

NTM e-mail ^ | April 30, 2003 | New Tribes Mission

[repubmom]

Gracia busy as book release date approaches

SANFORD, Florida (April 30, 2003): With the official release of Gracia Burnham's book set for next week, many interviews, reviews and features are scheduled.

In the Presence of My Enemies, which she co-wrote with Dean Merrill, is to be officially released May 4, and is already available in some bookstores.

Several broadcast interviews are scheduled: * NBC's Today Show on May 2 is to feature excerpts from Katie Couric's Dateline NBC interview with Gracia. * Dateline NBC on May 4 is to air a one-hour special on Gracia's story. * MSNBC and CNBC will feature the interview after the Dateline NBC program airs. * Beginning May 5, CBN's 700 Club television show will run a multi-part series of interviews with Gracia. * Fox's Hannity and Colmes on May 6 are to air the first live cable interview after the book's release. * ABC's Good Morning America is to air a live interview on May 7. * CNN's American Morning with Paula Zahn is to air an interview on May 7.

Check your local listings for the exact times of these programs in your area. Schedules are subject to change.

Several magazines are also scheduled to have features relating to the book: * Good Housekeeping's June issue will have a book excerpt. The magazine hits the newsstands on May 12. * People magazine will have an interview in the May 19 issue, which comes out on May 9. * Readers Digest will run a book review in the June issue. * The cover story in Decision's June issue will be about Gracia. * Christianity Today will have Gracia on the cover of the June issue. * Today's Christian Woman will feature Gracia in the July/August issue. * Guideposts Magazine is to have an article in the July issue.

In addition, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the London Telegraph, Parade Magazine and numerous additional news providers around the USA and around the world have asked Gracia for an interview.

Pastor Robert Varner, Gracia's pastor, pointed out that this places a lot of demands on Gracia.

"She needs our prayers to continue as mom and be the positive influence for Christ that this most unfortunate event has placed her in," Pastor Varner wrote. "God has given grace and strength and she needs to continue feel His presence and help in her private and public demands.

"Remember her children, Zach, Mindy, and Jeff, during this time. May God do a real work in their hearts and lives and they be yielded to the Lord for His will."

You can order the NTM special edition of In the Presence of My Enemies, with a foreword by NTM Chairman Oli Jacobsen, from the NTM bookstore:

http://www.ntmbooks.com

Or call 800-321-5375.

[NetValue]

A little background could make this meaningful.

[repubmom]

Looks like Gracia is going to be very busy in the next few weeks. What an opportunity to talk about the Lord's grace and strength during difficult times. She will need a lot of prayer support during these weeks.

[repubmom]

Gracia and Martin Burnhams were missionaries in the Philippines who were captured and held by the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of the Philippines for over a year. Gracia was rescued last June and Martin was killed in the firefight during the rescue. She suffered a bullet wound to her thigh.

Gracia had gone to Manila to greet Martin who had been on a 3 week missions related trip to the US. On the way back to their home, they stopped one night at a resort to celebrate their 18th anniversary. That early morning they, and others, were captured and held. The others paid the ransom (this is big business in the Philippines) and were released. Another American from Southern California was beheaded. The children (3) were flown home to their grandparents in Kansas. The mission's position on abductions like these is not to pay the ransom. So, they were held and finally a rescue was attempted and Martin and a Filipina nurse were both killed.

In the months following, Gracia has spent time with her children and has been writing this book. She hasn't granted any interviews until now. So, that's what it's about.

[NetValue]

Thank you for a great explanation.

[repubmom]

You're welcome.

My sister is also a missionary in the Philippines and had spoken to Gracia a couple of nights before she was abducted...so the whole story hits pretty close to home. My folks were missionaries in the Congo for 25 years and we had a number of our friends killed there. It's not an easy life and the people who choose to live their lives as missionaries know there may be a high price to pay.

[mombonn]

Was just catching up, thanks for the ping. I'll very much look forward to hearing her interviewed. I'll be praying for her and the family.