Burnhams’ group to send more missionaries to conflict areas

Despite the death of one of its members, Martin Burnham, a US-based Christian evangelist group will continue sending missionaries to far-flung areas of the country to spread the gospel.

New Tribes Mission (NTM) assistant spokesman David Mough said the Burnham couple’s one-year ordeal "did not discourage other missionaries" from continuing their work.

"More people have expressed their intention in coming to the field," Mough said in an interview. He said the NTM is even considering sending missionaries to the island of Basilan, the Abu Sayyaf’s stronghold.

However, after the Burnhams’ ordeal in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf, the NTM has taken into consideration the safety of their missionaries, Mough said.

"We take the safety of our missionaries seriously. We will caution them if we feel that their life is in danger," Mough said in a telephone interview.

Burnham and Filipina nurse Edibora Yap were killed on June 7 in a military rescue operation in the town of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte. Burnham’s wife, Gracia, suffered a gunshot to the leg in the clash. Gracia has been reunited with her three children in Wichita, Kansas.

Earlier, NTM spokesman Bob Meisel said on Philippine television that the group’s work would go on despite Burnham’s death.

"We are saddened by this tragic news," Meisel said on ABS-CBN television as he asked the public to pray for the Burnham couple and their three children. "I am sure they (Burnhams) would want us to (continue with his missionary work)."

The Abu Sayyaf bandits held the Burnhams hostage for more than a year in Basilan since May last year.

They were abducted on May 27, 2001, a day after they arrived at a beach resort in Palawan to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary.

The bandits also grabbed another American and 17 Filipinos, spiriting them away across 480 kilometers (300 miles) of sea to their hideout in Basilan.

They later beheaded the third American, Guillermo Sobero, of California, and some of the Filipinos. Others were freed for ransom.

Leaders of the NTM said their hearts ached when they learned that Martin Burnham had been killed. The NTM in Sanford, Florida, asked members to pray for the Burnhams and Yap.

"Our hearts are heavy over the loss of Martin and Deborah (Edibora). We are grateful for Gracia’s survival and we ache for her, their children and the rest of the families," the mission said in a statement on the day Burnham was killed.

"We know your hearts are also saddened by this report and we ask that you be in prayer for Gracia, [her] children, the rest of the families and for the family of Deborah Yap," the mission told members.