Court Sentences Missionary Kidnappers in the Philippines

A few years ago some of my friends were missionaries in the Philippines when the tragedy of the Burnham's took place.  Today, after many  years, there is news that 14 of the members of the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf have been sentenced to life in prison.  Mission Network News has  more on the remarkable story.

(MNN) -- There has been some resolution to the 2001 hostage situation that resulted in the death of a missionary with New Tribes Mission, Martin Burnham. A court in Manila Thursday sentenced 14 members of an Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf to life in prison. Gracia Burnham was held hostage for more than a year with her husband before he died in the rescue that freed her, and she says the sentence is fair. "I would just like more than anything for these guys to hear the Gospel of Jesus while they're in jail. I'm glad they weren't sentenced to death. I would love for them to hear about the forgiveness of Jesus." Burnham thinks perhaps she'll be able to someday share that message. "I would love to go back and be able to visit with them and just talk with them through an interpreter, and most of all get some literature in their language that talk about salvation." Pray for the Burnham family during this difficult time of the year. Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/10662