To Fly Again
- Details
- Category: Authors
- Published: Tuesday, 15 January 2019 06:00
Insights on surviving life’s unexpected crises. Read more for Brock's non-fiction Best of Wednesday Bookmark interview with author Gracia Burnham.
Purchase "To Fly Again: Surviving the Tailspins of Life" online at booksforchrist.com.
Click here to see Gracia live in Ottawa, Quebec, and Perth.
(Originally aired January 16, 2019)
Book Description: The world learned the horrendous details of Martin and Gracia Burnham's yearlong captivity in Gracia's book, In the Presence of My Enemies. To Fly Again, Gracia's reflections on the lessons and spiritual truths she learned in the jungle, contains 21 brief, theme-based chapters that squarely address the challenges each of us face when we lose control of some aspect of life. This book offers no pat answers or easy solutions, just the battle-tested wisdom of a woman who lived her greatest nightmare and came through it more convinced of God's grace than ever before. Even those unfamiliar with her dramatic story will be engaged by Gracia's insights on surviving life's unexpected crises.
About the Author: Gracia Burnham is the widow of Martin Burnham and the mother of Jeff, Mindy, and Zach.
For 17 years, Gracia and Martin served with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines where Martin was a jungle pilot delivering mail, supplies, and encouragement to other missionaries, and transporting sick and injured patients to medical facilities. Gracia served in various roles supporting the aviation program and also home-schooling their children – all of whom were born in the Philippines.
On May 27, 2001, while celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at Dos Palmas Resort off Palawan Island, the Burnhams were taken captive by a militant group of Muslims called the Abu Sayyaf Group. In addition to the Burnhams, the group seized several more guests and took them to Basilan Island, an ASG stronghold.
In the ensuing months, some of the hostages were killed, but most were set free. From November 2001, only the Burnhams and one other hostage remained in captivity.
For more than a year, and under the total control of their captors, they were constantly on the move living in primitive conditions in the jungle, evading capture from the Philippine military, enduring gun battles, and witnessing unspeakable atrocities committed by the men of Abu Sayyaf Group.
Soon after the events of September 11, the news media took a greater interest in Gracia and Martin’s plight and kept their story in the national headlines.
On the afternoon of June 7, 2002, over a year since their abduction, the Philippine military attempted another rescue. Tragically, Martin was killed during the gunfight. Wounded, but alive, Gracia was rescued and returned home under a national spotlight.
Since that time, Gracia has authored two books, In The Presence Of My Enemies, and To Fly Again.
Gracia resides in Rose Hill, Kansas. Her unique story and the captivating way she tells it makes Gracia a popular speaker for churches, conferences, and schools. As Gracia travels throughout the country, she talks about the spiritual lessons she learned during her captivity and how God has blessed her and her family since Martin’s death.
If you ask Gracia about life these days, she will say, “the Lord’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.”
Connect:
Speaking Events: Gracia will be sharing her story at a few locations within the CHRI listening area. Visit graciaburnham.org/events to Event info.
