Urbancrest to Host Gracia Burnham

Come Hear Gracia Burnham's Story of God's Faithfulness During Captivity! 
January 15, 2012 at 6:00pm

This event is free to the public. A love offering will be received for Mrs. Burnham at the close of the service.

Directions:
Urbancrest Baptist Church
2634 Drake Road
Lebanon, OH 45036
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2634+Drake+Rd,+Lebanon,+OH+45036&hl=en&ll=39.474896,-84.18231&spn=0.011627,0.015879&sll=39.474395,-84.182306&sspn=0.011627,0.015879&vpsrc=0&hnear=2634+Drake+Rd,+Lebanon,+Ohio+45036&t=h&z=16

 For 17 years, Gracia Burnham and her husband 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-schooled their children--all of which were born in the Philippines.

  While celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at Dos Palmas Resort off Palawan Island, the Burnhams were kidnapped on May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf Group, a militant group of Muslims. They 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.

  During their 376 days of captivity, they faced near starvation, constant exhaustion, frequent gun battles, coldhearted murder, and intense soul-searching about a God who sometimes seemed to have forgotten them.

  On June 7, 2002, in a firefight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group, Martin was killed. Gracia was wounded, but was freed.

  Since that time Gracia has authored two books, In The Presence Of My Enemies, and To Fly Again. Gracia resides in Rose Hill, Kansas. Because of her unique story, Gracia is a popular speaker for churches, conferences and schools.

 More information about Gracia and the Martin & Gracia Burnham Foundation can be found at www.graciaburnham.org.

Mark Your Calendars!

January:
January 5 – Faith Promise Fund Stewardship Team Meeting @ 7:00pm in Room 202

January 8 – Uganda Mission Project Information Meeting @ 12:30pm in Room 207

January 14 – Gracia Burnham Women’s Conference @ 2:00pm at Camp Chautauqua in Miamisburg

January 15 – Guest Speaker Gracia Burnham @ 6:00pm Urbancrest evening service    

January 22 – Hawaii Mission Project Information Meeting @ 12:30pm in Room 207

January 29 – GIC Team Leaders Meeting @ 12:30pm in the Gym

January 29 – Mission Staff Meeting @ 5:00-7:00pm in Room 206

February:
February 2 – Faith Promise Fund Stewardship Team Meeting @ 7:00pm in Room 202

February 4 – Short-term Mission Team Leader Training @ 8:30am – 3:00pm in Room 203/204

 This training is required for UBC members that are current short-term mission trip team leaders and  also for invited guests that would like to be eligible to lead a UBC mission team in 2012. If you are interested in becoming a short-term mission team leader, please contact Doss Estep at destep@urbancrest.org prior to the training.

March:

March 8 – Faith Promise Fund Stewardship Team Meeting @ 7:00pm in Room 202

March 14-18 – Global Impact Celebration

 Over 40 missionaries from all over the world will join us to share their ministries and stories. Plan now to attend every event!

     Theme: “His heart, His hands, His voice” from 1 Corinthians 12:27

     Speakers:

• Aaron Coe, NAMB Vice President of Mobilization
• Dr. Steve Davis, NAMB Vice President – Midwest Region
• Dr. Patrick Melancon, Baptist Global Response Disaster Management Specialist
• Dr. Henry Clary, International Mission Board Church Planter 

Stapleton Prayer Update ~ December 26

Merry Christmas! Erik and I flew back to Vanuatu on Christmas Eve and spent a nice Christmas yesterday with the family. Other Wycliffe members had decorated our house for Christmas and even put food items in the kitchen so we wouldn’t have to run out on Christmas Eve to shop. My finger is much better now, though I still have a few antibiotics to finish off and physio exercises to limber up the finger. We really appreciate all the prayers on our behalf.

One added benefit of being in New Zealand was being able to go shopping and get some much needed items which aren’t available in Vanuatu. Thus, we came back on the plane with 4 new ATV wheels!! Unusual luggage to say the least! Erik will be flying back to Tanna tomorrow for just a few days. In our haste to leave the village for my finger, some items were left there which we need. Also, Erik was given new parts for our satellite dish while in NZ so he will go back and see if he can fix the VSAT so that we will have internet access again in the village.

We plan to stay in the capital city this month in order to print items in Nafe language. The last week of January we will have a consultant check of John and 1 John. We would appreciate prayer for that.

Blessings,
Michele Stapleton and family