Martin Ray Burnham, 42, an NTM missionary from New Tribes Missions, was killed June 7, 2002, in the Philippines during a military action between Abu Sayyaf and Philippine forces. He and his wife Gracia were abducted,on May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Martin was born on September 19,1959 in Wichita, Kansas,. He was a graduate of Calvary Bible College and Wichita Aviation Education Center. He also completed missionary training with New Tribes Mission. He is the son of missionary parents Paul and Oreta Burnham, who have served in the Philippines since 1969.

Martin was with New Tribes Missions for 17 years. An excellent missionary pilot, Martin was a devoted servant of Christ who gave of himself unsparingly for the needs of others.

Surviving Martin are his wife, Gracia; two sons, Jeffrey, 15, and Zachary, 11; one daughter, Melinda, 12; his parents, Paul and Oreta Burnham of Rose Hill, Kansas; two brothers, Douglas and Brian; and two sisters, Cheryl Spicer and Felicia Reschke.

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