Story number 1 for 24 May 2002

(Philippines)–Our newscast begins today in the Philippines where little progress has been made in the attempt to free a pair of US-missionary hostages from the Abu Sayyaf. The group kidnapped Martin and Gracia Burnham, May 27,2001. New Tribes Mission’s Scott Ross says in spite of ongoing negotiations, they have questions. “We are just wondering why we are twelve months down the road, why we’re at one year anniversary; it doesn’t really appear that the Philippine government or the U-S has been able to bring us any closer [to a release] than when we were just a few days into the kidnapping.” Ross asks believers to join New Tribes in vigil. “We’re asking for a special day on Sunday, if people would carry the concern of Martin and Gracia to their local churches…if they, as bodies in Christ would join together on Sunday and pray for Martin and Gracia. Then, on Monday, the actual day of the anniversary, we’re asking if folks would just take some time out of their day and think about Martin and Gracia.”