Story number 1 for 5 Mar 2003

(Philippines)–Headlining today’s news, another tragedy has hit the world’s missions community in the Philippines. Yesterday, a bomb exploded at the airport in Davao City killing at least 17 people and injuring 100 others — three of the victims were with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. IMB’s Van Payne. “Bill Hyde, 59, died in surgery from severe head and leg injuries. Barbara Wallis Stevens, 33, was slightly injured and her 10-month-old son, Nathan, also was wounded. Our hearts go out to these families and their coworkers. We are moving quickly to assist the missionaries affected by this tragedy.” Payne says this violence isn’t new. “That’s been going on for decades. These folks were simply going about their lives and were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’re grieved at the loss of Bill and certainly we’re praying for the Stevens family, but the brunt of this was felt by the Filipino people.” Payne says it doesn’t appear to be an attack against Christians or Americans.