Vol. 27 | Iss. 02 | FEB 2023
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WOMEN’S CONFERENCE FEATURES KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR By Kelly Wise Valdes
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Columns: Grace Notes: Hooked On Books: Faith & Footprints: News From The Wire:
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First Baptist Church of Brandon is hosting its annual Women’s Conference on Friday, March 3 from 7-9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and food trucks will be on-site from 5-7 p.m. According to Anna Montes, communications director at the church, the church is expecting a full house for this event. Past events have drawn big names such as Kirk Cameron, performer Charles Billingsley as well as Jen Crider, the daughter of Christian award-winning artist Sandy Patti. This year’s special guest speaker is Gracia Burnham, a missionary, public speaker and author of several books who made national headlines surrounding her kidnapping. For 17 years, Gracia, along with her husband, Martin Burnham, served as missionaries in the Philippines, where Martin was a jungle pilot delivering mail, supplies to other missionaries and transporting sick and injured patients to medical facilities. Gracia served in the aviation program and also homeschooled their children — all of whom were born in the Philippines. In May 2001, the Burnhams were taken captive by a Muslim militant group. In addition to the Burnhams, the group seized several more hostages. In the following months, some of the hostages
under a national spotlight. Her unique story and the captivating way she tells it makes Gracia a popular speaker for churches, conferences and schools. Gracia travels throughout the country revealing the spiritual lessons she learned during her captivity and how God has blessed her and her family since Martin’s death. She is also the founder and director of The Martin & Gracia Burnham Foundation. “I’ve had the honor of being Gracia Burnham’s pastor Gracia Burnham is author of In the Presence of My Enemies and will be the for about eight years now,” guest speaker at the Women’s Confer- said Dr. Mark Penick, senior ence at First Baptist Church of Branpastor of First Baptist Church don. Burnham captured the national spotlight as she was kidnapped in the of Brandon. “When Gracia is Philippines in 2001. not traveling the world telling her remarkable story, she’s were killed, but most rocking babies in the church nursery or were set free. By November 2001, only the Burnhams and one other hostage singing in the choir. She loves the local church, which is why she enthusiastiremained in captivity. For more than a year, and under the cally agreed to speak at our women’s total control of their captors, they were conference, where women from all living in primitive conditions in the jun- across Tampa will come to worship God gle, enduring gun battles and witness- together and hear a great word of faith and endurance.” ing unspeakable atrocities. The women’s conference at First BapSoon after the events of September tist Brandon will also include guest mu11, the news media took a greater insical artist Amy Shreve. Gracia’s books, terest in Gracia and Martin’s plight and kept their story in the national head- In the Presence of My Enemies and To lines. On the afternoon of June 7, 2002, Fly Again, will be there for sale as well. General seating tickets are $12 and over a year since their abduction, the Philippine military attempted anoth- can be purchased in advance or at the er rescue. Tragically, Martin was killed door. For more information, visit www. during the gunfight. Wounded but alive, fbcbrandon.org or call 813-689-1204. Gracia was rescued and returned home First Baptist Brandon is located at 216 N. Parsons Ave. in Brandon.
U.S. ARMY FIELD BAND’S CONCERT BAND CHORUS RETURN TO RP FUNDING CENTER Staff Report
The U.S. Army Field Band, also known as “The Musical Ambassadors of the Army,” is returning to the RP Funding Center on Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. for a free concert celebrating heroes who have served our nation. The Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus are the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band’s performing components. Founded in 1946 and 1957 respectively, these two ensembles combine to present joint concerts on their national tours. They have performed in all 50 states and 30 foreign countries for audiences totaling hundreds of millions. The 60-member Concert Band and 29-member Soldiers’ Chorus perform regularly in some of the most famous concert halls in the world, and just as often in the humblest auditoriums in the smallest of communities. The joining of these two ensembles allows them to offer unparalleled versatility of programming, ranging from orchestral masterworks and operatic arias to Sousa marches, jazz classics and Broadway musicals. The band and chorus also perform independently and have
Tickets for this event are free. To get your tickets, please visit www. rpfundingcenter.com, click on the event and download the flyer. Fill out the flyer, choose your number of tickets (limit four per person) and mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: RP Funding Center Box Office, ATTN: United States Army Field Band, 701 West Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815. Orders will be processed by firstcome, first-serve basis while supplies last. Envelope must be postmarked by Friday, February 3. The remainder of the tickets will be given away at the Box Office on Monday, February 13. The RP Funding Center is conveniently located minutes between Orlando and Tampa in Lakeland off Interstate 4 on Lime Street; the RP Funding Center is a short drive from anywhere in Central Florida. Regular box office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.recently shared the stage with such ensembles as 5 p.m. For ticket information, call the Box Office at the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the Detroit 863-834-8111 or visit its website at www.rpfundSymphony Orchestra and the National Symphony ingcenter.com. Orchestra.