Join us for a VOM Advance Conference

Speakers

• 
  Gracia Burnham
  Philippines
  While serving as missionaries in the Philippines, Gracia and her husband, Martin, were kidnapped by a militant Muslim group and held captive for 376 days. more about Gracia Burnham

  For 17 years, Gracia and her husband, Martin, served with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines, where Martin was a jungle pilot. Gracia served in various roles supporting the aviation program and also home-schooled their three children. While celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at a resort, the Burnhams and other guests were kidnapped on May 27, 2001, by the ASG, a militant group of Muslims. 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 captivity, they faced near starvation, constant exhaustion, frequent gun battles and intense soul-searching. On June 7, 2002, Martin was killed during an attack on the ASG camp by the Philippine military. Gracia was wounded in the attack but was freed by government forces. Gracia has written two books about her experiences, In The Presence of My Enemies and To Fly Again.

• 
  "Brother Bennie"
  India
  Pastor Bennie is president of IMPACT Leadership Development with Alpha Bible Churches of India. more about "Brother Bennie"

  "Brother Bennie" is chief executive pastor of Alpha Ministries, Inc., and serves as the president of IMPACT Leadership Development at Alpha Bible Churches of India. Their objective is to train 100,000 leaders to plant 100,000 churches by 2020. Bennie followed in the footsteps of his parents, who are church-planting missionaries in northern India. He spends most of his time speaking at seminars in Africa and in South Asian countries, empowering Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs.

• 
  Gilbert Hovsepian
  Iran, Music & Worship
  Gilbert Hovsepian became involved in Christian music at an early age, producing his first recording by age 20. He faced persecution and numerous violent threats after his father, Rev. Haik Hovsepian, was martyred. more about Gilbert Hovsepian

  Gilbert Hovsepian was born in Iran, where his family and church community faced persecution because of their Christian faith. He witnessed God’s power amid the persecution, as many Muslims came to know Christ through his father’s evangelism. When Gilbert was 17, his father, Rev. Haik Hovsepian, was kidnapped and stabbed to death by Islamic extremists.

  The persecution continued even after his father’s martyrdom, causing Gilbert to seek God’s face more earnestly. Despite losing his father in 1994, Gilbert forgave the killers and, by God’s grace, began his own international ministry work. Gilbert has traveled to numerous countries and to more than 200 churches worldwide, ministering through music, media, worship and teaching. His satellite programs have touched thousands of lives internationally, leading many Muslims to faith in Jesus Christ.

• 
  Jonathan Ekman
  VOM
  Jonathan Ekman leads VOM's international project work, overseeing nearly 1,600 projects in 68 hostile and restricted nations. more about Jonathan Ekman

  Jonathan Ekman leads VOM’s international project work, overseeing nearly 1,600 projects in 68 hostile and restricted nations. His team, representing more than 20 nationalities, is responsible for providing practical and spiritual assistance to believers who are persecuted because of their active faith and witness in some of the world’s most difficult places.