Former missionary Gracia Burnham, who received national and worldwide attention in 2001 after she and her husband were kidnapped by a radical Islamic group in the Philippines, is returning to Topeka for a presentation.

Burnham, 53, will speak about her experiences at 7 p.m. Thursday in White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus, near S.W. 17th and Jewell.

Burnham and her husband, Martin, were among a group kidnapped May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf Group.

The couple, who were serving with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines, were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary at Dos Palmas Resort off Palawan Island, at the time they were kidnapped. The couple’s three children weren’t with them at the time.

After they were kidnapped, the Burnhams were taken to Basilan Island and held until June 7, 2002, when Martin Burnham was killed in a fire fight between the Philippine military and the Abu Sayyaf Group. Gracia was wounded in the fire fight, but escaped.

At her previous appearance at White Concert Hall, which took place in February 2005 and attracted a capacity crowd of more than 1,400 people, Burnham said, “It’s an honor and a privilege to follow Jesus, and I determined long ago that I would follow him anywhere.”

Burnham’s appearance is being sponsored by Christian Challenge and Washburn Student Government.

Those attending are invited to bring goods or monetary donations to support Washburn Student Government’s “Can Emporia” drive. All donations will go to food pantries in the Topeka area.