Detained Baptist Missionaries Return Home Safely, Unswayed
Two Southern Baptist missionaries charged with distributing Bibles and Christian materials in the predominantly Muslim city of Dubai returned to their home churches early Sunday after nearly two weeks of house arrest.
Two Southern Baptist missionaries charged with distributing Bibles and Christian materials in the predominantly Muslim city of Dubai returned to their home churches early Sunday after nearly two weeks of house arrest.
Vivian Gilmer of Myrtle Beach S.C., and Marie Bush of Waxahachie, Texas, were nearing the end of a four-week mission trip with Tom Cox World Ministries when they were charged with illegal activity on Feb. 19. “Gilmer and Bush had given Bibles as gifts to friends attending the fair that they met during the week-long Dubai visit,” read a news update posted on the ministry’s web site.
“That, in itself, was not illegal,” said Kay Cox, one of the organizers of the tour. “But, apparently, they had also given one of the friends a CD, and authorities thought that violated their law of not distributing Bibles with other materials. That certainly wasn’t the intent.”
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In a statement made by Gilmer, the 72-year-old member of First Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach said, “As we shopped, we made friends with shopkeepers and other shoppers, [and] we simply offered them a gift, which most accepted.”
"Later we were approached and questioned as to our activity,” the statement continued. “We were detained until the officials reviewed the situation and eventually cleared us to leave."
After being held in a Dubai police station for several hours the women were detained in the country until Mar. 2 and their passports confiscated.
Upon her return to First Baptist Church, Gilmer received hugs and well wishes from church members. A church leader described Gilmer as a hero and thanked God for her safe return.
"I am happy to be here," Gilmer told the South Carolina-based Sun News. "Everything was taken care of; it was just a matter of procedure."
Although she did have a little jet lag, the past two weeks have not swayed her faith, the Sun reported.
"I'd be willing to go back, if the Lord is willing," Gilmer said. "This wouldn't stop me from working for God."
Gilmer expressed thankfulness for all those who prayed for her during her detention and commended the United Arab Emirates’ government for its fairness and respect.
Meanwhile, in her first interview after being deported Mar. 2 to return home to Texas, 55-year-old Marie Bush told the Baptist Press “God had a purpose through this entire situation.”
“He was in total control,” she said. “God will reveal His purpose and nothing was by accident. Everything is in God’s hands.”
According to the statement by Tom Cox World Ministries, both Gilmer and Bush intend to participate in future foreign missions projects despite their experience.
