Retailers stood and applauded missionary hostage Gracia Burnham after she encouraged them to look beyond their personal challenges to recognize the grace of God at work in their lives in her keynote opening celebration address.

The best-selling author of In The Presence of My Enemies (Tyndale House) drew laughter and tears as she displayed some of the clothes she had worn during her year-plus in captivity in the Philippines with her husband, Martin, and told of some of their experiences while being held by Muslim guerrillas. She was wounded and he died in the gun battle that ended their ordeal.

People tend to get comfortable with what is familiar to them, but then "something comes along to upset things, and God gets our attention, and he starts to change us," she said. "Please never hang a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on your heart's door."

Burnham thanked those present who had prayed for her not only during her captivity but also since she had returned to the United States to raise her three children alone. She shares some of the lessons she has learned since captivity in her new book, To Fly Again, to be released by Tyndale House April 1.

The opening event also featured music from Nichole Nordeman and The Katinas.

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