In 1965, God called a quiet, intense and prayerful young man from Queensland,
Australia to Mayurbhanj, Baripada, Orissa State, India, to serve Him in a
105-year-old leprosy Mission field, known as the Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home which
had been established in 1895 by the Maharaja (King) of Mayubhanj, Rama Chandra
Bhanj Deo. Driven by the desire to serve Christ in this mission field, Graham
Staines landed in India and started his noble work among the socially outcast
lepers, reaching out to them in the love of Christ.
United in marriage to serve Christ
In the meantime, a young nurse hailing from Australia who had accepted Christ as
her personal Savior at age thirteen, heard the call of God in her life to serve
God, in 1981, through Operation Mobilization. She served this organization in
Singapore, Malaysia, Europe and India. In India, she met Graham. Though the two
of them were only thirty km. Apart in Australia, they never had the opportunity
of meeting each other. The ministry leaders of Operation Mobilization arranged
their marriage. By divine prudence, Graham Staines and Gladys were married at
Ipswich Gospel Chapel, Queensland, Australia on 6th August 1983. After the
marriage, both of them returned to India. The Staines made their home in an old
house within the Mission compound and chose a very simple lifestyle. God blessed
them with three children; Esther Joy (born on 7th November, 1985), Philip Graham
(born on 31st March, 1988) and Timothy Harold (born on 4th May, 1992). Esther
and Philip were 2000 km. Away from their parents, studying in a Christian School
in Ootacamund, Tamil Nadu, South India.
In 1997, the Staines took leave to visit Australia. But somehow, it no longer
felt like home. They were glad to get back to the only home they knew –
Baripada, Orissa.
The fateful night
Graham along with his two sons reached a village namely Manoharpur on 22nd
January 1999 to attend the annual jungle camp. The two sons were thrilled to be
with their loving father. Graham, Philip and Timothy had retired for the night.
It had been a long and exhausting day. But also, an exciting one for the boys.
On the night of 22nd January 1999, Graham Staines had much to thank God for. A
beautiful wife, three loving kids and a mission through whom he could help many
live a life of dignity. With that joy in his heart, he tucked in both Philip and
Timothy, and drew a straw-pad over the roof of the station wagon to shelter them
from the icy winds. And he himself rested for the night.
Jesus said in John 16:2-3, “A time is coming when anyone who kills you will
think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they
have not known the Father or me.”
On that fateful night, drums were beating as a group of young tribals were
enjoying a traditional dance. They were just about a 100 meters away from the
Staines’ station wagon. It was around 12.20 a.m. on 23rd January 1999.
Earlier at 11 p.m. on 22nd January, another group had set out from Ramada who
had a leader, namely, Dara Singh. He was a criminal with a record of crimes
against minority communities in India. He hated Christianity and the Christian
missionaries like Graham Staines. He and his mob approached Manoharpur at around
12.20 a.m. They came in running from the fields, armed with sticks and tridents.
They had just one target, the station wagon. And as they approached it, they
began screaming.
Killed and burnt alive
Dara Singh struck first, wielding an axe at the tyres, deflating them. The
others broke windows and prevented the Staines from escaping. Graham was beaten
mercilessly and his boys were not spared either. All three were pierced with
tridents. Singh then put straw under the vehicle and torched it. In seconds, the
vehicle was on fire. Graham held his two boys close to him. Anyone who knew him
would say that the one name on his lips would be – Christ Jesus.
The killers stood there and watched the three being roasted alive as the fire
consumed the vehicle. Someone approached with water to douse the flame but was
scared away.
A visiting friend of the Staines from Australia, Gilbert Venz was also present
at Manoharpur. He heard a commotion in the street outside. They were screaming,
“Don’t come out, we will kill you”. He was indoors and found that the door had
been blocked from outside. As he was trapped inside, Venz did not know the
station wagon had been set alight. But he kept hearing the terrifying roar of
the mob.
At the funeral
Thousands were waiting to pay their respects to the Staines. It seemed as if all
of Baripada had come to a halt. Shops were shut and many officials joined in the
funeral procession. It was a farewell with a difference. In most funerals,
either a close relative or a friend takes control. But here, there was no one
like that. But all – both the locals and those who came from outside - were just
doing the right things – as if it was all divinely controlled.
At the service, the inmates of the Leprosy Mission were besides themselves with
grief. Only Gladys was able to console them. Both Esther and she sat with them
on the ground right by the three coffins. Whilst condolences were expressed and
others shared comforting verses from the Bile, many then joined in with Gladys
and Esther singing in Santhali, the local language, the following hymn:
There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
No, not one! No, not one!
Jesus knows all about our struggles,
He will guide till the day is done,
There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus;
No, not one! No, not one!
There is not an hour that He is not near us,
No, not one! No, not one!
No, night so dark, But his love can cheer us,
No, not one! No, not one!
Earlier, as she passed by the coffins, Gladys noticing the beautiful roses said,
“Timothy loved roses. It was nice of you to put so many roses here.” Throughout
the service, she seemed composed and at perfect peace. All her life she had
taken the living God at His Word, implicitly believing His every promise.
God had revealed His plan
God had prepared Gladys for bearing this greatest grief. She recalls:
“I believe God very specially spoke tome on January 14, during my morning quiet
time. I use a particular daily Bible reading book as help. The story for that
day’s reading ran like this: There was a young 12-year-old girl in hospital that
was losing her sight. Her pastor came to visit her and she told him, “Pastor,
God is taking away my sight.” For a long time, the pastor kept silent and then
said, “Jessie, don’t let Him.” The girl was puzzled, and then the wise pastor
said, “Give it to Him”. As I meditated upon this story, an inner voice asked me
whether I was also willing to give all that I love – my husband, children, and
possessions for Him. I spent much time on this. Tears began to roll down my
cheeks. Then I told Him, “Lord Jesus, yes, I am willing. Take all that have, for
your use – my husband, children and everything that I have. I surrender them all
to You…The Lord comforted me by saying, “don’t you know that Abraham pleased me
by sacrificing his only son, Isaac….” These days, our blessed Lord has been
strengthening me in very unusual ways.”
Testimony of Gladys
Asked whether she now plans to leave India for good, she said: “Never. My
husband and our children have sacrificed their lives for this nation. India is
my home. I am happy to be here”
She further said, “The Lord has called each one of His workers to serve Him
wholly and live a life that would be a ‘sweet-smelling sacrifice unto God’. Be
faithful to whatever you are called to do. Never yield to the temptation to “go
back”; never say “quit”, even if there is persecution or threat…. Keep ‘looking
unto Jesus who has gone before….’ I have only one message for the people of
India. I am not bitter. Neither am I angry. I can forgive their (killers’)
deeds. Only Jesus can forgive their sins. But they will have to ask. I have one
great desire: that each citizen of this country should establish a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ who gave His life for his or her sins. Every
Indian should know that Jesus loves him or her, and in turn they should trust
Him and endeavor to love one another. Let us burn hatred…and spread the flame of
Christ’s love”.
Esther Staines stated, “I praise God that He found my father worthy to die for
Christ”.
Gladys still continues to serve Christ in the Leprosy Home by washing the wounds
of the lepers. The then President of India K.R.Narayanan referred to the killing
of the Staines as that “which belongs to the world’s inventory of black deeds”.
Dear reader, will you please rededicate your life to the service of Christ as
Gladys Staines has done?
With permission from Job Anbalagan
gloryofhiscross@yahoo.co.in
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