Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses
their life for my sake will find it.
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 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 beside
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 to me 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”.
Will you serve the Lord today? Give Him all that you have
and let Him use you.
Dear Lord, thanks for the example we see in the Staines.
Help us be faithful to serve You even when things around us make it difficult.
Help us to always hold unto You. I Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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