Graham Staines, the apostle who was burnt alive with his two sons
Called to serve
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, Dont 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 souls
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 days 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, dont 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 YouThe Lord comforted me
by saying, dont 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 hatredand spread the flame of Christs 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 worlds inventory of black deeds.
Dear reader, will you please rededicate your life
to the service of Christ as Gladys Staines has done?