A Missionary Who Served the Poor in India
Full Name: Mark Daniel Buntain
Birth: January 26, 1923
Death: June 4, 1989
Native Place: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Country: Canada
Place of Vision: Kolkata, India
Early Life
Mark Daniel Buntain was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, into the family of a Pentecostal minister. Growing up in a godly home, he was deeply inspired by missionary stories and dreamed of becoming a missionary himself. While working as a radio broadcaster, he felt a strong call from God to leave his job and dedicate his life to ministry.
After marrying Huldah Monroe, Mark left his broadcasting career and began serving as a pastor in Saskatchewan, Canada. Later, he ministered as a missionary evangelist in several countries including Taiwan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Mission Call to India
In 1954, obeying God’s call, Mark and Huldah Buntain came to Kolkata, India, with their one-year-old daughter. They began their ministry by setting up a tent on an empty plot of land and started preaching about the love of Jesus Christ.
One day, while Mark was preaching, a man interrupted him and said,
“Preacher, feed our bellies first, then tell us about a God in heaven.”
Those words deeply touched Mark’s heart. They made him realize that people needed to see God’s love through action.
The Birth of Calcutta Mercy Mission
That powerful moment led Mark to start the “Calcutta Mercy Mission” in 1964, a ministry dedicated to feeding, educating, and providing medical care for the poor and needy.
As part of this mission:
- He founded the Assembly of God Church School in Kolkata, which gave thousands of poor children a chance for a better future.
- He also established a small medical clinic that later grew into a multi-specialty hospital, offering hope and healing to countless people.
Growth of the Ministry
For many years, Mark pastored the Assembly of God Church in Kolkata, which became the center for the growth of over 900 churches in North India. He also shared the gospel through radio broadcasts in Hindi, English, and Bengali, reaching millions across the region.
Even after Mark’s death in 1989 due to illness, his wife Huldah Buntain chose to stay in India and continue the mission they had begun together. Under her leadership, the Calcutta Mercy ministry expanded and now operates in over 21 countries, continuing to serve the poor with love and compassion.
Legacy
Mark Daniel Buntain’s life is a powerful example of obedience, compassion, and faith in action. He not only preached the gospel but lived it by serving those in need. His vision turned into a global movement that still touches lives around the world — feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and giving hope to the hopeless.