Biography

Read inspiring Christian Biography in Telugu & English. Discover life stories of pastors, missionaries, and believers who lived with faith, dedication, and courage.

Hana Catherine Mullens

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Biography

Full Name: Hana Catherine Mullens
Birth: 1 July 1826
Death (Home Calling): 21 December 1861
Birthplace: Calcutta, India
Mission Field: India
Known For: Pioneer of Zenana Missions

🌿 Early Life

Hana Catherine Mullens was born into a family of missionaries in Calcutta, India. From an early age, she was deeply influenced by her parents’ ministry. She was an intelligent and gifted child who began helping her mother conduct classes even before turning 12.

At the age of 15, Hana accepted Christ as her Savior. She passionately shared the Gospel with anyone who visited her home, and her personal conversations with unbelievers often brought them to faith even more effectively than formal sermons.

At 19, she married Rev. Dr. Mullens, and together they joyfully served the Lord in Bengal.

✝️ Missionary Work in India

Hana was fluent in Bangla and devoted herself to writing and translating Christian literature for local women. One of her books was so impactful that it was published in twelve Indian dialects.

She noticed that many Indian women of that time were ignorant, idle, and unhappy, largely due to social restrictions. Hana always wanted to serve them spiritually and practically.

Her opportunity came unexpectedly while working on embroidery and needlework. A local influential man saw her work on a pair of slippers and said,

“I wish my wife could learn such skills.”

Hana immediately saw a way to reach these women. She offered to teach his wife embroidery and domestic skills. Through these lessons, she gained access to many Indian women, sharing both practical skills and the Gospel of Christ. This approach became the foundation of Zenana ministry, bringing spiritual light to women who could not appear in public.

🌸 Legacy

Although Hana Catherine Mullens passed away at the young age of 35, her innovative methods opened doors for other women missionaries. Her work helped bring thousands of Indian women to Christ.

Her life shows how simple gifts, skills, and faithful service can become a powerful tool for God’s work, even in restricted environments.

❤️ Summary

  • Name: Hana Catherine Mullens
  • Born: 1 July 1826, Calcutta, India
  • Died: 21 December 1861, India
  • Mission Focus: Indian women (Zenana ministry)
  • Special Contribution: Introduced women missionaries to inaccessible Indian women using domestic skills as a bridge to share the Gospel


John Hyde

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“The Apostle of Prayer”

Full Name: John Hyde
Birth: November 9, 1865
Birthplace: Carleton, Illinois, USA
Parents: Smith Harris Hyde & Mrs. Hyde
Death: February 17, 1912
Mission Field: India 🇮🇳
Known As: “Praying Hyde”

🌿 Early Life

John Hyde was born in a small town called Carleton in the state of Illinois, USA, on November 9, 1865. His parents were deeply spiritual and prayerful. Their home was always filled with the presence of God through prayer. From childhood, John learned to walk in faith and discipline.

Inspired by his mother’s prayer life and his father’s sermons, John developed a desire to become a missionary. After finishing his studies, he worked for a short time as a teacher.

One evening, he attended a meeting for those preparing for foreign missions. A sermon by Henrik Johnson touched his heart deeply. There, he surrendered his life to God and prayed,
“Lord, send me anywhere You wish; I am ready.”
From that moment, he started preparing himself for missionary service.

✝️ Missionary Work in India

In 1892, John Hyde came to India as a missionary. Because he was physically weak, soft-spoken, and shy, many people thought he was not fit to be a missionary. He was slow in speech and not energetic in appearance.

But John Hyde had something very powerful — the gift of prayer.
He may not have been strong in body or speech, but he was mighty on his knees. He often prayed for many hours without stopping. His trousers were torn at the knees from constant kneeling in prayer.

He became known as “Praying Hyde,” a man who brought heaven’s power down through prayer.

🔥 Revival Meetings

Once, during a revival meeting in Sialkot, Punjab, John Hyde spent 21 days in fasting and prayer before the event. He prayed earnestly for the salvation of souls and for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

When he finally spoke at the meeting, he preached only 15 minutes — yet, the presence of God was so powerful that people began to weep, confess their sins, and turn to God in repentance.

Many testified later,
“His sermon was short, but his prayer was deep.”

🙇‍♂️ A Life of Prayer

John Hyde prayed daily, saying,
“Lord, give me one soul today.”
God answered his prayer — every day at least one person came to Christ. Later he prayed,
“Lord, give me five souls each day,”
and God again granted his request.

Through his deep intercession, thousands of people in India experienced repentance and salvation. He spent 19 years in India as a missionary, winning souls not by long sermons but by powerful prayer.

🌸 Final Days

Even in his final days, when he was too weak to stand, he prayed from his bed. His body was frail, but his spirit burned with love for souls.

On February 17, 1912, at the age of 47, John Hyde peacefully went to be with the Lord whom he loved and served.

🕊️ Famous Words of John Hyde

“When I prayed that God would enlarge my borders,
He gave me seven months of illness.
During that time, I learned surrender, self-examination,
and the truth that prayer is the very life of ministry.”

❤️ Summary

  • Name: John Hyde
  • Born: 9 November 1865, Illinois, USA
  • Died: 17 February 1912, India
  • Service: 19 years in India
  • Special Title: Praying Hyde
  • Mission: Revival through prayer and soul-winning
  • Legacy: A man who changed lives not by preaching, but by praying

💬 Short Thought

John Hyde proved that the power of a kneeling man is greater than the power of a speaking man.
He showed the world that “Prayer is the key to revival.” 🙏