faith

Eugen Liebendorfer

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Pioneer of Medical Missions in South India

Early Life and Spiritual Awakening

Eugen Liebendorfer was born on March 16, 1852, in Württemberg, Germany. Although raised in a Christian family, his faith became truly alive after he attended a spiritual revival meeting in a German Lutheran Church in the early 1870s. That encounter changed his life, and from then on, he decided to live completely for God.

Soon afterward, Eugen joined the Basel Mission, a missionary organization based in Switzerland and Germany, and was appointed to serve in Southern India.

Arrival in India and Early Ministry

At the age of 23, Eugen arrived in Calicut (now Kozhikode) on October 1, 1875. He began his missionary work at the Tellicherry (Thalassery) mission station in Kerala. Although he was not a trained doctor, his basic medical knowledge helped him build trust and friendships with local people, giving him opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

He also started writing Malayalam articles on human anatomy to help Indian doctors understand medical science better.

A Life-Changing Experience

On July 7, 1882, tragedy struck when a bridge collapsed, killing around 60 people. Eugen did everything he could to save lives but managed to rescue only 20. The heartbreaking event deeply moved him. He realized that if he had been medically trained, he could have saved more people.

Determined to serve more effectively, Eugen returned to Germany in 1883 for medical training. Many thought he had given up his mission, but his heart remained in India.

Return as a Missionary Doctor

In 1886, after completing his medical studies, Eugen returned to Calicut—this time as a fully trained missionary doctor. He soon established a small hospital, and people began to come from far and wide for treatment.

Locals fondly called him “the wonderful German doctor” and “the great Malabar doctor.” But Eugen remained humble, always saying:

“Jesus is the master healer; I am only His helper.”

Before treating any patient, he would pray for them personally, and often people felt relief even before the medicine was given. His compassion, skill, and faith transformed lives and opened hearts to the message of Christ.

Legacy of Service

In 1898, Eugen founded the Association for Medical Mission to expand Christian medical work in India and beyond. His efforts laid the foundation for future missionary hospitals in Kerala, many of which continue to serve people today.

After a lifetime of faithful service, Eugen Liebendorfer went to be with the Lord on October 3, 1902, leaving behind a shining example of Christian love in action.

Quick Facts

  • Birth: March 16, 1852 – Württemberg, Germany
  • Death: October 3, 1902 – India
  • Mission Organization: Basel Mission
  • Mission Field: Calicut & Tellicherry, South India
  • Known For: Founder of the Association for Medical Mission; pioneer of Christian medical work in Kerala
  • Life Motto: “Jesus is the master healer; I am only His assistant.”

Ada Lee

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Faithful Missionary

“My thoughts are not your thoughts… For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
— Isaiah 55:8; Jeremiah 29:11

These verses were beautifully fulfilled in the life of Ada Lee.

Early Life

Ada Hildegarde Jones Lee was born on March 23, 1856, in West Virginia, USA. From her youth, she loved God deeply and desired to live for Him. She raised her family in the fear of God, praying that her children would bring many people to know the Lord.

Her life was a testimony of a mother’s faith and surrender to God’s will.

Missionary Call and Work in India

At the age of 20, Ada followed God’s call and came to India to serve as a missionary among the women of Bengal. She spent five years sharing the Gospel, teaching, and caring for those in need.

In 1881, she married David Hiram Lee, an American missionary also serving in India. Together, they continued their ministry in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Service in Calcutta

Ada and her husband built schools and training centers to prepare young men and women for Christian service. Their home became a refuge for poor children and for women trapped in social evils such as child marriage and prostitution.

Their compassion and commitment brought light and hope to many lives across Bengal.

A Time of Great Sorrow

In 1899, a terrible tragedy struck. Six of their children, who were studying in Darjeeling, lost their lives in a landslide. Their only surviving son, Wilber, told how they all faced death with strong faith in God, saying they were not afraid because they knew they were going to Heaven.

A few days later, Wilber also went to be with the Lord.

This loss broke Ada’s heart and shook her faith. She wrestled in her spirit, asking why God had allowed such pain after she had dedicated her family to Him. But in her grief, she turned again to God for comfort and strength.

Later, she learned that the story of her children’s faith had spread throughout America, inspiring many people to trust in God. Realizing that her prayers had been answered in God’s own way, she thanked Him for His perfect plan.

A Lasting Legacy

Ada and David Lee continued their missionary work in India until the end of their lives. Their faith and service produced lasting fruit — the Lee Memorial Mission in Calcutta, which continues to bless lives even today.

Ada Lee went to be with the Lord on June 11, 1948, leaving behind a legacy of faith, sacrifice, and trust in God’s higher purpose.

Quick Facts

  • Birth: March 23, 1856 – West Virginia, USA
  • Death: June 11, 1948 – India
  • Mission Field: Calcutta (Kolkata), India
  • Mission Work: Founder of Lee Memorial Mission; schools and refuge homes for women and children
  • Life Verse: Isaiah 55:8; Jeremiah 29:11

Evelyn Brand

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Missionary to the People of Kolli Hills, South India

Early Life

Evelyn Brand was born in May 1879 in London, England, into a rich and comfortable family. As a young girl, she accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized when she was eleven years old.

At home and in church, Evelyn often heard stories about missionaries in India. One day, she read letters in a missionary magazine describing the people living in the remote hill areas of South India. These stories deeply touched her heart and stirred in her a desire to serve God there.

Call to Missions

Feeling that God was calling her to India, Evelyn gave her life fully to serve Him. In 1911, she was appointed as a missionary to India by the Strict Baptist Mission Society.

She arrived in Tamil Nadu in 1912 and began learning the Tamil language. Soon she started her ministry in Kolli Hills, a rugged mountain region often called the “Mountains of Death” because of its difficult terrain and poor living conditions.

Marriage and Ministry

While serving there, Evelyn met Jesse Mann Brand, a missionary who shared her love and burden for the hill people. They were married in 1913.

On their wedding day, amidst heavy rain, the young couple walked up the 3,700-foot high Kolli Malai to begin their missionary work. Together, they:

  • Preached the Gospel of Christ in remote villages.
  • Taught and educated local children.
  • Provided medical help to the sick and needy.
  • Built schools, churches, and orphanages in the mountain villages.

Their love and sacrifice made them beloved among the people.

Faithful Service After Loss

In 1929, Evelyn’s husband Jesse died of malaria, leaving her alone in the mission field. Though heartbroken, Evelyn chose to continue the work they had started together.

She became a mother to many orphans and abandoned children. Even in her old age and poor health, she traveled on a hill pony through the forests and mountains, carrying medicine, teaching the Bible, and caring for those in need. Through her work, five mountain ranges in the Eastern Ghats came to know the message of Jesus Christ.

Final Years and Legacy

When Evelyn was hospitalized with broken hips, she still shared the Gospel with other patients from her wheelchair. Her love for Christ never faded.

After more than 35 years of faithful service, Evelyn Brand went to be with the Lord on December 18, 1974, in the very land she had come to love and serve.

Quick Facts

  • Birth: May 1879 – London, England
  • Death: December 18, 1974 – Tamil Nadu, India
  • Mission Organization: Strict Baptist Mission Society
  • Mission Field: Kolli Hills, South India
  • Known For: Education, medical care, orphan work, and Gospel ministry among the hill people

Gordon Hall

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Early American Missionary to India
Founder of the American Marathi Mission

Early Life and Call to Serve

Gordon Hall was born on April 8, 1784, in Connecticut, USA, into a poor farming family. From a young age, he had a strong faith and wanted to serve God. While studying at Andover Theological Seminary, he met Adoniram Judson and other students who shared the same dream—to take the message of Jesus Christ to faraway countries.

He once received an offer to be a pastor at a rich church in Woodbury, but he turned it down. He said,

“I can sleep on the ground and bear hunger and hardship. God is calling me to preach to those who have never heard of Him; I must go.”

Mission to India

In 1812, Gordon Hall traveled to India as part of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). He helped start the American Marathi Mission, also called the Bombay Mission, in Bombay (now Mumbai).

He learned the Marathi language so he could speak to the local people and translated the Gospel of Matthew into Marathi, making the Bible more accessible to them.

Work and Service in India

Gordon Hall preached in public places such as temples, markets, and streets. Some people laughed at him, but many listened and believed in Jesus Christ. New believers were welcomed into the fellowship of the church.

He also cared deeply about people’s education and health. He:

  • Opened schools and wrote lessons that included Bible teachings.
  • Used schools as chapels for Bible study and prayer.
  • Gave medical help to sick and needy people.

Hall’s love for the people was shown through both his words and his actions.

His Final Days

In 1826, a cholera outbreak happened in Nasik. Gordon quickly went there to help those who were sick. On his way back, he caught cholera himself. As people gathered around to help him, he used his last strength to preach about Jesus one more time. Then, with a prayer on his lips, he said:

“Glory to Thee, O God!”

He passed away on March 20, 1826, finishing his mission on earth with faith and courage.

Quick Facts

  • Born: April 8, 1784 – Connecticut, USA
  • Died: March 20, 1826 – Nasik, India
  • Mission Field: India (Bombay and nearby regions)
  • Mission Organization: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM)
  • Main Work: Founder of the American Marathi Mission; Translator of the Gospel of Matthew into Marathi

Robert Clark

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Pioneer Missionary in Punjab and Kashmir

Birth: 4 July 1825
Home Calling: 16 May 1900
Native Place: Lincolnshire, England
Field of Service: Punjab and Kashmir

Robert Clark was a devoted missionary who played a key role in spreading Christianity in the regions of Punjab and Kashmir. After completing his studies at Cambridge University, he was offered a well-paid teaching position at the same institution. However, Clark felt a deeper calling to serve God among the unreached people in foreign lands. He volunteered for the Church Missionary Society, which appointed him to work in the Punjab Mission in India.

In 1852, Clark founded his first mission station in Amritsar, Punjab. Facing many difficulties in India, he soon realized that the Christianity seen under British rule was not the true representation of the Gospel. Therefore, he focused on personal evangelism instead of public preaching.

Clark believed that local believers could share the Gospel more effectively than foreign missionaries. He trained and encouraged the early converts to witness to their families and communities. Despite strong opposition, within two years there were over twenty new believers.

After equipping and mentoring the local Christians, Clark started a new mission station in Peshawar in 1854. For the next decade, he journeyed through dangerous mountains and valleys, reaching people as far as Lahore and Tibet. During this time, he married Elizabeth Mary Browne, who became his faithful partner in ministry.

In 1864, Robert and Elizabeth moved to Kashmir to establish another mission station. At that time, Kashmir was under the rule of the Dogra dynasty and suffered from poverty, disease, and corruption. Although the King gave Clark permission to work there, he secretly ordered his men to attack the couple upon their arrival. God’s protection saved them, and through Elizabeth’s medical work, their enemies soon became friends.

Elizabeth’s healing ministry opened many doors for the Gospel, leading to the creation of several medical mission centers across Kashmir. The Christian community grew steadily, and Clark continued his work with great zeal, combining education, medical help, and spiritual teaching. He remained active in the mission field of North India until his death in 1900.

Robert Clark’s life was marked by faith, courage, and compassion—a true pioneer who brought both physical and spiritual light to the people of Punjab and Kashmir.