faith

Mark Daniel Buntain

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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.

David Brainerd

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David Brainerd – The Weak but Mighty Missionary

Full Name: David Brainerd
Birthplace: Haddam, Connecticut, USA
Parents: Hezekiah and Dorothy Brainerd
Date of Birth: April 20, 1718
Date of Death: October 9, 1747
Born Again Experience: At the age of 21

Life and Ministry

David Brainerd was born in Haddam, Connecticut, in the United States on April 20, 1718. From his childhood, he used to think deeply about the soul and life after death. He always longed for peace in his heart and desired to reach heaven after death.

At the age of nine, he lost his father, and when he was fourteen, his mother also passed away. Becoming an orphan at such a young age, David felt lonely and sad. Yet, he stayed away from bad company and spent most of his time in secret prayer and Bible reading.

When he turned twenty-one, he experienced a deep spiritual change. He realized that salvation is not by human efforts but only by God’s grace. From then on, he dedicated his life completely to serve Christ.

Calling and Mission

David Brainerd was a man of prayer and great devotion. Many churches invited him to serve as their pastor, but he refused because his heart was burdened for the Native American “Red Indians.” He wanted to take the message of Jesus Christ to them.

He traveled into the dense forests of America and reached the tribal people after great hardship. Those people were wild and known for cruel practices, but Brainerd decided to live among them, pray for them, and preach the Gospel day and night.

Though he did not know their language, and they did not know his, he never lost hope. God provided him a translator — a man who was once a drunkard and idol worshipper. While helping Brainerd, that man heard the Gospel, repented of his sins, and became a believer. Soon, many others followed him and accepted Jesus Christ.

Life of Sacrifice

Brainerd lived in the forests under harsh conditions. Many times, he had to ride 10–15 miles on horseback just to get a piece of bread. Often the bread was moldy and hard, yet he thanked God for it. He drank dirty water from pits and slept on straw laid over a wooden board.

He had no close friends to comfort or encourage him. Whenever he felt lonely, he found strength in prayer and the presence of God. His diary tells how he prayed with tears for the salvation of souls and how God answered him with miracles. His writings still inspire many servants of God today.

Brainerd’s ministry was like a battlefield. He fought like a soldier to free people from the traps of Satan. He labored for souls with great passion, both in public and in private. Jonathan Edwards, who later wrote about his life, said, “David Brainerd is a guide to all who wish to serve God successfully.”

End of His Life

Brainerd never cared about comfort or health. He suffered from sickness and weakness, yet continued to preach. His body became very weak due to the hardships of missionary life, but his spirit stayed strong.

He once wrote in his diary, “Even if I am weak and suffer much, if I can lead many to Christ before I die, that will be worth ten thousand lives.” He also said, “If I had a thousand souls, I would give them all to God.”

Finally, on October 9, 1747, early on a Friday morning, as the sun was rising, David Brainerd said,

“Jesus has come. He delays no longer. Soon I shall be with Him in glory, praising God with the angels.”

And with those words, he peacefully went to be with the Lord.

Though he lived only 29 years, and served actively for just 4 years, his ministry impacted the world far more than many who lived long lives. His faith, prayer, and sacrifice still challenge and inspire believers even today.

Thomas Jones

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Thomas Jones – Biography

Birth: December 24, 1810
Death: September 16, 1849
Native Place: Berriew
Country: United Kingdom
Place of Service: North East India

Thomas Jones was a missionary from England, best known for his pioneering work among the Khasi tribes in Assam and Meghalaya, India. He was born in Berriew, Wales, in 1810. From a young age, Thomas helped his father with carpentry to support their family. Because of financial difficulties, he could not continue his formal education. However, he was deeply involved in church activities and began preaching at the age of 25.

Jones offered himself to the London Missionary Society (LMS) for missionary work, but his request was turned down because of his weak health. Despite this setback, he was confident in his calling from God. In 1840, he helped establish the Calvinistic Methodist Foreign Missionary Society (CMFMS) to send missionaries overseas.

As he prayed and planned for his future mission, God opened a door for him to serve in North East India. Together with his wife Anne, Thomas sailed to India and reached Calcutta in April 1841. From there, they began a long and difficult journey to the Khasi Hills. With no friends or support, they traveled mostly on foot and finally reached Cherrapunji, which is about 4,000 feet above sea level.

In the beginning, it was not easy for Jones to build relationships with the local people. But he used his carpentry and farming skills to connect with them and share the Gospel in a practical way.

Ministry in India

Thomas Jones dedicated himself to learning the Khasi language, which had no written form at the time. He created a writing system for it and translated the Gospel of Matthew into Khasi. He also compiled and published the first Khasi dictionary. Through his preaching and social work, he helped start a new era of spiritual, cultural, and educational growth in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

Jones faced many hardships during his ministry. Within four years of his arrival in India, he lost both his child and his wife. Despite the pain and the challenges of the tropical climate, he continued to preach tirelessly. Sadly, he fell ill with malaria and passed away at the young age of 39 in 1849.

Thomas Jones’s work left a lasting legacy. His contribution to the Khasi language and his service to the people of Meghalaya are still remembered with deep respect. The people of Meghalaya honor his arrival day, June 22, as “Rev. Thomas Jones Day”, which is observed as a state holiday. His life remains an inspiring example of faith, courage, and dedication to God’s mission.

Lucile Geneva Ford

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Lucile Geneva Ford – Biography

Birth: May 12, 1883
Death: May 25, 1973
Native Place: Nebraska
Country: United States of America
Place of Service: India

Lucile Geneva Ford was born in 1883 in a devoted Christian family in Nebraska. Her father, Fredrick Ford, served as a Sunday School superintendent in their local church. When Lucile was born, her mother, Mary Salina, dedicated her to God’s service. From a young age, Lucile dreamed of becoming a missionary in a foreign country.

While studying at Cotner College, Nebraska, she worked hard toward her goal. However, during her graduate studies, she suffered from serious health problems. Because of her weak health, she was advised not to go for foreign mission work. Instead, she served faithfully at a Christian hospital in St. Louis for some time.

Most people would have settled into a comfortable life after that, but Lucile was different. Once her health improved, she joined the College of Missions for further training to prepare herself for missionary service.

In 1915, Lucile received a call to serve in India through the United Christian Missionary Society. After arriving in India, she took charge of the Mahoba Girls’ Orphanage, which at that time cared for 95 girls. Under her leadership, the orphanage quickly grew, and within four years it became home to about 200 girls. Lucile was known for her compassion and care—she was like a loving mother to all the children. She made sure that every girl received both a proper education and spiritual guidance.

After several years, Lucile served for a short time in Harda and later moved to Kulpahar. There, she managed a charitable home for women and started a training center for girls. She firmly believed that women could earn respect in society only when they became independent and self-reliant.

During a severe plague epidemic, Lucile’s orphanage provided shelter to hundreds of people from all castes and backgrounds. She used that time to teach everyone that death does not show favoritism and that Jesus gave His life for all people equally, without caste or class.

Lucile retired in 1948 but continued to serve God faithfully. Even after returning to California, she remained active in ministry through her local church until she passed away in 1973. Lucile Ford’s life remains a strong example of dedication, love, and faith in service to God and humanity.

Kiernander

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Johann Zacharias Kiernander – Biography

Birth: 1710
Death: December 29, 1799
Country: Sweden
Place of Service: India

Johann Zacharias Kiernander was born in Sweden in 1710. He was one of the first Christian missionaries to begin work in Bengal, even before William Carey and Henry Martyn arrived. He studied theology at Halle University and later worked as a teacher of Latin.

In 1739, Kiernander felt God’s call to serve in India. He first arrived at Tharangambadi (Tranquebar) and served as a missionary in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. When the French captured Cuddalore in 1758, he had to leave the city and move to Calcutta.

Kiernander reached Calcutta in 1759 and began his ministry there. His love for teaching the Bible, his passion for sharing the Gospel, and his honest character drew many people to him. He held Sunday services in a rented room and preached both to English people and the local community in their own languages. Many non-Christians accepted the faith and were baptized through his work.

Kiernander’s marriage brought him financial stability, and he used his wealth to help poor Christians. He built several schools and founded the Old Mission Church in Calcutta, along with housing for missionaries.

He also established one of the first printing presses in Calcutta, which helped spread Christian teachings. Though he lost his wife to cholera, he continued his mission faithfully despite many challenges. Kiernander remained true to his calling until his death in 1799, completing his life’s purpose in service to God.