faith

Pandita Ramabai Saraswati

by

– A Mother to the Helpless

Full Name: Pandita Ramabai Saraswati
Birth: April 23, 1858 – Karnataka, India (near Mangalore)
Parents: Ananta Shastri & Lakshmibai
Husband: Bipin Behari
Home Calling: April 5, 1922
Saved at Age: 30

🌿 Early Life & Faith Journey

Pandita Ramabai was born in a Hindu Brahmin family. From childhood, she was brilliant and well-educated because her father taught her Sanskrit scriptures even though girls were not allowed to study them in those days.

But her early life was full of pain and loss. By the age of 12, she had lost her parents and brother due to famine. Later, after her marriage, her husband died only 19 months after their wedding because of cholera, and her little daughter also passed away soon after.

Though she faced great sorrow, Ramabai never gave up. She wanted to help the poor and suffering women of India who were forgotten and mistreated by society.

✝️ Meeting Christ

When she went to England for studies and training, she met some Christian sisters from the Church of England. Through their love and kindness, Ramabai came to know the real meaning of Christ’s love.

She realized that only Jesus could bring true freedom and hope to the women of India. So, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized. Inspired by George Müller’s faith, she believed that God would provide for every need.

She often said,

“It is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.”

❤️ Ministry and Service

In 1889, Ramabai started “Sharada Sadan” in Pune for widows and young women who were abandoned or betrayed. There, she gave them education, shelter, and the message of the Gospel.

Later, she established the “Mukti Mission” at Kedgaon, near Pune. Through this mission, she cared for blind, poor, orphaned, and destitute women, teaching them skills and helping them stand on their own.

During one terrible famine, she rescued hundreds of women and children, giving them food, faith, and new life in Christ.

She was not only a servant of the poor but also a student of God’s Word. She spent years translating the entire Bible into Marathi, learning Hebrew and Greek to do it accurately.

Her strength came from prayer and Bible meditation. She lived very simply — only with her Bible and a few clothes, yet she impacted thousands with her love and faith.

🌸 Faith and Legacy

Pandita Ramabai’s faith was often tested, but she stood firm. She truly lived according to the Scripture:

(James 1:27) “Pure and undefiled religion before God is this — to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

She showed Christ’s love by caring for the helpless, widows, and orphans, becoming a mother to the needy.

Even today, Mukti Mission continues her work, shining the light of Jesus in India.

💖 Message for Us

As Christians, we must follow her example — to love, serve, and help those in need. True devotion is not only prayer and worship, but also compassion and action.

Let us ask God to give us a heart like Pandita Ramabai, full of mercy, courage, and faith — to make our life meaningful for His glory.

“The Lord is my support and my helper; prayer and meditation on His Word are my life’s duty.” 🙏

Mary Graybiel

by

– A Faithful Missionary to India

Birth: –
Home Calling: 1935
Native Place: New York
Country: United States of America
Place of Vision: India

Early Life and Call

Mary Graybiel was one of four young women who, in 1882, sailed to India to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her interest in missionary work began when she was a young girl reading the life story of Ann Hasseltine Judson, one of the first American women missionaries. That story touched her deeply and made her long to serve God in the same way.

While attending a Sunday School institute in Buffalo, she found a pamphlet from the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions inviting young women to apply for missionary work in India. Mary prayed about it and sought God’s guidance. The Lord spoke to her through the Bible verse:

“Behold, I have set before thee an open door.”

Feeling that this was God’s call, she wrote to the Mission Board expressing her desire to go to India as a missionary.

Journey and Early Ministry in India

In 1882, Mary arrived in Bombay (now Mumbai) and later moved to Central India. She first served in Ellichpur, then in Harda, Mungeli, and finally in Bilaspur.

Mary began her ministry among women and children, visiting homes, schools, and marketplaces to share the message of Christ’s love. She often worked with another missionary, Ada Boyd. While Ada focused on women, Mary’s heart was drawn especially to children.

Building Schools and Orphanages

In 1886, Mary used her own savings to start a school for girls. Later, she opened an orphanage to care for the children who had no family. She personally oversaw the construction of the school and orphanage buildings in Bilaspur.

In 1894, she started another mission station at Mahoba, a place with no Christian presence at that time. During a severe famine, Mary rescued about 800 children from starvation and gave them food, shelter, and education.

Her Character and Legacy

Mary Graybiel was a woman of many talents — an architect, builder, teacher, leader, and mother to hundreds of children. She never wanted rest; instead, she always searched for new ways to serve Christ. Her strong faith, love, and sacrifice brought hope to many poor and suffering lives in India.

After more than 50 years of tireless service, she was called home to her eternal rest in 1935.

Summary

  • Missionary to: India
  • Year of Arrival: 1882
  • Special Focus: Women and children
  • Major Work Areas: Bilaspur, Mahoba, Harda, Mungeli, Ellichpur
  • Legacy: Built schools and orphanages, saved hundreds of children, inspired many missionaries

Samuel Kaboo Morris

by

– The African Missionary Boy

Full Name: Samuel Kaboo Morris
Birth: 1873
Home Calling (Death): May 12, 1893
Birthplace: Liberia, South Africa
Saved at Age: 15

Early Life

Samuel Kaboo Morris was born in Liberia, Africa, in 1873. His real name was Kaboo. He was the son of a tribal chief and was a prince of his people. But his tribe lost a war, and Kaboo was taken as a hostage by the winning tribe. His father had to pay a large fine to free him. The first time, his father paid and saved him. The second time, it took many years, and Kaboo was beaten every day.

One day, while being tied to a wooden post, he saw a bright light from heaven and heard a voice telling him, “Run!” Kaboo obeyed the voice and escaped. The light led him safely to another village where Christian missionaries lived.

Finding Jesus

In that village, Kaboo met African Christians who told him about Jesus Christ. When he heard that Jesus is the Light of the World, he understood that the light which saved him was from Jesus Himself. Kaboo accepted Jesus as his Savior, and his life completely changed.

Later, when he was baptized, he was given the name Samuel Morris. From then on, his one desire was to tell others about Jesus’ love and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Journey to America

Samuel wanted to learn more about the Holy Spirit, so he decided to go to America to study at Taylor University. He had no money, but he trusted God completely. He joined a ship to America, where all the other sailors were white men who hated him because he was black. They beat him and insulted him, but Samuel never fought back. He prayed for them every day.

Soon, the sailors saw his kindness and faith. They began to change and accepted Jesus through Samuel’s prayers. By the end of the journey, the whole crew respected and loved him.

Ministry and Death

When Samuel reached New York, he went to meet Stephen Merritt, a Christian leader. Even though Samuel could not speak English well, people felt God’s presence when he prayed. Many rich and educated people were deeply touched by his simple faith. He told everyone about Jesus and inspired many to become missionaries to Africa.

But Samuel’s health was weak. After living only five years outside the jungle, he became sick and went to be with the Lord on May 12, 1893, at just 21 years old.

Legacy

Though Samuel Morris lived only a short life, his faith, prayer, and humility changed thousands of lives. His story has been translated into many languages and continues to inspire Christians around the world.

He is remembered as a young man full of the Holy Spirit, who trusted God for everything and lived only to glorify Jesus Christ.

Irene Eleanor Verita Petrie

by

– The Angel of Kashmir

Irene Eleanor Verita Petrie was a young missionary from England who gave her life to serve the people of Kashmir and Punjab in India. She was born in October 1864 in Kensington Park, United Kingdom. Her mother dedicated her to God’s service when she was only two months old, believing that the child would one day live for Christ’s glory.

From childhood, Irene was intelligent, cheerful, and full of talent. She was especially gifted in music and singing. Though she belonged to a wealthy family and could have lived a comfortable life, her heart longed to serve others. She always dreamed of becoming a missionary and helping those in need.

In answer to that calling, she joined the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and was appointed to serve in India. She arrived in Lahore in 1893. The poverty and suffering she witnessed there deeply moved her heart. She saw many women dying due to a lack of female doctors and nurses, and she wanted to share hope and healing with them — both for their bodies and souls.

Irene’s Ministry in India

After serving for a short time in a charitable home in Lahore, Irene moved to Srinagar, Kashmir, in 1894. She was a trained nurse, and she, along with a few helpers, went door to door offering medical care, prayers, and love. She sang Christian hymns, told Bible stories, and brought joy to many suffering women. Many of them came to know the love of Jesus Christ through her gentle care.

She also helped in a boys’ school in Srinagar. When the school ran out of money, Irene painted beautiful pictures and sold them to support the children’s education. Despite the freezing cold, rough mountains, and poor health conditions, she never complained. Her heart burned with love for the Kashmiri and Afghan people.

During one of her journeys to Leh, Irene fell seriously ill with typhoid fever. Even in her sickness, she remained peaceful and faithful to God. On August 6, 1887, at just 23 years of age, she went to be with her Heavenly Father.

Though her time in India was short, her faith, compassion, and sacrifice left a lasting mark on the hearts of many. Irene Petrie is remembered as a shining example of selfless love and true Christian service.

Summary:

  • Birth: October 1864
  • Home Calling: 6 August 1887
  • Native Place: Kensington Park, United Kingdom
  • Mission Field: Punjab and Kashmir, India
  • Known for: Her loving service to women and children in Kashmir

Constant Lievens

by

– Apostle of Chota Nagpur

Constant Lievens was a Belgian missionary, lovingly called “The Apostle of Chota Nagpur.” He was born on April 11, 1856, in Moorslede, Belgium, into a farmer’s family. The skills and discipline he learned while working in the fields later helped him greatly in his ministry among the tribal people of Central India, especially the Mundas, Oraons, and Kharias.

Lievens felt a deep call from God to serve in foreign lands. To follow this vision, he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and began his spiritual and priestly training in Bruges. Later, in 1880, he was sent to Asansol, West Bengal, to continue his theological studies and prepare for mission work.

In 1885, Father Lievens arrived in the Chota Nagpur Plateau. He worked hard to learn the local languages and understand the life of the tribal communities. After staying for a while in Torpa, near Ranchi, he noticed that the local people were suffering terribly under the control of Jagirdars, Zamindars, and Thikedars, who exploited them through unfair taxes and land grabbing.

Realizing that the best way to show Christ’s love was through action, Lievens decided to help them fight for justice. He studied both tribal customs and British laws and began defending the tribals in court. Through his efforts, many people won back their land and dignity. This opened their hearts to the Gospel, and thousands began accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

With his strong motto, “Fire must burn,” Father Lievens tirelessly traveled across the hills of Jharkhand, preaching, teaching, and helping people. His mission grew quickly, and within two years, more than 15,000 people had come to faith in Christ. He also promoted education, justice, and spiritual growth among the tribal communities.

Unfortunately, his hard work affected his health. In 1891, he became sick with tuberculosis. After some rest in Darjeeling, he returned to Barwa and baptized another 12,000 people. But his illness worsened. Hoping to recover and return to India, he went back to Belgium in 1893, saying, “I still have much to do.”

However, God had other plans. Father Constant Lievens peacefully went to be with the Lord on November 7, 1893.

His life continues to inspire many as a true servant of Christ who lived for justice, love, and faith among the poor and oppressed of India.

Summary:

  • Birth: 11 April 1856
  • Home Calling: 7 November 1893
  • Native Place: Moorslede, Belgium
  • Mission Field: Central India (Chota Nagpur)
  • Known as: Apostle of Chota Nagpur