missionary

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