22/01/2026
Missionary Graham Stuart Staines.
Born on: 18-01-1941
Entered heaven on: 22-01-1999
Hometown: Palmswood, Queensland
Country: Australia
Field of vision (Mission field): Odisha, India
Graham Stuart Staines was the second child of William Staines and Elizabeth, an Australian couple. When he was fifteen years old, a missionary visited his place and spoke about the miserable condition of leprosy patients in India. Deeply shaken by the photographs shown, Staines decided to dedicate his life to serving people affected by leprosy in India. Later, he attended a missionary conference where he received a clear conviction of God’s calling to missionary service.
Accordingly, Graham Staines joined the Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj, through which he was appointed to work among the tribal regions of the Indian state of Odisha. He came to India in 1965 and witnessed firsthand the suffering condition of people afflicted with leprosy. With love and dedication, he began serving among them. After learning the Odia language and the local Santali dialect proficiently, he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the tribal communities. In 1982, he founded the Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home. In 1983, he took charge of the administration of the mission in Baripada. In the same year, he married Gladys, a missionary nurse. Gladys was a suitable wife to Graham and a faithful companion in ministry. Together, the couple worked tirelessly to provide education, medical care, and community development to the tribal people.
Hindu extremists, who were opposed to thousands of people accepting Christ, began to plot conspiracies. On the night of January 22, 1999, while Staines was returning from a jungle meeting at Manoharpur with his two sons, they stopped midway in their journey and slept inside their vehicle. At that time, a mob attacked them with axes, locked them inside the vehicle, and set it on fire. All three were burned alive. News of the murders spread across the country and was strongly condemned. Nevertheless, Gladys forgave those who killed her husband and children and stated that she harbored no hatred or bitterness toward them. This act made headlines on the front pages of Indian newspapers and became a powerful testimony of Christ’s love. As a result of the suffering and persecution endured by this missionary family, many who had rejected the gospel for years turned to Jesus Christ. Despite losing her family, Gladys remained in India with her daughter until 2004 to fulfill the work the Lord had entrusted to them.
Beloved, are you ready to forgive those who have wronged you?
Prayer:
“Lord, strengthen me to stand firm in faith and to forgive those who have done injustice to me. Amen.”🙏
