Ten years ago, Graham Staines and his sons were murdered
Shortly after midnight on 23 January 1999 Graham Staines, an Australian Christian missionary to India, and his two boys, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 8, were sleeping in their car when it was set upon and torched by a mob of Hindu fanatics armed with axes and pitchforks. The mob prevented Mr Staines and his children from escaping and they burned to death.
Mr Staines ministered among Indian lepers for 34 years. He met his wife Gladys in India and they were married in 1983. Both were originally from Australia, but they dedicated their lives to serving ostracised leprosy sufferers in a foreign land.
The Global Council of Indian Christians commemorates the life of Graham Staines and his sons Philip and Timothy.
On the night of 22nd January 1999, Graham Staines, Philip and Timothy, slept in their station wagon.
It was around 12.20 a.m. on 23rd January 1999, mob armed with sticks and tridents surrounded the station wagon,as they approached it, they began screaming.
Dara Singh struck first, wielding an axe at the tyres, deflating them. The others broke windows and prevented the Staines from escaping and then torched the jeep………….in seconds, the vehicle was on fire.
Graham Staines (1941-1999) his sons Phillip & Timothy were Burnt Alive.
During the funeral service, Gladys and Esther sang this song along with the believers: “There is no friend like Jesus who is humble. He knows our struggles. He will lead us”.
At the funeral, Esther said, “I thank God for choosing my father as a martyr for Him”.
Ten years have passed since that fateful day, Orissa continues to burn Christians.
Earlier this week, Gladys Staines told Asia News, “Do not give up hope, pray for India”.
Glenn Penner of Voice of the Martyrs Canada posts his tribute here.
I remember this terrible incident well, for it marked the first time that persecution of Christians in our day became a real concern to me. Graham Staines was a kind and generous Christian man, yet his self-sacrifice aroused great enmity. The murderous hatred shown him was, to me, not only manifestly unjust but baffling. It was so wrong, but as our Lord says: “People will hate you because of me.”
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