The Staines Family: A Study in Surrender

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  (Romans 14:7-8)

 

Raised in Australia, Graham Staines took his medial skills to a leprosy hospital in Orissa State, India. His wife was a nurse and they had a daughter and two sons. Along with his medical work, Graham participated in evangelistic crusades, especially promoting the Jesus film among the Hindu villages. Graham was no stranger to facing hostility from locals who opposed the Gospel.   

In January 1999, Graham was conducting a five-day open-air evangelistic “jungle camp.” His sons, Timothy (age 9) and Philip (age 7), were with him. On the evening of January 22 Graham and the boys retired for the night in their station wagon, when a group of militant Hindus attacked them with clubs and set fire to the vehicle. Trapped inside his car by the mob, the missionary died holding his boys, while rescuers were threatened by the mob to stand back.

Graham Staines had been working for thirty-four years in India. K.R. Narayanan, then president of India, denounced the barbarous killing as the nation was baffled how such a precious soul could be murdered without cause. Lepers at the hospital that Graham had treated buried the missionary and his boys. His widow Gladys and daughter Esther consoled mourners with Scripture and a powerful testimony. Gladys said, “I have only one message for the people of India. I’m not bitter. Neither am I angry. But I have one great desire: that each citizen of this country should establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave his life for their sins. Let us burn hatred and spread the flame of Christ’s love.” Then, perhaps most remarkable of all—Esther was asked how she felt about the murder of her dad, and the thirteen year old, said, “I praise the Lord that He found my father worthy to die for Him.” Then she led the crowd in a hymn: “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus / No not one, no not one / None else could heal all our souls’ diseases / No not one, no not one.”

Later Gladys told friends and reporters that about ten days before the killing she had been urged in prayer to give to Jesus all she had. In her journal she wrote the words, “Lord Jesus, I am willing. Take all that I have. I surrender them all to you.” Gladys remained in India until 2004, at which time she returned to Australia so Esther could finish her education.[1]  

What would your life (and mine) look like if we were as surrendered to the Gospel as the Staines family was? When we are surrendered to Christ some amazing things follow as a result: (1) We have a peace that passes all understanding as we commit our lives into God’s hands, (2) We find the supernatural ability to forgive, grieve, let go of pain and move on with life (3) We will have a bold courage to obey Christ no matter the cost because we are not our own, we have been “bought with a price.” Join me in praying today, “God less of me and more of You. Not my will, but Thy will.” -DM  

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[1] Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs (Washington D.C., Salem Books, 2019), 297-299.