From Persecutor to Proclaimer: The Life, Ministry, and Teachings of Apostle Paul January 25 is observed in Christianity as the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle . This day commemorates one of the most powerful transformation stories recorded in the Bible. The life of Apostle Paul stands as a testimony that no one is beyond God’s grace. A man who once persecuted Christians became one of the greatest proclaimers of the Gospel, shaping Christian faith and theology for generations. Who Was Paul Before His Conversion? Before he was known as Apostle Paul, he was called Saul of Tarsus . He was born in Tarsus , a well-known city in Cilicia, and was a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:28). Saul belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and was a strict Pharisee , educated under the renowned teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Saul was deeply zealous for Jewish law and traditions. Believing that followers of Jesus were threatening the Law of Moses, he strongly opposed Christianity. “As...
The Heart That Forgave: The Deep Ministry and Legacy of Graham Staines In the history of modern missions, few stories are as gut-wrenching yet as spiritually transformative as that of Graham Stuart Staines . While the world remembers the fiery tragedy of 1999, his life was a 34-year masterpiece of quiet service, cross-cultural immersion, and radical compassion. A Life Poured Out: Biography of a Servant Graham Staines was born on January 18, 1941 , in Queensland, Australia. His heart for India was sparked by a pen-pal in his youth, leading him to join the Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj (EMSM) . He arrived in Odisha in 1965 at just 24 years old and never looked back. Graham didn't just "visit" India; he became part of its soil. He spoke Odia, Santhali, and Ho fluently and lived a simple life, often dressing in local attire and eating local food to bridge the gap between himself and the people he served. In 1983, he married Gladys June Weatherhead , a volun...