Died – June 1989
What did he do for a living: Missionary to Calcutta, India
Inspiration: To reach out to people who are not the same as you
On a Wednesday evening in May 1989 I sat in my parents living room listening intently as a man named Mark Buntain conversed with my father about his life and ministry. Dr Buntain had just come from speaking at the church my father Pastored. He had spoken about his work and calling to the children of Calcutta, India. I saw pictures of this man reaching out to the poorest of the poor in a culture that was very different from the one he had lived most of his life in. As he spoke with my father something inside of me wanted to yell out, ‘why would you want to live in a poor country? Isn’t it frightening to be away from your family in a strange place? I hope God never calls me to India!’. As a nine year old boy I couldn’t get my head around the thought of someone being willing to give up a good, safe life to reach out to people who were very different from them! This mans story stayed with me. The pictures of the poor children stayed with me and the thought of someone going to the other side of the world all to give a cup of water in Jesus’ name stayed with me.
Shortly after Dr Buntians visit to our home and his trip to England news came about his death. In June 1989 Dr Mark Buntian died of a cerebral brain hemorrhage. His life had been turned upside down in 1953 when he felt God call him to India. A year later in 1954 he received an invitation to go to India on a one year assignment of evangelistic crusades. His physical stay ended in 1989. However, today the work and life of Mark Buntain is not a distant memory but an inspiration. The ministry he founded, Calcutta Mercy Ministries is stronger than ever. Now there is a hospital, schools, homeless shelters, a large church, a huge feeding program, clinics, orphanages and many more programs and ministries that will blow your mind away.
In December 2005, my wife Raquel & I had the opportunity to visit and minister at the Mark Buntain Memorial Church in Calcutta. My wife had been invited as the guest soloist at their community wide Christmas Production. On the Sunday morning I had one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I stood in the same pulpit where Dr Buntain had preached the gospel many times and shared the word of God to the church.
This man was and still is an inspiration. We has inspired me to never stay in my comfort zone but to reach out to people who are not like me. Reach out to people who aren’t as fortunate as me and to reach out to those who need a cup of water in Jesus’ name!
April 23rd, 2010 at 4:26 pm
So, this is a bit random. I was looking up images of Mark Buntain online, saw the one you have here first, and laughed in some astonishment when I saw whose blog it was. I went to North Point Church in Springfield from 2005 until 2009 and loved Raquel’s worship style, was quite sad when the two of you moved away. Weird, small world.
It’s amazing that you got to preach where he preached. It was learning about his work in India that made me first want to be a missionary, when I was about 12. I’m still not there yet, but I’m getting there!
January 27th, 2012 at 2:42 am
Amazing…. I was just talking about a moment I spent with Dr. Buntain and thought I’d look him up…
He ministered at our church (1st A.G. in GR MI: Pastor M. Wayne Benson) and school when I was a young girl…. I rode the elevator with him in the church building…. we were alone and I mustered up the courage to ask him what is it that has allowed God to use you in such a powerful way…. he looked at me and said…. “constant communication with Jesus…. he continued to pray under his breathe as we stepped off the elevator! This statement and revelation has continued to impact my life.