Mission Of Mercy

Dr. Mark Buntain, or as some call him "St. Mark of Calcutta" and his wife Huldah were called to serve as missionaries in Calcutta, India. They arrived in Calcutta In October, 1954, expecting to only serve in India for about a year, well God changed their plans and turned the one year service into a fruitful ministry in India, now going on fifty years. 

Mark Buntain was born and raised in Canada. When he was called to go to Calcutta at first he did not wan to go, but denied himself and followed God's call on his life. Many people are thankful of Mark's unselfishness and self sacrifice. Mark really did lead a life of sacrifice forsaking this world's comforts and storing up treasures of heaven instead.

The Buntains were called to serve in India due to their success in founding one of the world's most comprehensive Christian inner city outreaches, of which Mrs. Buntain remains the pastor and chairperson. When they arrived in Calcutta their ministry started out in a tent, which later grew into an enormous ministry center. 

They soon built a school to educate the people on God's love and to raise up Christian leaders in India. But Mark noticed many of his students to weak to study, so he started a feeding program feeding hundreds and eventually thousands of kids a day. 

The school turned into a one-bed hospital staffed by one nurse, and slowly grew into 16 beds. God had His hand on the work and Mark received a 99 year lease on an abandon cemetery in the middle of Calcutta. Funds were collected by Christians in Canada and the US for the building of a hospital. Mark, along with a Christian architect designed and built the "Mission of Mercy hospital". 

The hospital being fully paid for was opened in 1977 with a nursing school of its very own. Their motto over the door read "Jesus Heals". This 120-bed hospital gave medical care to many people, including the Buntain's friend, Mother Teresa.