Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg

He was an Evangelical Christian in the 1700s who worked in India with his missionary friend, Heinrich Plutschau. He survived early persecution upon arrival in India. He established schools for many people, translated school books into the local language, set up printing presses, preserved many manuscripts, overthrew a corrupt governor who was oppressing people, took many pastors and teachers under his wing, and he had an interesting death. Despite all of the progress he had made, his mission agency changed directors and the new guy wrote him a mean letter threatening him to change his ways to the new goals of mission agency. He was so distraught that he got sick and died. His friend was so distraught at his death that he actually got sick and died. The new director of the mission agency was fired and his new methods were entirely thrown out. I learned from him that sometimes important decisions are often made by people in authority who do not grasp the context of the work already being done. When that happens, it is important to persevere instead of becoming disheartened and dying!