The quality of courage
Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear!…”
Isaiah 35:3-4 (NKJV)
Sixty seven years ago (January, 1956) five young American missionaries: Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Nate Saint, Ed McCully and Roger Youderian, dared to make contact with a remote tribe of Indians deep in the jungles of Ecuador in South America. Their goal was to establish communication with this unreached people, known as the Waorani tribe, and, ultimately, share the gospel with them. The only previous response to the outside world from this people group had been to attack all strangers. This was, therefore, no ordinary mission and one that was fraught with danger from the outset.
The story goes that Nate flew his light Christian Mission plane over the Waorani enclosure in the jungle for 3-4 months, dropping gifts of kitchen utensils and other useful implements in the hope that the people would respond positively to the missionaries’ kindness. The initiative seemed to work, as the tribespeople began to wave enthusiastically at every flyby.
Nate soon discovered a sandy stretch of beach on the bank of the nearby Curaray River and was able to successfully land the plane. Everything seemed to be coming together nicely, resulting in the five men deciding to fly in and greet these elusive natives. The missionaries had learned some spoken words from a lady member who had previously fled the tribe due to their violent behaviour. After a day or two a young man and two girls from the tribe made an appearance. They seemed happy to meet the missionaries, and Nate even gave the young man a ride in the plane over the jungle.
Sadly, however, the unthinkable occurred a few days later. Men from the tribe arrived armed with wooden spears and attacked and killed all five missionaries. They were told falsely by someone from the tribe that the missionaries were there to kill and eat them. Unbeknown to the tribesmen, the opposite was true. The missionaries’ aim was to share the light of the gospel in the hope that they would ultimately come to accept Jesus Christ as Saviour.
The story doesn’t end here as Jim Elliot’s wife and toddler daughter courageously went to live with the tribe 33 months later. Nate’s wife, Rachel also joined them and they were graciously received. The killers of their husbands felt genuine remorse for what they had done, and the women forgave them. Happily, many of the tribespeople ultimately became Christians. The faith and courage of these missionaries and their wives was incredible considering the high price they were willing to pay for evangelising this remote and violent people. Their reward in God’s eternal kingdom will undoubtedly be great!
Elizabeth Elliot eventually wrote a book: Through Gates of Splendor, taking the reader through all the steps of this bittersweet story. Also, a documentary film by the same title is available free on YouTube and is much to be recommended.
Prayer
Thank you, Father in heaven, for the memory of these five American missionaries and their wives who showed tremendous faith and courage in their quest to evangelise a remote jungle tribe in the country of Ecuador. Help us, as Christ-followers, to be willing also to take up our cross to follow Jesus, 1 Amen.
Study by John Magowan
1 Matthew 16:24-26
John Magowan attends the Lisburn congregation of Grace Communion International, Northern Ireland.
Local congregation:
Lisburn Grace Communion
Ballymacbrennan School House
129A Saintfield Road
Lisburn
BT27 5PG
Meeting time:
Sunday 11.00 am
Local congregational contact:
Bob Beggs
Email:lisburngracecom@gmail.com
(www.grace-ni.org)
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church