This Week in Christian History: Council of Trent, Pioneering Female Preacher, 'End of the Spear' Martyrdom

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, January 07, 2018

Missionaries Martyred by Ecuadorean Tribe - January 8, 1956

Mincayani, played by Louie Leonardo, finds freedom in forgiveness after seeing the gospel played out in Nate Saint's son, Steve Saint. (Photo: End of the Spear)

This week marks the anniversary of when five American missionaries were killed for their faith trying to evangelize the indigenous people of Ecuador.

Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, and Pete Fleming were killed by a group of warriors from the Auca tribe after trying to make contact with the jungle-based community.

Later on, the families of the missionaries opted to live with the Auca and evangelized the tribe. The story of this mission work was popularized by Elliot's widow Elisabeth's book Through the Gates of Splendor and the 2005 movie "End of the Spear."

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