Christmas is clearly the world's most unbelievable true story, but the second most unbelievable true story in the history of the world is (in my opinion), "Operation Auca," which occured in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador in 1955-1956 and involved missionaries Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and Ed McCully, along with Elisabeth Elliot and Rachell Saint. This Christmas Eve EVE message tells the details of that story.
Why did I decide to tell this story at Christmas? Because the 60th anniversary of this story is coming up on January 8th, and this story is a tangible, undeniable evidence that every single thing we celebrate about Christmas is not just a sweet story about a baby in a manger. It’s a true story of "God with us" in Jesus with the power to change hearts, lives, families, marriages, neighborhoods, tribes, villages, regions, countries, and the world.
I've included video links below that help give greater insight into this amazing story and the hope of the Good News of Christmas. My hope is that, by sharing this powerful story, we all would be inspired, encouraged, and strengthened in faith and love for Christ.
RESOURCES (highly recommended)
Click on the links below to access the videos.
- MOVIE - Through Gates of Splendor (1967, movie documentary of "Operation Auca" produced and narrated by Elisabeth Elliot) 35 min.
- VIDEO - Steven Curtis Chapman sings and shares Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002, a montage of the story told and sung by Steven Curtis Chapmen, includes a brief interview at the end with Steve Saint and Minkaye) 34 min.
- VIDEO - Let God Write Your Story (2011, a conversation interview with Steve Saint and his son, Jaime) 1 hr. 13 min.
- VIDEO - Minkaye sharing the Good News (2007, with Steve Saint translating) 5 min.
- MOVIE - The Jungle Missionary (2020, movie documentary interview with Steve Saint) 49 min.
- MOVIE - Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2002, movie documentary follow up to the original movie) 1 hr. 36 min.
- MOVIE - End of the Spear (2005, movie telling the story of "Operation Auca") 1 hr. 51 min.
