Nate Saint
Encyclopedia
Nathanael "Nate" Saint was an evangelical
Christian
missionary
pilot
to Ecuador
who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca
.
, he served in the United States Army
, but was forced to leave the army because of an infection in his leg. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1941. In 1948, with his wife, Marjorie Farris, he began working in Ecuador, establishing an air base, and delivering supplies to local missionaries.
and many other publications. Today, a small school for missionary children in Shell, Ecuador bears Nate Saint's name.
Rachel Saint, Nate's sister continued the mission efforts to the Waodani, which eventually came to fruition.
In 1966 Marjorie (Marj) Saint married Abe Van Der Puy, president of HCJB World Radio
. He died in 2003, and Marj died on November 22, 2004 from cancer. She is buried in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, south of Ocala, Florida
.
The son of Nate Saint, Steve
, now works with the Waodani people and often travels around the world preaching the gospel
, often accompanied by Mincaye
, one of the Waorani who attacked the missionaries at Palm Beach. In 2005, a documentary based on the story was released entitled Beyond the Gates of Splendor
. The following year, a feature film entitled End of the Spear
was released on January 20, 2006, a week and a half after the 50-year anniversary of the killings. Stephen Saint, Nate Saint's son, helped write Jungle Pilot in conjunction with Nate's diary about his time in Ecuador and work with the Waorani Indians.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca
Operation Auca
Operation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring the gospel to the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador...
.
Early life
Nate was born and raised near Philadelphia. His father, Lawrence Saint, was a designer of stained glass windows. The family attended prayer meetings and Sunday school every week, Sundays and Wednesdays. Nate was an avid flier from seven on, and he took flying lessons in high school. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, but was forced to leave the army because of an infection in his leg. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1941. In 1948, with his wife, Marjorie Farris, he began working in Ecuador, establishing an air base, and delivering supplies to local missionaries.
Death
In September 1955, Nate was joined by his teammates, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian. Saint finally found a Huaorani (also known as Aucas) settlement while searching by air. In order to reach the tribe, Saint and the team lowered gifts to the Huaorani in a bucket tied to the plane. The Huaorani were widely feared by other Ecuadoreans, because they combined a desire to be left alone with a willingness to use force. They attacked and killed any intruders without provocation. Nevertheless, the tribe was excited on receiving the gifts, gave some gifts back. Finally, the missionaries decided to attempt to meet the people on the ground, and on January 3, 1956, they set up camp four miles from the Auca settlement, using the beach as a landing strip. Their initial contact with the Huaorani started out encouraging; however, on Sunday, January 8, 1956 the entire team was killed on the beach (known as "Palm Beach") when armed Huaorani met, and speared them.Legacy
Saint and the other four men became famous worldwide as a result. Life Magazine published a 10-page photo essay on the story, which was also covered in Reader's DigestReader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
and many other publications. Today, a small school for missionary children in Shell, Ecuador bears Nate Saint's name.
Rachel Saint, Nate's sister continued the mission efforts to the Waodani, which eventually came to fruition.
In 1966 Marjorie (Marj) Saint married Abe Van Der Puy, president of HCJB World Radio
HCJB
HCJB, "The Voice of the Andes", was the first radio station with daily programming in the South American country of Ecuador and the first Christian missionary radio station in the world. The station was founded in 1931 by Clarence W. Jones, Reuben Larson, and D. Stuart Clark.- History :Radio...
. He died in 2003, and Marj died on November 22, 2004 from cancer. She is buried in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, south of Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
.
The son of Nate Saint, Steve
Steve Saint
Stephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
, now works with the Waodani people and often travels around the world preaching the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, often accompanied by Mincaye
Mincaye
Mincaye Enquedi is a Huao Ecuadorian preacher and church elder. In 1956, he took part in the now infamous attack on five missionaries during Operation Auca...
, one of the Waorani who attacked the missionaries at Palm Beach. In 2005, a documentary based on the story was released entitled Beyond the Gates of Splendor
Beyond the Gates of Splendor
Beyond the Gates of Splendor is a feature-length documentary film that was released in 2004. It chronicles the events leading up to and following Operation Auca, an attempt to contact the Huaorani tribe of Ecuador in which five American missionaries were killed...
. The following year, a feature film entitled End of the Spear
End of the Spear
End of the Spear is a 2006 docudrama film that recounts the story of Operation Auca, in which five American Christian missionaries attempted to evangelize the Huaorani people of the jungle of Ecuador...
was released on January 20, 2006, a week and a half after the 50-year anniversary of the killings. Stephen Saint, Nate Saint's son, helped write Jungle Pilot in conjunction with Nate's diary about his time in Ecuador and work with the Waorani Indians.