Roger Youderian
Encyclopedia
Roger Youderian was an Armenian-American
evangelical
Christian
missionary
to Ecuador
who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani
people through efforts known as Operation Auca
.
, Montana
, of Armenian
descent. He contracted polio at the age of nine, crippling him slightly. He overcame the effects of the disease during high school, making it possible for him to play basketball
. After graduating from Fergus High School in Lewistown, Montana
in 1941, he attended Montana State College
(now Montana State University) until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943.
Christian. In 1944, he participated in the Rhine jump and the Battle of the Bulge
, and then returned to Montana in 1946.
Church in Lewistown
, Montana
and played the piano for the church.
Youderian entered Northwestern College
near Minneapolis, Minnesota
, by this time having been called to the mission field. There he studied Christian education and met Barbara Orton. Youderian graduated from Northwestern College in 1950. He and Orton married in 1951, and they applied to be missionaries with the nondenominational mission board Gospel Missionary Union. Upon being accepted, they underwent training for six months in Kansas City
in preparation for their work in Ecuador.
to study Spanish and eventually moving to Macuma, a mission station in the country's southern jungle. There, he and his wife worked with fellow Gospel Missionary Union missionaries Frank
and Marie Drown, a veteran missionary couple ministering to the Shuar
people. The Youderians focused on learning the language and developing a literacy program, and with that in mind, Roger spent time visiting Shuar homes and learning more about their culture.
After working with them for about a year, Youderian and his family began ministering to a tribe related to the Shuar, the Achuar people. He worked with missionary pilot Nate Saint
to provide important medical supplies, but after a period of attempting to build relationships with them, he failed to see any positive effect and, growing depressed, considered returning to the United States. However, during this time, four other missionaries in Ecuador were planning Operation Auca
, an attempt to reach another group of people, the Huaorani
. Nate Saint
approached Youderian about joining their team to meet the Huaorani, and he assented.
On January 3, 1956, Youderian set up camp at "Palm Beach" along the Curaray River
with Jim Elliot
and Ed McCully
. During the day, they were joined by Nate Saint
and Pete Fleming
. Having already contacted and exchanged gifts through the air with the Huaorani, the men hoped to have friendly encounters with them. On January 6, several Huaorani approached them and appeared to be friendly, but two days later, all five were attacked and killed by a group of Huaorani warriors. According to reports,Youderian was speared while he was trying to radio to Shell
for help. His body was later pulled from the river and buried at Palm Beach in a common grave with three of the other men. All family members were safely returned to the United States where they still reside today.
Armenian-American
Armenian Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Armenia. During the United States 2000 Census, 385,488 respondents indicated either full or partial Armenian ancestry...
evangelical
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...
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 Huaorani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
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
Youderian was born in SumatraSumatra, Montana
Sumatra is a small, unincorporated village in far northwestern Rosebud County, Montana, USA, along the route of U.S. Highway 12. The town was established in 1908 as a station stop on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, then under construction in Montana...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
descent. He contracted polio at the age of nine, crippling him slightly. He overcame the effects of the disease during high school, making it possible for him to play basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. After graduating from Fergus High School in Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
in 1941, he attended Montana State College
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
(now Montana State University) until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943.
World War II
As a paratrooper stationed in England, he assisted an Army chaplain and eventually became an evangelicalEvangelicalism
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. In 1944, he participated in the Rhine jump and the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, and then returned to Montana in 1946.
Post war
Youderian was a member of Emmanuel BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church in Lewistown
Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and played the piano for the church.
Youderian entered Northwestern College
Northwestern College (Minnesota)
Northwestern College is a private Christian college located in Roseville, Minnesota, and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Established in 1902 as Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School by Dr...
near Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, by this time having been called to the mission field. There he studied Christian education and met Barbara Orton. Youderian graduated from Northwestern College in 1950. He and Orton married in 1951, and they applied to be missionaries with the nondenominational mission board Gospel Missionary Union. Upon being accepted, they underwent training for six months in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in preparation for their work in Ecuador.
Ministry in Ecuador
Youderian, his wife, and their infant daughter Beth left for Ecuador in 1953, staying first in QuitoQuito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
to study Spanish and eventually moving to Macuma, a mission station in the country's southern jungle. There, he and his wife worked with fellow Gospel Missionary Union missionaries Frank
Frank Drown
Frank Drown is an American author and former missionary. He and his wife Marie were missionaries with Gospel Missionary Union and worked for 37 years with the Jivaro Indians of eastern Ecuador, who were known for their head shrinking....
and Marie Drown, a veteran missionary couple ministering to the Shuar
Shuar
The Shuar people are an indigenous people of Ecuador and Peru. They are members of the Jivaroan peoples, who are Amazonian tribes living at the headwaters of the Marañón River.-Name:...
people. The Youderians focused on learning the language and developing a literacy program, and with that in mind, Roger spent time visiting Shuar homes and learning more about their culture.
After working with them for about a year, Youderian and his family began ministering to a tribe related to the Shuar, the Achuar people. He worked with missionary pilot Nate Saint
Nate Saint
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....
to provide important medical supplies, but after a period of attempting to build relationships with them, he failed to see any positive effect and, growing depressed, considered returning to the United States. However, during this time, four other missionaries in Ecuador were planning 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...
, an attempt to reach another group of people, the Huaorani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
. Nate Saint
Nate Saint
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....
approached Youderian about joining their team to meet the Huaorani, and he assented.
On January 3, 1956, Youderian set up camp at "Palm Beach" along the Curaray River
Curaray River
The Curaray River is a river in eastern Ecuador and is part of the Amazon River basin. The land along the river is home to several indigenous people groups including the Quechua and Huaorani...
with Jim Elliot
Jim Elliot
Philip James Elliot was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.-Early life:...
and Ed McCully
Ed McCully
Edward "Ed" McCully was an evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four other missionaries, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people, through efforts known as Operation Auca.-Early years:...
. During the day, they were joined by Nate Saint
Nate Saint
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....
and Pete Fleming
Pete Fleming
Peter Sillence Fleming was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.- Early life :Fleming was born in Seattle, Washington...
. Having already contacted and exchanged gifts through the air with the Huaorani, the men hoped to have friendly encounters with them. On January 6, several Huaorani approached them and appeared to be friendly, but two days later, all five were attacked and killed by a group of Huaorani warriors. According to reports,Youderian was speared while he was trying to radio to Shell
Shell Mera
Shell Mera is a town located in the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes, about from Quito. Its name comes from the Royal Dutch Shell Company, and the smaller town of Mera, which is to the west....
for help. His body was later pulled from the river and buried at Palm Beach in a common grave with three of the other men. All family members were safely returned to the United States where they still reside today.