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Through Gates of Splendor
"Through Gates of Splendor" is the true story of five young missionaries who were savagely killed while trying to establish communication with the Auca Indians of Ecuador. The story is told through the eyes of Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the young men who was killed.
Paperback, 219 pages
Published
March 7th 1986
by Tyndale House Publishers
(first published 1956)
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True story of 5 male missionaries who were murdered by indigenous people in Ecquador in the fifties. The author is the wife of one of the murdered men. I have a vague recollection of hearing or reading or seeing a TV special about this incident and these people, so when I found this book in an RV park library, I snagged it. It's a good story that would have been better told by someone else. I read this on the heels of reading Annie Dillard's "The Living" and I found myself comparing the pioneers...more
I found this book when I was browsing the "new release" shelf in the childrens section of the library. I figured it had been placed on the shelf by mistake, but it looked interesting so I checked it out. It is the true story of some missionaries and their families who move to Ecuador in the 1950s to preach the gospel to the indigenous Indian tribes. In particular, they wanted to make contact and preach to the Auca Indians, who up to that point, had massacred any white folks they encountered. I'm...more
I rate this book 5 stars for the story itself, the writing is actually more like 4 stars at best. This book has really made me think. I find myself in moments of silence returning back to the story and the messages one can draw away from it. The book was about 5 American missionaries who were murdered by the hands of those they were striving to teach and convert to Christianity. Some of the thoughts that came to mind when reading this book were, what makes a man so completely devoted to his fait...more
The story of five American missionaries killed by savages in the Ecuadorian jungle is one that still sends a chill through your bones and brings tears to your eyes fifty-five years on. The faith these men had to take the gospel to the Auca Indians, known only as a violent and deceptive people, is inspiring in a way very few can.
The tale is penned by Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the young murdered missionaries, and she documents beautifully the circumstances through diaries, interviews an...more
The tale is penned by Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the young murdered missionaries, and she documents beautifully the circumstances through diaries, interviews an...more
Let me start by saying that I would have probably given this a 4 star if the writing had been better edited. It was a little hard to follow at times. Having said that this was fascinating. It is a very religious/Christian book and I knew that going in. The subject just really intrigued me. What would make someone give up their comfortable lives in the US to move to a very remote jungle in a foreign land where the language was virtually unknown to even those living in the country. I couldn't unde...more
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Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian, and Nate Saint were working as missionaries in Ecuador in the early 1950's. Through a series of events, the five came together to make contact with the savage Auca Indians. They made contact in January 1956 and lost their lives as a result a couple days later.
Well written...keeps the story moving along. I often felt that I was right there in Ecuador with the group. Truly these five men were sold out completely for the Lord. Giving their li...more
Well written...keeps the story moving along. I often felt that I was right there in Ecuador with the group. Truly these five men were sold out completely for the Lord. Giving their li...more
Apr 14, 2013
Eddy Allen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arts-and-historical
In 1956, five young men, including Elliot's husband, Jim, traveled into the jungles of Ecuador to establish communication with the fierce Huaorani Tribe, a people whose only previous response to the outside world had been to attack all strangers. The men's mission combined modern technology with innate ingenuity, sparked by a passionate determination to get the gospel to those without Christ. In a nearby village, their wives waited to hear from them. The news they received--all five missionaries...more
This story impacted me as a child, and then Wycliffe did a musical based on the story that made me consider becoming a Bible translator for a while. I've read this at least five times, but not in 12 years.
Wow. What an incredible retelling of a horrible event in missionary history - as 5 very normal, very Godly men travelled to Ecuador to tell the Auca INdians in the jungle of Ecuador about Jesus. To cut a long story short, incredibly without telling you everything - they are killed by these people. Yet... God still worked in that situation and many of them have come to know God's love and forgiveness despite what happened. Read it for yourself. It's pretty incredible. Elisabeth Elliot is a WONDER...more
This was the project for our summer Bible study -- reading and discussing this missionary classic. It had been many years since I'd
read this story of the killing of five American missionaries who were making initial contact with an Indian tribe in Ecuador. I appreciated
the background on each of the men. It was only Jim Elliot and Nate Saint that I remembered well. Probably the thing that stood out to me most was the desire of Jim to be used of God even in college. He chose to not do any extracur...more
read this story of the killing of five American missionaries who were making initial contact with an Indian tribe in Ecuador. I appreciated
the background on each of the men. It was only Jim Elliot and Nate Saint that I remembered well. Probably the thing that stood out to me most was the desire of Jim to be used of God even in college. He chose to not do any extracur...more
One of my all time favorites, a life changer. The story of 5 young missionary men who were murdered by a tribe of Ecuadoran Indians that they were trying to reach. Read this AFTER reading THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY by Jim Elliot and you will have an even greater appreciation for these young men and their motivation.
When I first heard about this story at about age 21 or so, I thought these guys were nuts. Mercifully, the gracious Almighty has used this story to draw me to Himself and to instill...more
When I first heard about this story at about age 21 or so, I thought these guys were nuts. Mercifully, the gracious Almighty has used this story to draw me to Himself and to instill...more
In this book, Elisabeth Elliot gathers the threads of the event that would cause the world to stop and take notice of what sacrifice 5 ordinary men were willing to make for the cause of the Gospel. With each thread God drew these men to the unventured mission field in the jungles of Ecuador to the Waorani people, from the most reluctant to the almost audaciously enthusiastic of the group. What is so compelling about Gates of Splendor, having already read Shadow of the Almighty, is that Elliot sp...more
The story of Mrs. Elliot Gren's first husband, Jim, and the other missionaries who were murdered by Indians in Ecuador.
My initial reaction was "wow". Having thought about it for a little while, I can't say much more. I'm just boundlessly impressed and humbled by the men who were willing to give everything they had to serve God. I was just about crying at a lot of different points; when one of the missionarys' kids is quoted as saying "I know daddy's in heaven, I just wish he would come and play with me sometimes", I almost lost it. I love how Elliot leaves things sort of ambiguous, as well: "was it worth it?" is...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
It is with good reason that this book is a modern classic. Elizabeth Elliot unpretentiously narrates the story of her husband’s life and short-lived (but in many respects everlasting) work to take the gospel to isolated South American people groups. Jim Elliot’s journal extracts were perhaps my favorite part of this book. What an astonishing character he must have been. I look forward to the prospect of talking with him about all of this someday, when we have ceased to wonder why.
Some favorite q...more
Some favorite q...more
The fire and passion of these five men was evident from their introduction until they breathed their last and continues to blaze bright even today. It’s amazing how they cast “self” aside and gladly spent themselves to preach the beautiful name of Christ at any cost. That is love in its purest form – a love that loves first, even when unrequited. These men had the Lord’s heart beating inside them. They saw with His eyes, heard with His ears, reached out His hands and went with His feet. I was de...more
I’ve been re-reading Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot along with my junior high English class, and TGOS is also the May selection for Julia’s Heroes of the Faith Book Club at Dark Glass Ponderings.
This book tells the story of five young missionaries who accomplished what every Christian aspires to—they lived and died for Christ. However, their brief time on earth and the way God took them home have left an indelible impact on generations of Christians.
In 1956 Nate Saint, Jim Elliot,...more
This book tells the story of five young missionaries who accomplished what every Christian aspires to—they lived and died for Christ. However, their brief time on earth and the way God took them home have left an indelible impact on generations of Christians.
In 1956 Nate Saint, Jim Elliot,...more
Jul 08, 2007
Rachel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those interested in missions
This was an interesting book- mainly a compilation of letters and diary entries from the 5 missionaries who died in an attack by a group of Acuas in the 1950s in Ecuador. If you have seen End of the Spear (I haven't), it's the same story. I picked it up at my in-laws this week while visiting and wanted to finish it. You know how it ends so it is not exactly suspenseful, and it is kind of piecemeal so it is not really easy to read as in a continuous flow. Ths edition I read had a follow-up chapte...more
Most interesting to me was the very effective insight into the motivations behind missionaries. While Christian to the core, I would imagine it would be an interesting read regardless of your faith. I think the tale would have been better told with more history and culture of the Auca Indians, as from an anthropologist's perspective. It would have been a more balanced coverage of the story. But otherwise well constructed.
As an interesting aside, it made me ponder what seems to be the prevailing...more
As an interesting aside, it made me ponder what seems to be the prevailing...more
This book is the heartbreaking and inspiring story of five missionaries who were killed in the process of reaching out to the Aucas with the Gospel. Its author, Elisabeth Elliot, was the wife of the most famous of the missionaries, Jim Elliot, and provides fascinating eye witness detail of the team and their intentions in reaching this violent people group. She also provides many excerpts from the journals of the young missionaries and letters written to their wives. This is an inspiring read.
What an amazing story, amazingly inspiring men and women serving God, amazing outcome! Some parts are so vivid and I love the added pictures to be able to see the men's faces who gave their lives to try and reach a savage tribe for God, and seeing some of the aftermath of the attack on them. The widows left behind leave an incredible legacy as well, noting their peace from God even immediately upon hearing news of their husbands' deaths, and explaining how they don't want this to be a sad story,...more
This is one of those "life changing" books. It was not, however, an "easy read." It is a little bit choppy and hard to follow at times, but well worth the effort.
I cried through several parts of it. The true accounts taken from these missionaries journals and the testimonies of their wives was so challenging. I highlighted and underlined all the way through.
Five men died for the cause of Christ. Years later, Elisabeth Elliot sat and talked with two of the men who had speared her husband and the...more
I cried through several parts of it. The true accounts taken from these missionaries journals and the testimonies of their wives was so challenging. I highlighted and underlined all the way through.
Five men died for the cause of Christ. Years later, Elisabeth Elliot sat and talked with two of the men who had speared her husband and the...more
Sep 11, 2009
Jody Elliott
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who isn't familiar with the story of Jim Elliot
Recommended to Jody by:
my in-laws
I thought I knew the story of the 5 missionaries killed at Palm Beach, but after seeing the movie "The End of the Spear", I realized I didn't know it hardly at all. There is SO much to this story. It didn't end with the death of the missionaries. God most definitely works in mysterious ways. I also watched the documentary called "Through Gates of Splendor", which is fabulous. It contains interviews with the missionaries' wives, children and friends. Now I am reading the book "End of the Spear" b...more
Heartbreaking, but I feel so much love for the women who were SO STRONG in this book. Felt a little too much like a National Geographic documentary, but it was amazing.
Favorite Quotes: 'The God who could take a murderer like Moses, and an adulterer like David and a traitor like Peter and make of them strong servants of His is a God who can also redeem a savage people.'
'The one who laid earths foundations and settled it's dimensions knows where the lines are drawn.'
'I dethrone Him in my heart if...more
Favorite Quotes: 'The God who could take a murderer like Moses, and an adulterer like David and a traitor like Peter and make of them strong servants of His is a God who can also redeem a savage people.'
'The one who laid earths foundations and settled it's dimensions knows where the lines are drawn.'
'I dethrone Him in my heart if...more
May 27, 2007
Christa
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who wants to challenge their faith
I list this book in my "currently reading" shelf because I am constantly picking it up and reading a few pages.
This book is the memoirs and letters of Jim Elliot as put together by his wife Elisabeth. I first read this book as preparation for a mission trip to Poland. It was required reading. At that time I was just beginning my faith journey, so much of what is in this book just absolutely blew my mind. In many ways it still does, though I understand his persepctive much better now.
Through th...more
This book is the memoirs and letters of Jim Elliot as put together by his wife Elisabeth. I first read this book as preparation for a mission trip to Poland. It was required reading. At that time I was just beginning my faith journey, so much of what is in this book just absolutely blew my mind. In many ways it still does, though I understand his persepctive much better now.
Through th...more
Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, is best known for his quote:
"He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep
to gain that which he can never lose."
Because he and his missionary friends were killed in the river by the tribe they wanted to minister to, and he did end up giving his life for them, their custom was that whoever's blood ran through the river had to have his story told, so Elliot's wife, Elisabeth, and another missionary wife, now both widows with small children, stayed and forgave...more
"He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep
to gain that which he can never lose."
Because he and his missionary friends were killed in the river by the tribe they wanted to minister to, and he did end up giving his life for them, their custom was that whoever's blood ran through the river had to have his story told, so Elliot's wife, Elisabeth, and another missionary wife, now both widows with small children, stayed and forgave...more
This was a very interesting story of five missionaries and their wives who worked with various tribes in Ecuador, until they were all killed. It gave great insights, not only into what kind of people they were to volunteer to do that, but what it was like to meet and learn to get along with various primitive cultures. I never want to go into the jungles to meet primitives, even stone age people, but I quite enjoyed the vicarious experience.
Elisabeth Elliot writes the story of how her husband and four other men put bringing the Good News of Jesus to a remote tribe as their top priority. She uses excerpts from the men's journals and includes some of her own experiences. The men are brutally killed by the very people they were trying most to love. It is a true story that reveals the character of people who put serving the Lord even above their own lives.
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From the Author's Web Site: My parents were missionaries in Belgium where I was born. When I was a few months old, we came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, not far from Philadelphia, where my father became an editor of the Sunday School Times. Some of my contemporaries may remember the publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials....more
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“I have one desire now - to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it.”
—
161 people liked it
“God is God. I dethrone Him in my heart if I demand that He act in ways that satisfy my idea of justice. It is the same spirit that taunted, "If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross." There is unbelief, there is even rebellion, in the attitude that says, "God has no right to do this to five men unless...”
—
33 people liked it
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Sep 07, 2012 08:49pm