Missions has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. While there is no doubt that I have much to be thankful for about my childhood, one of the things that I most grateful for is that my parents did their best to keep missions and world evangelism before me and my sister, even from a young age. Dad and mom were never in vocational ministry, but they faithfully modeled serving the Lord, especially with their love for missionaries and their investment into world missions. They taught me how to give to faith promise missions, starting with $ .25 a week. Mom homeschooled my sister and me and our Bible curriculum would often include stories of missionaries and their work in some of the most difficult places around the world. Many of the songs that we learned were missions words to well-known hymn tunes. I became acquainted with such stories as Doctor in Pygmy Forest and Ti-Fam: Witch Doctor’s Daughter. I read biographies of men like C.T. Studd, David Livingstone, and Jim Elliot. I practically wore out the cassette tape of “Patch the Pirate Goes to the Jungle”, listening to the song “Here Am I, Lord” and all the while coming to realize that surrendering unconditionally to the Lord is best thing that I could ever do with my life. My exposure to missions was not just limited to the past. Along the way, I was privileged to meet missionaries such as Dalton Heath, who faithfully served the Lord for many years in the Micronesian islands and whom I consider a modern missionary hero.
The Lord used these influences in my life in meaningful ways, and I have no doubt that I am serving as a missionary today, in large part because of such consistent exposure to missions as a boy. Missionaries and the stories of their work for the Lord around the world, whether past or present, hold a special place in my heart and life.
It is for that reason that I am excited to introduce my first missions-themed series of blog posts entitled Through Their Eyes: Perspectives in Missions from Those Who Have Gone Before. In this series I will be sharing an excerpt from a missionary biography or autobiography that I have found particularly challenging or worthy of discussion, followed by my own commentary developing the particular point or perspective from both my own experiences and the principles and truths of God’s Word. The selections will all be taken from the same book, which will allow me every week, over the course of multiple weeks, to focus on one missionary and missions through their eyes.
The first installment in the series, will begin with the biography, Jungle Pilot: The Life and Witness of Nate Saint by Russell T. Hitt. Many people are acquainted with Jim Elliot and “Operation Auca” (in which Nate Saint took part); yet fewer know the crucial role that Nate Saint filled in opening up pioneer missions work in the interior of Ecuador before “Operation Auca” ever began. His story is a powerful testimony of surrender and diligence in using his talents and abilities for the Lord. After reading Jungle Pilot, I wrote the following review:
This was one of the most spiritually challenging books I have read in a long time. I greatly appreciated the fact that the author included so much Nate’s personal journals and correspondence in the narrative. It gave great insight into Saint’s perspective on life and ministry and his constant pursuit of doing God’s will. Seeing these glimpses into his heart — his passion to know God, to do His will, to use every talents and ability to take the Gospel to the unreached tribes, and his keen insight into life, ministry, and missionary work — all were a challenge to me personally.
Before reading the book, I only knew of Nate Saint as the missionary pilot who was martyred along with Jim Elliot and three others. After reading his biography, I feel like I know Nate Saint the man, and not just his occupation.
So with that introduction and the groundwork laid, let me invite you join me over the next 10-12 weeks as we explore missions through the eyes of the jungle pilot. It is my prayer that the Lord will use these glimpses into the heart of Nate Saint to stir of all who read, as He did me, with the need and high privilege of serving Him in foreign missions.
Good stuff!