JAARS Pilots Recount Their Experiences Following Martyred Missionaries Into Ecuador at Special JAARS Day Program March 4

For more information, contact:
Arthur Lightbody
JAARS Media Relations Officer
1-704-843-6048
arthur_lightbody@sil.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WAXHAW, N.C. — March 6, 2006 — Four pilots who followed mission pilot Nate Saint into Ecuador after his death at the end of Waodani native spears spoke before 200 guests in a special JAARS Day program on March 4 at the JAARS center in Waxhaw. On January 8, 1956, in the Amazonian jungles, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, and Roger Youderian, lost their lives an a sandy river beach. That story riveted the nation and is now portrayed in a feature movie, "End of the Spear.”

Panel moderator Arthur Lightbody asked veteran JAARS pilot Bob Griffin if he felt fear in flying into Waodani territory just weeks after the murders. He responded, “You don’t think about things like that. You have a job to do, and God’s called you, so you go do it. If God calls me to be a martyr, that’s my calling. Meanwhile, I’m going to be busy here doing what God wants me to do.”

The other pilots who recounted their experiences were Don Smith, Roy Gleason and Roger Krenzin. Following the deaths of the five, Rachel Saint, Nate Saint’s sister, and other Bible translators with Wycliffe Bible Translators, lived among the Waodani to translate Scripture into their language. The four pilots told how the Waodani follow those teaching and have became evangelist themselves, telling others of Jesus’ love and to stop killing.

The normal JAARS Day open house activities followed and included a well-attended detailed presentation on the Waodani by Roger Krenzin.

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