Nate Saint

Nate Saint (August 30, 1923-January 8, 1956) was a Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador, where he was killed by Huaorani indians.

Related Topics:
August 30 - 1923 - January 8 - 1956 - Ecuador - Huaorani

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Nate (born Nathanael), from his childhood was an avid flier – he began taking flying lessons in high school, and during World War II, he served in the Army. He enrolled in Wheaton College following the war, but dropped out before graduating in order to join the Mission Aviation Fellowship. In 1948, with his wife, Marjorie Farris, he began working in Ecuador, establishing a air base at an abandoned oil exploration camp, from which he supplied local missionaries with medicines, mail, and other necesities.

Related Topics:
World War II - Army - Wheaton College - Mission Aviation Fellowship - 1948

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In September of 1955, after the arrival of three teammates (Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, and Peter Fleming – Roger Youderian would join them a few months later), Saint found a Huaorani settlement. During the following months, Saint and the team lowered gifts to the indians in a basket tied to the plane, and soon were receiving gifts back as well. After three months of air contact, they decided to attempt to meet the people on the ground, and on January 3, 1956, they set up camp, using a portion of the beach as a landing strip. Their initial personal contact with the Huaorani was encouraging, but on January 8, 1956 the entire team was killed on the beach when armed Huaorani met them. Saint's body was found downstream.

Related Topics:
1955 - Jim Elliot - January 3 - 1956 - January 8

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Saint and his friends became instant heroes worldwide, and Life Magazine published a 10-page article on their mission and death. They are credited with sparking an interest in Christian missions among the youth of their time, and are still considered an encouragement to Christian missionaries working throughout the world. Today, a small school for the children of missionaries in Ecuador bears his name.

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The son of Nate Saint, Steve, now works with the Huaorani indians, and often travels around the world preaching the gospel, sometimes accompanied by the man who killed his father.

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