“End of the Spear” – Movie & Book
Steve Saint
Mike Dunn’s special guest on “Quest for Character” was Steve Saint, the author of “End of the Spear”.
Steve Saint was born and raised in Ecuador where his parents were missionaries. His father, Nate Saint, was the “Jungle Pilot” who was one of five young men killed in 1956 by the Waodani Indians (known as Aucas) whom they were trying to reach with the gospel. Steve founded and currently leads the ministry I-TEC (Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center) with the vision of finding better ways of doing missions and giving indigenous God-followers the tools they need to fulfill their role in the Great Commission. Steve has authored three inspiring books: The Great Omission, End of the Spear and Walking His Trail.
In 1956, five American missionaries were killed by members of an Ecuadoran tribe called the Waodani. The Americans had been trying to penetrate the tribe’s isolated culture, befriend its members, and bring them to Christ, but instead met their deaths at the hands of the Waodani’s spears. The story could have easily ended there, another violent clash between disparate peoples. But that was only the beginning. In a decision that would have been unimaginable to most people, the wives and children of the murdered missionaries moved into the Waodani village and helped to care for them, successfully forging a friendship that transformed all of them.
Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the murders, the film “End of the Spear” tells the story of Steve Saint–whose father was one of the murdered missionaries and whose mother and aunt lived with the Waodani–and Mincaye (called Mincayani in the movie), the man who killed Saint’s father. Mincaye is now a surrogate grandfather to Steve Saint’s children–the grandchildren of the man he killed.
Be sure to listen to “Quest for Character with Mike Dunn” on TruthTalk AM 630 KJSL Radio. The program is LIVE Tuesday nights at 6pm, rebroadcast Thursday at 6pm, Saturday 6am and Sunday 7pm.
Steve Saint website
