Customer Reviews

Through Gates of Splendor

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elisabeth Elliot masterfully journals the account of the 5 young missionaries enthusiastic outreach for Indian tribes in Ecuador, starting with their calling and arrival in Ecuador, working with the Quichas and some more accessible tribes and drawn to the bringing of the Gospel to the Auca, a tribe feared by all of their neighbors as lurking killers whose custom is to spy and ambush all outsiders. The men, with hearts burdened for the Auca, sought to befriend them and give them the Gospel. The account leaves no doubt that these men and their wives were led by the Lord and even though the outcome was not what was hoped for, Mrs. Elliott's book is inspirational in the enthusiasm that these dedicated servants of the Lord went about to reach the Auca, as well as the widows' total reliance on their relationship with Jesus Christ after the men were killed to continue in their ministries to serve and bring the Gospel to the Ecuadorian Indians.

Highly recommended for home-schoolers, teenagers and today's youth in need of heroes.

I read this book twenty years ago when I lived in Ecuador for a short time. I attended a wonderful non-denominational church in Quito and one evening after the service a woman next to me introduced herself to me and we had a wonderful chat after church. Her name was Rachael Saint and she was the sister of Nate Saint. Needless to say I was honored to meet this woman dedicated not only to Christ but also committed to continuing the spreading of Chrisitanity to the Amazon Indians. Within a few days I got my hands on Elizabeth Elliot's book and could not put it down until I was done. It is a compelling account of these five missionaries and their dedication to spreading the gospel to the Amazon Indians. For the last few years I have been trying to find the title of this book and going through old correspondance was elated to find a reference noted "Through the Gates of Splendor". I plan to not only read this again but share with my high school bible class I teach and to also read the book "Jungle Pilot". I strongly encourage everyone to read this book. I think all readers will appreciate not only the courage these young men possessed but their devotion to the Lord and those they chose to bring to Christianiy. It might interest readers of this book that I was told by many, at our church in Quito, that Rachael Saint was one of the few white women that the Amazon tribes would allow into the jungles in the 60's and 70's. I can only assume that she was as committed to spreading the Gospel as her exceptional brother.

I first read this book when I was just fourteen. I was so touched by these families' total devotion to their missionary work, and their sense of purpose. The stoicism the widows displayed after the tragedy was a life lesson for all of us who have suffered the loss of so vital a loved one. I recalled the book recently (on my beloved mothers' death, and reread it, 37 years after I originally read it, and it again warmed my heart to the beautiful human spirit.

... This book completely changed my focus on missions and missiology. Elizabeth Elliot uses diaries, notes,and her own memories to walk you step by step through the lives of those 5 men who were martyred on a sandy beach in Ecuador. Throughout the book, my tension mounted as I followed Jim Elliot as he first learned of the Aucas' existence, and then felt and followed God's irresistible call through the jungles toward them. His passion and desire to see God glorified through the spreading of His word was empathetically and amazingly expressed through this book. These men understood that there was no such thing as a closed tribe or people group and they went fearlessly into the unknown. This book is focused on God and on what came from the murder of five of His servants. I wept while reading this book. It changed my view of serving God and it will certainly challenge yours!

The events in this book took place in the 1950's. A group of young men set out as missionaries to reach a previously un-reached savage tribe in South America. This books tells of the lives of the men and some of the events that lead up to their slaying. I did like the book "Shadow of The Almighty", (which is the life story of one of these men, Jim Elliot) better than this one, but only because it gave a more in depth look at what motivated a man to live up to what he said he believed. My favorite quote from that book sums up the whole of "Through Gates of Splendor" as well, and is as follows: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose". I also very strongly recommend the book "The Savage My Kinsman" (also by Elisabeth Elliot) which is a book that picks up where this one leaves off, of how Elisabeth went back to the same tribe of people who killed her husband to carry the message that her husband had set out to give. It's a must read!

"Through Gates of Splendor" is once again in the news in light of "End of the Spear." Both tell the true story of five young missionaries murdered while establishing a work among the Auca Indians. In this classic telling, Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of one of the murdered missionaries, tells the story from beginning to end. For some, "End of the Spear" jumped into the story in the middle, without the dynamic background of the formation of the team, the motivation of the team, and the unity of the team. Their loss and their surviving relatives' forgiving grace can only be understood in light of this background. Elliot tells the story with great passion--for her husband Jim, for the Auca Indians, and for Christ.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends."

The accounts of the martyrs on the beach are inspiring to say the least. They will challenge the most stalwart believer to ask, " Am I willing to give everything?"

Often we label books like these as being too graphic and descriptive for children, but I would like to suggest that allowing our young people to read of these accounts will do wonders for the church. Nate Saint, Jim Elliot their compatriots, and family are heroes to modern Christendom, and therefore should be offered to our children as such. Our children will lead the body of Christ in the years to come and they should be inspired by men and women of faith and courage. Give your child a "hero" that cared about nothing more than spreading the truth of Jesus Christ.

The Fate of the Yellow Woodbee may be a suitable introduction for your pre adolescent child. It is written by Dave and Neta Jackson and published by Bethany House. As always read these books to determine whether or not they are appropriate for your child.

"I seek not a long life but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus"- Jim Elliot

I originally reviewd this book January 3, 2001, as Andy. I cannot access the old review to remove it and wanted to add it to our current user name.

This is a remarkable story that only God could have written. I bought this book after hearing the story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint and the other missionaries at a recent Steven Curtis Chapman concert. Much of Chapman's Declaration CD was inspired by this story and I cannot say enough how incredible a story it is. This alone would make the story very readable. However, I was surprised to see how effectively Elisabeth Elliot weaves together the historical facts, her own experiences and the journal entries of the missionaries to create a book that is far more than simply readable. She has effectively portrayed these five men as men with an enormous passion for God's glory. A passion that they lived and died for. This is a book worth reading, several times. It is filled with inspirational quotes from the journals of the missionaries. This book allegedly pushed many Christians into the mission field. After reading it, I can see why.

This was an excellent story of five men and thier familys. It increased my faith by seeing how commited they were to following Gods will, no matter what the cost. They had such a desire to reach the Auca tribe of Ecuador and tell them the story of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

This book is truly amazing. Just to know and learn about what these men and their families went through to serve our Almighty Lord is heart warming. Jim Elliot is such a man of inspiration - as are the rest of the men and their families that were involved in the mission to the Auca indians. It brought me to tears in more ways than one. I highly recommend this book!