Background In early 1956 Christian missionaries Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, and Jim Elliot lost their lives on "Palm Beach" on the banks of the Curaray River in a steamy jungle in Ecuador. They were brutally killed by an unreached tribe they had worked long and hard to reach with God's love. Many thousands of individuals have come to know Christ in a personal and living way and thousands of others have altered the direction of their lives as a result of the shocking massacre and the many articles and books written about it. Even the Auca Indians who thrust those fatal spears have seen a significant portion of their number come to know Jesus Christ. Content This unique book contains transcripts of four messages given by Jim Elliot before leaving for the mission field. The first two messages are hard-hitting straightforward talks to seventh and eighth-grade students. The first is about "Spiritual Desire" including its nature and how to increase it. The second discusses "The Effects of Sin in a Christian." The third message, entitled "Peter," is an exposition of 1 Peter 1:3. The fourth, "God's Prophet," traces the concept and role of a prophet with the primary focus being Jesus Christ, the Father's ultimate Prophet. Robert Lloyd Russell grew up in the same local church as Jim Elliot and was a friend of the Elliot family for many years. Jim was one of his childhood Sunday School teachers and there was a period of several weeks when Russell and his parents and siblings lived with the Elliots in their home. One of Jim's brothers, "Dr. Bob," officiated at Mr. Russell's wedding.
