Jim Elliot – A Call to Go

In 1949 Jim graduated from Wheaton College and spent the next three years teaching, studying, traveling, and preaching. God used this time to grow him and confirm his call to go overseas to Ecuador. 

He taught at a school near his parent’s house in Portland, Oregon, for some time. He continued to read about missions and went to a summer camp held by Wycliff Translators on how to learn unwritten tribal languages. He began to travel all over America to preach at different churches and to hold revivals. God used him in a significant way, but he could not resist God’s calling for him to go overseas. He saw the need in America but realized that there was an even greater need in other countries around the world! 

Here is an excerpt from his journals, showing his passion for getting the Gospel to others around the world. “Does it sound harsh so to speak? Surely those who know the great passionate heart of Jehovah must deny their own loves to share in the expression of His. Consider the call from the Throne above, ‘Go ye’ and from round about,’Come over and help us’ and even the call from the damned souls below, ‘Send Lazarus to my brothers, that they come not into this place.’ Impelled, then, by these voices, I dare not stay at home while the Quichuas perish. So what if the well-fed churches in the homeland need stirring? They have the Scriptures, Moses, and the Prophets, and a whole lot more. Their condemnation is written on their bank books and in the dust on their Bible covers.” 

In February of 1952, Jim Elliot and Peter Fleming left California aboard a ship heading for Ecuador. He was very excited about what lay ahead for him. They arrived in Guayaquil in a little over three weeks and then flew up to Quito to begin their language studies. 

In Quito, they spent their days taking classes and practicing Spanish. They were able to learn about the culture and spend time living with an Ecuadorian family. During this time, two important things occurred which were going to change his life. One, he decided that God wanted him to reach the Auca Indians, and two, he began to consider the idea of marrying a girl named Betty. 

Have you ever consider that God might have you serve in another place or country other than America?