Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Monday, November 22, 2004
Martyr Nate Saint’s widow dies (Nov 22,2004); 1956 missionary to the Aucas
Martyr Nate Saint’s widow dies; 1956 missionary to the Aucas
by Dan Wooding
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. (ANS)—Marjorie “Marj” Van Der Puy, widow of Nate Saint, who was martyred on “Palm Beach,” Ecuador, on January 8, 1956 by Auca (now called Waodani) Indians along with Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Ed McCully, and later married to the one-time president of HCJB, died in Florida on Monday, November 22 at the age of 81 after a courageous battle with cancer.
The wives of the murdered missionaries became known worldwide after the media picked up on the murders. Later many of the tribe became Christians. Probably the best-known book about the murders is Through Gates of Splendor (Tyndale, 1986) by Elisabeth Elliot, one of the widows.
Born to Christian parents in Clifton Hill, Mo., on June 11, 1923, Marj grew up in Idaho. She received Christ as her Savior at the age of 12 through a series of evangelistic meetings.
Photo courtesy of ASSIST News Service
Nate Saint
Marj attended the College of Idaho and Long Beach Junior College in California. Then she transferred to the University of Southern California and the California School of Nursing where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1947. She also completed her master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University in California in the mid-1970s.
Marj married her first husband, missionary pilot Nate Saint, in 1948. They went to Ecuador that same year to open up Mission Aviation Fellowship’s work in that country. Marj also served in nursing. Their three children, Kathy, Stephen and Philip, were born in Ecuador.
In January 1956, Nate and four of his co-workers were killed while attempting to take the Gospel to the Waodani Indians. Six months later, Marj and her young children moved from Shell to Quito to begin serving with HCJB World Radio.
“If I had to choose life’s work again, I’d choose the same way.”
Marj Van Der Puy
In 1966 she married Abe Van Der Puy, a widower with three children. His first wife, Dolores, had died of cancer.
Abe and Dolores had served with HCJB World Radio since 1945. He later became president of the mission (1962-1981), and worked in many key administrative positions. He went to be with the Lord on April 3, 2003.
Image courtesy of Every Tribe Entertainment
Beyond the Gates of Splendor is an award-winning documentary-drama detailing the true story of five young missionaries who were brutally speared to death by a savage Ecuadorian tribe in 1956—and the remarkable forgiveness and reconciliation that followed. The film will be released in select cities across the United States throughout 2005. Visit www.beyondthegatesthemovie.com for more information.
Marj’s ministries have included radio programming, accounting, medical work, running the mission’s guesthouse in Quito and helping in mission representation. She is survived by six married children: Lois Spragg (a former HCJB World Radio missionary), Mark Van Der Puy, Joel Van Der Puy, Kathy Saint Drown, Phil Saint and Steve Saint, president of Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center (I-TEC). She had 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Several years ago, when asked what her most satisfying experience was as a missionary, Marj replied, “Seeing young people make the same commitment to Christ as I had at their age and knowing how wonderful it is to be involved in something that will still be worthwhile a million years from now! If I had to choose life’s work again, I’d choose the same way.”
For information on making a memorial gift, contact I-TEC at 10575 SW 147th Circle Dunnellon, FL 34432, call (352) 465-4545 or e-mail I-TEC@I-TECusa.org.
by Dan Wooding
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. (ANS)—Marjorie “Marj” Van Der Puy, widow of Nate Saint, who was martyred on “Palm Beach,” Ecuador, on January 8, 1956 by Auca (now called Waodani) Indians along with Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Ed McCully, and later married to the one-time president of HCJB, died in Florida on Monday, November 22 at the age of 81 after a courageous battle with cancer.
The wives of the murdered missionaries became known worldwide after the media picked up on the murders. Later many of the tribe became Christians. Probably the best-known book about the murders is Through Gates of Splendor (Tyndale, 1986) by Elisabeth Elliot, one of the widows.
Born to Christian parents in Clifton Hill, Mo., on June 11, 1923, Marj grew up in Idaho. She received Christ as her Savior at the age of 12 through a series of evangelistic meetings.
Photo courtesy of ASSIST News Service
Nate Saint
Marj attended the College of Idaho and Long Beach Junior College in California. Then she transferred to the University of Southern California and the California School of Nursing where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1947. She also completed her master’s degree in education from Azusa Pacific University in California in the mid-1970s.
Marj married her first husband, missionary pilot Nate Saint, in 1948. They went to Ecuador that same year to open up Mission Aviation Fellowship’s work in that country. Marj also served in nursing. Their three children, Kathy, Stephen and Philip, were born in Ecuador.
In January 1956, Nate and four of his co-workers were killed while attempting to take the Gospel to the Waodani Indians. Six months later, Marj and her young children moved from Shell to Quito to begin serving with HCJB World Radio.
“If I had to choose life’s work again, I’d choose the same way.”
Marj Van Der Puy
In 1966 she married Abe Van Der Puy, a widower with three children. His first wife, Dolores, had died of cancer.
Abe and Dolores had served with HCJB World Radio since 1945. He later became president of the mission (1962-1981), and worked in many key administrative positions. He went to be with the Lord on April 3, 2003.
Image courtesy of Every Tribe Entertainment
Beyond the Gates of Splendor is an award-winning documentary-drama detailing the true story of five young missionaries who were brutally speared to death by a savage Ecuadorian tribe in 1956—and the remarkable forgiveness and reconciliation that followed. The film will be released in select cities across the United States throughout 2005. Visit www.beyondthegatesthemovie.com for more information.
Marj’s ministries have included radio programming, accounting, medical work, running the mission’s guesthouse in Quito and helping in mission representation. She is survived by six married children: Lois Spragg (a former HCJB World Radio missionary), Mark Van Der Puy, Joel Van Der Puy, Kathy Saint Drown, Phil Saint and Steve Saint, president of Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center (I-TEC). She had 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Several years ago, when asked what her most satisfying experience was as a missionary, Marj replied, “Seeing young people make the same commitment to Christ as I had at their age and knowing how wonderful it is to be involved in something that will still be worthwhile a million years from now! If I had to choose life’s work again, I’d choose the same way.”
For information on making a memorial gift, contact I-TEC at 10575 SW 147th Circle Dunnellon, FL 34432, call (352) 465-4545 or e-mail I-TEC@I-TECusa.org.
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