“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose,” and thus began the narrative of The Jim Elliot Story as told by the Grace Baptist Ministry Team of Plymouth.
Under the direction of Pam Mechling the GBMT presented a mini-musical to the residents and their guests at Miller’s Assisted Living. The musical told the true story of five missionaries who were killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador in the mid-1950’s.
The Grace Baptist Ministry Team is made up of 7th – 12th grade students at Grace Baptist School of Plymouth. Five male students portrayed the five martyred missionaries and five female students played the missionary’s wives. The other students filled in as cast and chorus.
Using actual diary entries from the missionaries, Scripture, hymns, and dialogue the GBMT told the remarkable story of five missionaries who eagerly reached out to the natives of Ecuador. The Auca people turned on these men after the men thought they were making progress in befriending them. The five men: Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian and Ed McCully were killed in one brutal attack as they were trying to food and gifts with the natives. However, because of their faithfulness to God’s calling many young people around the world became Christians and felt called to mission work after hearing of the men’s conviction to reach the Aucan people.
Following the mini-musical the students took time to greet each resident and guest and took time to visit. Students included: Isaac Chambers, Jarod Large, Brianna Hum, Jarryn Humphrey, Trinity Duhnevily, Valerie Drummond, McKenna Large, Hanna Elliott, Abe Elliott, Willie Reed, Isaiah Chambers, Caleb Stillson, ConorRusa, Lilly Wagoner, Sara Stillson, Hannah Stillson, and Grace Chambers. If you are interested in seeing this moving mini-musical, the Grace Baptist Students will have a school program on Friday evening, December 8th at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
Photo Caption: Grace Baptist Ministry Team members portraying five martyred missionaries and their wives are from left to right: back row – Jarod Large, Jim Elliot; Caleb Stillson, Ed McCully; Isaac Chambers, Nate Saint;Willie Reed, Pete Fleming; and Isaiah Chambers, Roger Youderian. Playing their wives: front row – Brianna Hum, Elizabeth Elliot; Trinity Duhnovily, Marilou McCully; Jarryn Humphrey, Marjorie Saint; Hanna Elliott, Olive Fleming; and McKenna Large, Barbara Youderian. Director Mrs. Pam Mechling is seen at the piano.
