An Interview with Elisabeth Elliot

Summary

In this insightful interview, Elizabeth Elliot, a renowned Christian author and speaker, reflects on her remarkable journey from a jungle missionary to an influential public figure. She discusses the unexpected path that led her to write books, her life at Wheaton College, and her deep connection with her late husband, Jim Elliot. She shares powerful lessons on language learning, living with Christ, and finding purpose in everyday actions. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time with Christ and making choices that reflect one's devotion, challenging listeners to align their lives with their spiritual calling.

Takeaways

• 😀 Elizabeth Elliot's journey to becoming a respected author and speaker was unexpected. She was a jungle missionary before being asked to write her first book, which led to further opportunities.
• 😀 Her speaking career began after writing books, which led to invitations to speak, connecting her writing with her speaking abilities.
• 😀 Elizabeth's time at Wheaton College was marked by a rigorous academic and spiritual environment. The campus was smaller, and the dining hall offered limited options.
• 😀 Jim Elliot, Elizabeth’s husband, was a disciplined and talented man. He excelled in academics, athletics, and spiritual leadership, which greatly attracted Elizabeth to him.
• 😀 Elizabeth and Jim Elliot's initial mission plans to enter the jungle involved navigating a remote area by canoe with their baby, but the plan changed after Jim was killed.
• 😀 After Jim's death, Elizabeth continued their mission by moving into the jungle with her daughter to work with the people who had killed her husband.
• 😀 Elizabeth learned the language of the Alka (Ala) tribe, reducing it to writing after receiving linguistics training. This was crucial for further communication with the tribe.
• 😀 Elizabeth’s decision to go back to the Alka tribe was inspired by her deep faith and belief that God had led her to this task, despite the danger and the tragedy of her husband’s death.
• 😀 Jim Elliot’s original mission plan was to fly into the tribe, but Nate Saint, the pilot, devised a plan to land and make direct contact with the tribe to reduce hostility.
• 😀 Elizabeth emphasizes living 'in company with Christ,' meaning every aspect of life, from mundane tasks to important work, is meant to be an offering to God.
• 😀 Time management and prioritization are key. Elizabeth challenges students to consider how much they value their relationship with Christ and to prioritize time for devotions and spiritual growth, even over other activities like social events.

Q & A

What was the pivotal event that led Elizabeth Elliot to become an author and speaker?

The pivotal event was the tragic death of her husband, Jim Elliot, and four other missionaries in Ecuador in 1956. This event led to Elizabeth being invited by a publisher to write a book, which set her on the path of becoming an author and public speaker.

What did Elizabeth Elliot expect her life's path to be before she became an author?

Before becoming an author, Elizabeth Elliot expected to spend her life as a jungle missionary in Ecuador, working in the remote areas without any intention of writing books or speaking publicly.

How did Elizabeth Elliot describe her time at Wheaton College?

Elizabeth Elliot described Wheaton College as a much smaller campus with a more rigorous environment. She highlighted the daily chapel sessions, limited meal options, and the high standards expected of students, such as a strict chapel attendance policy and limited food choices.

What attracted Elizabeth Elliot to Jim Elliot when they first met at Wheaton College?

Elizabeth was attracted to Jim Elliot because of his combination of physical attractiveness, intellectual achievement, spiritual leadership, and personal discipline. He was also mysterious to her because he never dated anyone, focusing instead on his academic and spiritual goals.

What was the challenge Elizabeth faced when learning a new language in Ecuador?

The major challenge Elizabeth faced was learning the Western jungle language, the Colorado language, which had never been written down. She applied her linguistic training to document the language, moving from a phonetic alphabet to a formal system of writing, which was a significant task.

What inspired Elizabeth Elliot to continue her mission work with the people who killed her husband?

Elizabeth felt that continuing the mission was the next step God was calling her to take. Despite the immense personal loss, she believed she was meant to live among the people who had killed her husband and share the gospel with them. This decision was influenced by her deep sense of obedience to God's will.

How did Elizabeth Elliot feel about her husband Jim Elliot's decision to attempt to reach the Alca tribe?

Elizabeth was initially thrilled with the idea of traveling to the Alca tribe by canoe, alongside her husband and their baby, despite the dangers. However, when the plan changed to having the men travel by plane, she was devastated but supported the decision, knowing it was God's plan.

What does Elizabeth Elliot mean by 'living in company with Christ'?

Living in company with Christ, according to Elizabeth, means living every moment of life intentionally in alignment with God's will. Whether doing mundane tasks or fulfilling major roles, she emphasizes that every action can be an offering to God when done with a Christ-centered mindset.

How does Elizabeth Elliot suggest students and believers manage their time for spiritual growth?

Elizabeth suggests that it's not about finding time but about allocating it. People make time for what they truly prioritize, so if spiritual growth is important, sacrifices may need to be made, such as cutting back on non-essential activities to spend time with God.

What key lesson does Elizabeth Elliot impart regarding balancing life and faith?

The key lesson Elizabeth imparts is that every action, no matter how small or large, should be done with the intention of serving God. She emphasizes that living intentionally for Christ means making time for Him, even in the midst of busy or challenging circumstances.