In the midst of her grief, she took her three-year-old daughter and journeyed into the rainforest to live among the Waodani.
She did not seek revenge, justice, or even answers to why the Waodani killed the five American missionaries.
Elisabeth went back to offer friendship and forgiveness.
From the creators of
The Insanity of God, Ends of the Earth
, and
Home by Sunday: The Casting Crowns Story
comes a feature-length documentary telling the incredible story of Elisabeth Elliot. This film will lay the groundwork for a feature film. This documentary will inspire and challenge audiences by going deeper into Elisabeth’s life and legacy.
Through our partnership with Fathom Events, this documentary will be released theatrically across the country, laying the groundwork for a large media package which will include this documentary, a feature-narrative film, and other compelling content.
The deaths of the five American missionaries at the hands of the Waodani tribe in 1956 is one of the most significant events in 20th century Christianity. For some it’s a story of faith—for others, it represents missionary triumphalism over indigenous cultures.
But at the heart of this story is a woman mourning the loss of her husband and struggling with how to move forward in the wake of tragedy.
Elisabeth’s return to the Wao tribe, alongside Rachel Saint, the sister of slain missionary pilot Nate Saint, is a pivotal moment in the life of a woman who would go onto become one of the most influential voices of our time.
The story of “Operation Auca” has been told countless times through many mediums. With each retelling, it becomes easier to sanitize the story and fill it with larger-than-life heroes. “She Went Back” will take a fresh look at this often overlooked moment in the story and examine doubt, despair, and how God meets us in our pain to accomplish the extraordinary.
As many people today are becoming disillusioned with the Church and faith, it’s easy to despair, but when we look back at those who have gone before us, we discover we are not alone.
The questions we are asking today aren’t new. And sometimes it’s comforting to know that people like Elisabeth Elliot have gone before us.
Elisabeth Elliot was a Christian author, speaker, and missionary who had a profound impact on the modern evangelical movement. Born in 1926, Elliot grew up in a devout Christian family and became deeply committed to her faith at a young age. She went on to study at Wheaton College, where she met her future husband, Jim Elliot.
Together, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot became missionaries to the Waorani Indians of Ecuador, where they worked to bring the gospel to a previously unreached people group. Tragically, Jim Elliot was killed in 1956 while attempting to make contact with the Waorani, leaving Elisabeth a young widow with a newborn child.
Despite this devastating loss, Elisabeth Elliot continued to serve as a missionary in Ecuador, working alongside the Waorani people and learning their language and culture. She eventually returned to the United States, where she became a popular speaker and author, sharing her testimony and the lessons she had learned through her experiences.
Throughout her career, Elisabeth Elliot was known for her strong faith and her commitment to the gospel. She wrote numerous books, including the best-selling "Through Gates of Splendor," which tells the story of her husband's death and their work among the Waorani.
Elisabeth Elliot passed away in 2015, but her legacy lives on through her writing and the countless lives she touched through her ministry. She continues to inspire and encourage Christians around the world to live out their faith with courage and conviction.
