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Mincaye, one of the men who speared the missionaries, is now a Christian

But the next day, after the missionaries returned, a Waodani named Nenkiwi ("George" to the missionaries), caught unsupervised with a young Waodani female, blamed them. Enraged, the Waodani returned to the sandbar and slaughtered the unsuspecting missionaries. The lie came out only years later.

After lingering over the subsequent horror and heartbreak perhaps a touch too long, the film moves to its most compelling section, the decision by Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint, the strong-willed and assertive sister of Nate Saint, to live among the Waodani and share the gospel with them. Steve Saint, one of the children left fatherless, lived for a time among his father's killers, too.

But eventually, Elliot, now a famous speaker and author, had a disagreement with Saint about ministry philosophy and returned to America. Disappointingly, the documentary provides no details. (While the film provides copious detail about the sins of the Waodani, it is much more circumspect when it comes to the inevitable failings of the missionaries.) Rachel Saint assumed full responsibility for the tribespeople, increasing numbers of whom were becoming Christians, walking the "Jesus trail."

Steve Saint and Mincaye during the filming of the documentary

Fast forward to 1994. Rachel Saint has died of cancer, and the Waodani, nearly four decades after hearing the gospel, still seem bereft and dependent on Westerners. (Unfortunately, the makers of the documentary show little interest in why, which no doubt would be of great concern to anthropologists.) The Waodani ask the visiting Steve Saint to help them adapt to the encroaching outside world, and he agrees.

The film ends with powerful scenes of love between Saint family members and the Waodani who killed their father and grandfather. A more graphic presentation of the reconciling power of the gospel would be hard to find. Beyond the Gates then ends with some amusing but somewhat incongruous Coming to America-type cross-cultural observations from Mincaye, a diminutive Waodani who participated in the 1956 murders (but who is now called "Grandfather" by Steve Saint's son).

While light on missiological principles and on today's changed context for the North American missions movement, and skipping questions about what mistakes the missionaries might have made, Beyond the Gates is likely to appeal to young people raised on "extreme" sports and looking to go beyond myths and practice "authentic" discipleship. There are plenty of unreached people groups still out there, and plenty of challenges for a new generation. Here's hoping this fine documentary will spark even a fraction of the interest the actual events generated 50 years ago.

• Beyond the Gates of Splendor is now available on DVD at ChristianBook.com. A feature film about the 1956 events, End of the Spear, will release to theaters nationwide in January.
  
  

Stan Guthrie is a senior associate editor for Christianity Today and author of Missions in the Third Millennium: 21 Key Trends for the 21st Century (Paternoster, 2nd edition, 2005).

Talk About It

1. What did the missionaries do right—and wrong? What might you have done differently if you were in their shoes? How do we draw the line between sensibly avoiding danger and trusting God to care for us?
   
   
2. How did the film's portrayal of reconciliation affect you? What lessons might you learn from those portrayals? How might they affect your own life?
   
   
3. What is the proper balance of evangelism and social work?
   
   

The Family Corner

This film is rated PG-13 for some violent content and thematic elements. The documentary deals with difficult issues such as violence and murder in a sensitive, though at times emotionally wrenching, way. While ample historical footage gives us a clear portrayal of Christian grief, actual bodies are only seen from a distance, without the gore.

Photos © Copyright Every Tribe Entertainment

© Stan Guthrie 2005, subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

A ready-to-download Movie Discussion Guide related to this movie is available at ChristianityTodayMoviesStore.com.

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