News
Wire Story

Shuttle Mission to Include Missionary History

Astronaut plans to take a piece of a plane used by Nate Saint, who was slain in Ecuador in 1956.

Christianity Today August 28, 2009

When the space shuttle Discovery next takes flight, perhaps later this week, it will carry a piece of missionary history with it into outer space.

On board Discovery will be a piece of the plane used by members of Missionary Aviation Fellowship, who were killed more than half a century ago in Ecuador by Waodani tribesman, the ministry announced.

Astronaut Patrick Forrester contacted the Idaho-based ministry about carrying a memento from the plane that had been used by pilot Nate Saint and four other missionaries before their deaths in 1956.

Their story was depicted in the 2006 movie End of the Spear.

“Bringing attention to and renewing interest in missions would be a great result of this experience,” said Forrester, who was born the year after the missionaries were killed, in a statement. “My deepest intent is to honor Nate Saint, the Saint family and all missionaries around the world.”

The item from the battery box of the plane was approved by NASA and will be returned to Missionary Aviation Fellowship with a certificate showing it was part of a space flight.

Forrester, who has served as a short-term missionary, learned about the missionaries when he attended a concert of Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman, who told the audience their story. Some of the tribesmen involved in the killings were later converted to Christianity by relatives of the slain missionaries.

NASA announced Wednesday that the shuttle could launch Friday, depending on weather conditions. The trip to the international space station had been postponed due to a valve malfunction.

Copyright © 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Mission Aviation Fellowship has more details on its website.

Christianity Today‘s coverage of The End of the Spear and other developments include:

Martyrs to the Spear | Fifty years after five missionaries were murdered in Ecuador, their story still inspires. (March 10, 2006)

The Rest of the Story | Half a century after killing five missionaries, the ‘Auca’ find themselves on the cutting edge of modern missions. (Jan. 18, 2006)

Did They Have to Die? | Forty years after five missionaries lost their lives in the Ecuadorian jungle, the killers explain what really happened. (September 16, 1996)

Martyrs’ Lost Plane Recovered in Ecuador | It’s likely the plane flown by Nate Saint just before he was killed by Auca Indians in 1956. (August 15, 1994)

Our Latest

The Bulletin

An Alleged Drug Boat Strike, the Annunciation Catholic School Shooting, and the Rise of Violence in America

The Bulletin discusses the attack on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat and the recent school shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in the context of politics of violence.

The AI Bible: ‘We Call It Edutainment’

Max Bard of Pray.com details an audience-driven approach to AI-generated videos of the Bible, styled like a video game and heavy on thrills.

Review

A Woman’s Mental Work Is Never Done

Sociologist Allison Daminger’s new book on the cognitive labor of family life is insightful but incomplete.

News

In Rural Uganda, a Christian Lab Tech Battles USAID Cuts

Orach Simon tests blood and finds hope amid suffering.

From Our Community

Storing Up Kingdom Treasure

Greenbriar Equity Group chairman and founding partner Regg Jones urges fellow Christians to invest in the next generation of Christ followers.

Gen Z Is More Than Just Anxious

What the church gets wrong—and what it can get right—about forming a generation shaped by screens and longing for purpose.

Don’t Pay Attention. Give It.

Attention isn’t a resource to maximize for productivity. It’s a gift that helps us love God and neighbor.

Faith-Based Education Is Having a Moment

I’m excited to see churches—particularly Black congregations—step boldly into teaching.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube