Jim Elliot

Jim was the son of Fred and Clara Elliot, who trained him up in the ways of the Lord and teaching him to let his actions show the Glory of God and to avoid legalism in the expression of his faith. He accepts the Lord at age six and tells his mother he is ready for the Lord's return at any time. His upbringing stresses honesty and obedience and also gives him a love for the outdoors. As a teen, he is tall and thin, with a muscular good look that catches the girls' eyes. However, he is wary of girls, claiming that they only "lured men from their goals." Intellectually, he catches on to things quickly and freely offers his help to other students.

As an adolescent, he gained a reputation as "oratorical king" in high school because of his speech giving talent. Even in school...