My perspective on the five missionary martyrs was shaped by the time I lived with the Waodani. My wife, Rachelle, and daughter, Natalia, and I lived with them for 1½ years before Rachelle got sick and we had to return to the U.S. in 2001.

Author Nate Dell and Family

In ways deeper than most Christians understand, Jesus is truly the redeemer and savior of the Waodani, for his story defined a way out of their killing system—the Creator was a Father who allowed His Son to be killed and did not seek revenge.

We recently passed the 50th anniversary of the spearing of the five missionary martyrs. This has become the beginning, middle and end of the Waodani story in the minds of many Christians who know the story. However, those of us in our household prefer to view it as a celebration of the result of 50 years of Jesus’ story on Waodani life—and that story has just begun.

I believe the story of Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming and Jim Elliot was used to impact the world. On the other hand, it’s the story of Jesus that impacted the Waodani. Just as the story of these five now-famous men has rippled down through history to impact generations of missionaries who went into the far reaches of the planet, the story of Jesus has rippled through generations of Waodani life as well. That fact was brought home to me one day as I hiked from one village to another with an elderly man named Dyuwi.

As we hiked along, I was treated to several stories triggered by the spot we were at along the trail. “A herd of white-lipped peccary came through here one time,” or “I saw a jaguar once, just over there, face to face,” were common stories shared with me along the way every time I hit the trail with the Waodani. It seemed natural in its place, with a rhythm and reasons similar to the stories I’d swapped with fishermen and hunters back in Colorado.

Dyuwi

“We danced and we ate, and we danced and we ate. And then we went and speared a bunch of cowode (outsiders),” he said simply.

I looked up at his face, startled. Yes, I had heard right—they went on a murdering raid! In my many interactions with this gentle, humble servant of a man, I had forgotten that he had been a killer. In fact, this man had at one time driven a spear into the body of one of those five famous missionaries. I had never felt so poignantly the extent of transformation possible through the message of Jesus and his love.

It is often said that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church. There is little doubt that this is the case amongst the Waodani. Yet in honoring those five men who gave their lives that day, we often forget there are others who came afterward and gave their lives in a different way—not by dying for the Waodani, but rather by living with the Waodani for Christ.

It’s hard to imagine the courage of the first Waodani believers who, after they understood the story of Jesus, forbade their families to avenge their deaths and went on to preach the gospel of peace to all who would hear, both friend and foe.

The list of dedicated missionaries echoes in the prayers of Waodani believers almost every Sunday and rings out in the stories shared around their cooking fires. That is all the recognition most of these men and women have ever sought, but nowhere near what they deserve.

Kinta and Ana

Principal among these are the translators of the Waodani New Testament, Catherine Peeke and Rosie Jung who dedicated the majority of their adult lives to this work. Patricia Kelley also spent 20 years teaching Waodani to read and developing invaluable literacy materials. My in-laws, Jim and Kathie Yost and their kids, spent 10 years living with the Waodani as well, and among other things, Jim was highly influential in securing Waodani land rights.

Although the faithful service of these people is rarely recognized outside the tribe, the Waodani pray for them daily. It is people like these who helped carve the foundation of today’s Waodani church by painting Christ into the lives of the Waodani.

When people ask me about the health of the Waodani church today, I often hesitate. As products of our own shared culture and experiences, Americans may look at the Waodani church and not like it very much. There is rarely a formally recognized pastor or leadership. There may or may not be a church building. On any given Sunday some of the men may be off hunting or the women at the garden.

However, at each village I visited, there were groups of believers who were reading the Bible and praying, or someone who would stand and give testimony to God’s role in their life. At times it was simply a family who, by the way they lived and the testimony they shared, left little doubt that the Holy Spirit was guiding their lives. It is a strong foundation that was built over these last 50 years. I believe there will be a large wing in the heavenly mansions that will shout of God’s glories in the Waodani tongue. That is not to say there aren’t challenges ahead.

In my mind, the Waodani church is in a transition phase based on generational differences. The older generation—the one to which Dyuwi belongs—lived with the fear and ugly violence of the old ways. They are the pioneers who courageously turned away from that system to walk God’s trail. In many ways becoming a Christian was defined by a cessation of killing.

I remember a time when I was listening in on an interview with one of the elderly Waodani men and an American reporter. A translator was assisting as he asked this man what Jesus meant to him today. His reply was telling, “I quit killing, what else do you want?”

There is no overstating the incredible transformation that ceasing killing was to these elder Waodani, and I have seen the way that decision reached hearts and bears fruit in these lives. However, today’s younger generation has never lived within that system.

New Waodani Church

Many of the issues influencing the Waodani church are issues affecting the entire Waodani culture. Issues like the preservation of their land rights, oil exploration, illegal timber harvesting, and who provides the education in the village all have huge influences on the integrity of Waodani culture and thus the church as well.

Nonetheless, I’m optimistic about the future for three main reasons. First is the prevalence of prayer and Scripture reading within the home. As I traveled from village to village staying in schools or homes in different parts of the territory, I more often than not fell asleep to the sound of the Scriptures being read and prayers being offered up. Most times it was the older Christians reading to their children and grandchildren. This is even now bearing fruit.

Secondly, there are several Waodani men who are basically traveling preachers and evangelists. My latest report was that Tomo had just returned from a five-month journey downriver to preach and teach to some of the more remote villages. He is not alone in his efforts.

Thirdly, the Waodani Bible Institute has now been successfully in operation for more than five years under the leadership of Reynaldo Bernal. This is having a positive effect on the teaching and training of Waodani young people. It is a bilingual classroom where the Scriptures are taught both in Spanish and Waodani. Many students are graduating with a deeper understanding of the gospel and are returning to their villages able to step into leadership roles.

With the living and active Word of God in their mother tongue, fruitful evangelism and strong Bible teaching, I believe the Waodani church is on solid footing and will remain that way well into the future.