This is an IHeart podcast.

And we continue here on our American stories,

and we love to tell stories about every facet of American life.

And periodically, those are faith stories, because we know that faith animates so many

Americans in their walk and in their day-to-day lives.

Elizabeth Elliott has been described as one of the most influential Christian women of

the 20th century.

Let's get right into the story. Here's Greg Hanglin.

Through Gates of Splendor is a 1957 best-selling book written by Elizabeth Elliott.

Upon release, the book was so popular that it competed with John F. Kennedy's profiles and courage in terms of sales.

Through Gates of Splendor tells the story of Operation Alka, an attempt by five American

missionaries, Jim Elliott, the author's husband, Pete Fleming, Ed McCulley, Pilot Nate St.

and Roger Udarian, a participant at the Battle of

the Bulge in World War II, to reach the Alka tribe of eastern Ecuador. All five men were killed

by the tribe. In 1967, a documentary film, also titled Through Gates of Splendor, was narrated by Elizabeth

Elliott herself.

Thanks to the folks at Vision Video, we are about to hear this story.

Here's Elizabeth Elliot.

The Republic of Ecuador, 3,000 air miles due south of New York City, is one of our friendly South American neighbor nations.

Kito, its capital city, is just below the equator, 9,000 feet up in the Andes.

This is where the story began.

At one time or another, all of us jungle missionaries

...