End of the Spear is an amazing true account of how the sacrifice of five men’s lives changed a savage people group, and touched the hearts of all who heard about it.
Author, Steve Saint, grew up as a missionary kid among Ecuador’s Auca Indians (Auca means “violent ones” or “savage killers.” Their tribal name is Waodani.) When Steve was five, his father, Nate, and four other missionary men were brutally murdered by the people they were trying to reach for the Lord. That dreadful tragedy made the way for Christ to become known to this isolated Stone Age tribe.
Having been raised with the Waodani, Steve loved their culture and felt part of it. He became close friends with Mincaye, the man who had speared his father, and other Waodani who had been transformed by the love of Jesus. In the mid-1990s, Steve Saint and his wife and children went to live with the Waodani for a year and a half, to encourage them to take ownership of an airstrip and a new village, in order to survive as a people and not be controlled or dependent on outsiders. The teenage Saint children bonded with the tribal people during their time there, especially with Mincaye, who became known to them as Grandfather.
I was deeply impressed by how the love of Jesus transforms hearts, no matter what their background, language or level of education. But it wasn’t just the story of how Jesus changed the Waodani; He also changed the Saints and others who heard their story. This book is a solid reminder that God’s love changes lives.
Another fascinating part of this story is the visit of Mincaye and another Waodani Christian to the States, and also overseas, where they spoke to thousands of people about the life-changing love of God. It was also interesting to note Mincaye’s observation once in America: They also kill one another for no reason here in this country (paraphrase).
This is not a new book (published 2005) but it is powerful. It includes photos of Steve and his family with the Waodani people. A movie of the same name has also been made.