THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JIM ELLIOT

Faith continued to be a large part of Jim’s life at Wheaton College, a small Christian school near Chicago. Jim majored in Greek to continue his passion for studying the Bible. Jim was also on the wrestling team at Wheaton. Jim struggled academically, mostly because he prioritized biblical studies over academic studies. While at Wheaton, Jim met Elisabeth Howard, whom he would later marry.

            Jim discovered a passion for missions while at Wheaton. He was a member, and at one time the president, of the Student Foreign Missions Fellowship, where he and fellow students prayed and sent support to missionaries. During the summers he traveled to neighboring states to speak and rally support for missionaries.

            Jim graduated Wheaton with the highest honors in 1949. He left college without a plan for the future and a passion for missions. After a few months of unemployment, he pursued work through Camp Wycliffe, a camp devoted to missions through translation.