"End of the Spear" Movie Review

On Friday evening, End of the Spear, opened in local theaters. The movie is based on the true story of Nate Saint and the missionaries who were martyred in Ecuador in the mid-50's. The movie has been touted as a faith-based movie similar to The Passion of the Christ. It is supposed to show that Hollywood is hearing Christians as they demand more movies of the faith.

I had the awesome opportunity to spend a summer with Rachel Saint, Nate's sister, who, along with Elisabeth Eliot went back into the tribe that murdered their family members and helped win them to Christ. Rachel and I were at the Wycliffe Bible Translators training school in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1979. I can still feel the tingles of listening to Rach tell of her experiences in the jungles there and the victories that God won. But her great desire was to get back to the tribe which had become her family. She did, and finally died there in 1994.

The movie tells the story well. However, I was somewhat disappointed that the essence of faith was scirted somewhat. As a Christian, I could read it between the lines, but a non-Christian or someone who did not know the story might have a difficult time seeing the meaning of faith in the story. The story is told through the eyes of Nate's son, Steve Saint.

I viewed the movie at the Regal Cinemas in Concord (NH) and was disappointed as well at the previews. For a faith-based movie, the previews may have been a little out of line.

I would recommend this movie highly, despite my concerns.