On this day: Five missionaries martyred at Operation Auca

Today marks the 64th anniversary for the deaths of five young men doing mission work in Ecuador.

Five evangelical Christians were visiting the region to share the gospel with natives. The men, Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian, flew to the region, leaving gifts to the people on a regular basis.

The tribe they were attempting to reach, the Huaorani people, had been known to be violent and had a history of killing, but the group decided to make contact.

Beginning in September of 1955, the men flew over the tribe, dropping gifts along the way. After the tribe appeared to accept the gifts, but once the men established a nearby camp the following January. After five days at their camp, they were killed by five of the Huaorani people.

'We remember their sacrifice and are also thankful for what God has done since," Mission Aviation Fellowship Canada says.

Two days later, their remains were found and later buried by the United States Air Force Air Rescue Service.

Read more: Missionaries on wingshttps://www.chvnradio.com/news/missionaries-on-wings

Years after their deaths, missionaries were able to return and preach the gospel. Among them were Nate Saint's sister Rachel and Jim Elliot's widow, Elisabeth. Elisabeth went on to write 24 books after her husband's death. Several of those books were about Elliot and her own time with the Huaorani people. Youderian wife also returned to mission work after the death of her husband.

Mission Aviation Fellowship Canada also says there is a permanent memorial in Ecuador. The Saint's house and a replica of the plane used are both present in or near the village.

"Their legacy is one that underpins MAF history and continues to fuel our mission today," MAFC says.

Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Peter Fleming and Ed McCully were killed on Palm Beach, Ecuador.