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As a child, Saint grew up in a remote area of Ecuador, near the Amazon River, as the son of martyred missionary Nate Saint, who also was a pilot and one of five young men killed by the Woadani Indians in the mid-1950s, while seeking to make initial personal contact with the then-violent tribe.
Saint’s mother, along with the four other young widows, made the decision to stay and raise their families alongside the natives. Today, Saint considers many of them his family and embraces them fully, as evidence of the miracle of God’s grace and healing. The story of his family’s journey and their impact on the Woadani and on millions of others who have witnessed this journey of conversion and compassion, is captured in the major motion picture ‘The End of The Spear,’ as well as the documentary “Ultimate xxxxxxxxx.”
Steve returned to live amongst the Woadani, at their request, in the 1990s, after attending college and starting a family in the U.S. His direct experience with this people group, which by then had embraced a life of non-violence, led him to take a unique approach to creating technology including a portable dental chair and a forthcoming ‘flying car,’ that would empower remote people groups to become autonomous and fund their own evangelism efforts.
During a person visit to his corporate offices, Saint recently shared with Pastor Crawford how he has learned new parenting and mentoring techniques for families to use, from the Woadani. For example, when a father of the tribe hunts for food, he returns with the game and drops it on the ground near his home in the village. The wife calls the children and begins to clap, saying ‘meat has been provided,’ as she begins to prepare the meal. As each male child reach age 6 or 7, he begins to look for game himself—maybe a bird or a squirrel. When taken, he brings the prey to his mother and drops it, just as his father had. She calls the siblings around, claps, and prepares the meal. Thus the sons learn the skill and patterns of behavior, by modeling.
What a simple but powerful principle for the family. We learn best and quickest by having an example to follow, and by being praised for the right attitude and behavior.
That same principle comes across with clarity in the Song of Solomon—the power of example and praise. I hope the book, “In Celebration of Love, Marriage & Sex” will bring strength to your marriage and family, and that yours will be an example worth following. I also urge you to read Saint’s book, ‘The End of the Spear,’ or to view this film—both are amazing examples of the power of family and love.
Author - Pastor Gary Crawford and Kay Quinn
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