Personal Testimony
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PERSONAL TESTIMONY Story by Christmas McGaughey Frank and Marie Drown: Serving God Since the End of the Spear Most people choose not to relive the most Their ministry to Ecuador continues from painful day of their lives. But Frank Drown afar. With the End of the Spear movie recounts it regularly, and he does it with renewing interest in the Drowns’ book, joy. Not with joy in having suffered the loss Mission to the Headhunters, proceeds from of his five missionary friends, but joy in the book will be used to print the first-ever seeing Christ use surrendered lives to bring complete Bible in the Shaura language. others to eternal life. The Shaura now have 50 churches among Frank and Marie Drown were missionaries them, Frank estimated. The New Testament in the same Ecuadorian jungle as Nate Saint, has already been translated, and soon, a Marie and Frank Drown Jim Elliot, and the three other Christian complete Bible with both the Old and men whose deaths were retold in the movie New Testaments. “We feel it’s very impor- End of the Spear, released earlier this year. “The goal of our lives tant for the pastors to be able to read the Now in their 80s, the Drowns have never whole Bible,” Frank said. Frank and Marie stopped serving God and are currently should not be for were among the first to begin developing a working to establish a radio station for written language for Ecuadorian tribes 50 unreached Native Americans in Canada. ourselves but to do years ago. When they first met the Shaura God is still using the couple’s story, and people, the tribe’s population was nearing the story of the men’s deaths, to encourage the will of God and extinction—as were many of the jungle Christians and to spread His Word both in tribes—mostly because of the “back and Canada and in the Ecuadorian jungle. enjoy it. ” forth” revenge killing. Those who were we love Him. We do it with all our hearts once murderers and voluntarily controlled In January of 1956, Frank led the search and with joy, and He’ll bring joy to us.” by evil spirits are now following Christ and party to find the men’s bodies; he then taking His message to other tribes. “It’s a performed the burial ceremony. “Because Frank and Marie stayed a total of 37 years great blessing to see how God changed the I buried the men, people see the film and in the Ecuadorian jungle. Over time, they people,” Frank said. “They used to be war- I become the connection. It’s opened so were able to reach the Shaura and other ring, and that’s gone. They used to shrink many doors—more than I can count,” he tribes with the Gospel, train up leaders heads, and that’s gone.” Their population said. “That was probably the hardest day in the church there, and turn over the and lifespan has increased, and now many of my life. I asked God, ‘Why didn’t You established ministry to the native believers. entire families name Christ as Savior. stop it?’ Later I realized God allowed it to They also helped improve the people’s way happen because He wanted to speak to of life through better farming, health, and The Christian life is not always easy, the the American people.” Many Americans electricity. The Drowns returned to the veteran missionary said. He encouraged were busy pursuing the American dream; States in 1982 and have continued to serve believers to seek God for how He would American churches were too focused on God. Asked about ministering in his later use them for His kingdom. “We have to their own programs and funding. years, Frank remarked, “That’s the time to read the Word and let it speak to us, open do it more: You’ve got more experience with our hearts and let God talk to us: Most “So many Americans are looking to make God.” The new radio station in Northwest people want to tell God what to do. Instead, money,” Frank said. “That should not be Ontario will broadcast the Bible and the we should be happy in what He gives us our goal in life; our goal should be to serve Gospel in three languages to indigenous to do and joyful that He allows us to work God with all we’ve got.” He added, “I don’t peoples whose culture is similar to the with Him.” believe God has a double standard for mis- jungle tribes of Ecuador. sionaries and non-missionaries. He expects The couple still work through Avant us to sacrifice and to serve Him. … The When Frank heard of the high suicide rate Ministries, the non-profit Christian goal of our lives should not be for ourselves among the young Native Americans of missions organization they have been with but to do the will of God and enjoy it.” Canada, he felt a conviction to help native since the 1940s. believers spread God’s Word through radio God is again using their story with renewed in their own tongue. “People need to hear Avant Ministries interest from the movie. “I think it’s chal- the Bible in their own language–that’s the (Frank and Marie Drown) lenging people to sacrifice for God. We’re language of the heart. They need to hear 10000 N. Oak Traffic Way not our own; we’ve been bought with a the Bible every day; that’s what we saw Kansas City, MO 64155 price,” Frank said. “We serve Him because really changed the Shaura people.” 1-816-734-8500 67.