Who Shall Ascend: Life of R. Kenneth Stachan Of Costa Rica

by Elisabeth Elliot

A religious biogrpahy

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

171 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

From the Author's Web Site: My parents were missionaries in Belgium where I was born. When I was a few months old, we came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, not far from Philadelphia, where my father became an editor of the Sunday School Times. Some of my contemporaries may remember the publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials.

Our family continued to live in Philadelphia and then in New Jersey until I left home to attend Wheaton College. By that time, the family had increased to four brothers and one sister. My studies in classical Greek would one day enable me to work in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing.

A year after I went to Ecuador, Jim Elliot, whom I had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In nineteen fifty three we were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Aucas were in that category -- a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death.

Our daughter Valerie was 10 months old when Jim was killed. I continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through a remarkable providence, I met two Auca women who lived with me for one year. They were the key to my going in to live with the tribe that had killed the five missionaries. I remained there for two years.

After having worked for two years with the Aucas, I returned to the Quichua work and remained there until 1963 when Valerie and I returned to the U.S.

Since then, my life has been one of writing and speaking. It also included, in 1969, a marriage to Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. He died in 1973. After his death I had two lodgers in my home. One of them married my daughter, the other one, Lars Gren, married me. Since then we have worked together.

Reviews

[Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was interested in the life of this man who headed up Latin American Mission in the fifties and early sixties, after his father had for decades prior.

I also like Elizabeth Elliot as an writer. (Her brother worked with Strachan.

This book described the hardships of a leader of a multinational ministry. I think Elliot did a pretty good job based on a lot of letters and conversations concerning Strachan and his doubts about his abilities, being away from his family most of the time, relationships, and leading and direction from the Lord.

What I was hoping to read was something about his interaction with the Christians in the Latin American countries. The book covered very little of this.

After reading this, this man seems like a regular guy that the Lord used, foibles and all.

What was commendable was his thoughtful letters to his children.

[Brenda Lei · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't that Elliot wrote this biography poorly, it's simply that the content itself was rather depressing and not what I was expecting. However, I must say how I do appreciate the honesty with which Elliot always utilized in her writings, and it's refreshing to read such an honest biography of a great man of God from a different generation than I am accustomed to reading about.

One of my favorite quotes from this book is actually a poem Elizabeth referred to after R. K. Strachan passed away. She quoted it from George MacDonald.

"I have no knowledge, wisdom, insight, thought
Or understanding fit to justify Thee in Thy work, O Perfect,
Thou hast brought me up to this and lo, what Thou hast wrought,
I cannot call it good. But I can cry,
O Enemy, The Maker hath not done!
One day thou shalt behold, and from the sight wilt run."

[Lois Bushong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a very honest book about Ken Strachen and his struggles from being raised by missionary parents who often put their work before their family. He passed on this same pattern into his own family, the next generation. He did not feel free to break the cycle which I believe cost him dearly. It was a sad book, yet eye opening as that was how they “did missions” in that era. It gives the reader an accurate insight into the thinking of the 1950’s - 1960’s. Thankfully, much has changed today! The book is a good historical account of the Latin American Mission.

[Taryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off slow, great ending!

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was well written, it just was not what i had anticipated