Love So Amazing

I often spoke of Bert and Colleen as examples of stick-to-it-tiveness, godly self-sacrifice, and simple perseverance in jungle heat, mildew, mud, and rain in the high Andes, humbly ministering to lonely people.

Elisabeth Elliot | Sister-in-law and author of Shadow of the Almighty:
The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Is this proverb as applicable to the life long-lived as it is to the young martyr?

Twentieth-century martyr Jim Elliot wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

How many ways might followers of Jesus demonstrate the truth of this wisdom? The lives of brothers Jim and Bert Elliot show us two of those ways, one through Jim’s intense loyalty and short life, the other—at the heart of this new book—through Bert’s and his wife, Colleen’s, long decades of joyful faithfulness.

Generations have been inspired by Jim and Elisabeth Elliot’s lives and writings. Love So Amazing invites new generations into the further journeys of the Elliot family. Bert and Colleen introduced Jesus and His love to thousands in northern Peru’s jungles, mountains, and coastal cities. For nearly two-thirds of a century, they affectionately cared for people’s physical and spiritual needs, soothed and healed sectarian rifts, and planted and shepherded more than 150 local churches across hundreds of miles.

Bert and Colleen serve as the right kind of examples for “average” followers of Jesus, proving that, for most of us, substantial, supernatural impact is achieved through simple daily faithfulness, listening to Jesus and loving people in His name. The relatively few martyrs for Jesus spark bonfires of faith; the rest of us—the majority of God’s servants—feed the slow, steady flames of faithfulness that spread one precious life at a time. While they admire Jim, they can realistically picture themselves emulating Bert.

What others are saying…

This story of the lives of Bert and Colleen Elliot is a treasure trove of amazing quotes that will bring tears to your eyes, a smile to your face, and a challenge to your heart. CMML had the privilege of serving both Jim and Elizabeth and Bert and Colleen.  Our prayer is that the Lord of the Harvest will send out more men and women like them, willing to pour out their lives for the Lord on the mission field.

John Peasland | Executive Director, Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML)

Many of us think somehow that we have to live dramatic, highly visible lives of success to be used by God. But the Lord most often works to touch others through our quiet obedience in the everyday matters of life. Bert and Colleen Elliot exemplified that truth through more than six decades of faithful service in Peru. This account will inspire you, encourage you, and challenge you.

Jim Daly | President, Focus on the Family

The love of Bert and Colleen Elliot for Jesus is a shining example of dedication and obedience. They lived out the example of Christ as leaders who serve.  Where we might see self-sacrifice, they saw His Kingdom. They responded to the tasks Christ set before them. Their remarkable and inspiring story is now carefully and eloquently pieced together by Gilbert Gleason in Love So Amazing.

Marshall Christensen, Ph.D. | Co-Founder, Co-Serve International

For 65 years the world has been enriched and challenged by the story of Jim Elliot told by his wife Elisabeth. Now Gilbert Gleason brings us the equally fascinating account of another brother in that family. Bert’s quest was to discover “what God made me for.” He found it as he loved on, listened to, prayed with, healed and taught people throughout the jungles, mountains and coasts of Peru. Colleen and Bert were models and mentors for my work in Bolivia. It’s a treat to know their full story.

Dr. Steve Hawthorne | Nephew and SIM medical missionary in Bolivia

Bert and Colleen Elliot invested their lives into developing strong church leaders. Peruvian men and women accompanied them on their river voyages and mountain trips, watching first-hand their commitment to obeying God and loving people. Principles of godly living and church leadership are often better “caught” than “taught.” Bert and Colleen modeled that. As a result, an indigenous church planting movement continues to thrive in Peru. This is true apostolic Christianity in action—the Great Commission on display. Love So Amazing tells their captivating story.

Alexander Strauch | author of Biblical Eldership and Paul’s Vision for the Deacons

As a seminary student, it was my privilege to know Bert and Colleen Elliot as friends. In Love So Amazing, his nephew, Gilbert Gleason, portrays their lives through every season, in their own words, and illumines their personalities, grace, perseverance, and love for the Lord which informed all they did. Here is a guide for how to live the Christ-centered, obedient life, from one who had sought to know “what he was created for”; in the shadow of his younger brother’s mighty, yet martyred life. These two together cultivated faithfulness with love so amazing that over 60 years … a whole nation was transformed!

Bill MacLeod | Founder and Director, Mission ConneXion