Bert Elliot

Many people who read this blog have never heard of Bert Elliot. A missionary in Peru for 50+ years and planted too many churches to count. Lived in a boat on the river and a pickup truck on land. Colleen, a concert pianist, married Bert to spend her life in the jungles of Peru. I asked Bert for marriage advice once. He said, “Floyd, it takes a lifetime to make one woman happy.” The following post was sent to me by a long time friend.

Bert Elliot’s life on earth is coming to an end. Some might see that as “bad news” but with him, I see it differently. He’s someone that has run well. I mean REALLY well! This life was not normal! Bert didn’t waste any of it! And now, after 87 years of perseverance for God’s glory,…… he’s almost to the finish line! It’s an amazing thing to see one of God’s extraordinarily faithful servants arrive at home! (“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints!”). This long and full life has been all about victory! Soon he will hear those great words: “Well done good and faithful servant!”

The crowd went wild in Denver when Tim Tebow threw that overtime TD to beat the Steelers two weeks ago….. but with Bert we’re talking about a whole other level. We’re not talking about a game…. This is the real life and the real death of one of God’s hero’s! What will the crowd in heaven do when Bert Elliot bursts through those “the gates of splendor”?

I was able to have the great honor of spending a few nights with Bert this week. He was awake and restless for most of the time both of the nights that I was there. When he talked he strained hard to get out his whispered requests. He repeatedly wanted to stand up and then to sit back down. Several times he asked to have one of his legs moved, and then to have it put back. Often he begged us to take his clothes off and then to put them back on again. It was difficult to see him struggling with the pain and confusion but at the same time it was amazing to see him look to Christ in the midst of this trail. A few times he started to cry saying: “it hurts”. Then he’d whisper: “but God is so good”.

I prayed and read from the scriptures for long periods of time and every once in a while Bert would force a whispered: “Amen brother!” He would nod and almost smile when I reminded him about precious people and places in Oregon, in the Amazon, and in the Andes mountains. It was a really special time for me as he kept taking my hand and putting it on his head and then on his shoulder and then his head again. Praise the Lord for this man who is such an encouragement to many even in his last days.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” -Jim Elliot (Bert’s brother)

Me, again. I look forward to seeing all those believers in heaven sitting around listening to Bert’s stories. A man and a woman who chose to send their fame on ahead.