Being Elisabeth Elliot

The Authorized Biography: Elisabeth’s Later Years

By: Ellen Vaughn

Narrated by: Connie Shabshab

Elisabeth Elliot was a young missionary in Ecuador when members of a remote Amazonian indigenous people group killed her husband Jim and his four colleagues. And yet, she stayed in the jungle with her young daughter to minister to the very people who had thrown the spears, demonstrating the power of Christ’s forgiveness.

This courageous, no-nonsense Christian went on to write dozens of books, host a long-running radio show, and speak at conferences all over the world. She was a pillar of coherent, committed faith—a beloved and sometimes controversial icon. And while things in the limelight might have looked golden, her suffering continued refining her in many different and unexpected ways.

Her early years, related in Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, traced the transition of a young woman who dealt in “certainties” to the woman who lived with the unknown.

Now, being Elisabeth Elliot increasingly meant confronting how much she did not understand. She sought her reference point beyond her own experiences, always pondering what she called the “impenetrable mystery” of the interplay between God’s will and human choices.

And it is that strange mystery which shaped the rest of her startling life story.

©2023 Ellen Vaughn (P)2023 B&H Publishing

Vaughn States the Truth in Love

Thankful for an accurate representation of the post-Jim part of EE’s life. No one is perfect and I’m glad to know EE had struggles just like the rest of us.

A beautiful and heart wrenching testimony

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about Elisabeth Elliot, especially in her later years. I think Ellen Vaughn did an amazing job staying truthful to everything that Elisabeth experienced in her life and appreciated that the book didn’t end with a “nice Christian bow” but showed the beautiful and hard times of Elisabeth endured. A must read for everyone but especially for those that have placed Elisabeth on a pedestal - because as in her own words, “pedestals are for statues” and Elisabeth was a beautiful and ordinary woman who faithfully followed God.

Somewhat surprising

I will admit that I was super excited, and then somewhat disillusioned when I first started this book. Some of it didn’t feel like it rang true to what I knew of Elizabeth by listening to countless hours of her lectures, and through the reading her books. For those of you may feel the same way I would encourage you to finish the book. Sometimes we forget that there is a beginning to someone’s story, and that it takes years of sanctification before we see all of the gold that comes through refining.

For all we didn’t know…

For all we didn’t know, praising God.
Ellen Vaughn, the perfect biographer
and Connie Shabshab is outstanding
narrating EE’s life. I have never been the same since 1st introduction to E on Gateway to Joy broadcast as a young mother. The compilation of her life in these two biographical books are incredibly important ! Thank you!

The Realness of her Life’s Story

Although I’m sure the author had to leave a lot out for the sake of the length of this book, she didn’t sugarcoat anything. This book isn’t a “tell all” story, but it does reveal that EE was a “real” person with weaknesses like the rest of us. This was a fascinating listen. About halfway through, I wasn’t sure o was going to make it, because of the length, but both the way it was told and narrated kept my attention. Two days after the completion I am still contemplating it all - especially the ending. Well done.

The reader has an incredible voice!

This book was absolutely amazing! I could relate to so much of it, and appreciate all of Elisabeth’s strengths and weaknesses. I’m grateful she was for truth, and so the author was, too. The reader has an incredible voice and made listening to this book very enjoyable. 😍

Loved

The readers voice is slightly grating but what a thought provoking book filled with quotes from journal entries.

For others who have considered EE your spiritual mother

This story was not what I e pecked yet I am grateful for the truth. How difficult it must have been to write! Throughout the book I was afraid my heroine would topple but she did not. EE was a complex person who endured more suffering than I realized. I am still in awe of her legacy.

Honest

A very honest, poignant telling of a life that has impacted so many. I really appreciated Ellen Vaughn’s objective but endearing and honest portrayal of this woman. I think Elisabeth would have love it.

Elizabeth Elliott's faithfulness to God in spite of doubts, fears, and sorrows.

Ellen Vaughn revealed the good the bad and the ugly, and shared her own sorrowful experience of losing her husband while writing this wonderful book.