Authors » Valerie Elliot Shepard

Valerie Elliot Shepard is the only child of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, missionaries to the Quichua and Auca Indians (now called “Waodani, which means “the people”) of the Amazon rain forest. Her father and four other men were speared to death in 1956 as they sought to reach the Aucas with the gospel. After Jim’s death, Elisabeth and Valerie continued to live with the Quichuas until they were invited to live with the tribe that had killed Jim. They ministered to the Aucas for two years as Elisabeth and another missionary, Rachel Saint, learned to speak the language and shared the story of Jesus with them. Many Aucas converted to Christ as a result.

Valerie returned with her mother to the United States in 1963 and married Walter Shepard. Walt and Valerie have eight children. They currently reside in Southport, North Carolina.