“‘You are loved with an everlasting love,’ that’s what the Bible says, ‘and underneath are the everlasting arms.’”
If you, like me, grew up listening to “Gateway to Joy” every morning, you knew the next line was going to be, “This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot.” That dear, familiar voice would proceed to tell you what she would be talking about with you today. And it was always biblical, practical, and pertinent.
My mom, grandma, and I affectionately referred to her as “E.E.” We listened to her tapes on car trips, faithfully caught the “Gateway to Joy” broadcast each morning, and always read the monthly Gateway to Joy Newsletter and The Elisabeth Elliot Newsletter.
It was the end of an era when “Gateway to Joy” went off the air. I couldn’t listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss (whose program “Revive Our Hearts” replaced “Gateway to Joy”) for years, simply because she was not Elisabeth Elliot.
But I was delighted to discover recently that I could still keep up with Elisabeth and her husband Lars on elisabethelliot.org. There’s a new devotional each day pulled from Elisabeth’s past writings, all 21 years of The Elisabeth Elliot Newsletter are archived in PDF format, and best of all, Lars is still writing. There’s no RSS feed for his “Ramblings from the Cove,” but bookmark the page and check back every month or two for the latest from the Grens with Lars’ humorous twist. Back to the Bible still provides transcripts of some of the more recent years of “Gateway to Joy” broadcasts-good reading whether you heard every GTJ broadcast or have never even heard of Elisabeth Elliot (if that is possible).
Go soak up some wisdom from E.E. And while you’re thinking of them, pray for Lars and Elisabeth. I’m sure they’d appreciate the prayers for an extra measure of strength and a reminder of that everlasting love.
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It is possible to not have heard of Elizabeth Elliot… I haven’t! But I will check her out- she sounds very interesting.
This brought back such warm memories for me. I’ve read Elisabeth Elliot for years, but I had forgotten the years growing up when my mom would listen to Gateway to Joy and sometimes we would ride in the car together listening. I loved her voice, even though I was young enough that I can’t quite remember the thoughts she shared.
I grew up with her too! And I also had trouble adjusting to Nancy Leigh DeMoss! (although now I appreciate her as a powerful teacher of truth). Since she’s gone off the air I’ve soaked up wisdom from her books, “Let Me Be a Woman,” “Quest for Love,” “Passion and Purity,” and others, like “Keep a Quiet Heart.” Thanks for posting about her. She’s one of my heroes!
Wonderful post. I always enjoy reading YLCF articles.
I also grew up under the tutelage of EE. Ever day, we would listen to her on the radio. I can still quote that intro as well!
I wrote to her several years ago to thank you for the important part that she has played in helping me to become a woman of God. She wrote back, and included some whimsical quotes and clippings that she thought I would like. A hand scrawled note topped off my pleasure. Since then, I have heard from her twice. She and Lars are getting on up there in age, but are still as active as they can be, traveling to see their siblings, writing, and keeping house there in Massachusetts. What a heritage she has left all of us who were blessed enough to have known her!
Is there any place where we can still *listen* to the Gateway To Joy broadcasts or only read them?
Curiously,
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[...] But the truth was that she just was not Elisabeth Elliot. No one could replace my beloved “E.E.”, and Revive Our Hearts was most definitely not Gateway to [...]