Ed McCully
Encyclopedia
Edward "Ed" McCully was an evangelical
Christian
missionary
to Ecuador
who, along with four other missionaries, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani
people, through efforts known as Operation Auca
.
, where his father was a bakery executive. The family attended a Plymouth Brethren
assembly called at that time the, "Good News Chapel," now called, "Wauwatosa
Bible Chapel." McCully's father was also an active lay preacher.
where he majored in business and economics. It was also at Wheaton where he met and became good friends with Jim Elliot
.
In college, McCully was an exceptional student. At 6'2" and 190 lbs., he proved to be very athletic and was a star on both the football and track teams. He also distinguished himself as a gifted orator, and became very popular among his classmates. His self-authored speech about Alexander Hamilton
won him the 1949 National Hearst
Oratorical Contest in San Francisco, a contest in which over 10,000 students had entered. That same year, McCully was unanimously elected senior class president.
After graduating from Wheaton in 1949, McCully entered Marquette University Law School
intent on becoming a lawyer. Just before his second year there, he took a job as a hotel night clerk. Originally intending to spend the long hours studying classwork, he instead began reading more of the Bible. The story of Nehemiah
as well as his correspondence with Jim Elliot, who was making preparations to leave for Ecuador at the time, inspired McCully to consider missionary work. Finally, on September 22, 1950, the day before he was to register for his second year of school, he announced he would not be returning.
, he met his future wife, Marilou Hobolth. They were married on June 29, 1951.
He then entered the School of Missionary Medicine in Los Angelos
(today part of Biola University
). He spent a year there studying dentistry
, obstetrics
, and tropical diseases and their treatments.
study, then joined Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming
at their mission station
in Shandia
. Eventually the McCullys took up residence at the Arajuno
mission station deep in the jungle. They worked with the Quechua Indians.
In the fall of 1955, McCully, along with Jim Elliot and missionary pilot Nate Saint
, began Operation Auca
, their plan to reach the previously un-contacted Huaorani
Indians. Since the Huaorani had a reputation as a hostile tribe, everything was done to earn their trust. The missionaries began by making gifts drops from Saint's airplane. McCully would often accompany him on these missions.
When the missionaries felt they had built up enough of a rapport with the Huaorani, they decided to land in their territory. By this time, Roger Youderian
and Pete Fleming had also joined the effort. Saint was able to land the airplane on a sandbar along the Curaray River
. However,after friendly ground contact with three Huaorani, the missionaries were attacked by a party of 6 Huao warriors and 3 women. McCully was speared by a young Huao named Mincaye
, and also severely mutilated with a machete after he grabbed and tried to hold back one of his attackers.
Shortly afterwards, a search party was organized to find the men. McCully's body was not found by the search party, but he was presumed to be dead. Some Quechua Indians had later found his body further down stream, and even produced McCully's shoe and wristwatch as evidence.
At the time of Ed's death, Marilou was 8 months pregnant with their third son, Matt. She returned home to give birth and to meet with family. Ed McCully's memorial service was held at his home church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
, and drew around 800 people.
Marilou eventually returned to Ecuador and lived in Quito for 6 years, running a home for missionary children. She later returned to America and settled in Washington State where she worked as a hospital bookkeeper. She never remarried, and died of cancer on April 24, 2004. His role is described in the 2006 film End of the Spear
.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
who, along with four other missionaries, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
people, through efforts known as Operation Auca
Operation Auca
Operation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring the gospel to the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador...
.
Early years
McCully was the second oldest of three children. He grew up in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, where his father was a bakery executive. The family attended a Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
assembly called at that time the, "Good News Chapel," now called, "Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area...
Bible Chapel." McCully's father was also an active lay preacher.
College years
In the fall of 1945, McCully enrolled in Wheaton CollegeWheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
where he majored in business and economics. It was also at Wheaton where he met and became good friends with Jim Elliot
Jim Elliot
Philip James Elliot was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.-Early life:...
.
In college, McCully was an exceptional student. At 6'2" and 190 lbs., he proved to be very athletic and was a star on both the football and track teams. He also distinguished himself as a gifted orator, and became very popular among his classmates. His self-authored speech about Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
won him the 1949 National Hearst
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
Oratorical Contest in San Francisco, a contest in which over 10,000 students had entered. That same year, McCully was unanimously elected senior class president.
After graduating from Wheaton in 1949, McCully entered Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School
Marquette University Law School is the professional school for the study of law at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and one of only two law schools in Wisconsin. With 45 full-time professors and approximately 760 J.D. students, the law school is ranked in the top tier among American...
intent on becoming a lawyer. Just before his second year there, he took a job as a hotel night clerk. Originally intending to spend the long hours studying classwork, he instead began reading more of the Bible. The story of Nehemiah
Nehemiah
Nehemiah ]]," Standard Hebrew Nəḥemya, Tiberian Hebrew Nəḥemyāh) is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work rebuilding Jerusalem and purifying the Jewish community. He was the son of Hachaliah, Nehemiah ]]," Standard Hebrew Nəḥemya, Tiberian Hebrew Nəḥemyāh) is the...
as well as his correspondence with Jim Elliot, who was making preparations to leave for Ecuador at the time, inspired McCully to consider missionary work. Finally, on September 22, 1950, the day before he was to register for his second year of school, he announced he would not be returning.
Ministry in America
After dropping out of law school, McCully began a ministry in the United States. In the winter and spring of 1951, he and Jim Elliot shared a weekly evangelical radio broadcast. He also travelled and spoke at various churches around the country. At one stop in Pontiac, MichiganPontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, he met his future wife, Marilou Hobolth. They were married on June 29, 1951.
He then entered the School of Missionary Medicine in Los Angelos
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
(today part of Biola University
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
). He spent a year there studying dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
, and tropical diseases and their treatments.
Ministry in Ecuador
The McCullys went to Ecuador supported by Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML). Ed, Marilou, and their 8 month old son, Stevie, left for Ecuador by ship on December 10, 1952. They first stayed in Quito to finish their SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
study, then joined Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming
Pete Fleming
Peter Sillence Fleming was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Waodani people of Ecuador.- Early life :Fleming was born in Seattle, Washington...
at their mission station
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
in Shandia
Shandia
Shandia is a town located in the rainforest of eastern Ecuador. It is inhabited mostly by Quechua Indians.It was used as a mission station by missionaries Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming from 1952 to 1954. Fleming later married and moved to a different station, but the Elliots stayed there until Jim's...
. Eventually the McCullys took up residence at the Arajuno
Arajuno
Arajuno is a jungle community in the Ecuadorian rainforest. It is also a Canton in the Pastaza Province. It is located on the Arajuno River, a tributary of the Curaray. The area is inhabited by Quechua Indians....
mission station deep in the jungle. They worked with the Quechua Indians.
In the fall of 1955, McCully, along with Jim Elliot and missionary pilot Nate Saint
Nate Saint
Nathanael "Nate" Saint was an evangelical Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
, began Operation Auca
Operation Auca
Operation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring the gospel to the Huaorani people of the rainforest of Ecuador...
, their plan to reach the previously un-contacted Huaorani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
Indians. Since the Huaorani had a reputation as a hostile tribe, everything was done to earn their trust. The missionaries began by making gifts drops from Saint's airplane. McCully would often accompany him on these missions.
When the missionaries felt they had built up enough of a rapport with the Huaorani, they decided to land in their territory. By this time, Roger Youderian
Roger Youderian
Roger Youderian was an Armenian-American evangelical Christian missionary to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Huaorani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
and Pete Fleming had also joined the effort. Saint was able to land the airplane on a sandbar along the Curaray River
Curaray River
The Curaray River is a river in eastern Ecuador and is part of the Amazon River basin. The land along the river is home to several indigenous people groups including the Quechua and Huaorani...
. However,after friendly ground contact with three Huaorani, the missionaries were attacked by a party of 6 Huao warriors and 3 women. McCully was speared by a young Huao named Mincaye
Mincaye
Mincaye Enquedi is a Huao Ecuadorian preacher and church elder. In 1956, he took part in the now infamous attack on five missionaries during Operation Auca...
, and also severely mutilated with a machete after he grabbed and tried to hold back one of his attackers.
Shortly afterwards, a search party was organized to find the men. McCully's body was not found by the search party, but he was presumed to be dead. Some Quechua Indians had later found his body further down stream, and even produced McCully's shoe and wristwatch as evidence.
After Death
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, and was incorporated on May 27, 1897. As of the 2006 census estimate, the city's population was 44,798. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area...
, and drew around 800 people.
Marilou eventually returned to Ecuador and lived in Quito for 6 years, running a home for missionary children. She later returned to America and settled in Washington State where she worked as a hospital bookkeeper. She never remarried, and died of cancer on April 24, 2004. His role is described in the 2006 film End of the Spear
End of the Spear
End of the Spear is a 2006 docudrama film that recounts the story of Operation Auca, in which five American Christian missionaries attempted to evangelize the Huaorani people of the jungle of Ecuador...
.