Those were the words Elijah Beaty spoke when he heard his grandfather needed a companion for a mission trip to Africa in early 2022. Even though his grandfather was ultimately unable to go, a fire had already begun to burn in Elijah's heart to take the good news of Jesus to the remote villages of Africa. Growing up in rural Tennessee, Elijah was just a willing young man, who enjoyed spending time outdoors, playing golf with his father, and surrounding himself with his large family and group of friends. Elijah, with much anticipation and excitement, began to prepare for his first mission trip to the African people.

 

Elijah and his team were scheduled to leave on June 23, 2022, shortly after his 19th birthday. Two days before the trip was scheduled to begin, airline workers went on strike and all flights were cancelled. After praying for God's guidance, the team leader was able to make arrangements for everyone to fly to Lima, Peru, instead. When Elijah heard about the location change, his response was, "the people of Peru need Jesus, too."

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During that mission trip to Peru, Elijah was involved with spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to over 2,000 people, with more than 1,100 South Americans putting their trust in the Lord. The group reached seven villages along the Amazon River and passed out over 5,000 Gospel tracts in their native language.

 

In Peru, Elijah was taken out of his comfort zone and was asked to preach to a group of his peers for the first time. He came back from Peru forever changed and eagerly awaited another opportunity to go to Africa.

 

That opportunity came on September 13, 2022. Elijah signed up with 11 other people from across the United States. Even though he had just begun attending college at Word of Life Bible Institute in Hudson, Florida, Elijah made arrangements with the college and was able to go to Africa with Mission Uttermost.

 

On the way to the airport, his brother expressed concern about the dangers he could encounter on the trip, such as a snakebite or even malaria. Elijah's response was, “It would be worth it!" The team flew to Sierra Leone, Africa. Elijah's desire to take the Gospel to remote villages that had never heard about Jesus was finally becoming a reality. They hiked and chopped through dense jungles, waded through murky, dangerous rivers, and slept in hammocks, all so they could share the greatest message ever told. Approximately 510 Africans trusted in Christ during this mission trip. Hallelujah!

 

Elijah returned to his college life dreaming of where his next mission trip would take him. He was just a young man with a big dream of reaching the world and didn't know he would pay the ultimate price in fulfilling that dream.

 

Not long after returning home, Elijah became very ill. Doctors determined he had contracted malaria in Africa, and he died shortly thereafter on October 10, 2022. Elijah had a big heart for all people and a great desire to reach everyone he could with the Gospel. He gave his life doing the work God called him to do and his words echo beyond his life and across the world.

 

It's worth it.