Background
Fleming was born in Seattle, Washington.
Fleming was born in Seattle, Washington.
He was also a good student and graduated as valedictorian of his class.
He was taught the Bible from an early age, but did not get actually saved until he was 13 years old after hearing the testimony of a blind evangelist. During his late teens and early twenties, Fleming was known for his knowledge of Scripture and spiritual maturity. In high school, Fleming earned letters in basketball and golf.
In 1946, Fleming went to the University of Washington as a philosophy major.
He was very driven in college, working part-time and dedicating much time to prayer and Bible study, as well as keeping up on his classes. He was also elected president of the UCA at his college, and received a master"s degree from there in 1951.
Fleming met Jim Elliot during many conferences and mountain climbing expeditions arranged by a large Christian organization. They were good friends and once spent six weeks preaching together across the country.
Fleming went to in 1952 as a part of a two-man team with Jim Elliot.
After serving on the mission field in, Jim Elliot married Elisabeth Elliot. In September 1955, Fleming joined with Elliot and three other missionaries in Operation Auca, an attempt to reach the Auca Indians with the Gospel. They had only been married 18 months when all five of the team were attacked by a group of Huaorani warriors and Fleming was killed along with the other missionaries.
A search party found Fleming"s body floating in the Curaray River.
His body was identified by a red woven belt he was wearing. Four years before his death, he wrote in a journal "I do want to be committed to the work there laying down my life for their faith." Some of the Quichua Indians and even some of the Auca killers came to saving faith in Christ.
Shortly before Fleming"s death, Olive had her second miscarriage. She soon returned to the United States in order to recover.
She eventually remarried, to Walter Liefeld.