Luke grew up in Japan, the son of missionaries John and Laurie Elliot. Educated in local Japanese schools, he became fluent in Japanese. Building on the Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto he earned in 2003, Luke completed a Master of Theological Studies degree at Wycliffe College, graduating in the spring of 2012.
HOW I CAME TO FAITH IN CHRIST
I grew up in Japan as the oldest son of OMF missionaries. My parents were diligent in teaching me the Scriptures and Christian doctrine. Consequently, I cannot recall a time in my life when I did not fear God. However, my understanding of the gospel developed little by little over many years. When I was eight I heard a gospel message (the passion story followed by an exhortation to put our faith in Christ) at AWANA club. That night I read over the back cover of my Gideon New Testament and prayed the “sinner's prayer” with my father. When I was twelve I was convicted that I ought to act in obedience to the Faith by being baptized. By the time I was seventeen I had read through the Bible as part of my high school curriculum and I decided to go to a Bible institute for one year. One year stretched to two, and by the end of my second year I felt called to transfer my credits to a Bible college and complete an undergraduate degree in Biblical studies. When I first began my theological studies I was a deeply self-absorbed teenager, unduly confident in my knowledge of the Bible but weak in theology and insecure in my faith. Throughout those years, however, my heart and mind were slowly absorbing the doctrines of grace. Two years after graduating I read Martin Luther's “The Bondage of the Will” and a whole new world of vibrant, joyful Christian faith opened up to me as I came to a fuller understanding that even faith itself is an unconditional gift graciously bestowed by God, not a spiritual virtue that one can fan into flame within oneself. That is when I really began to thrive in the Faith.
EDUCATION
University of Toronto / Toronto School of Theology / Wycliffe College
(Master of Theological Studies, 2012)
University of Toronto / Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
(Master of Education in Higher Education, 2003)
Cairn University (formerly named Philadelphia College of Bible)
(Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, 1998)
Word of Life Bible Institute
(Certificate in Biblical Studies, 1995 / Certificate in Youth Ministry, 1996)
A Beka Academy (Home School)
(High School Diploma, 1994)
Faith Academy
(Visiting Student, January-May 1993)
EMPLOYMENT
OMF International - OMF Canada → OMF Japan
(Missionary: March 15, 2013 - Present)
Wycliffe College - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(Residence Don: MAY 2010 - MAR 2013)
JET Programme - Kazamaura, Aomori, Japan
(Assistant Language Teacher: AUG 2004 - JUL 2009)
Canadian Forces / Royal Regiment of Canada - Toronoto, Ontario, Canada
(Retired as Infantry Platoon Commander with the rank of Lieutenant:
JAN 2001 - JUN 2004)
St. George International College - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(ESL Instructor: OCT 2002 - JUN 2004)
Intercon Security - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(Security Officer, Special Services Group: OCT 2001 - OCT 2002)
R.G. Mitchell Family Books - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
(Shipping: SEP 2000 - JUN 2001)
CBC North - Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
(Tech Assistant: JAN - APR 2000)
Harold Sutherland Construction - Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
(Labourer: SEP - DEC 1999)
Cairn University (formerly named Philadelphia College of Bible) - Langhorne, Pennsylvania, USA
(Administrative Assistant to Honors Program and Bible Department: SEP 1998 - MAY 1999)
