LIBYA: Martyr’s Widow Says “We Wanted Our Lives to Glorify Jesus”
VOMRadio
On September 11, 2012, Islamist fighters attacked a United States diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed in that attack. Just a few months later, Ronnie and Anita Smith, a young American couple, moved to Benghazi with their infant son. Their goal was to live out their faith in Christ and have opportunities to introduce Libyan people to Christ. "We wanted to live our lives out in a place that didn't know Jesus," Anita Smith says. Anita acknowledges that there was fear in moving to a dangerous place, especially soon after a deadly attack on Americans. But Anita says...
info_outline
GLOBAL ACTION: Raising up Pastors to Shepherd their Flocks
VOMRadio
Rich Griffith, Chief Development Officer for , served as a pastor and played seven seasons in the NFL before the Lord led him to serve pastors and Christian leaders around the world, including many in restricted nations and hostile areas. Rich has had many exciting career highlights, but his favorite is watching these Christian leaders complete their training. “To me, the most incredible thing I’ve experienced is a graduation.” Rich says, “The tears in their eyes… because they felt a calling of God.” Rich shares his joy at being able to provide tools and knowledge to new pastors in...
info_outline
OVERCOMING TRAUMA: Starting to Heal Means Starting to Feel
VOMRadio
As a Fulani herdsman, the young man burned churches, threatened Christian farmers and even killed Christians in the middle of the night. But his life changed when he saw how a Christian woman responded to his threats of murder. Today he is a follower of Christ who has experienced Christian persecution as his own family tried to kill him. Listen as Brother Philip, a field minister for VOM in Africa, tells about meeting this young man and shares stories of other Fulani followers of Jesus. “They know the cost, and they’ve considered the cost and chosen to follow Jesus,” Philip says. Philip...
info_outline
IMPRISONED CHINESE PASTOR’S WIFE: God Gives Me Courage and Strength to Face the Suffering
VOMRadio
Last October, Pastor Wang Lin, one of the leaders in Zion Church in China, was arrested and imprisoned under false charges of “fraud” and “illegal business practices.” Sarah Su (Su Ziming in Chinese), wife of Pastor Wang, recounts the day her husband was arrested and the Christian persecution they faced even before he was imprisoned. Sarah will share about her husband’s role in Zion Church’s leadership and in training other leaders, how the church continues to reach many people despite persecution from the Chinese Communist Party, and recent updates about Pastor Wang’s condition...
info_outline
SERVING HAITI, FIGHTING CANCER: “Joy and Grief can Coexist”
VOMRadio
Becky Graves was living a comfortable American life when her husband suggested a family mission trip to Haiti. She told him—forcefully—NO! But then God changed Becky’s heart; that “short-term” trip became a defining moment in her life. Fourteen years later, Becky is still serving the people of Haiti. She’s also waging a battle with cancer. Becky has chosen to find joy—regardless of her circumstances—in the work of ministry in a difficult place and in the cancer fight. “Cancer and Haiti both taught me that I have to be comfortable with uncertainty and rely on the Lord,” she...
info_outline
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA: “Pastor, We Have Your Back.”
VOMRadio
When the pastor began to weep, Cade Jefferson, the leader of VOM’s work in the Middle East and North Africa, wasn’t quite sure how to respond. He had just explained to the pastor how The Voice of the Martyrs comes alongside persecuted Christians and how the ministry was ready to help should a member of his congregation be persecuted or arrested for sharing the gospel with Muslims. “We’ve found the people that are going to help us,” the pastor exclaimed. Listen to VOM Radio this week to hear about the dream that pastor had the night before meeting with Cade, and how Christian...
info_outline
VIETNAM: “This Book Can Change Your Life”
VOMRadio
Growing up in a Buddhist family in , Brother Daniel went through a lot of pain. He felt hopeless and wanted to kill himself. But on his way to get a gun, he stopped by a church. Everything changed. “I don’t know why I went to the church.” Brother Daniel says, “I met the pastor and he gave me a small New Testament.” The pastor told Brother Daniel that the book could change his life. Daniel will share how reading God’s Word changed him and, eventually, also his family. Seeing such dramatic changes gave Daniel a desire to see more people have Bibles. Since then, he’s helped...
info_outline
TRAINING LEADERS: Building Resiliency To Face Christian Persecution
VOMRadio
It started as an English-teaching ministry in Japan in 1967. Today is raising up church leaders in 25 countries; leaders equipped and unified to accelerate gospel movements around the world, including numerous hostile areas and restricted nations where The Voice of the Martyrs works with persecuted Christians. Dr. Joe Handley, CEO of A3, and Janelle Stoops, U.S. President for the ministry, join VOM Radio to share how A3 was founded and how it serves the global church by meeting one of the biggest needs: trained leaders. Relatively new to A3, Janelle will share her background as a gospel...
info_outline
TURKMENISTAN: “You Didn’t Forget Us When We Had Trouble”
VOMRadio
Maya and her husband were constantly under pressure from police in Turkmenistan. Then her husband was thrown in jail. Maya says many times she questioned God. “So many times I prayed to God and asked, ‘Why is this happening in our lives? We’ve done so much to serve you!’” Amid her questions, Maya sensed a challenge: she needed to surrender her thoughts to God and go back to his Word. Listen as Maya shares how she and her husband met, how the Lord changed her husband’s heart after he began to follow Jesus, and how she came to know Christ after six years seeing her husband live...
info_outline
GLOBAL MISSIONS: Planning to Go, Willing to Stay
VOMRadio
How do you discern God’s call and determine where He’s leading you? How much of your prayer time is spent listening to Him? Ben Barrett, who’s led The Voice of the Martyrs’ work in South Asia, will help us answer those questions as he shares how God has led him and his wife into a new season of ministry. His new role—with one of VOM’s strategic partner ministries—includes raising up indigenous Christian leaders, supporting church planting efforts and encouraging pastors to continue making disciples to multiply the gospel work. “We want to come alongside them in the midst of...
info_outlineOn September 11, 2012, Islamist fighters attacked a United States diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed in that attack. Just a few months later, Ronnie and Anita Smith, a young American couple, moved to Benghazi with their infant son. Their goal was to live out their faith in Christ and have opportunities to introduce Libyan people to Christ.
"We wanted to live our lives out in a place that didn't know Jesus," Anita Smith says.
Anita acknowledges that there was fear in moving to a dangerous place, especially soon after a deadly attack on Americans. But Anita says God gave both her and Ronnie peace about residing in Libya to further God's Kingdom. Days after Ronnie's death in December of 2013, Anita was on national TV in the United States (CNN and CBS This Morning) and on Arabic-language TV all over the Middle East, forgiving her husband's killers and expressing her love for the Libyan people.
Listen as Anita recalls the day she learned her husband had been martyred and how she received comfort from the Lord through her family, church, and Christian friends—the Body of Christ in action.
Ronnie Smith taught chemistry to high school students at the Benghazi International School and was admired for his knowledge and chemistry skill, but even more for his warm personality and love for his students. Anita shares how their Libyan neighbors looked out for them and welcomed them into their families, spending time together, drinking tea, and talking about life and faith. When she hears of Libyans who started following Christ after hearing the testimony of her and Ronnie, it's a powerful reminder of how Christ is using their sacrifice. Listen also as she shares how we can pray for the widows of persecuted Christian martyrs all over the world today.
Anita was one of the four amazing women who shared their stories of persecution and God's faithfulness during the Hearts of Fire Virtual Event.
You can sign up to receive prayer requests from persecuted Christians by email each week at www.iCommitToPray.com, including this request for Christians sentenced to prison in Libya.
The Hearts of Fire Virtual Event is also available in the free VOM App for your smartphone or tablet, which also helps you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, China, and Iran. The app also gives you free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.