Summary

SummaryI’m Anita Smith, and eight years after losing my husband Ronnie to violence in Benghazi, I’ve learned to forgive the men who killed him and trust God to raise our son Hosea without his earthly father 😊. I’ve seen Libyan neighbors grieve with me and later send missionaries into the field inspired by Ronnie’s sacrifice. I publicly wrote and read a letter in Arabic telling his attackers, “Jesus died for you too,” and shared that on CNN, CBS, and Al Jazeera. Though I still wrestle with grief, God’s family provided a home, finances, and comfort when I had nothing. Stories of the Wurmbrands and other persecuted believers have strengthened me to persevere through fear, isolation, and the unknown. I hold onto the truth that suffering is brief compared to our eternal hope, and I press on in faith, knowing that Jesus is worth dying for 🙏.

On December 5, 2013, Ronnie Smith was shot and killed in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Within days, Ronnie’s wife, Anita, spoke on national TV in the US about her love for the Libyan people and about forgiving her husband’s murderers. She also did interviews—in Arabic—that were broadcast all over the Middle East.

Listen to Anita Smith share the story—the story of her grief, but also the story of how God was present in those days, and in the years since.

She’ll talk about how God inspired her and Ronnie to pursue overseas gospel work—and how they prayed as they moved to Benghazi just months after the US consulate was overrun by Islamist fighters. She’ll tell how their neighbors welcomed and adopted them—and about the day she received the terrible phone call that Ronnie had been killed.

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Time Chapters
 
03:16 Part 2: Forgiveness Journey
05:56 Impact and Remembrance
06:06 Letter to Attackers
09:09 Media Interviews
12:24 Church’s Support
17:29 Inspired by Wurmbrands
20:03 Neighbors Protecting Us
22:49 Ronnie’s Legacy
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Voice of the Martyrs USA
The Voice of the Martyrs serves persecuted Christians in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places to follow Christ.  
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