LIBYA: Martyr's Widow Says "We Wanted Our Lives to Glorify Jesus"
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THIS WEEK’S EPISODE

LIBYA: Martyr's Widow Says "We Wanted Our Lives to Glorify Jesus"
27 MIN

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 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. 

Today’s VOM
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  • August 21, 2026
  • August 20, 2026
  • August 19, 2026

Previous Episodes

  • GLOBAL ACTION: Raising up Pastors to Shepherd their Flocks

    Rich Griffith, Chief Development Officer for Global Action, 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 places like India and Cuba and will share more about the curriculum and how the training is tailored to impact each individual culture. The church in these nations is growing, but there is a great need for more pastors to shepherd that growing flock.

    You'll also hear how Rich sensed God's call to work for Global Action and how the Lord challenged him on a trip to Cuba, where he saw how persecuted Christians trust the Lord despite their circumstances. One book that God used to challenge Rich was I Am N, a book about persecuted Christians facing Islamic extremists that was produced by The Voice of the Martyrs.

    Pray for the Lord to raise up more shepherds who will lead Christ's sheep, especially in restricted nations and hostile areas.

    The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, China, and Iran, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

    33 MIN
  • OVERCOMING TRAUMA: Starting to Heal Means Starting to Feel

    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 will also share more about the power of being physically present with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and the encouragement it offers them as VOM staff and partners provide wholistic care for both physical and spiritual needs.

    Philip continues to be inspired by the growth and faith of persecuted Christians who choose Christ despite the suffering they must endure. You'll hear how VOM provides persecuted brothers and sisters opportunities to start a small business in order to provide for themselves and their families and continue the ministry God has called them to.

    Hear how you can pray for persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in places like Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and around the world. You can also listen on VOM Radio to Brother Malik's testimony of becoming a Fulani follower of Christ. You can also give online to support projects like helping displaced pastors raise chickens to support their families.

    The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, China, and Iran, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.  

    33 MIN
  • IMPRISONED CHINESE PASTOR'S WIFE: God Gives Me Courage and Strength to Face the Suffering

    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 in prison.

    "The moment I married Wang Lin, I have decided to face all this together," Sarah says. "I knew that his mission was to train and disciple more Christians in China…I knew something like [this] would happen one day."

    You'll hear from Sarah how she continues to face this persecution with courage, faithfully enduring times of worry and loneliness. She will share how she and her husband both are committed to serve the Lord—no matter the cost.

    Zion Church made international headlines during President Trump's visit to Xi Jinping in Beijing in May and with the release of Zion senior pastor Ezra Jin from prison during America's July 4 celebrations. Sarah thanks God for Jin's release, and says the case against Zion Church continues, with eight church leaders remaining in prison. She asks that we pray for their release, the dismissal of charges, for their physical and spiritual health, and for her and her children, along with family members of the other persecuted Christians from Zion Church.

    Visit Prisoner Alert to write an encouraging letter to Pastor Wang Lin, and letters to other Christians imprisoned for their faith in Iran, Eritrea, and China.

    31 MIN
  • SERVING HAITI, FIGHTING CANCER: "Joy and Grief can Coexist"

    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 says. She also says that suffering can be a gift.

    Becky leads a ministry called Haiti Awake. She also serves as a security trainer for global gospel workers through Concilium. (Scott Brawner, founder of Concilium, has also been a VOM Radio guest.)

    Listen as Becky recounts her first diagnosis in 2019, how she's found opportunities to witness even in hardship and how her perspective on suffering has been shaped.

    Becky blogs about her work in Haiti and her cancer journey at Fear is Not My Future. She's just published a devotional book (affliate link) by the same name. Hear more about gospel work and sacrifice in Haiti in this VOM Radio interview with David and Alicia Lloyd.

    The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, China, and Iran, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.  

    32 MIN

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