Libya: American Teacher Shot Dead By Suspected Islamists For Sharing His Faith In Christ With Muslims

Revelation 14:12-13, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’  ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

By BosNewsLife – “A month after an American teacher was gunned down in Libya friends and family members are convinced that he was killed because of his Christian faith.

The body of Ronald Thomas Smith II, who taught chemistry at the International School in the port city of Benghazi, was found December 5, near the residential compound that housed him and other teachers in an upscale neighborhood.

He had been at school in the morning but went home to change his clothes and go jogging at midday, said the school’s director Adel al-Mansouri. The area is also the site of the U.S. diplomatic mission, where the U.S. Ambassador and three other Americans were killed last year.

The 33-year-old teacher, arrived in turbulent Libya eighteen months ago, after serving on staff at the Austin Stone Community Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in the United States.

The ‘much beloved’ teacher wanted to be ‘a blessing to the Libyan people,’ church leaders said in a statement…

While no group claimed responsibility for his death, Christians said Smith’s faith in Christ, and his talking about it among Muslims, seems to be the main was the motive behind the slaying.

Additionally, Islamic militants had demanded the kidnapping of Americans living in Libya.

‘Ronnie’s greatest desire was for peace and prosperity in Libya and for the people of Libya to have the joy of knowing God through Christ,’ local church leaders added.

Smith, who graduated in 2006 from the University of Texas in Austin with a master’s degree in chemistry, moved to Benghazi with his wife, Anita, and young son. His wife and son had gone home for Christmas, but he reportedly stayed behind to help students with final exams for the semester.

Author Raymond Ibrahim, who wrote ‘Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians’ said in comments published by the website of Christian broadcaster CBN that the killing is part of a wider Islamic campaign against devoted American Christians talking about their faith with Muslims.” Read more.

Flashback: Situation Critical: Muslim Fundamentalists Driving Christians From Libya – “… Christians are being driven out of the eastern Libya area of Cyrenaica by Muslim fundamentalists Vicar Martinelli called the situation ‘critical’ and the ‘atmosphere very tense’… Islamic fundamentalism now governs decisions in Libya. Before the overthrow of Gadaffi about 3% of Libyans were Christians but many hard-line Islamists were active in the battle against Gadaffi. Now in many areas they wield considerable power. Only a few thousand Christians now remain in Libya and many of them are expatriates.” Read more.

Flashback: Egyptian Christian Accused Of Spreading Christianity Dies In Libyan Prison – “An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official says a man suspected of trying to spread Christianity in Libya has died in prison there. The diplomat says Ezzat Atallah, who suffered from diabetes and heart ailments, likely died of natural causes. He spoke anonymously Sunday in line with regulations. Atallah was among five Evangelical Christian Egyptians detained in Libya for allegedly proselytizing in the predominantly Muslim nation.” Read more.

Flashback: Libya: Foreigners Arrested In Benghazi On Suspicion Of Being Missionaries, Spreading Christianity – “Four foreigners have been arrested in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on suspicion of being Christian missionaries and printing books about Christianity, a security official said on Saturday… ‘Proselytizing is forbidden in Libya. We are a 100 percent Muslim country …’” Read more.