TRIPOLI, LIBYA (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.
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