LEBANON: “To Lay Down Your Life Starts with Humility”

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The Voice of the Martyrs

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4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2023

⏱️ 25 minutes

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Summary

Gary Witherall and his wife, Bonnie, heard God’s call to share the gospel in the Middle East. They answered that call by moving to Lebanon, where they served with Operation Mobilization, building relationships with Lebanese people and Palestinian refugees—until the day Bonnie was martyred in the clinic where she served refugee women.

Listen as Gary shares about how God called them to the Middle East, what their work there was like and how each day of their ministry was unique. Gary also explains how things changed on 9-11, when he and Bonnie witnessed people all around them celebrating the murder of more than 3,000 Americans.

After the attacks, their life and ministry became more difficult, but they never considered leaving. In fact, it was after 9-11 that Gary and Bonnie determined they would stay and serve the Lord—no matter the cost. “I think we were martyred on that day,” Gary says. You’ll be challenged as Gary asks the question that persecuted Christians around the world must often ask: what do you love so much you’d be willing to die for it?

“If life is a limited period of hours, I want to invest it well. And if it’s cut short, I want it to be cut short in the full joy of doing something worthwhile.”

Be sure to join us next week on VOM Radio as Gary tells about the day Bonnie gave her life for Christ. You can learn more about Gary’s story by reading his book, Total Abandon (affiliate link).

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Gary and Bonnie Witherall were serving the Lord in Lebanon.
0:03.8	They had many close relationships with Muslim friends and neighbors.
0:08.4	But on September 11th, 2001, their life and ministry got a lot more complicated.
0:15.6	I ran across the street, my heart was pounding to this kind of internet cafe,
0:20.8	and there was a TV, and there's probably about 60 people all looking at this TV,
0:25.7	and seeing these images. I ran across the street again,
0:29.6	up towards my house, and my friends said, Gary, and they're all happy.
0:34.4	Everyone's happy, and I ran up to, we lived in an apartment and Bonnie was just sitting there
0:39.9	looking at the TV, weeping. And as I walked in, the second plane hit the second tower,
0:47.2	and I tell you, it freaked me out. And then I started hearing cars honking up and down the street
0:52.7	and all through the night. It was a time when we were getting phone calls saying, do not leave your house.
0:59.6	Jesus never promised his followers an easy path.
1:02.8	In fact, he told his disciples that the world would hate them.
1:06.4	He sent them out as sheep among wolves. Jesus' words came true in the life of the apostles,
1:12.2	and they're still coming true today in the lives of his followers around the world.
1:16.4	Join host Todd Nettleton's. We hear their inspiring stories and learn how we can help.
1:21.2	Right now, on the Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network.
1:24.0	Welcome again to the Voice of the Martyrs Radio. My name is Todd Nettleton,
1:27.6	and we have just an awesome privilege this week of having Gary Witherall with us in our studio,
1:33.5	in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Gary has worked almost 30 years with OM, operation mobilization.
1:40.6	He is also the husband of Bonnie Witherall, who was martyred in Lebanon in 2002.
1:46.4	We're going to talk about that story. He is serving the Lord in Germany, and we'll talk a little
	...

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