This year Libby Little will honor the class of 2011 by challenging the newest alumni of Biola as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony.

Libby may be a familiar face to many graduating seniors. She was a featured speaker during the 2009 Missions Conference and President Barry Corey mentioned her in his recap of the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2010.

Little’s husband killed by Taliban

In August 2010, her husband’s mission ended when he went to be with God, the same God he spent his life serving, as reported by WNYT13 in Albany, New York. He was brutally murdered by the very people he gave his life to serve. Tom Little lived his life for the Lord until the very end. He fought his fight, and he finished his race. The Taliban has taken responsibility for the killing, yet Libby does not blame them. She now has a testimony of the faithfulness of the Lord even in the midst of suffering.

Keeping the Nuristani goat cheese story alive

Corey, in his reflection on the Lausanne conference, wrote, “As she spoke, Libby pulled out a piece of blood-stained, sand-smudged paper that the FBI had given her. On it were the notes her husband had written to minister to that community.” The notes she was given had the phrase “use the Nuristani goat cheese story” scribbled on the side.

Libby is taking this advice given by Tom in her keynote address.

“Libby’s message will be called ‘Nuristani Goat Cheese and the Aroma of Christ’ and her text is 2 Corinthians 2:14-17,” Brian Shook, Biola’s executive assistant to the president, said. The message Libby shared at the Lausanne Congress last year was similar to this, yet many have not heard that since she did not allow video of her talk to be posted.

Little returning to Biola enriched by experiences

During Libby’s last visit at Biola she shared stories about her experience living with her late husband, Tom, and their three daughters in the war-torn nation of Afghanistan. Living in a nation other than the U.S. and raising three girls in Afghanistan, Libby has countless stories about her experiences there. She has written of her numerous near-death experiences in online articles and journals as she has taken time to reflect and mourn. Even in the midst of tragedy, Libby and her family still call Afghanistan home.

As she returns to Biola with many changes in her life over the past two years, she brings seasoned wisdom after experiencing a time of reflection that will be valuable for the audience of graduates and their families alike.