Stories of Christian Martyrs: Redoy Roy

His purpose was to bring as many people to Christ as he could—
to point them to the Savior. It didn’t matter the danger. God
had called him to this work, and he would follow to the end.
So he packed up his belongings and began working in an outreach ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ in his native Bangladesh.

Redoy Roy walked quickly up the stairs to his home in the late evening of April 23, 2003, after being dropped off by the rickshaw. It had
been a wonderful evening as he showed the JESUS film to almost two
hundred villagers. He loved to watch the audience and the beautiful
expressions of fascination and hope that showed on their faces. And he
loved even more when the film finished and some in the audience chose
to follow this Jesus—their newfound Friend and Savior.

Roy turned the handle, pushed the door open to his rented home, and
made his way through the dark house. Before he could reach the light
switch, he was hit in the face and knocked to the ground. Angry radical
Muslims grabbed him and dragged him over to his bed. A couple more held
him down as they tied his hands and feet to the bedposts. Roy screamed in
pain as the men hit him repeatedly. The knives followed. He uttered a final
prayer and departed this earth to spend eternity with his Savior.

Neighbors who heard the screams called the police, who quickly made
their way to the scene. The police were eager to make an arrest, so they
arrested the two Christians from the home where the film had been shown
that night, as well as the rickshaw driver who had taken Roy home from
the screening. None of them had anything to do with the murder. But in
the eyes of the police, it showed “progress” in the investigation.
The murder came as no surprise to other Christians in the area.
Several times Roy had been threatened and told to stop showing the
JESUS film. He refused to stop. He was willing to pay the price for using
this tool to reach people with the Gospel message.

The Christians could have gotten angry with the police and the
murderers, but God has used the persecution to strengthen their faith.
Just like Redoy Roy, they decided to be faithful to Christ’s call, no matter
what the cost. The ministry grew immensely. Many Muslims heard about
the case and were curious to see the film that this murder victim had
given his life to show. They wanted to know more about Jesus and how
to follow Him. God used the attack to spread His word.

Roy and his co-workers did not pray that the persecution would
go away. They prayed that God would find them faithful. Roy passed
the ultimate test. And through his example, others committed to do
the same.

“For I decided to know nothing
among you except Jesus Christ
and him crucified.”
1 Corinthians 2:2

This story is an excerpt from Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs. You can get your own copy free with any donation to The Voice of the Martyrs.