"I Am a Soldier of Christ!"
Roy Pontoh
15 years old
Indonesia
1999

The teens could tell that the shouts and chanting were getting closer and closer. An older teen looked nervously at his friend. "The Muslims are coming. Weıd better hide the kids," he said. Others, following his lead, helped the smaller children find hiding places in the buildings nearby. Then they hid themselves.

It was January and a crowd of mostly Christian children and teenagers had gathered for a Bible camp at the Station Field Complex of Pattimura University on the island of Ambon, Indonesia. When the camp was over, cars came to take the laughing, rejoicing children back to their homes. But there were not enough cars to hold the young people. Mecky Sainyakit and three other Christian men had gone to Wakal village to try to rent additional transportation to take the rest home. But they had not yet come back.

What the kids waiting for rides home didnıt know was that on their way to the village, the men were attacked by a Muslim mob, who pulled them from their car and out onto the road. Mecky and one of the other men were stabbed to death, and later their bodies were burned by the mob. The two other men escaped with their lives. Before long, the mob reached the University. They found many of the teens and forced them to come out of hiding. Roy Pontoh was forced from his hiding place and made to stand before the mob. "Renounce your Jesus, or we will kill you!" they threatened. Roy was terribly frightened. Though trembling, he answered, "I am a soldier of Christ!"

At this, one of the Muslim attackers swung a sword at his stomach. The sword hit the Bible Roy held, and ripped into it, knocking it out of his hand. The manıs next swing sliced open Royıs stomach. His last word was "Jesus." The mob dragged Royıs body out and threw it in a ditch. Four days later, his family found it. Even though they are wracked with grief, Royıs parents stand proud of their son, who stood strong in his faith to the end. Whoever declares openly ‹ speaking out freely ‹ and confesses that he is My worshipper and acknowledges Me before men, the Son of man also will declare and confess and acknowledge him before the angels of God. Jesus (Luke 12:8 amp)