Last fall, I received a message through our website from Sandira, who wanted to learn more about Jesus. I invited him to attend church and join Bible Information Class. He came the very next Sunday. As we talked, I learned more about his background. Sandira grew up in Sri Lanka, immigrated to Canada with his family, and was raised in the Buddhist faith.
Sandira explained that Buddhism focuses on removing anything that disrupts peace in this life. Yet, despite his efforts, he never found the peace he was searching for. That changed when he watched a short YouTube video that shared the simple truth of the gospel: “You don’t need to work your way to heaven. All you need is to trust in Jesus.” His immediate response was disbelief, followed by a strong desire to learn more about this Savior.
When Sandira came to church, he told me he had never been baptized but wanted to be. After several classes, he learned about God’s gift of baptism. In September 2025, God claimed Sandira as his own, washed, redeemed, and restored. It’s moments like these that make us say, as Luther did, “I did nothing; the Word did everything.”
From Dan Spaude, home missionary at St. John’s, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
