It Is Written Canada

The Bible tells the story of the birthday of our King: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel”—which, when translated, means, “God with us.” – Matthew 1:23

In 1991, Jorge Torres and his family moved from war-torn El Salvador to what they presumed would be a safe and simple life in Winnipeg, Manitoba. But as a first-generation immigrant living in poverty, Jorge quickly began to feel that what he had – and who he was – didn’t seem to be enough. Battling against cultural differences and emotional abuse, he compensated by creating a criminal persona that earned him power, admiration and respect. Caught up in a lifestyle of drug dealing, he found himself addicted to the hustle and willing to risk everything – including the lives of his own family. But as the consequences of his actions escalated, so did his desire to change.

Ricardo Mena exhibited behavioural problems at a young age: smoking, fighting, doing drugs, drinking, and getting kicked out of one school after another. His parents took him to a psychologist, but he never said anything to anyone about the secret that was really plaguing his young heart.

Like Jonah in the Bible, Troy Guderyan was running from God; however, he found out that he was not able to outrun God’s love for him.

“We wish there was some kind of formula this side of eternity for how to stay happy and sane, but we don’t have it. Some days, we melt down, but that’s not where we stay.” Carolyn and Dacia Rowe share their story with us of how they were beautifully broken.

At 5:00 that morning Nataliia Prylepa and her husband were awakened by the sounds of explosions. It was the 24th of February 2022, the day the war in Ukraine started. They looked out their 11th floor apartment window in Kyiv and witnessed the explosions. Feeling lost in their own home, Nataliia and her husband grabbed suitcases and packed them frantically. Nataliia Prylepa had to flee her home on the day the war began.

Ramogi Nyagudi is an all-star, Canadian basketball player, who stands a solid 6 feet 9 inches tall and is still growing! Because he has put his faith first, Ramogi refused to play on Sabbath, and miraculously, the league accommodated his convictions.

When you meet people who are generous, the big question is why. Ron and Patti Hetland, humble farmers from Saskatchewan say, “The reason we give back to God is because He has blessed us so much in so many ways!”

Listening with a non-judgmental, supportive ear, Joshua Hernandez works with young men at Kingsway College, influencing them to trust their lives to Jesus as he also does day by day.  

Ines Telis came home to an empty house: her children gone. Her children admitted that they were under the delusion that their mother’s rules were too strict, and they decided to live with their father, “who had no rules.” As the years passed, they lost touch with God, but their mother never quit praying.