Excitement and fear flooded our hearts as we stepped out of the Pearson International Airport and walked under the gray May skies in 2001. Excitement over the culmination of our cherished dream of going to Canada and fear of what the future held for us in a country, where we had neither a relative nor a friend. A family of four! Will it always be just us – lonely and friendless?

But our trepidation was overcome by hope when God’s promise in the Bible, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Psalm 41:10), came to our mind. Very soon, we started fellowshipping with the Christians at Victoria Park Gospel Hall and found a family, not related by flesh and blood but by the love of Jesus Christ.

I grew up in a Christian family but with no true understanding of God. For me Christianity was one of the world’s great religions and since I was born into a Christian family, I thought I was a Christian. Surprising how ignorant we can be! It was while doing my Engineering course that I came in contact with a Christian professor who challenged me to consider who a Christian really is and the solution to my sinful nature. I found that I could have a personal relationship with God. Imagine that! Well, how could I miss it? I accepted the Lord Jesus as my Saviour and have been enjoying a one-to-one relationship with Him ever since.

My wife was born into a family that practiced Hinduism, a polytheistic religion. When a Christian friend told her that Jesus Christ was the only true God, she was outraged. How can any one faith claim to be unique in a modern secular society? But when she read the Bible, all her offences and defenses proved to be in vain. She was impressed that among all the world’s faiths, only Christianity stood up on historical, archaeological and scientific evidence. Another striking fact was the Bible’s definitive answers to sin, mankind’s salvation and life after death. She had the proofs and all she needed was simple faith. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). This Bible text brought to her heart the unrivaled truth that Christ indeed is God and Saviour.

Life has not always been smooth for us here in Canada. At times, there is frustration and failure. However, we have an underlying peace and contentment. We may not be a success in everything but the fact that God is our Father, the Lord Jesus our Saviour and the Holy Spirit our Comforter helps us to celebrate life, in all its ups and downs.