A 71-year-old grandfather from Brinnon, Washington, spent an entire year recording the Bible to give his grandchildren an everlasting Christmas gift.
We often think about what we’re going to leave behind for our families when we’re gone. As believers, we know the only thing that really lasts is the Word of God and the faith we pass down.
When we point our kids and grandkids toward Jesus, we are doing the most important work God has given us to do. That’s exactly what this loving grandfather did.
Johann Klaassen got the idea when his grandson showed an interest in spiritual matters. He wanted to make sure his grandkids would always have his voice and the truth of the Bible nearby.
Johann started on New Year’s Day in 2025 and used a simple plan to read through the entire Bible in a year. He just used a little Zoom recorder and sat down every single day to get it done.
It wasn’t always easy for him. Some days he really struggled to keep going and had to push himself to keep reading. “I just kept doing it because I knew that I wanted to get through the Bible,” he said.
By the time he finished, he had over 500 recordings. He put them on colored flash drives, wrapped them up, and gave them out on Christmas Day.
The kids were so excited and were yelling, “Whoa, dude, grandpa—go gramps.”
The video of them opening the gifts went viral and has been seen by millions. Johann says the reason people care so much is the “Power of Christ. Power of the Holy Spirit. God works in mysterious ways, and this is pretty mysterious.”
His favorite part to record was the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew chapter seven. He talked about the verse “Judge not that ye be not judged” and mentioned how he thinks the world would be a better place if we were all just more loving and forgiving.
Johann really hopes these recordings lead his family back to faith. “I’m hoping that they listen to it, that it gives them strength, and that it leads them back to the church and belief in Jesus and God.”
What a wonderful grandfather. There is nothing greater than passing our legacy of faith to our next generation.
As parents and grandparents, let us focus more on leading our children in faith and pointing them to Jesus every day.
WATCH: Grandpa Records the Whole Bible for His Grandchildren
