Ruinan’s Baptism Testimony

This photo was taken right after Ruinan made a commitment to follow Jesus in Spring 2023. Two years later, he’s baptized. God has been quietly and beautifully at work all along.

I first met Ruinan in the spring of 2023. His mom had been part of our ESL ministry and connected him to our church through a mutual friend, so we met up for coffee. I still remember asking about his spiritual journey, sharing the gospel, and hearing him respond with a commitment to follow Jesus. It was such an unexpected joy, and a reminder that God really does bring gospel opportunities right to us. And then, almost immediately, because of visa issues, he had to move to Vancouver, which was discouraging for me because I had hoped to keep walking with him in his faith.

I felt prompted to reach out to him last December, even though it felt completely out of the blue. He wrote back saying life was going well, and that he was moving back to Seattle to get married, buy a home, and that he wanted to reconnect. Over the months that followed, we caught up here and there, even meeting his fiancée. Then at church he heard us talking about baptism and sensed God leading him to take that step. So on November 5th, he shared his testimony, then declared that Jesus is his Lord and Savior, and was baptized.

My faith journey with Ruinan has reminded me of the patience required in discipleship. My timing isn’t always God’s timing, and yet God is always at work, quietly and perfectly. Scripture captures this so well: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” He’s the one who brings the growth and Ruinan’s story is a beautiful picture of that. And now, I’m grateful and excited to keep walking with him in this season, trusting that God is leading, and that this is our moment to help each other, encourage each other, and not waste the opportunities God is giving us today.

You can read Ruinan’s testimony below, and if you’d like to watch him share it in person, you can click this link here:

Before I really knew Christ, my life looked pretty normal on the outside. I wasn’t doing anything wild or extreme, but inside I carried a lot of doubts. I prayed sometimes, but honestly, I wasn’t sure if God was actually listening. There was always this quiet uncertainty in my heart.

My faith journey really began when my mom went to Australia to study. That season opened up space for me to learn more about God and what Christianity was all about. I didn’t have one big dramatic moment. It was more like a slow, steady realization that God had been there the whole time, guiding me even when I didn’t see it. Little by little, He made Himself real to me.

Now, life looks different. I’m learning to trust God more fully, especially when I feel anxious or unsure. Instead of relying on my own understanding, I’ve been learning to bring everything to Him in prayer. And there’s a real peace in knowing I’m not walking through life alone.

One verse that’s become especially meaningful to me is Philippians 4:6–7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”