About the Author

Kristian Sand – Christian author and missionary

Kristian Sand is a Christian author and long-time missionary, born in Norway. He grew up in a large, mission-minded family, as the youngest sibling, in an environment where the call to serve and to look beyond one's own life was present from an early age. His father worked for a Norwegian Lutheran mission all of his life. Two of his brothers worked as missionaries in Africa, which helped open his perspective to international mission-work and God's call to missions. 

Kristian´s experience of Jesus changed the direction of his life

Kristian's life took a dynamic turn when he found a much more personal relationship with Jesus, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit when he was 21 years old. This gave birth to a deep experience of God's supernatural love and a lively desire to share faith, hope and God's love with others. He received training for missions at Youth With A Mission's (YWAM) school in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1974 – where he was drilled into discipleship and a strong vision that God could use young people in missions. His first missionary experience was with a YWAM team - evangelising Indians in London that summer, where he also met his Finnish wife, Ritva (Närhi). They got married that autumn in Sweden.

Family, language, and international life

They followed God's call to become missionaries to Indian immigrants in England in 1975. There, in Nottingham and Derby, they started a family with three children (now adults): Samuel, Benjamin and Heidi. From the very beginning, family life has been multilingual and multicultural. At home they spoke English and Norwegian, both during their years in mission in U.K. and when they lived in India. Kristian is a passionate Manchester United football fan! 

After moving to Finland in 2007, Kristian speaks English, some Finnish and Swedish. Ritva's mother tongue is Finnish). They have been brought up in different countries, speaking different languages. Kristian was raised as a Lutheran - Ritva as a Pentecostal. In their missionwork in UK they were learning both the English and Indian cultures at the same time. In the Christian circles they were interdenominational at heart, but mixed mostly with Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. 

Our times in India

From 1987 onwards they have spent the happiest and most fruitful years as missionaries in India. Benjamin and Heidi lived with them in many periods in India. Samuel, who is mentally handicapped, has found a good carehome in UK. Ritva started children's homes and Kristian travelled to conduct seminars for evangelists and pastors that were working among unreached people groups. India is still close to their hearts and the call to serve among different cultures continues. In Finland, they are involved in both Finnish and international Christian ministry. Preaching and teaching across denominational boundaries is something very close to Kristian's heart. One of his books has been published also in Russian and Ukrainian.

Book writing was born from prophecy

God took Kristian by surprise in the 1990s, by speaking to him in 5 different prophecies that he should write books. In 1999 he set aside 2 weeks to sit in a Christian Guesthome in a town called Coonoor in south India and write his first book, called "Adventures of faith". It was a big step of faith. Book writing became an explosive part of his life from then on, as his 7 first books were written while they lived in India. Since moving to Finland in 2007 this gift has flourished even more.

Who are the books intended for?

Many of Kristian's books are written for Christians and Christian new workers for the aim to prepare them for walking with God in ways we have walked with Him throughout our lives. With focus on stimulating readers to enter into grace and spiritual and practical understanding of Christian graces. He uses personal testimonies of their learning curves and safe guidelines how to operate in them in a sound way.
However, in many of the books Kristian wrote after settling in Finland, he speaks in an open and vulnerable way of seasons when he has suffered and of how he has sought and met God in such times. Many of these books speak of very common emotional and relational pains Kristian carried and by showing readers how God brought him out of them, he imparts hope and insights that may bring similar transformations to his readers.

His most recent books speak about a calling to slow down our life speed; about how we can test, evaluate and see fulfilment of personal prophetic words God has given us. A big series of books are inspired by Job's suffering and how our lives could better accept the suffering parts that we have had. So we can encourage and comfort those that suffer. Even though the problem of suffering does not always find final answers in this life, Kristian's books open a perspective on the greatness and nearness of God. 

Books that create hope

In the midst of suffering, a new reality of fellowship with God can be born – an experience that Job describes with the words: "My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5) 

Book about church life and growth

In his books, Kristian also addresses aspects of church life that are not often talked about - like the profit of prophecy, of living by faith, of living honestly in our faith, of meeting each other in humility and sensitivity and also of how God can prepare us to serve others with deliverance. His last series speak about what a rich, free, harmonious, joyful and glorious life awaits us, believers when we depart to be with the Lord.