• What Happened: Johann Klaassen, a 71-year-old grandfather from Washington state, spent all of 2025 recording himself reading the entire Bible and gifted the MP3 files on flash drives to his five grandchildren on Christmas Day.
  • Why It Matters: Klaassen was inspired by his grandson's interest in spiritual matters and wanted to leave something lasting his grandchildren could carry forever.
  • Bottom Line: A family member filmed the Christmas gift exchange, the video went viral, and millions around the world have now seen it.

In a world that feels like it is coming apart at the seams, a 71-year-old grandfather from Brinnon, Washington just reminded all of us what really matters.

Johann Klaassen had a simple but powerful thought after his grandson expressed an interest in spiritual matters. What if his grandchildren could have his voice forever? Not just memories, not just photographs, but his actual voice reading the Word of God.

So on January 1, 2025, Klaassen picked up a small Zoom recorder and started reading the Bible from the beginning. Every single day for an entire year he recorded. He did not miss one day.

"Most days I was up for it, but there were some days I struggled thinking, 'I need to keep doing this, keep reading,' and I did. I just kept doing it because I knew that I wanted to get through the Bible," Klaassen said.

More than 500 recordings later, he loaded every MP3 file onto colored flash drives, wrapped them up, and placed them under the Christmas tree for each of his five grandchildren.

Their reaction said everything.

"They were like, 'Whoa, dude, grandpa, go gramps.' They were fired up," Klaassen said with a grin.

A family member captured the moment on video. Millions of people around the world have now seen it. Klaassen did not need a fancy studio or a publishing deal. He needed a recorder, his faith, and 365 days of commitment.

"Power of Christ. Power of the Holy Spirit. God works in mysterious ways, and this is pretty mysterious," he said of the overwhelming response.

His favorite passage came from the Sermon on the Mount. "Judge not that ye be not judged," he reflected. "If we were more forgiving, more loving towards others, it would be a better place."

This is what a legacy looks like.