Born on December 5th, 1977, Sandy Karanda has become one of the most talented Gospel singers in the Diaspora. She is also the founder of Sandy Ministries and Yamurai Children’s Foundation (www.ycfonline.org). Coming from a Christian family Chrispen Karanda (Father), Irene (Mother), her brother Trinity and baby sister Stacey it goes without saying that one’s upbringing has a lot to do with who they become. Raised by her Grandmother Margret Mpemba Simon, Sandy’s parents are a great example of what a strong family is all about. Though married at a young age, they supported each other in completing their education. Twenty-nine years later, their love is even stronger as they remain supportive of each other in their successful businesses.

Education: A year after Sandy’s high school graduation, God opened doors for her in 1996 to study Computer Information Systems at Strayer University. Though she enjoyed working on computers, she felt that her heart was somewhere else gearing more in helping people in need as she had worked for American Redcross, Prison Fellowship Ministry and other Non Profit Organizations where her job was to make a difference in other people’s lives psychologically and spiritually. She decided to persue a degree in Psychology at George Mason University, USA where her love for the field grew even stronger leading her to transfer to Regent University (a Christian University) where she is currently studying Clinical Psychology. Her goal is get her Doctorate degree so she can qualify to train Psychologists in Zimbabwe and also build a Children’s Home and Clinic to accommodate orphans whose parents have died of AIDS.

Growing up as a Catholic, at the age of 17yrs she joined Full Gospel Church of God where she was an Usher, and at 19yrs she became a Choir member at Church of God in Alexandria, Virginia. At 21 she joined the Mass Choir at Jericho City of Praise in Landover, Maryland which consisted of over 200 Choir Members. Sandy felt God wanted her to move in 2006 as she became a Church member at The Porter’s House in Dallas, Texas led by Bishop T D Jakes where she is working on joining the Mass Choir.

She became more serious with her music at the age of 18yrs, when she was invited to travel across USA to business conferences and churches. At the age of 23, she collaborated with a friend and recorded a 6 song gospel CD that sold well in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. She then decided, at the age of 26, to go solo and released her album Apple of His Eyes which she produced, then directed her first video to the song “Hallelujah” in New Jersey. This CD continues to sell well to this day on her website, with people in Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, USA and even India purchasing it. The proceeds of this album help sponsor Orphans in Zimbabwe.

With life’s challenges, Sandy remains strong as she states “God chose me to do what I do and I know that He would NEVER give me anything that I would not be able to handle, no matter what comes my way. God will continue to cover me and will NOT let me down”. She lives up to her name (which means helper of mankind) as she is indeed a Helper and desires to do so much more for others than herself. She believes that "the sky is the limit to what I can do, because with God nothing is impossible. If He can use me, He sure can use anyone who is willing to obey Him all the way. If anyone knows they have a calling, they should open up their hearts and allow God to use them because it is the greatest thing in the World to work for the Kingdom of God”.

Sandy has featured in numerous online newspapers and interviewed with radio stations in the United Kingdom and Africa. Nothing can stop this young woman of God as she continues to grow in the Lord by traveling all over the Country to share the Word of God through her music.

Sandy's Favorites :
Preachers : Apostle Betty Peebles, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pastor Eddie Long and Paula White.
TV Shows : TBN, Law & Order SVU, Monk, America's Next top Model and Kevin Hill.
Foods : Thai Food, Ox tail, Spanish Chicken with fries and home made okra.
Animals : Dolphins and Horses.
Sports : Dance, Tennis and Swimming.
Singers : Mariah Carey, Tri-ni-tee 5.7, Alicia Keys and Vickie Winans
Books : Performing for an audience of One, (by Apostle Betty Peebles) and Women thou art loosed (by Bishop T. D. Jakes)