About this episode
In this gripping episode, Jenilee sits down with Steve Kang to explore his radical journey from devout Buddhism into a near-death encounter that he says took him through hell and heaven. Raised and trained in Buddhism, Steve struggled with deep questions about justice and suffering. But at age 19, after a drug overdose laced with multiple substances, he spiraled into spiritual darkness, demonic encounters, and an experience he describes as “eight hours in hell.”Steve shares how deception shaped his early worldview, what he believes opened the door to spiritual warfare in his life, and how Jesus intervened during the overdose and the eight-hour surgery that followed. He also recounts a later vision of heaven that transformed his understanding of God, Scripture, and the urgency of discipleship.This conversation goes beyond the near-death event itself. Jenilee and Steve unpack why many Christians drift into passive faith, why discipleship is non-negotiable, and how believers can move from spiritual complacency into Spirit-led transformation.What We Cover in This EpisodeSteve’s early life in Buddhism and training under monksThe spiritual crisis his family experienced after financial collapseHow addiction and hopelessness pushed him toward destructive choicesThe overdose that led to demonic encounters and a suicide attemptWhat Steve says he experienced during “8 hours in hell”The intercessors who prayed during his life-or-death surgeryHis encounter with Jesus and the moment he surrenderedA vision of heaven nine months later and its impact on his callingWhy discipleship matters more than weekly church attendanceThe dangers of “Christianity without transformation”What spiritual mentorship really looks likeWhy Steve rejects universalism and emphasizes the seriousness of eternityHow believers can cultivate a Spirit-led life instead of driftingGET STEVE'S BOOK:Book: 8 Hours in Hell (formerly A Testimony and the Spirit-Filled and Biblical Christian Life)If You’re New to FaithSteve shared a prayer at the end of this episode for those ready to begin following Jesus. If you prayed along, Jenilee would love to hear your story. Just email her at: jen@javawithjenpodcast.comShare This EpisodeIf this conversation encouraged you or challenged you, send it to someone who needs hope, clarity, or a renewed seriousness about following Jesus.---------------------------------------------
