8 hours in Hell: How Satan deceived a Buddhist, Took Him to Hell & Jesus rescued Him

What would it take to wake you up spiritually?

For Steve Kang, it took a near-death experience at the age of 19—one that he describes as eight hours in hell, followed by an encounter with heaven. Raised as a devout Buddhist and trained by monks, Steve never imagined his life would lead him to Christianity. Yet today, he pastors, disciples believers, and leads Revive the Nations with a singular message: faith was never meant to be passive.

In this episode of Java with Jen, Steve shares his story with honesty, sobriety, and urgency—not to shock listeners, but to call believers back to the seriousness of eternity and the necessity of discipleship.

Raised Buddhist, Searching for Answers

Steve grew up immersed in Buddhism, trained in its teachings and practices from a young age. Even so, he wrestled with deep questions—especially around injustice, suffering, and the nature of truth. When his family faced financial collapse in the late 1990s and Steve moved to California for college, those unanswered questions intensified.

What followed was a season of spiritual confusion, substance abuse, and isolation. Steve describes a slow drift into darkness—one decision at a time—until a single night changed everything.

The Night Everything Broke Open

Steve unknowingly smoked a drug laced with heroin, cocaine, and PCP. The effects were catastrophic. He remained awake for days, experiencing what he describes as intense demonic encounters and spiritual torment. In his confusion and fear, he attempted to take his own life—believing he was encountering a false version of God that demanded his destruction.

Through a series of interventions—including his mother and law enforcement—Steve was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery that lasted eight hours. During that time, intercessors from Grace Ministries International were praying for his life.

Steve survived the surgery. But what he describes experiencing during that time would forever change his understanding of eternity.

“8 Hours in Hell” — and the Reality of Eternity

Steve recounts a near-death experience in which he found himself in hell—fully conscious, aware of his sin, and confronted with the reality of eternal separation from God. For someone raised in Buddhism, this shattered his previous worldview.

What struck him most wasn’t just fear—it was clarity. He realized the seriousness of sin, the reality of judgment, and his own inability to save himself.

That realization led him to surrender his life to Jesus.

Nine months later, Steve describes a separate vision of heaven—one that further anchored his faith and reshaped how he understood Scripture, discipleship, and God’s redemptive plan.

Why Discipleship Is Not Optional

One of the most sobering parts of Steve’s story is what happened after his conversion.

Despite his dramatic encounter, Steve admits he backslid during a season where he lacked discipleship. It was a painful lesson: an experience can awaken you, but discipleship is what sustains transformation.

In the episode, Steve and Jenilee discuss how many believers attend church faithfully yet remain spiritually stagnant—not because they don’t love God, but because they’ve never been discipled. They explore the biblical mandate to make disciples, the importance of spiritual mentorship, and why Christianity was never meant to be lived in isolation.

Steve is clear: discipleship is not an “extra.” It is essential to salvation, sanctification, and spiritual maturity.

The Urgency of Now

Steve also addresses difficult but necessary topics—hell, eternal punishment, and the idea of universalism. He explains why he believes Scripture teaches the reality of judgment and why delaying repentance is dangerous.

His message isn’t rooted in fear—it’s rooted in urgency and love. Eternity is real. Our choices matter. And the Christian life was always meant to be lived fully, daily, and in community.

A Wake-Up Call for Believers

This episode isn’t just Steve Kang’s story—it’s an invitation.

An invitation to move beyond passive faith. An invitation to take discipleship seriously. An invitation to live a Spirit-led life that reflects the reality of eternity.

If you’ve ever felt spiritually dry, complacent, or unsure why your faith feels stalled, this conversation will challenge you—and encourage you—to take the next step.

🎧 Listen to the full episode:“8 Hours in Hell: How Satan Deceived a Buddhist — and How Jesus Rescued Him”

📌 Connect with Steve Kang: Website: allnationsjc.org Ministry: Revive the Nations

If this episode stirred something in you, consider sharing it with someone who needs hope, clarity, or a renewed understanding of what it means to truly follow Jesus.