Pastor of Good News LA Church
Chaplain of American Chaplains Association
Certified Mind Lecturer

John Choi, famously known as the man who miraculously survived being stung by a deadly poisonous scorpion, is a true man of faith. Subsequent to his miraculous recovery he has held mind education lectures and has preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, planting faith and hope in those who hear his story.

In 1993, his family migrated from South Korea to the United States in search of a bright future. But like most immigrants, he struggled with youth-related problems and had little hope for his future.

John joined the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) in 2008 and became a Good News Corps Overseas volunteer to Liberia, Africa. It was while in Liberia that he was stung by a deadly scorpion. Doctors from multiple hospitals diagnosed him as terminal with no hope of recovery; hope that John would live was gone. His body temperature dropped significantly, the poison stopped his heart four times; he was dying.

As everyone awaited death, John received an international phone call from the founder of IYF, Pastor Ock Soo Park, who lives in South Korea. With absolute belief in the Word, Pastor Park told John about Isaiah 40:31. “John you need new strength to overcome the poison of the scorpion. This is the promise of God.” John chose to believe the words of Isaiah 40:31, “they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength.” With the Word as his only hope, John closed his eyes and slept. The next day, the doctors walked in to find something they couldn’t explain. John had regained consciousness, his blood pressure had risen and he had fully recovered from the scorpions’ poison.

After overcoming death and realizing the power of God’s word, John realized that his life and the lives of others relied on the Word. Since then, he has turned his life over to the Lord, preaching the gospel and changing the hearts and minds of those in despair into people of faith and hope. John has traveled around the world, sharing his testimony with over 200,000 people, including the U.S. Gracias Christmas Cantata Tour annually. He has given mind lectures in prisons and schools. Many who have heard his testimony have been cleansed of their sin and healed of illness. They now live clean, hope-filled lives by faith in God’s word. John was married to his wife Linda in 2013 and they now have three children. Both John and Linda are continuing to serve God and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in Los Angeles, California.