The Ex-Gang Member And "Child Assassin" Who Became A Preacher

Johnny Chang joined a gang at 12. Three months later he was sent on a mission to hurt someone. That life led to 13 years in prison. And when he got out, he was lost and didn't know what to do with his life. This is the Johnny Chang interview. In this episode, Johnny breaks down the full arc from East LA project housing to prison to viral gospel preacher with 33 people on his team. You'll hear about the abusive father who hardened him, the neighborhood that recruited him, the night he tried to shoot someone and missed, what $50K months actually felt like from the inside, the two suicide attempts nobody knew about, the Muslim mentor who first showed him what God could look like, and the moment in a cell that changed everything. This is one of the most honest conversations about violence, faith, and what it actually takes to get free. Chapters: 0:00 Gang at 12 and a Mission to Shoot Someone 1:12 Born in East LA Project Housing 3:04 An Alcoholic Father and an Iron Fist 5:07 Getting Jumped at 10 and Never Trusting Again 8:49 The Drug Dealer the Skater and the Muay Thai Coach 10:43 Joining the Gang at 12 18:10 The Gang Starter Kit and Putting in Work 27:17 The Kid Who Killed Himself 35:05 Culture Shock Inside Juvenile Hall 44:08 The Muslim Mentor and Why He Respected Him 52:00 Release From Prison and the Penthouse Life 1:01:08 Two Friends Dead in One Week 1:10:10 The Apple Seed and Original Sin 1:19:07 The Moment He Felt Hope for the First Time 1:24:33 The Pastor Who Went Through the Trenches With Him 1:31:00 Going Back to Prison to Preach 1:37:16 The Most Packed Prison Is the Mind 1:41:44 Grant's Testimony and the Miscarriages 1:50:06 People Are Not Too Far Gone They're Too Good for God 2:00:36 Plan Boldly Surrender Daily 2:07:19 From One Person to 33 People Preaching the Gospel 2:09:22 What It Means to Actually Evangelize 2:13:47 One Thing to Walk Away With 2:16:54 If a Gang Member Like Me Can Change Why Can't You