Divine Intervention: Episode # 38: Champion Powerlifter, John Bernor

In this episode of Divine Intervention, we are joined by my good friend, John Bernor. John was born in 1975 on Long Island, New York. He had a rough time growing up, and due to some painful childhood experiences, developed a hard heart, and got involved in a life of crime and drugs at a young age. After a nearly fatal overdose of crack cocaine in 1992, John then decided to focus his efforts only on the business end of the drug world, eventually developing and running one of the largest cocaine and marijuana distribution rings on Long Island. He had many close calls in his life of crime, including run-ins with the police, the FBI and the mafia. But through it all, God’s hand of protection was on John’s life. In 1999, a Divine Intervention in the form of a serious and inexplicable illness brought John to his knees, and to the point of surrender. He committed his life to Jesus Christ and became born again. Since that day, things have never been the same for John. He abandoned his life of crime and today, John is the youth pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and also the east end coordinator for Youth for Christ, a Christian ministry geared toward High School students. He has been training and competing in powerlifting for over 13 years, and was the Senior National Powerlifting Champion in 2004. As of 2008, he is ranked #1 in the world in the 308 lb weight class with a 2600 lb total lift. His best competition lifts are a 1,110 lb squat, 780 lb bench press, and a 710 lb dead lift. He is the co-founder of Apostles of True Strength, which is a powerlifting and strength exhibition ministry. He now speaks and performs strength exhibitions at churches and venues all over, and shares his incredible testimony of God's power with young people. Click the links below to hear the awesome testimony of God's healing and restoration in the life of this champion!