
Loading summary
John Robin Hill Jr.
I found other people who would come up to me and they would tell me that they were in jail at the same time I'm in jail for trying to do something that I was doing.
Ryan Miller
Guys, welcome to the Jesus People podcast. Super excited for this one today, man. I've been watching you for a while. John, AKA Holy Gabana, used to be Boot Gang back in the day, doing all sorts of craziness on social media. I, I'm sure I got plenty of laughs. Like my younger self was probably watching you like, oh, just like viral. Just, just going crazy viral on social media and now giving your life to the Lord. It's just, it's so cool to see like a complete Saul Toal experience. And so. What an honor, man. Thank you for being on the Jesus People podcast today and thank you for having me.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Let's get it started.
Ryan Miller
So, yeah, man, I, I've heard you talk a lot about trauma and I, I, I'm so fascinated to hear more of your family of origin and your story and growing up and kind of like what, what informed kind of the decisions you made later on in life.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Okay, there we go. See, I was talking to my spiritual mom last night, Mama Kim, and I was telling her that this whole time I thought that I was supposed to be showing the world that Boot Gang is no longer Boon Gang, but, but that's not the case. Because before I gained fame as Boon Gang, I was still living in the world a certain type of way. I was still robbing, I was still scamming, I was still like making a lot of decisions that was not of God. Now let me take you back to when I was a little boy. When I was like six years old, my mama just got foodsteps. She bought groceries for the whole house. And as everybody was asleep, I snuck into the kitchen and I destroyed all the food, the whole kitchen, all on the walls and stuff like, and just ruined everything. My mama woke up and the whole house, it was like a fool fight. And I had food all over me and everything. See, I was a kid then at like 7 years old. I remember burning my 2 year old little brother with an arm. And my mama was outside smoking a cigarette. I'm the oldest, there's no kid in the house that's older than 7 years old. But I had an errand that I was playing with and I asked my brother, is this hot? And I put it on him and it burned him. And when the ambulance and the police, they pulled up, they took us because my mom, the adult, was outside while all the kids was in the house unwatched. So child services took us, and she had to fight to regain custody of us.
Podcast Co-host
Wow.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And it's just more stuff that I could. More stories that I could give that I was doing that was dirty, filthy, evil, and just was not of God. And I was sharing this with her. And I remember sharing that with a friend right before I shared that with her. I had the same conversation back to back with two different people. And when I was talking to a friend and I told him the same story, he was like, do you blame yourself for the stuff that you were doing as a kid? I said, no, I do not. Because I came out the womb acting on the nature that I was born with.
Podcast Co-host
Right?
John Robin Hill Jr.
The Bible says that we're born with a sinful nature. Every last single one of us is born with a sinful nature. So all I was doing was just acting on the instincts that I was wired with. You don't have to teach a dog how to be a dog. You come out the womb knowing how to be a dog. Right. Immature. Immature puppy, sure. But the dog just come out just instinctively doing what dogs do. The same thing as a lion or a bird or anything else. So I just came out the womb acting on the sin that was inside of me, you know? So I don't. I don't blame myself. It's like, that's why you got to teach a kid how to treat people nice or. Or. Or not to talk back or not to be mean or not to lie or not to steal. You. You got to teach a kid all that stuff. You got to train the child in the way they should go. So I. This whole time, it's not me. It's not me showing the world that, hey, Boom Gang is no longer Boom Gang. See, because that's that. That. That's. That's a whole. That's me. But that's a character outside of that character. John Robin Hill Jr. Was acting on evil since a child. Since a kid. So I got to go back to the root and realize that I've been evil since birth. And God has to give me a whole new nature, not a whole new image. Not gang. The Holy Gabbana. Not a whole new character, not a whole new. Anything that pertains to showing. Just performing for the world. Performing for the church. Nah. A whole new being.
Podcast Co-host
Right, right, right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So.
Ryan Miller
So you've been crucified with Christ. You no longer live, but Christ lives in you.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. See, John, got to be a whole. Got to be made a whole new person. Yeah, so.
Ryan Miller
And when it goes back, it's like, I. I'm just so fascinated right now at what you just said. Like, if people don't know. And I'd love you to explain a little bit more just how massive you were on the Internet. But, but you got famous for, like, destroying places, like going into McDonald's or going into stores and, like, causing chaos. I remember seeing a video of you going into the church and just screaming like, like. And so for me, as someone who has a little bit of a background in mental health, to hear that, that started, that impulse started when you were a child that you just had this urge to go into the kitchen when. When your mom had just gotten food with food stamps and then just to wreck the place. Have you ever made that connection between that moment and then the character of Boot Gang that was created on the Internet?
John Robin Hill Jr.
No, I didn't. But check this out. My mama wasn't living Imperial. You know, she was married, but it's like she wasn't. The household and the environment, it wasn't. Golly. Right. So there was. There's many ways that my, My mom and my stepdad, that they was living that I'm. I. I do not deny. Granted access for a demonic influence.
Podcast Co-host
Sure.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Enter into the house, right?
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
Ryan Miller
Open doors.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I don't, I don't deny that. I don't doubt it at all. Because now that I'm building a relationship with God and the Holy Spirit is just making. Making the word of God just come alive to me and giving me understanding, It's. We're not independent creatures. We're. We're. We're either influenced by God's spirit or demonic sp. Or we just influencing each other. But even if we influence each other, we're still being influenced by either holy spirit or demonic spirits.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
We just not just thinking stuff and just doing stuff on our own. We're being influenced by something. So with my parents and then it's. It's like if you're not living in God, if you're not living in his will, his covering, then you automatically living for Satan.
Ryan Miller
Sure.
John Robin Hill Jr.
There's. There's no middle ground. So as my mom and my stepdad, you know, they always fighting, they always doing this. They. They living in a way that the Bible specifically say not to. It open doors for demons to come.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And she got children, so, you know, we're not. My life was covered. Sure, sure. My, you know, God had his hand on my life, but I still got a mind, you know, a demon, A demon may not have fully possessed me. But he sure can oppress me and make me think stuff or make me do stuff or just exploit you know, or. Or open doors in the household. So it's like, that's why even as parents with kids, we got to make sure that we living in a way the. The COVID the household to protect the household, to protect our children.
Podcast Co-host
Amen.
John Robin Hill Jr.
To make sure, you know, to make sure that we're living in a way that we ain't granting. Giving access to demons.
Ryan Miller
Amen.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Because they coming. It's like if I leave food around my house on the floor, if I leave crumbs around the house, next thing you know, I'm gonna have roaches, right? I'm gonna have. Right. I'm gonna have rats and roaches. If I throw some food crumbs, some bread crumbs around. Around this flow. It's the same thing with sin. If you have sin in your life, you're gonna have some demons. Because that's what demons attract to. They attract to sinful living. That. That's. That's. That's filthy. That's. That's what they attract. So, I mean, yeah, the way. The way I grew up or the way I was growing up, it's like just me acting on my sinful nature and then just being in a demonic environment. It wasn't godly. It wasn't. So if it ain't godly, it's demonic.
Podcast Co-host
Right? Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Because every. Because everybody living in a way that God said on to live, not to live.
Podcast Co-host
Right? Right.
Ryan Miller
So you. You. You actively saw open doors in your house. You feel like there was an oppression even from a young age that caused you to live recklessly? Have you. Have you.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Absolutely.
Ryan Miller
Have you done any sort of deliverance or any. Any. Like, have you. Have you worked through that at all now that you've. You've gotten saved?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Absolutely. Every single day, Every single day, every single day, I pursue Jesus and I confess whatever. Whatever the holy spirit revealed to me that is inside of me that I need deliverance from, but that I need. That I need to be free from every single day.
Podcast Co-host
Right?
Ryan Miller
Amen, dude. Well, take. Take us through, like, kind of like a snapshot of. Of the. The character of Boont Gang. Like, what. First of all, what is. What does Boot gang mean? Is it just a random name.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That my mama gave me?
Podcast Co-host
Okay.
John Robin Hill Jr.
When I was a kid? Well, boom. Gang itself, it just. It means the defin. The definition I gave it to, like, still. But bunk is a. Is a blunt laced with cocaine. So that's What? But that's not why my mama nicknamed me that. When I was a kid, it didn't have a nickname. I mean, it'll have a definition. Because I used to look up my nickname and I couldn't find the definition. I always found it weird. I remember searching as a kid, always searching the Internet to find out what it means. Cause I found it weird. Cause I knew my name was John, but for some reason, my mama always calling me Boom. So I used to be on Google, and I'm like, what does this mean? And I used to ask her all the time. I'm like, what does it mean? What does that mean? And she is like, it's just your nickname. It's nothing. I don't know. You know, I just called it. That's just the name I just called you. She never really could tell me. And as I got into, probably like around 15 years old, I found the definition for it. And it was like a. A blunt lace with cocaine. So people smoking a blunt, they'd be like, yeah, this a Boom. It's a bunky J. You know, it got coke in it. Yeah. So. But other than that, the boat gang, it just means the definition I gave it just like, still to run off on somebody and something like that.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
Ryan Miller
And then take me into, like, how you kind of found the Internet and how you started making content on the Internet.
John Robin Hill Jr.
This dude. This dude, Fatboy SSE was going viral. And I remember just sitting on the couch and he's just going viral for just being loud. And I'm like, I checked his page, and I see he got money. I'm like, man, this all you got to do to get some money. Shoot, I could do this too. So, yeah, I just really copied his style and put my own spin to it.
Ryan Miller
And. And what were some of those videos? I mean, obviously, like, I've. I've seen. I've seen the main viral videos. Like, what are some of the most iconic, the most infamous videos? What were you known for?
John Robin Hill Jr.
People just knew me for stealing. Now, I don't think it was. I. I don't think it was any specific video that made me known. They just knew I was stealing and. And just being disruptive. Every. Like, everybody had their own individual favorite video.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, but.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah, but just overall, they'd be like, that. That's that boy that always be running off on people.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, and.
Ryan Miller
And how. How, like, fast was the rise? Because, I mean, at your height, how.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Many followers did you have? I gained. I gained like 2 million followers in like four or five months.
Ryan Miller
Oh, my gosh, dude, that's insane.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah, it was real fast. I was watching Vlad interview early this year, and I forgot this. When I was, like, 20 years old, my first interview, and I was like, I was. When I was watching it, I was sharing with him how fast I gained a million followers, 2 million followers. And when I really. And when I heard myself say how fast I gained it, I was like, dang. But at 20 years old, four or five months, gaining that. That many followers, I didn't have any training on how to be a. A public figure, a celebrity influencer. I didn't have a training on. On how to treat. On how to act when paparazzi's around or. I. I was just learning as I go. Just. Just learning as I go, you know, and just acting on what I. What I felt like I wanted to do.
Podcast Co-host
Wow.
Ryan Miller
So the videos you were making, you're going in, you're stealing, you're causing havoc. Take me into, like, the church video, because that's one that sticks out in my mind, you know? Like, it's kind of like a. An. You know, an interesting video to now look back on. Now that you're in the church, now that you're a church leader, now that people are looking up to you for your faith, you've got a ministry to prisons, you've got a ministry to so many. I mean, now you. It's not like you lost your following. You're just using your following for good now. But, like, what was actually happening in that church video?
John Robin Hill Jr.
And that's the thing. I actually did lose my following.
Podcast Co-host
Oh, wow.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. But God, he just, like, he helped me regain it, because when I was still living life as Boon Gang, I made porn on my Instagram, and I had, like, four or five. I had 4.5 million followers. I remember I just had got some money. I took a trip to Houston and got some grills in my mouth. And during that week, man, I was having a party in my hotel, like, every day. And I stopped making videos around this time because I got famous in 2017, 2018. I was like, it's time to do something new. So I was really just enjoying the money that I had. And so when I was having these parties, I wasn't making the content I was making when I blew up, but I was just. I was still who I was, and I was just enjoying my money. I remember after having. After running through these girls, I'm like, man, I want to show this off. So I recorded myself just hitting some chicks and the first day, my video had, like, 10 million views on my. On my story.
Podcast Co-host
Wow.
John Robin Hill Jr.
On my Instagram story, It had like 10 million views. Whoa. Then that. When I woke up and I seen that, I was scared. Like, it scared me because I'm like, dang, this is big. Like, this big for. Just. For Instagram story.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So my Instagram. My Instagram didn't get deleted. I was like, man, let's run that back. Let's do that again. So I did it again. Next thing you know, and I was able to do it through overnight. I woke up again. Check my Instagram. That thing had like, 6, 7 million on my story. And my following was going up. Next thing you know, you know, I'm hitting a friend. I'm like, hey, man. Boy, this lit. I remember Patty hitting me up to buy promo. He was like, bro, your page is going up right now. Like you died or something. How much? How much for promo? And then I'm telling them I'm about working that out. Then I'm about to. I'm really about to delete this story because how viral is going. And next thing you know, it says, your. You have been logged out. Your page had been deactivated. I was like, wow. I hit my manager and I was like, hey, bro, my page just got deactivated. I need to get it back. He's like, here's my bet. We're gonna get it back, bro. A month went by, didn't have my page back. I'm like, we need to get our page back. We need to get that page back. Two months went by, no page. Three months, four months. I'm like, my page gone. Wow, it's gone. So shoot. I did. I did lose my page. Instagram didn't allow me back on Instagram for a minute. Every and every new account I made, I was like, wow, they take me down every time. Every time I create a new account, they just take me down. And that was really. That was the start of me just changing my name but not changing to live for God. I was changing it to be strategic so I could get back on social media, get more followers and make more money. And so when I. When I did give my life to Christ, I actually. It's crazy, like, how all these events just happened in my life to get me through this point. It's like, God, he been working through my chaos.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And just, like, straightening stuff out, because I eventually got back on Instagram, I got signed to a label, and they helped me get back on social media, and I was able to build a following of like 300, 400,000. But it took time. It took so much time because people, they, even though they remembered me, I wasn't posting the type of viral content I was posting. So everybody, I have like 10 million page visits, but nobody following me. So the moment. And check this out. After I had my encounter in jail, I, when I got out, I was on some music and I was flying this two years. After two years, I was going to go fly to Atlanta to shoot some music. And when I had encountered my friend getting shot and had encountered the Lord when he met me during this time, I'm still pursuing, trying to get the light my old lifestyle back. Yeah, not, not, not think about God, think about Jesus or nothing. And that's when I went on my social media of about 400,000 followers and I'm like, hey, now I believe in, I'm a believer in Jesus. I had an encounter with Jesus, this, that, and the third. Then my page shot up and probably like, probably like a four months, my page shot up to a million.
Ryan Miller
Wow, so just now. Because now you're making Jesus content.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. And Now I'm at 1.4 million. So I did, I did lose my following. Got it. But, but when I converted to Christianity and I began sharing the gospel and, and sharing my faith and sharing my testimony, my following went. My following shot back up and I was trying to do it. I was trying to do that when I wasn't a Christian and when I wasn't living for Jesus. I was trying to get what I used to have back.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And doing that and doing that, that journey of mine, trying to get what I had back. God, he intercepted my focus and he grabbed my attention. And then I just genuinely went on social media, my 4,000 followers, and I'm like, hey, I'm done with all this music. I'm done with all this. I follow Jesus. Since then, I've been just, everything just been changing. Amen. What I was trying to do on my own, just God was just doing it, just genuinely. And I didn't even expect none of that. Like, I didn't get on social media, sharing Jesus and my testimony and stuff to get a new following. I was just the encounter and the experience and everything. The revelation that I received about Jesus was just so real. I was like, man, bump the world, bump the following, bump all that, bump the music, bump this. I follow Jesus now. I love Jesus. And then my following just began, just changing and going up and all that.
Ryan Miller
So I mean, that makes so much sense. It's like, why would the Lord give you the thing, the idol that you just left in the dust? You know, like the thing you've been chasing your whole life, but you've been going about it through reckless living? Yeah, he's not going to give that back to you. He's going to have to destroy it. Like, that's what I think a lot of people don't realize when. When they experience the trials of the Lord. It's like, hey, maybe the Lord's slashing some things from your life. Maybe the Lord is crushing some of your idols because he needs to rebuild a new wine skin in your life. You can't put new wine into old wine skins. It's going to explode.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And.
Ryan Miller
And the Lord had to do that with me, too. Like, I was at the lowest point in my life. I was. I had no money, I had no career, I had no aspirations, I had no success of any kind. And I got to the point where I was just walking on trails. I was just. I would just go hiking because I'm like, what else am I going to do during the day? I've now got a kid. I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. I'm going to provide, like, all this stuff. And I just go hiking and I'd encounter the Holy Spirit and I'd hear his voice and I'm like, wow, I bet I could just share this to TikTok and people would like it. And so I just started sharing what I was hearing. I'd commune with the Lord, I'd communicate what he said and it would go viral.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And.
Ryan Miller
And every time I try to manufacture something for virality, it just never worked because the spirit wasn't on it. And so I think God's going to give you back tenfold. Like, your 1.4 million followers is far bigger than your 4.4. Whatever you had before. Far more impactful. Like, because it's kingdom, you know what I mean? It's in right order. It's like, those were those counted negative against you in the treasures that are going to be found in heaven, you know, this is like you're now storing up the real stuff. So praise God for that, man. Like, it's so cool, so cool to hear the full story, the full picture. Because like I said, I saw the old videos. I remember seeing you going viral. You were crazy famous. And then now the Lord has. He had to chop and put it into right order. And so I'd love. I'd love to hear more like, how, what, what happened? What was the chop? I know you landed in jail. Take me through that whole process to encounter Christ.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah, but I, I had to give, I had to give you that whole run around because I act like that's my life. My life is just a completely just running around. I love it in my, around, like, Jesus is, like, planting himself in all my. Running around in chaos.
Ryan Miller
Amen.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I, I, I lost my father. I lost a lot before I got to this point. But in the church video, I just wanted to, I just knew, like, it was different. I knew it was different. I knew, like, I'd make a statement if I ran into a church and made some noise. And I want, that's, that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to make a statement. I was like, nobody done this before, but I got like, like, I got the courage to do it.
Ryan Miller
And so you just walked into a random church.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Walked into a random church. But let me tell you this honestly, I had a little reverence for the church because it's a church. It took. I, like, I plotted on that church for like a week. I walked by, I walked by and I'm like, man, I want to run in there, man. I just, I, I just walked by. It just kept walking by. And I'm like, man, I want to run in there. And then after me, after me doing a handful of videos, I'm like, you know what? Today's the day. I'm just going to do it. I'mma just do it. Well, I, I want to pull up.
Ryan Miller
The, let's pull up the, the video real fast. Let's show the video and then we'll pop back.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. You know, in my mind, what I was going to do, I was going to go take the mic out of the pastor's hand and speak on the mic. But people like his security and his people didn't, didn't allow me to get to that front. They came up behind me and everything. So I was about to fight and just be chaotic in there, but wow.
Podcast Co-host
Wow.
Ryan Miller
Yeah. It's crazy to see that video played back because it's like the picture of your old world, which is I'm just going to cause chaos, which, wherever I can, even if it's in a sacred space like the church. And then now to where you've gotten to take. Take me into that now. Like, like you had, you got popped for some charges, right? You went to jail. Take me into the whole, the whole story there.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. So when I, when I went to jail, I was facing three years because it was a hit and run. I got caught with some guns that was in my car doing the hit and run and I had some drugs on me and my. When I went, when I eventually went to jail, it's like, it's just so much and, and sharing, and sharing my life and sharing. It's just so much because of how chaotic I was living. It's a lot and, and God, man, he put up, he put a lot of barricades in places that I should have just went over the edge.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Like a gun charge of mine that I got caught with, a serial number scratched off and it was a, it was a pistol I shouldn't had just got thrown out. I, I remember going to court and the, the judge called my name and he was like, case dismissed. I was like, what?
Podcast Co-host
Hmm.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I walked out. I was like, okay, why?
Ryan Miller
So it just a miracle or was there any reason?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. I don't know why he threw it out. I was guilty. I was guilty, but they just threw it out. And it's just so, like, it's just so many, is so many events that occurred in my life or that I initiated and it was just a barricade that protected me or stopped it going, stop me from receiving the full consequence that I deserved. But I remember after the hit and run and getting caught with all the guns and stuff, I was facing three years in prison, but I ended up getting sentenced six months. And the day I turned myself in, I remember talking to the DA and after I talked to her, I just asked her for some grace and forgiveness and some mercy and just like, hey, I'm still young. I think I was 22 at the time. And they knocked the month off and I got sentenced five months. When I first went into jail, all the inmates, they recognized me. They got excited and it alarmed the police officers because the inmates, they screaming and stuff and they recognized me. So they put me up by myself. And I was now going through just this whole operation to get into a sale that I've never done before. Just, it was just completely different. But they were doing it for my own quote, unquote, protection because of how the inmates reacted when they saw me.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Then when they finally put me in a single man cell when I was in isolation, after a week, I made a complaint because what this, the, what they put me through, I shouldn't have, like, I shouldn't have went that route. I should have, yeah. Went through gp. I should have got, you know, been with everybody else who went, went through the opening, the, the beginning Phase. Before getting into the cell, I should have been with all the other inmates, but instead I was by myself. Yeah. Going through. Going through. Just because you were famous loops.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. And just to get into a. A single man cell that was small, I'm like, I made a complaint. I'm like, hey, y' all have to move me because down here at the lower level in this cell, I should not be here. So, like, an hour later, they had. We all had a meeting. They called me, we all had a meeting. And they were just asking me if I do. I'm. If I'm scared of my life, scared for my life. Do I need protection? Do I need this? Am I worried about this? Is this a concern? I'm like, hey, I'm good. I shouldn't be down here. Move me. I need to be with other people, with gp. Move me. So they did. And when they moved me is when I got my cellmate, who I just recently uploaded a video of me talking on the phone with him because he's still in prison. And when I went in, my cellmate asked me three questions. He asked me where I'm from. He asked me, what's my name? And he asked me, do I believe in Jesus? I told him, I'm from Florida, my name is John. And yes, I believe in Jesus. And I did believe in Jesus. It wasn't a rooted faith in Jesus, but it was a belief of, hey, Jesus is God and he died on the cross for your sins. That was taught to me when I was a kid. So as a kid, you know, I believe that Jesus existed. But growing up, I never built a relationship with Jesus and I never learned the true gospel and I never learned it's more than just believing in Jesus. It's living your life for him on the daily. Not just going to church on Sunday or Wednesday, but living a crucified life daily, building a relationship with him. And that's what a lot of Christians today get it wrong, because they say, I believe in Jesus, but if you look in their life, their life don't reflect Jesus at all.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Their social media don't reflect Jesus. Their friend group don't reflect Jesus. Their whereabouts don't reflect that they are in Jesus's family. So when my cellmate, he asked me, do you do I believe I did. But it was a circle, a surface level belief. My cellmate every day would just walk around the cell and he would talk about the gospel. I just end up asking him about Jesus. And he was locked up for like a year or two. Already before we became cellmates. So he had no idea who I was. And in 28, at the end of 2018, I was only. I've been famous for a year now, so if he. If he's been in there over a year, you not gonna know who I am.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Cause I was only famous for a year, so. But he recognized that I was somebody out there on the streets. Because inmates walk by myself and they'll be like, hey, that's. That's. Boom. Hey, you know, that's. That's him. Hey, man, what's up? What's up? And, you know, he'll be smiling and he'd be like, who are you? You know, what you do out there? And stuff, like. And I'm like, you know, I'm this. You know, I do that. And he like, okay, yeah, you know, I've been down for a year or a year and a half, however long he was down. And he like, so, you know, I don't really know anybody or what's going on out there. And he was fighting. Him. He was fighting a murder case because he was involved in a robbery where somebody died. So, you know, that's what he been fighting. He ain't worried about me, but, you know, he just talking about Jeeps. He talking about Jesus so much. And we began to build our relationship.
Ryan Miller
Off.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Of Jesus and just. He was fascinated on who I was on the outside because everybody just kept walking by myself.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And getting excited, and, you know, I. I just begin to talk to him and tell him about me, and he'll just be like, hey, man, you know, Jesus could forgive all that. Like, you know, I. I don't know who you are on the outside, but, hey, Jesus could give you a whole new life. Like, you could live life with Jesus. You can have eternal life. I don't know what you've done, but hey, you know, I'm. I'm involved in this right now, and I'm leaning on Jesus.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You know, so he be. We just be chopping it up about Jesus so much, man. I began to try to form my own relationship with Jesus at the time. And that happens. That happens. You know, I'm sitting down, I'm doing time, and, you know, I ain't got nothing else to do, and I'm building a relationship with my cellmate. And it's. It's influencing me to. Because he have a relationship with Jesus is influencing me to try to do it myself. And he handed me his Bible. He like, huh, read this. And I be. I began to Talk to him like, hey, bro, I do music on the outside. So if I really lock in with God, what I'm supposed to do and how I'm supposed to make music. And he's like, hey, man, I don't know. You know, ask God. Talk to him. Let him lead you. So I remember singing, just singing some words I like, jesus loves you, for he died on the cross for our sins. He's always with you from beginning to the end. I was singing that because I was trying to, at this time, of me doing my sentence, I was just trying to find me something new in the style that I do music. And I'm singing. And also, what helped me is my cellmates. I mean, my neighbor, we call neighbor. The one. The people, the men who next to us in jail and to our cell, we call them my neighbor. They complaining. They like, hey, you know, my friend, my. My family, my girl, they don't love me. This and that other dude, complaining. So. And this time I'm like, hey, your girl may not love you, but Jesus love you. Hey, your family may not be talking to you, but Jesus love you. And I was singing. I was singing. So I was singing for multiple reasons, just trying to do something for Jesus, trying to find something, a new style to do music, and then telling people in the jail that, hey, your family, your girl, your brother may not love you, but Jesus does. So as I'm singing, I'm singing out of joy. I had no other reason to sing. I'm singing out of joy. Then I remember, finished singing, laying down, and I just felt sad. And I started crying. And I couldn't explain why I was crying. But in an instance, I felt something, and it filled me with joy. And I didn't feel like crying anymore. Like, I didn't have it in me to cry. I was just laughing. And I knew it was something different because I felt the tangible touch. But it's only two people in this cell is me, and it's my cellmate who asleep. Because it's past dinner, it's late, they got the lights off, TV's off. Nobody in here but me and my cellmate, who knocked out sleep. But I'm feeling something. And I couldn't. I didn't have the language to articulate what I was experiencing. All I knew, it was something is something that I feel.
Podcast Co-host
Hmm.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And it was real. And it shifted my emotions. When I didn't. What I. When I didn't experience, when I didn't feel that anymore, I hopped down off my bed, and I immediately Woke my cellmate up. I'm like, hey, Josh, man. I was singing to Jesus. I laid down and I was crying, and I was chilling him my te. The tears on my face because it was dark, and I didn't want him to think I was lying or anything. So I'm like, I'm in his face. I'm in his face. And I'm like, hey, you know, look at. Look at these tears, bro. Like, I was just crying. I was singing, and I. I felt something come over me, Josh, and it took my sadness away. And I couldn't really explain what I experienced, but all I knew is I was singing, I became sad. Then something came over me, and it made me happy.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I just explained it the best way I could.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And he looked at me and he was like, that was the Holy Spirit. I didn't know nothing about no Holy Spirit. I didn't know anything about Holy Spirit. I didn't know God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. I knew about Jesus, but I didn't know about the Father, and I didn't know about the Holy Spirit. He was like, that was the Holy Spirit. So that was the seed. That was the seed that. That my cellmate planted inside me. And when I got out of jail, that moment always stuck. It stuck with me because I know what I experienced. It was so real. I know what I experienced. It always stuck with me. But when I got out of jail, man, I didn't become a Christian. I didn't start going to church when I got out of jail. I didn't start following Jesus when I got out of jail. I didn't, you know, I wasn't on fire for God or become TD Jakes or, you know, become your favorite pastor. I did. I was happy to be out of jail. Yeah, shoot what I started. I was still running the streets. I don't worry about. I was worried about getting my Instagram back. I'm like, bet I'm out of jail. I got another shot to get on social media and to get my following back. I'm like, bit. That's what I was focused. But what I experienced was always in the back of my mind. It was always in the back of my mind. I couldn't forget it because of how supernatural it was. This is where I get back to the point when I said that I was on my way to doing music. So two years went by. Two years went by after I got out in early in the beginning of 2019, and I ended up getting baptized in 2021. So during that time period that, that whole gap, I was trying to do me and get back to the lifestyle that I had, that I had when I was 20 years old, chasing music, chasing social media, chasing woman, try and get money. And on my way to Atlanta to a friend's house, my friend got shot. He was set up into a drug. He was set up in a drug deal that he was a part of, that he was actually orchestrating. It was his drug deal. And he ended up getting set up and shot and had to call his mom and say, mom, I just got shot, I'm dying, I'm sorry. And she's like, hey, call on Jesus, boy, you better call on Jesus. He get out the car, tried to walk to the nearest house to get help. He couldn't walk anymore. He hit his knees. He said, all I remember is saying, jesus, forgive the shooter and forgive me for my sins. And I just coughing, I couldn't breathe anymore. And I remember leaving my body and entering into a whole new reality, a whole new way of life. And as he's telling me this because I was at his house and I was at his house because I needed somewhere to stay because my, my, my camera guy was in Atlanta. I was leaving North Carolina after recording the album, headed back to Jacksonville and I called my cameraman, I said, hey bro, I just recorded an album, let's shoot some music videos. My cameraman say, I'm in Atlanta, if you come to Atlanta, I'll shoot you for free. So that's why I'm in Atlanta, because I'm my cameraman in Atlanta. I need some free videos. We need to work. So I'm not thinking about Jesus, I'm not thinking about my dog got, you know, something bad happened to him. I'm, I'm in Atlanta to shoot music, but I come across my friend there getting shot. And he's telling me that, hey, I called on Jesus. Mama said, call on Jesus. And I called on him. And I remember I couldn't breathe anymore when I was in that dirt. And I just in, I left my body and where I was, it was just a place of love. Everybody welcomed me as if they already knew me. I seen mansions. He say, man, I don't even know if I could call them mansions, cuz they were so big, they was like castles. He said, I can't really explain what I feel. He was telling me every, he was trying to share with me, with me what he seen, but he really couldn't explain it. And I was like, did you see God? Well, did you See Jesus? He said, no, I didn't. I was so overwhelmed with the love that I was experiencing. I was on my knees and crying. This was right after. Not exactly right, but years after. A couple years after I. What I experienced in jail. I'm sitting here looking at him in his face as he's telling me this. And I'm thinking about what my cellmate was teaching me, right? That's what I'm thinking about. As he's telling me, he's showing me the pictures of the. Of the yellow tape. He's showing me the pictures of his car getting shut up. He's showing me the voice recording of his mama screaming and crying. And he's telling me, hey, bro, wherever I just was, I can't even explain it right now. I want to be back in heaven. He said, I want to be back. He said, man, when I woke up and he was pronounced dead at the park, but he woke up in his body in the hospital. And the doctors was amazed. They didn't know how. They didn't know. They didn't know how he was back breathing after he was pronounced dead in the dirt. And he's sitting in front of my face as I'm at his house, and he's telling me this, and I'm just thinking about what, what I experienced in jail. I'm thinking about what my cellmate taught me. I'm thinking about all this, and I'm like, so what are you telling me, Jesus is real? He's like, yeah, Jesus is real. I say, jesus is real, bro. He said, yeah, Jesus is real. I say, jesus is real. He said, yeah, Jesus is real. I asked him that, like seven times. I had to keep asking him because it was like my body, my mind was shocked. I was just so shocked. And I was shocked because when I got out of jail, I got caught up into a lot of other stuff. When I got out of jail, my plans wasn't working. When I was like, bet I'm free now I get another shot to get some money. Bet I'm free now I get another shot to get my social media back. Like, I was struggling getting my social media back. I was struggling getting some money. I was struggling. And in that gap of that time period, from me having an encounter with Jesus and from. And from my friend having an encounter with Jesus after getting shot in that gap, I was caught up into the new age religion where they teach you how to manifest money, how to attract money, how to this and all that, you know, how to become your higher self. They teach you all that, how God is not actual living God, but the universe, they teach you all that. So as I'm sitting in front of his face, like, so much is playing in my mind, not only am I thinking about what I experienced in jail, not only am I thinking about my cellmate and what he was teaching me, but I'm thinking about the false religion that I was following as well.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So that's why I asked him so many times. I was stunned. And I couldn't. One thing I couldn't deny is I couldn't deny his experience. And his experience confirmed my experience when I was in jail, because even though my cellmate was like, hey, that was the Holy Spirit, in the time period that I was following the New Age religion, they teach you to pray to your ancestors. So I was like, oh, that must have. In that time period, as I was following, I was like, oh, that must have been my grandma. That came to me in jail because my grandma died. So in my encounter, I went. I thought it was grandma or something. You know, I was confused with what I experienced in jail because of how I was into other stuff.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That's why when people today, when they ask me, have you read the Quran? Have you did this? Have you did that? I don't do. I don't read anything outside the Bible. Even. Even as me being rooted inside the Bible. I mean. I mean, inside Jesus, I don't read nothing outside the Bible. I don't care to. When I. Because when I first had an experience with the Holy Spirit, even though it was easy for me to get swayed and go in any direction, because I wasn't rooted at the time. I just had an encounter. I wasn't rooted. That's why you got to have more than just an encounter, bro. You got to be rooted.
Podcast Co-host
Right, right, right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You got to be rooted right. You know what I'm saying? 100, bro. I was. My dog in front of me, I'm like, bro, Jesus is real. Yeah, yeah.
Ryan Miller
It's incredible.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That was. That was 20, 21. I got baptized and never looked back because I didn't have any more questions. I didn't. I wasn't questioning any. I wasn't questioning my encounter in jail. I wasn't questioning my faith. I wasn't questioning my belief. I wasn't questioning Jesus. I didn't need to, because I know somebody. I. This wasn't a stranger who I met on the street.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
This wasn't somebody that I just met. This was somebody that I know who got shot, pronounced dead, and he's sharing with me that when he was not in his body on this earth, that he was somewhere that he couldn't explain. All he knew, that he was overwhelmed with the love that he was experiencing. That's all he knew. He said, I don't want to Google, I don't want to research, I don't want to watch videos, I don't want to do anything because I don't want to add onto my story. This is as fresh as I could give you. People loved me and I saw big houses. He said, I don't even know that if I can call the mansions. They were so big, they was like councils. Yeah, that's all you could say.
Ryan Miller
I want to take a quick break and I want to tell you about a ministry that my family personally supports. It's called Global Christian Relief. And you may not know this, but there are more persecuted Christians around the world than ever before. And Global Christian Relief sends medical aid. They send Bibles to persecuted countries that don't have access to them. They're providing shelter. They're taking care of the least of these in the name of Jesus. And if you want to support them, you can click the link in the show notes. You can read stories of what God's doing in the persecuted church. And know this. Jesus says that what you've done for the least of these, you've done for him, but also that when we love each other as a body of Christ, the rest of the world will see him. So go check it out. That's amazing, man. Like, I, I, I don't think a lot of Christians recognize the power of testimony like that is literally what destroys the schemes of the enemy. It's the blood of the lamb. So it's our salvation that was poured out for us on the cross that makes us clean, that makes us white as snow. That gives us access to be called children of God. It gives us access to the kingdom. But it's the, it's the, the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. And so, you know, we just had a psychic on last week who, who listened to my podcast with the former head of the Church of Satan. And she, like, her mind was blown that she wasn't talking to her ancestors or to people's ancestors. She's talking to demons. So the lid gets blown for her. Her eyes are opened. She comes on the podcast and she's like, just recounting how many people that she's led astray. And I'm telling her, and I've, I've been Encouraging her. We're actually getting on the phone tomorrow, tomorrow to talk about Jesus. But I was telling her, I'm like, you don't understand. Like you've now been given a story that you now give. You get to go give testimony about what Jesus has done in your life to thousands of other psychics and maybe tens of thousands of people who are going to psychics. And what I'm seeing here today with you, John, is I watch your videos and I'm like, this is so anointed and it's so simple. You pull out your phone and you talk about Jesus. There's no bells, there's no whistles, and they go crazy viral. Like your videos are going crazy viral. But that is such a departure from where the Lord led you. Like he, he. Or from where, from where he had you. He's now led you to a place to be a preacher of the gospel in a simple way on social media, where at first you were turning up in targets and in churches and, and, and stealing and robbing and, and all types of foolishness. And now God has changed your heart because of the testimony of Josh in prison and then the testimony of your buddy. And now what you're doing is you're going out to millions of people. I don't even want to know what your analytics look like, but just the reach that I'm seeing from you, like, you are now inspiring. How many, how many 19, 20 year old boot gangs have you inspired to now a lot of that lifestyle to. I mean, tell me about a lot of them. Got stories.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. Every time that I found myself in jail, I found other people who would come up to me and they would tell me that they were in jail. At the same time I'm in jail for trying to do something that I was doing. Every time, every time I came across that, I'll just be like, wow. I would. When I was putting myself out there, my intention wasn't to influence other people to be like me.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That, that was not my intention. My intention was for me to get on and get money.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That's what I was focused on.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I wasn't, I wasn't 20 years old thinking about, hey, I'm about to lead a whole generation to be criminals.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That wasn't on my mind.
Podcast Co-host
Right. Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
But it was just happening. It was so many people. I see YouTube videos of kids getting beat for trying to be like me. Kids, teenagers and young men in jail for trying to be like me. And I'm like, why are y'? All? Why Are y' all copying me?
Podcast Co-host
Right, well.
Ryan Miller
And you copied someone else. That's the thing. That's the discipleship. I, I think that's what people don't realize is like discipleship. Sitting down at coffee with someone and opening your Bible. Discipleship is you act and then they're saying so Satan.
John Robin Hill Jr.
It's the same thing today. Satan doesn't have to. Satan do not have to be hovering over you for you to be following his ways. It's already a system that's built. Stealing is his way, lying is his way, criminal activities is his way. Somebody is already doing it. If I see it and I'm influencing him. Satan don't have to be over me telling me to do that. I'm seeing it, I'm going to just do it. It's a system. Now he is moving around looking for people to devour and stuff like that. But it's a whole, it's like look at how we operate. We have systems that having systems in place get more done than just h, than just manpower alone. Yes, yes, he has a system.
Ryan Miller
And, and what you said is, is Satan is actively roaming the earth looking for someone to devour. There's also a scripture that said God is actively searching. He's actively, it says he's looking to and fro, looking for a man or woman's heart who's eagerly turned towards his. So in the same way that Satan's going to use a man's heart that's turned towards money or, or that's turned towards fame. God is looking for people like David, who was different than Saul. Saul didn't want to lose the kingdom. David didn't want to lose the presence of God. And this was old covenant David, David didn't have full access to the spirit. And he still was like, don't take your presence from me. And God's like, I can use that man. And, and what we're seeing now is we're seeing life on, online where you have these, I mean just pulling out our phone and making a video like this and it goes viral to millions of people. Like that's stadiums. This is a different ball game now. Like Billy Graham was reaching 40,000 people in a stadium. That's a really bad video for you and I. And we think that's what I'm saying.
John Robin Hill Jr.
It's crazy dude. Get this.
Ryan Miller
The stat is that 8 out of 10, 10 year olds, if you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they'll tell you influencer that that is a scary, scary statistic. To me.
John Robin Hill Jr.
That's what I'm saying. That's why. And that brings me back to earlier when I say you have holy spirit influencing and you have the money experience. Yep. We, you know, we not just independently just making decisions on our own. We're being influenced by something.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You're going, you're going in a direction. Right. And if you're not going Jesus direction, by default, you're going Satan direction.
Ryan Miller
And I think so many people think that Satan is showing up with these devil horns under your bed, coming to scare you. He's not. He's showing up in a song. He's showing up at a policy in Washington D.C. he's showing up in pornography. Showing up and you mindlessly scrolling. And I would ask you, you were in the music business, what did you see? What did you see in terms of involvement? You talked about systems, demonic strongholds and systems. Did you see anything like that in the music industry?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Nah, guys kept me from all that. I ain't seen none of that shit. I was just doing a lot of partying. Yeah, I was partying. I was Johnny Manziel.
Ryan Miller
Yeah, man. Well, talk about a guy who, who fell from grace, right?
Podcast Co-host
Who, who, who.
Ryan Miller
Let's pray the Lord brings him back. Because similar, I mean, honestly, similar situation to you. Like crazy rise to stardom and. Yeah, and it ruined him, you know, in many ways. And I just think he needs a lot of our prayers. It's funny you bring him up. He's been on my heart. I saw a video from the other day. He was on my heart. Yeah. Talk to me about what that discipleship process looked like. So you, you, you hear the gospel from your cellmate, you keep living for the world after you get out of jail, your buddy has a near death experience where he, he sees heaven. Your heart gets changed now. The, the, the, the, the scales fall from your eyes. What did discipleship look like for after.
John Robin Hill Jr.
After I was baptized? Because in the first 10 months I was just walking with Jesus by myself. I wasn't ne. I didn't have a desire to go into a church. I was just seeking Jesus at home. And after 10 months I just had the desire. I wanted to worship in a real building and with real believers. So I went to church the very first day and I sat in the front row. The el. The church elders came, they was like, hey, this is for the elders of the church. This is where the pastor wife sit and everything. And the pastor himself came by and he was like, hey, leave these young men alone. I was 24.
Podcast Co-host
Praise God.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So he came and he let me sit there. And after church service, Uncle Reese, he's a gospel singer, and he. He was the youth pastor at the church. He came up to me and he said, hey, man, my name is Uncle Reese. I'm a. I'm the youth pastor here at the church. He say, the way my youth group reacted, the Holy Spirit just led me to come up to you and ask you if you want to have some lunch.
Podcast Co-host
Hmm.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So I was like, yeah, I'm down. So we had lunch, and we were just getting to know each other. We were sharing things about each other. And we just kept talking. We just kept talking. And I began to just follow him. I'm like, hey, bro, I want you to be my mentor. Because I. I trusted the God in him. Just. Just about how he responded, just from how he was responding and how he thought. He never shied away from telling me the truth. He always just shared with me the truth, even if it was challenging my belief or how I thought at the time. I followed him for the first two years, Followed him everywhere, went to church with him everywhere, and just learned from him.
Podcast Co-host
Wow.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And it was challenging. It was definitely challenging because it was things where not only. It was times where not only would he tell me the truth, but he had tell me to do something. And it's just a wrestle. It was a challenge for me to listen.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And, you know, there's times where I had to humble myself and just really submit my, like, submit to what he just told me to do. And, you know, I mean, it grew me. It definitely grew me, but it was. It was also a challenge because I was looking at. From the lenses of, like, you a man. I'm a man, you know, and I don't really agree with what you're saying or I'm not. I don't think like that, or you just telling me to do this and stuff. And it just, you know, But I. I believe that we grew a stronger relationship through it. And it was. You know, it helped him grow, too. It helped him grow in love. It helped him grow in pr, in patience, and it just. I. I believe that God grew both of us through our relationship.
Ryan Miller
Amen. Amen. And what's your relationship?
Podcast Co-host
Go ahead.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I was going to say, but. And, you know, he's a. A more seasoned Christian. I was fresh, right? Yeah, I was fresh and he was seasoned. But that was. That was discipleship for me from Uncle Reese on, like, the first for. For, like, two years.
Ryan Miller
Shout out to Uncle Reese. Everyone needs an Uncle Reese, man. Like I, I think the, the, the best decisions I've made outside of following Jesus and asking my wife to marry me are probably the mentors that I've asked to, to sit down with me.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And, and you know, he didn't, he didn't judge me when I, in my shortcomings, when I fell. I talked to him. You know, he talked, taught me. I mean talked with me through it, prayed with me through it and no judgment, all under all understanding, all love and, and patience. You know, we always didn't see eye to eye and you know, we had our clashes here and there. Not our relationship wasn't full of it because we should have fun, had laughs, there was love, there was community that was praying and everything. But we did have our moments.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And yeah, it definitely helped me just become more humble and help me walk in love and be more patient. And actually he helped me form a, I would say a non traditional way of looking at Christianity because I was looking at it straight through a religious lens. Right, straight through religious lens. But you know, he wasn't, he wasn't a religious, a religious follower of Jesus.
Ryan Miller
Say, say more about that. What, what things did he help you come to understand or to shed that religiousness off of you?
Podcast Co-host
How did he help you there?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Let me see. Just say just in how he dressed.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You know, he dressed, he dressed normal and I always thought like a Christian or a follower of God dressed a certain way but you know, he dressed normal, how he talked, he's smart and he can articulate himself at a high level. But you know, he still used slain. He just his joy and how happy he was. I always thought like men of God were just uptight and all serious all the time, but you know, he was just so joyous and had personality. He still like to crack jokes. He'll probably roast you.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You know, he still like to have fun.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And I didn't, I didn't, I didn't look that at Christians like that. You know, I just thought Christians was all serious, uptight, dressed a certain way, talked a certain way, you know, and just, he was just, he was just man lovable, joyous and just have fun and you know, it's more things but know those are, are the main things like that. And I'm like, dang. I'm like, man, he just like me.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You know, like even though my wildness was, it was in a, in a certain way, but I still was a character in a way and so is he, but he just love God and he love people. And even though, and even though Reese, he's the character in a way. It's like when it's time to stand on business, he all about Jesus. When it time to speak the truth, he is speaking the truth. But outside of that, he's just loving. He just loves.
Ryan Miller
Man, I'll tell you the, the I've got a chance to meet some like, like men and women who were near martyrs in different countries that were imprisoned for their faith. I'm talking like spiritual firepower. Like these dudes communing with, with the Lord on a different level, you know, and there's always one quality that I'm shocked by in every single one of them. And it's just how normal they are, like how funny they are. They're, they're like. I had that same thought. Like you meet this person who's done some great things for the kingdom and advanced the gospel and they were almost killed in a Muslim country or whatever. And you get around them and you have like lunch with them and they're cracking jokes and like being just normal people and there's no facade. And I, yeah, it's not like. I bet Jesus was like that too, you know, I bet.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Absolutely.
Ryan Miller
Good hang. You know what I mean? Like, absolutely. I think we're going to get to heaven. I think we're going to realize that we are far more religious than Jesus is and was.
John Robin Hill Jr.
We are.
Ryan Miller
And we are at all these things that we think we need to stack up. And it's what it is, it's insecurity. Like we feel insecure about our standing as men or women just in relationship with, with others and with the Lord. And so we like make up these customs and these things in order to like elevate ourselves. Like we self protect and we self promote and we do this religious song and dance and it's weird. And I think if, yeah, I agree. Just shed that skin and just were authentic people, I think there would be a great harvest because I think a lot of people are scared to come to Jesus because they're change the way I am in terms of my personality. It's like, no, no, no. Change the way you think and that actually reveals to you more of who you are.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah, exactly. I agree. I absolutely agree. That's why I dress the way I dress. Yeah, that's why, that's why I dress the way I dress. Nah, sometimes I like to wear a suit or sometimes I put on a casual shirt, but I still, you know, I still like to dress culturally. Something you Know, jeans, sweats, T shirt, J's. It doesn't, it doesn't. What I have on or even the tattoos on my face or the piercings I have. That doesn't change my heart. No. That doesn't change how I love people, and it doesn't change how I love God.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah.
Ryan Miller
So, so what's your ministry been looking like now? Because obviously you've got a big presence on social media. You're preaching the gospel on social media. What else is. What does the Lord have you up to right now?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Well, honestly, that's, that's all I'm. That's mainly what I'm doing right now in this season. I'm in prisons, I'm in churches, I'm. I'm in schools. And I'm just sharing my. Sharing the gospel, sharing my faith, because a lot of people still recognize me from Bone Gang and who I was, and I. I just go in these spaces, man, and I'd be like, you may know me from this, but this is how I'm living my life now, and this is why I'm living the way I do. During this whole, this whole journey of mine of just chasing fame and, and, and, and following in money, I've encountered Jesus in ways that, that are unexplainable and, and that I wasn't even looking for. When I went to. When I was doing time in jail, I wasn't thinking about Jesus, nor was I looking for him. He was just there coming, just flowing out the mouth of my cellmate. When I shot to Atlanta, I was not looking for Jesus. I was focused on music and, and, and running up a bag. That's what I was focused on. But he would just. He was just flowing out the testimony of my bro who just got shot. And it's like, I can't deny it. People are hearing about Jesus and, And you're either doing two things. You're either receiving him or you're rejecting him. You're either responding to his spirit or you rejecting them. And, man, I've encountered him in, in, in. In ways that I just can't deny. So I'm responding, I'm receiving, and I'm just living for God. And if I didn't encounter Jesus, then I would still be who y' all know me for, because I didn't just stop living that life because I got bored of it or I got tired of it because I was having fun. I was having fun. Hebrew says it too. Sin is pleasurable. For a season. I was having fun, y'. All. I'M not. I'm not living a righteous life. I'm not living for Jesus because I stopped having fun in the world. I'm living for him because I've encountered him in ways that I cannot deny. So I'm living for God. And if you want to, if you want the same transformation that God has done in my life, then let's pray and let me lead you to Him. And that's what I'm doing in churches and schools and prisons. Because even in churches, people will see someone like me, may not even know who I am, but just see me tatted up and have piercings and my hair and just may have a certain look, but I'm like, hey, look how God is using me. So how about all these young people you see running the streets, all these young people you see getting kicked out of school, all these young people you see on the Internet, all these young people you see just making a fool out of themselves and chasing the wrong thing? How about instead of casting judgment on them, you pray for them and continue praying for them.
Podcast Co-host
Amen.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Because you never know how God is going to use them into in the future. That's it.
Ryan Miller
That's it, man. What, what would you tell 10, 15 year old that just wants to go viral on social media? What's your message to them?
John Robin Hill Jr.
I say count the cost because I didn't count the cost because when I was 20 years old, I wanted fame. I'm 29 years old now and I do not want it. I don't. I don't enjoy being in public and being stopped. I don't enjoy being at a restaurant eating my food and somebody coming over me, bothering me while I'm with my family. I don't enjoy being in the spotlight where I don't really have a chance to be human. Because once I fall now, they're gonna be like, oh, he ain't changed. Oh, I knew this was fake. Oh, I knew this was this. You know what I'm saying? I don't have a chance for that because I'm in the spotlight. It's like I didn't count the cost of, of, of this life in the spotlight. I didn't count it. I just wanted it. People would say, hey, I want a car. But they don't know what it costs to maintain the car. Yeah, hey, I want a house. But they don't know you got to pay more than just a house to get into it. You know, you got to pay insurance, you got to keep the yard up, you got to pay this. You Got to pay that I just wanted the fame, but I didn't count what I had to pay to be. To live this lifestyle. Who that's right now, now it's frustrating. Now it's aggravating. I don't enjoy it. I don't. So it's like, is it really worth your time? Do you really think you'll have the energy for this? Do you really think it's just not. It's like, I believe God has graced me because I'm still here and I'm still, you know, I'm, I'm still able to maneuver through it, but it's like, john, don't enjoy it. I tell everybody that when I'm on stage and I'm speaking, I let everybody know, hey, man, I really don't enjoy this. But I do it because I feel led to. Because I know if I don't preach the gospel, even though there's people like Ryan Miller, there's people and so many other, just other states out the country preaching the gospel, I feel like personally, if I don't, who will? If, if, if I don't use my pain, my suffering and, and just my life experiences and share and give it to people, it'll be all for nothing. So that's why I do it. I don't do it because I just love being in front of people or I love preaching or I love speaking, which God has transformed me and, and leading me to do. But it's like, come on, bro, the views and the clicks and the attention and the famous. It ain't really worth it, man. Nope. Just give your life to God and let him lead you into doing whatever he wants you to do, to whatever he called you to do. Because where I'm at right now, God allowed me to get here so he could use it for his glory. Who, who, who's to say that this is how God wanted me to live my life?
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Who's to say that me becoming famous is what God desired? Did he desire it? Was this his plan? Or did he allow it so he could use it for his glory?
Ryan Miller
Amen. Amen. Amen. Yeah, bro, I think the best thing you could do if, if, if you want, if you feel like you've got that itch in you, like, oh, I just, I want to be seen by people. I want the views, I want the virality. Just love the people around you. Just become love to everyone around you. And then if the Lord gives you a message and you pray and you feel like he's. He's Called you to preach to the masses. Go communicate that message, but don't communicate that message before you commune with him. Commune with the Lord first, and then let love spill out of you. And if that happens to be through a social platform or on a big stage as a pastor or whatever, so be it. But there really is no there there. You don't get there and go, oh, wow, this was everything I wanted. It's like, it's the relationships, it's the moments. It's like I was telling you before we even started filming this podcast. It's like the sweetest thing about this podcast has been I've got buddies now all around the country that are like abiders. These are like treasures of the kingdom of God that the Lord has given me the ability to intersect with. It hasn't been the virality, it hasn't been the crazy views of the social media or the podcast or whatever. Like, that isn't actually the gift. The gift has been the relationships. And I. Every single sector of life, it's like, if you learn to love God and love people, you're winning. That's it. And then if he provides the increase for you to have more money, money's not a bad thing. But you seek first the kingdom of God, and he adds all these things to you. So if he adds money to you, praise God. If he adds virality and social media followers, praise God. If he adds a big house, praise God. None of those are bad things. But in proper order, you first have to seek his kingdom. And what is his kingdom? It's his rule and it's reign, his presence, it's wherever he's made king. And so if he hasn't been made king of your life and you're seeking the money and you're seeking the house and you're seeking the fame, you're going to fall on your face.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You are. And I fell on my face multiple times. You know, it looks cool, it looks fun. But Solomon said he held back no pleasure for himself, and it's all for nothing. Solomon, richest man at that time ever lived. He said, bro, I didn't hold back nothing. I did everything there was to give myself pleasure. And all this means nothing without God.
Ryan Miller
Amen. Solomon, the richest person to ever live and job, who had everything stripped away from him, had his family taken away. He experienced suffering on a level that very few people have ever experienced. They both get to the end of their journeys. Solomon goes on his pursuit of happiness mission, tries everything. He tries the women, he tries to stuff, he tries the cattle he tries the, the, you know, whatever. Everything that, that looked good in this life, he tries it. And then Job has every amount of suffering that life can throw at you and they both get to the end of their lives and they say the same thing. The only thing that's meaningful in this life is to know God deeply and to serve him daily. Everything else, vanity, you're grasping at the wind. You're never going to catch the thing you're trying to get. And so you might as well just seek first the kingdom of God and then let him add everything to you that's good for you, that's within accordance to your.
John Robin Hill Jr.
The.
Ryan Miller
The best for you.
John Robin Hill Jr.
You might as well. Yep, you might as well. Because if not, then why do people who get money continuously chasing more. Why do people get into a relationship and they're not content within their own relationship? They sleep with others outside of their relationship.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Why do people get these things and they continuously chase the same thing that they already had? They want more of it because it's a, a never ending cycle.
Podcast Co-host
Right.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Only God could feel that, that, that hole that's in our heart that we keep chasing and, and other things only he can. You have a God sized hole in your heart that only he could feel. If, if, though we see it all around us, if, if all that other stuff truly satisfied, then people wouldn't keep on chasing.
Ryan Miller
Amen, man. The only one who can satisfy the human heart is the one who created it.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Right? Right. You know what I'm saying?
Ryan Miller
Well, I, I'd love to. I, I'd love to have you pray for people here. I'd love for you to pray and bless the people listening. Maybe if it's someone who maybe wants that virality that you had, that maybe, maybe they, they're, they're looking at their life and they're saying like, man, is this really everything that I thought my life would be? Maybe it's not on social media, maybe it's not money. Maybe they're just looking at their life and saying, is this it? Like maybe just pray for those people. I feel led to just have you pray for the people that are feeling that, that lack in their hearts.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah.
Ryan Miller
Yeah. So maybe you could close us in that prayer.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord God, I thank you for today. I thank you for life. Life is a gift. So everybody who is hearing and listening to this podcast and hearing my voice, hearing Ryan's voice, and they don't feel worthy enough to live this life, I pray that you heal them and that you let Them know, remind them that they are loved and that you've gifted them with life so that they can enjoy your presence, so they can enjoy relationships, so they can enjoy love. Because we were made to be loved, to be loved and to reflect your love. And every life has meaning and we love to search for meaning in the world, in people, in drugs, and just everything outside of you. And I pray that you redirect our attention and our focus to you so that we can just feel the love and experience the love that you encourage us to experience. I pray that you redirect everybody, focus minds, heal everybody hearts and just give us the comfort and you know, every question, every doubt, every fear, everything that we're experiencing, that, that we're. That is keeping us from living the life that you've called us to live and just made us to live. Heavenly Father, so I pray that you give us the answers that we're searching for. Because I believe that we all are searching for an answer.
Ryan Miller
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So I pray that you give us the answers that we've been searching for and just help us along the way, heal us along the way, rebuild us along the way, tear down what's not meant to be there, rip out of us what's not meant to be there, and just help us to all become the son and daughter that you want us for your kingdom, for your glory, and for your family. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Ryan Miller
Amen. Man. John, what a pleasure, bro.
Podcast Co-host
One.
Ryan Miller
One thing I like to do that kind of started on accident is I started realizing the power in prayer of the people who, who watch the Jesus People podcast or listen to the Jesus People podcast. I just think that there's something about having thousands of people like firing prayers at you, and I think it rings the bell of heaven and it gets the Lord's attention to, to move powerfully. And so we. What is one way that people can be praying for you right now?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Oh, I say healing. Healing, Shoot. Yeah, that. That be the first thing that come to my mind is, is healing. Because when I. When I first gave my life to Christ, I was still carrying anger, you know, I was still mad, mad at the world, mad at, you know, my family, mad. Just mad. Mad at everything. Now I'm not as mad as I used to be, but there's still parts where I wouldn't even say it's. It's anger. It just hurt, you know, still. Still hurt from how I was treated as a kid, how I was treated when I gained fame, how honestly not treated, how I felt mistreated and you know, it just, it just hurt me.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So, yeah, I say healing in that area.
Podcast Co-host
All right, well, let me pray.
Ryan Miller
And if you're listening, just pray along with me. I think there's something really powerful where two or more are gathered. Definitely got more than two here. So, Lord, would you heal that part of John that has been wounded by his mom, by the people who have misunderstood him, even by the Christians that have judged him when he came to know you, Lord, would you allow him to see that he has brothers and sisters who love him deeply and wish him the best? Would you bless him, God? Would you, Would you, would you, would you actually reveal to him any moments? Any moments? And, and actually, I, I, I feel led to do this, John. I, I don't know if you're comfortable with this. I almost feel like doing some inner healing prayer. Like, Holy Spirit, would you take John back to a moment in time where a lie was spoken over him? So, John, even just go there now, just if there was a moment in your past where someone said something to you that you haven't been able to shake, And I want you to ask the Lord, John, could you just ask the Lord, like, Jesus, where were you in this situation? Like, physically, scene of your life, if your life was a movie in this scene, maybe ask the Lord, like, Jesus, where were you right now? Holy Spirit, would you reveal that to John? And then maybe even ask him too, John, like, what was the lie I came to believe in that moment? Now, Holy Spirit, would you reveal to him what you say? Jesus, what do you say in this moment? What do you whisper to him? What is the truth about who he is?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Yeah. I would say one of the biggest things will probably be the comments that I used to read when I was living life as Boom Game. I read a lot of negative comments. And I believe, honestly, that holds me back today from how I minister. Because even though it's like, even when I minister, I push myself to do it because I remember all the comments that were said about me and how people viewed me.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And it's like I'm coming with a different message. And yeah, God is transforming me. But when I'm standing in front of people in my mind, it's like, hey, they still see the same person I used to be.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
And this is what they, this is what they said about me. Even if it's a griff, even if it's a different, even if it's a different body of people, I'm like, it's still human. It's still People, you know what I'm saying? And it's like if they thought about me like this, then, then I'm pretty sure they still think about me like this. Yeah. So I think just remembering how the public viewed me and what they used to said about me keeps me back from going as hard as I could.
Ryan Miller
Do you have some men and women in your life that are just there to encourage you?
John Robin Hill Jr.
Absolutely, everybody do. But you know, even, even though, even though I have those, it's like, man, that, that, that human, that flesh part of me that remembers is still, you know, it's still there that I have to, that I have to overcome with God's truth.
Podcast Co-host
Right?
Ryan Miller
Amen.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, amen.
Ryan Miller
You got those fiery darts. I think sometimes people don't realize that Satan will send his fiery darts through a person, through a comment on social media. It's not just like Satan just coming out of nowhere firing these, these flaming arrows at you. I think he does that. But I think sometimes God will use your loved ones to fire some flaming darts at you and sometimes that's a little bit more sinister and more painful. So. Lord, I just bless John right now. In the name of Jesus, I pray that your voice, Lord, you are his Abba. You're his daddy. You are the lover of his soul. You know, you know the areas that he has had lies spoken over him. Would your voice be so much louder, Lord? Would your good pleasure over him be so much louder? God, you have created a mighty warrior here. You have created someone who is taking territory for the kingdom. So God, would you just continually remind him of the mission, but more than the mission, his identity, who he is in you. In Jesus name.
Podcast Co-host
Amen.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Amen.
Ryan Miller
Well, man, what a pleasure. It's been such a pleasure. Like I said, I've, I've really looked up to you for a while, have really enjoyed your videos. And it's just like, it is just the picture of redemption and transformation and grace. And I just want to say, like, I just don't, I don't see you as that guy anymore. Like I, that's like, it doesn't even cross my mind. To me, you're, you're like, you're like a. We're, we're like, like LinkedIn shields to preach the gospel. So I'm grateful for your ministry. I know it's touching millions and I know that there's going to be attacks, there's going to be flaming arrows because the enemy's going to attack those who are truly getting after it. And so I'm just So thankful for you. I'm thankful for your time here. Thank you for vulnerability. Thanks for.
John Robin Hill Jr.
For.
Ryan Miller
For giving us so much time to. To share. To share your story.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Absolutely. You know, lions, they don't hunt the dead, they hunt the living. So, you know, I. I know I'm. I'm alive in Christ, and I know the. The enemy working and to try to get me off game, but every time I get an opportunity to share where I could be, what part of my life do I need prayer in? I do it because it doesn't matter how hard I'm going for God, I'm still a human. And not only that, it's still spiritual warfare.
Ryan Miller
Amen.
John Robin Hill Jr.
So people will look at us as influencers, as speakers, as preachers, as Christian artists, and, you know, they might think everything is all jolly and going good and we have seasons. Well, you know, stuff's going smooth, but spiritual warfare still exists. The enemy still come, try to pull us off track, try to bring us back, try to pull us down, try to distract us. The enemy still comes. So I don't. Me, personally, I don't never want anybody to think who's not a believer or who's a young believer, that I don't go through Russell's, that I don't have my balance, that I don't have my fights. Because as much as I love God and as hard as I go, I still gotta wrestle, I still gotta fight. I still gotta wear my armor. I still gotta shine a light, you know? Amen. And. And I'm still human. Well, I still need prayer. I still need grace. I still need mercy. I still need forgiveness. I still need a. A helping hand. I still need it, you know, I still need a. A brother to lift me up when I fall. I still need it.
Podcast Co-host
Amen.
Ryan Miller
Amen, bro. Well, you got me, bro. I'm gonna be praying for you and thankful for our. Our friendship. Thankful for your story. Thanks for coming on. And now you got thousands of people praying for you too. So you got. You got a lot of warriors behind you in this thing, but just really, really grateful, bro. Thanks for being on the Jesus people podcast, man.
John Robin Hill Jr.
Thank you for having me. Having me.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah.
John Robin Hill Jr.
I have fun. It was a pleasure. Thank you.
Ryan Miller
It was a pleasure.
Podcast Co-host
Yeah, bro. See ya.
Jesus People Podcast Episode 33: From “Boonk Gang” to Jesus – John Gabbana’s Wild Redemption
Host: Ryan Miller | Guest: John Robin Hill Jr. (aka John Gabbana/Holy Gabbana/Boonk Gang)
Date: September 2, 2025
In this riveting episode, Ryan Miller sits down with John Robin Hill Jr., formerly known online as Boonk Gang, to dive into his gripping journey from viral social chaos and reckless living to a profound, life-altering relationship with Jesus. John’s story is a raw, unfiltered testament to trauma, transformation, deliverance, and the enduring reach of grace. The conversation explores his troubled childhood, explosion into social media infamy, tragic consequences, moments of supernatural encounter, and the new purpose he's found in ministry.
This episode uniquely blends vulnerability, spiritual wisdom, urban testimony, and unguarded honesty. It’s a moving account of how even the “worst” can become vessels of kingdom impact. John’s pain, humanity, and humor shine through, all undergirded by the theme of relentless, transformative grace. Listeners are not only challenged to rethink fame and influence but invited to seek deeper healing, discipleship, and authenticity in their own walks with God.
The episode closes with powerful mutual prayers for healing—both for listeners longing for purpose and for John himself as he continues in his ministry, still needing grace, support, and encouragement on his journey.
For more stories of faith and redemption, subscribe to the Jesus People Podcast and join the global movement of ordinary people encountering an extraordinary Savior.