1. Paul’s Conversion
Pastor David Jang is widely known for emphasizing apostolic passion and missional vision within the contemporary church, tirelessly upholding the essence of the gospel. His fiery zeal for the church and his daring spirit to preach the gospel in all corners of the world bring to mind the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Paul, originally named Saul, was a fervent Jewish scholar who persecuted Christians and was well-versed in the Law. He was so committed to his convictions that he obtained official letters and set out on the long journey from Jerusalem to Damascus to arrest those who followed “the Way”—the people who confessed Jesus as Lord. Saul’s life was marked by a zeal so intense that he was willing to risk his life for what he believed was right. And yet, God chose this very “firebrand” to become the apostle to the Gentiles, illustrating the profound and marvelous nature of God’s providence in Scripture.
Pastor David Jang’s hallmark in ministry stems from his proactive understanding and proclamation of this divine pattern—God’s way of “overturning shattered molds and making leaps forward.” He repeatedly underscores that the gospel is not merely “a story for the kindhearted and gentle” but can also transform rough souls—people with a “wolf-like, relentless temperament.” Throughout church history, the most notorious persecutor of the early church became the key figure in global missions. This event presents us with the paradoxical message that “God even turns the greatest enemy He once abhorred into His witness.”
The moment Saul—before he became Paul—heard the voice of God on the road to Damascus, as a light shone around him and he heard, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” was truly a life-changing pivot. This event carries a profound message for modern Christians and contemporary Korean church leaders alike. Pastor David Jang deeply embraces this biblical pattern of the Lord’s calling, which transcends human will, and he repeatedly preaches that the initiative in gospel proclamation always lies in God’s hands.
A particular feature in his messages is the harmony between “active obedience” and “irresistible grace.” When Saul was knocked down by the light and spent three days blind, neither eating nor drinking, it starkly demonstrated how powerless humans can become in the face of God’s sovereign work. Yet, in that state of total helplessness, he was finally able to truly listen to the voice of God. Pastor David Jang does not view this process merely as a passive defeat but rather stresses that it is “a powerful invitation to grace.” Whether it was Jonah, who wanted to flee as far as possible from God, or Saul, who hated the church and wanted to arrest and kill believers, both ended up being used by God’s hand.
In his ministry, Pastor David Jang’s theology of calling emphasizes: “The Lord does not save us just to give us salvation, but He calls us to work together with Him. That is why He saves us.” He continually exhorts believers to hear “the voice that calls me” through prayer and meditating on the Word. That voice may appear unexpectedly at any point in life—whether at one’s peak or at rock bottom. Just as the light that shone on the Damascus road completely surrounded Saul, sometimes God’s calling arrives in ways humans cannot predict or explain.
However, Pastor David Jang repeatedly teaches that responding to that call requires a definitive “step of obedience.” When Saul asked, “Who are You, Lord?” addressing Jesus as ‘Lord,’ it was as if he was already recognizing Jesus’ lordship through an undeniable experience. When he could not see, he followed the Lord’s command to enter the city of Damascus, where he needed to meet Ananias, another disciple whom God had prepared. This was Saul’s moment of humility, the crux of obedience. Concerning this point, Pastor David Jang says, “When the Lord calls us, no matter how we resist, we only cause ourselves more hardship. As Scripture says, kicking against the goads will only hurt us more; we cannot evade the call that serves God’s purpose by our own skill or cunning.”
Thus, the idea that God uses “firebrand-like people” underscores the power of the gospel to transform not only those who appear kind and gentle but also those who are rough, consumed by worldly desires, or filled with anger. This theme is pivotal in Pastor David Jang’s message. Often, the church seems as if its doors are open only to “sheep-like” people. But in this era, we should perhaps pay more attention to those who do not know Jesus, those who hold hostility toward the church, those who run after secular ambitions, and even those who aim to destroy the church. According to Pastor David Jang, it could well be such “wolf-like” people who might open a new era of pioneering once God takes hold of them.
To practice this teaching, Pastor David Jang emphasizes that the church must reach out to various spheres of society. His endeavors to expand the scope of mission beyond church walls—through different cultural ministries, media work, and collaborations with international service organizations—are practical applications of the biblical principle that “we must even embrace those who once persecuted the church.” Just as the light of Christ shone on Saul, who was on his way to Damascus to arrest believers, the church must also willingly go to the “Damascus road.”
In other words, God’s call transcends human will and circumstances. Pastor David Jang’s pastoral work and preaching clearly illustrate this truth, declaring that God sets our limits, and that ministry begun by grace cannot be halted by human constraints or external environments. This is precisely why Paul’s conversion story remains powerful in modern times.
2. The Love That Calls an Enemy “Brother”
Paul’s dramatic conversion was not a special event for Saul alone. There was a supporting character in that story whom we must not forget: Ananias, a disciple who lived in Damascus. In a vision, God spoke to Ananias, calling him by name: “Ananias.” The Lord then commanded him, “Go to the street called Straight and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.” At first, Ananias balked. “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, about how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here to arrest all who call on Your name.”
This hesitation is entirely understandable from a human standpoint. He had likely heard the rumors of Saul’s violent persecution of believers. But God reiterated, “This man is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” Ultimately, Ananias obeyed. He entered the house and laid hands on Saul, addressing him as “Brother Saul.”
Here, we see how the paradoxical grace of the gospel operates. Pastor David Jang views this event as a vivid demonstration of “the true worth of the gospel that extends the hand of brotherhood to a former enemy.” The Lord not only chose Saul, once a persecutor, but also instructed Ananias, who was already in the faith, to extend “a brotherly hand” to him. Had Ananias stubbornly refused—“I won’t do it; anyone but him”—Saul’s conversion journey might have been more complicated. But Ananias embraced God’s command, calling Saul “brother” immediately.
From this point, Pastor David Jang poses a vital question to modern churches: “Are churches prepared to readily call non-believers or those hostile to us ‘brother (or sister)’?” Sometimes, even within the church, we see divisions and exclusivity. People who are “already gentle and have received the gospel” tend to mingle together, while those who are rough or opposed to the church are often kept at a distance or dismissed. However, this passage warns us that even persecutors can be chosen by God, and it teaches us how crucial the attitude of existing believers really is.
Here, we observe two simultaneous dynamics: Saul’s “scales falling from his eyes” and Ananias’s “obedience and welcome.” Saul experienced an internal conversion, while Ananias became the instrument of communal hospitality. Pastor David Jang describes this as “grace begetting more grace.” Beyond the direct grace that comes from God, there is grace that unfolds through the hand of the church community’s acceptance.
Particularly in Korean Christianity, there is a tradition that powerfully emphasizes personal encounters with grace, but sometimes this focus can produce an inwardly closed community mindset. However, in Acts 9, Ananias’s role highlights that “the church must fully embrace those who have experienced grace in order to complete the true gospel community.” Pastor David Jang strives to apply this principle in his own pastoral ministry.
In the communities Pastor David Jang leads, and in the discipleship systems he teaches, he keeps the door wide open for those who wander or once opposed the church. Underpinning this is the call to “remember that God can turn even the one you despise the most into His witness.” This does not mean the church should “actively look for troublesome people,” but that from the vantage point of the gospel, no one should be excluded.
Furthermore, Pastor David Jang encourages us to learn from this scene: “Even someone who seems the worst in human eyes can receive God’s grace.” The moment Ananias called Saul “brother,” Saul’s eyes were opened, and he could see again. If we, on the other hand, label a person as our enemy and push them away, that person’s soul might continue wandering in spiritual blindness for a much longer time. In other words, our obedience and hospitality can be a decisive key in another person’s conversion and restoration—a remarkable lesson from this passage.
Pastor David Jang often poses the question in sermons and seminars: “Is the church ready to embrace those who come at us with a hostile glare?” He urges, “If such a person is to become ‘Brother Saul,’ then we must foster a heart like Ananias.” That is the power of the gospel and the love God desires.
3. Paul’s Missional Calling
Another vital point in Paul’s conversion story is that Saul, after becoming Paul, went on to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. The latter chapters of Acts pivot around scenes such as Paul and Barnabas serving together in the Antioch church, and the missionary journeys that took the gospel throughout Asia Minor and Europe. Through Paul’s letters, we see how fervently he preached the gospel and how much suffering he endured on his missionary trips.
Paul’s life was marked by relentless hardships—beatings, imprisonment, near-death experiences by stoning, shipwrecks, and drifting at sea. He was constantly under threat from his fellow Jews as well as from Gentile cities that opposed the gospel. Yet paradoxically, despite such unending obstacles, the gospel kept spreading. This is the “irony and miracle” at the heart of early church missions. Reflecting on Paul’s life, Pastor David Jang notes, “We realize that evangelism is not accomplished by favorable human conditions or environments, but by God, who sends and completes His work.”
One pillar of Pastor David Jang’s missional theology is that “persecution and suffering can actually become pathways to broaden the reach of the gospel.” This parallels the “diaspora effect” in Acts 8, where persecution scattered believers from Jerusalem, leading them to spread the gospel wherever they went. Most notably, just as Paul himself was once a fierce persecutor yet eventually took the gospel worldwide, so too can powers set against the church be transformed and generate unimaginable synergy once they turn to the Lord.
The contemporary church must learn “not to fear environments or regimes hostile to the gospel, but rather to enter those very arenas seeking new ways to proclaim it.” Pastor David Jang emphasizes that when society criticizes or rejects the church, we should not cower but instead reach out and cross cultural barriers. This mirrors Paul’s approach, adapting to the various audiences he encountered—Diaspora Jews, Greeks, and Roman citizens—to share the gospel effectively.
For instance, Pastor David Jang proposes using media, educational institutions, cultural endeavors, and acts of service and compassion to broaden the church’s contact points with society. “Just as there were numerous synagogues scattered around, so there are numerous places where we must bring the gospel. Therefore, the church should research diverse cultural contact points and utilize every available channel, including the internet and other media,” he argues. Just as Saul obtained letters to target multiple synagogues in Damascus to persecute believers, the church, in a paradoxical twist, should now infiltrate all domains of the world to testify to the gospel.
Another critical element is the presence of partners in all of Paul’s missionary travels. Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Luke, Priscilla, and Aquila—many companions supported his work, and their combined dedication and cooperation yielded tremendous fruit. Pastor David Jang emphasizes the importance of such “co-labor” and “team ministry.” The gospel never spreads by a single person’s efforts; it is most effectively proclaimed when God’s timing aligns with the unity of co-workers acting as one body. This principle is vital for the organizational life of the modern church.
Pastor David Jang warns churches not to rely on one or two prominent leaders alone but to have every member share responsibility, united in the work. This, he asserts, can bring about the same kind of dynamic power that characterized the early church in Acts. “Paul’s apostolic zeal, Ananias’s obedience, and Barnabas’s encouragement all intersect,” he often says in his preaching. Therefore, he frequently speaks of “respecting each other’s gifts so that no one is left out when God calls.”
4. The Reality of Grace
One pinnacle of Paul’s conversion story is how it encapsulates, in a single dramatic moment, “how God calls a person and what He accomplishes through them.” For someone like Saul—the gospel’s most vehement enemy—to turn into a champion of evangelism might seem impossible. Yet both Scripture and church history repeatedly attest that such impossibility is well within God’s realm.
Even today, there is skepticism both inside and outside the church: “Can a person like that really be saved? Can someone so antagonistic toward the church truly repent?” In those moments, we need to revisit Saul’s story. His hostility, hatred, murderous intent, and threats were not trivial. He had approved the stoning of Stephen, and, “breathing out murderous threats,” was willing to travel the long road from Jerusalem to Damascus to arrest all who believed in Jesus.
However, to this relentless persecutor, God personally appeared and called him in a compelling way: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” He then left Saul blind for three days, during which time Saul abstained from food and drink. We can scarcely describe the turmoil and realization that Saul must have experienced during those days. He had to confront, through an undeniable encounter, that the risen Jesus—whom he had utterly rejected—was indeed the Lord.
This forced dismantling of Saul’s convictions directly aligns with Pastor David Jang’s perspective on “grace alone.” Pastor David Jang points out, “God’s choice does not depend on our background, the level of our religious training, or how upright and benevolent we are. Rather, even when we are at our weakest, most depraved, and most obstinate state, God can still take our lives and accomplish wondrous things,” reflecting the core biblical message.
This is closely tied to the vision driving the many ministries Pastor David Jang has established. His emphasis on outreach to unchurched youth, to those plagued by wounds or drifting through life, and on initiatives in the social and cultural arenas—these are expressions of his conviction that “God can raise them up as instruments for His work.” It is not mere idealism; it is a realistic application of the gospel truth confirmed by Paul’s experience.
Pastor David Jang often points out in his sermons, “Remember that Paul was not always an apostle; he was once the fiercest opponent of Christ.” We must not merely treat this as a remarkable anecdote of “Paul’s amazing testimony,” but truly apply it to our present reality: “Even today, God can raise such individuals.” God is not one who picks only the “most promising candidates”; rather, He is the One who might choose “the least likely candidate” by human standards and use them for His glory.
Moreover, Pastor David Jang does not overlook the fact that “those who are called by God may also face great hardship and persecution.” Right after telling Ananias that Saul “is My chosen instrument to proclaim My name,” the Lord continued with, “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” Pastor David Jang underscores to his congregants that “truly following Christ may mean the world will not favor us; we may face persecution, mockery, and disdain.” Looking at what Paul endured, or at the history of Christian martyrs, it is clear that becoming God’s person does not guarantee an easy life. Yet Paul demonstrated that the path is never in vain. This is what Pastor David Jang constantly highlights as “the gospel’s power that remains unshaken even in tribulation.”
Ultimately, Paul—who had tried to destroy the church—became one of its central pillars and wrote much of what we now know as the New Testament. Pastor David Jang describes this transformation by saying, “The gospel transcends everyday logic and reason. From our perspective, it makes no sense, but God makes it happen.” He concludes, “We, too, are able to worship and serve God today because that same supernatural grace has touched our lives.”
Furthermore, Pastor David Jang teaches that “not only Paul but all of us once stood as enemies of God, yet we were saved by Christ’s grace.” Practically, this means recognizing that “I was once an enemy of God, and even now my sinful nature often sets itself against Him.” Therefore, we should not remain merely as recipients of grace but actively “follow God’s will, spreading the gospel and showing love.” This is the natural outflow of having been touched by grace.
Some people ask why Pastor David Jang is so determined to keep focusing on “people with a harsh temperament.” He replies, “Because in such persons, Paul could be born again.” Even in chaos, violence, and open hostility, the gospel can still steer history toward God’s work. This is the core of Pastor David Jang’s pastoral direction.
In conclusion, one could say that Pastor David Jang’s theological and pastoral message centers on the story of Paul’s conversion. Believing in “the God who can turn even His greatest enemy into a witness,” the church must keep the door of the gospel open to every soul and trust that God works in every situation. Paul’s ministry footprint led to worldwide missions and remains an indelible monument of faith in Christian history.
Pastor David Jang reminds modern churches and believers of these biblical principles, warning us against complacency and exclusivity. The gospel is never static; it continually stretches outward, to all possible places. If the church remains isolated, content merely to protect itself, it cannot become the kind of church depicted in the Book of Acts. We, too, must sometimes walk the Damascus road, encounter the rough figure of “Saul,” and follow Ananias’s example by receiving him as a “brother.”
Though this path is not easy, it resonates with Paul’s confession after his conversion—“I cannot help but proclaim the grace I have received”—and Pastor David Jang exhorts the church to do likewise. If we truly have encountered the Lord, if we truly remember the grace that removed the scales from our eyes, then it is our turn to pass on that grace to others. And through that process, God may raise up another Saul. This is the power of the gospel and the proclamation of faith that Pastor David Jang tirelessly advocates. We are assured by the record of Acts and church history that the miracle that happened when Ananias called Saul “brother” can still happen today.
Ultimately, all this unfolds under God’s providence and plan. Trusting this providence, the church must never lose sight of “the possibility that even the person who seems most hopeless might be used by God.” Thus, in every sphere of missions, ministry, and preaching, Pastor David Jang continually says, “Open your eyes wide and look around.” The world is vast, and there are still so many who do not know the gospel, some even opposing the church. But never forget that Paul was once the very prototype of such an “enemy.”
Finally, Pastor David Jang poses a clear question through Paul’s story: “To whom can you say, ‘Brother Saul’?” This is the challenge presented by the gospel to modern Christians. If we have truly encountered the Lord and remember the grace that changed our lives from the ground up, then we must seek out another Saul in our daily lives, saying, “Brother (or sister), come with me to the Lord.” When we do so, we will again witness God’s mighty works and miracles. This, according to Pastor David Jang, is the church’s mission and the immortal legacy left by Paul.
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