What if the stories of people who have died and come back could reshape the way you understand God, heaven, and your purpose on earth?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with pastor and author John Burke to explore the mysteries of near-death experiences (NDEs) and what they reveal about the God of the Bible. John shares how three decades of studying more than 1,000 NDEs—and personally interviewing people from every continent—has strengthened his faith and pointed consistently to a God of captivating love. Whether you’re navigating grief, wrestling with doubt, or longing to better understand eternity, this conversation will remind you that God is closer, kinder, and more glorious than you ever imagined.

John is the founder and former lead pastor of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, a multisite church that has grown to more than 4,500 people since its launch in 1998. He is also the president of Gateway Leadership Initiative, equipping church planters and everyday Christians to “raise the church out of the culture.” John is a New York Times bestselling author of Imagine Heaven and has written several influential books, including No Perfect People Allowed, Soul Revolution, and his newest work, Imagine the God of Heaven. He is passionate about helping people discover the real God revealed through Scripture and confirmed through thousands of NDEs. His story is a powerful example of curiosity transformed into calling.

Connect with John - Website | Instagram

• What near-death experiences really are—and why they matter
• The surprising commonalities people report across countries, cultures, and faith backgrounds
• How NDEs align with what Scripture teaches about heaven, God, and life after death
• The personal story of how John went from agnostic engineer to follower of Jesus
• What convinced him that these experiences cannot be explained by drugs, dreams, or hallucinations
• How these accounts can strengthen your hope, shape your faith, and transform your view of eternity

If you’ve ever feared death, questioned God’s goodness, or longed for assurance about your loved ones, this episode will offer hope-filled perspective. You’ll be reminded that God’s love is more personal, powerful, and present than you think—and that eternity is far more real and beautiful than you’ve imagined.

Personal and Powerful Bible Study - Explores how God shows up in our lives in ways that are both deeply personal and undeniably powerful.

Partner with Us

Love what Collide is doing? Help us bring hope and healing to women through counseling, content, and connection.

💛 Give today online or Venmo

Connect with Willow - Website | Instagram | Facebook

Pre-Order Willow’s New Book!