What could make a self-proclaimed hardcore atheist give up his professional ambitions, lose his family, and spend the remaining years of his life spreading the gospel of God? For Howard Storm, it wasn’t a philosophical discussion or a soft spiritual awakening it was a near-death experience that began in a Paris hospital and took him careening through a terrifying odyssey through what he describes as hell.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are characterized by peaceful tunnels of light and affectionate reunions, but Storm’s started in darkness, with torturous beasts that welcomed him with the intent to tear him apart. His cry to Jesus in desperation turned his existence around propelling him into a life review, visions of heaven, and a calling that would change his beliefs forever.
These are seven of the strongest insights from Storm’s remarkable life journey, from his own testimony and the wider research into NDEs, that speak to anyone fascinated by the mysteries of death, the afterlife, and the promise of spiritual awakening.
1. The Descent Into Darkness
Storm’s NDE began not with peace, but with a somber process of walking into progressively darkening grey nothing. A band of people lured him out of his hospital room, promising help, and then led him into complete darkness. Their behavior turned threatening, then brutal scratchings, biting, and tearing at him with what he characterizes as “joyful cruelty.” These traumatic NDEs are rare but reported, and researchers note that such events can be deeply unsettling, sometimes leading survivors to develop PTSD. For Storm, this brutal confrontation was a spur to a last desperate spiritual appeal.
2. A Cry That Changed Everything
In utter desparation, Storm’s consciousness flashed back to a recollected Sunday school experience singing “Jesus Loves Me.” He cried out, “Jesus, save me! a simple honest prayer which he has no doubt fulfilled the biblical promise that “anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” A pinpoint of light was observed growing very rapidly until it enveloped him in surging love and peace.” This was the turning point from fear to transcendence, a process being duplicated in other NDEs when one act of release opens doors to profound spiritual awareness.
3. Encountering Jesus Up Close
Storm describes his encounter with Jesus as far from anything he had expected radiating love magnified “a million times” beyond humanity. He recalls the feeling of “being the most important person in the world” to Jesus, something other NDE survivors have compared. For Storm, Jesus was Savior and Lord, certainly, but “forever Friend” also, with both omnipotent power and loving human accessibility. It was this warmth that transformed Storm’s understanding of God from remote abstractions to close familiarity.
4. Life Review’s Bruta Veritas
Although Storm had an NDE, his life review was almost entirely focused on his relationships. He relived his life in the order that it occurred, but through other people’s eyes seeing how his behavior impacted them. Scholars note that these reviews are more about empathy than about achievement, and Storm’s realization that “all that God cares about is how we interact with other people.” Such a reality replaced his former priorities of professional achievement and selfishness with love and compassion.
5. Visions of Heaven’s Purpose
Storm’s experience involved seeing what he calls heaven a realm of relationship, telepathic speaking, and purposeful living. He reports that Jesus told him he could not stay because he lacked the character to “fit in” and needs to go back to live as God designed. In NDE research, these assignments are standard; experiencers return with the feeling that there is more work to be accomplished and an imperative to leave their mark by experiencing love in the ordinary.
6. The Price of Transformation
Storm’s conversion came at a personal cost. His radical shift in ideology and values alienated his wife and children, leading to divorce and estrangement. NDE aftereffects research underscores that survivors usually endure broken relationships and career disruptions due to value shifts clashing with their pre-NDE lives. For Storm, the loss was existential but considers his new path to be well worth it.
7. Living With Spiritual Awareness
Since his NDE, Storm describes being in constant communication with Jesus in the form of the Holy Spirit, who teaches and corrects him. He compares spiritual consciousness to warding off “opportunities for evil” by means of prayer and faith. His practice is in line with International Association for Near-Death Studies research, which suggests ongoing spiritual practice as a way of integrating NDE wisdom. For Storm, it’s maintaining one’s perspective on love, joy, and service values he believes have the power to alter the world.
Howard Storm’s conversion from atheist to preacher isn’t an in-your-face personal epic it’s a vivid illustration of the potential for a wide-ranging change of heart with one such experience. Whether one interprets his story as literal fact, symbolic journey, or psychological experience, the messages of love, compassion, and mindful living speak far outside the realm of religion. In the end, Storm’s message is simple but radical: focus on loving the person you’re with, and everything else will fall into place.
