Ché Ahn

Ché Ahn immigrated from South Korea to the United States as a young child following the Korean War amid family financial struggles and language challenges. He was raised by parents who emphasized high academic performance, which led to teenage rebellion involving substance abuse as he navigated cultural assimilation and parental expectations. Ahn experienced a dramatic spiritual conversion at seventeen during a rock concert witnessing and feeling Holy Spirit manifestations like physical trembling and emotional release which he initially dismissed as hysteria but accepted as divine intervention resolving bitterness toward his father and recommitting to Christianity. Ahn, inspired by his conversion, enrolled at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, for theology studies completing a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry forming mentorships with C. Peter Wagner teaching apostolic ministry and strategic spiritual warfare defining his future leadership in church networks and revival initiatives. ==Ministry==

Ahn founded Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, California, in 1994 alongside his wife Sue Ahn as a small multi-ethnic group on Ambassador Auditorium grounds developing into a large church dedicated to empowering believers for revival through teachings on supernatural experiences, love, and societal reformation. Ahn established Harvest International Ministry in 1996 as an apostolic network initially linking fourteen churches expanding to connect twenty-five thousand churches and ministries across over sixty countries focusing on advancing God's kingdom through family-like growth and equipping leaders for global impact. ==Books==

Ahn authored "Fire Evangelism: Reaching the Lost Through Love And Power" published in 2006 focusing on combining compassion with supernatural demonstrations to share faith effectively with non-believers. Ahn wrote "Spirit-Led Evangelism: Reaching the Lost through Love and Power" published in 2008 exploring how believers can rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance to evangelize with empathy and miraculous signs drawing people to Christianity. Ahn published "When Heaven Comes Down: Experiencing God's Glory in Your Life" in 2009 discussing purposes of God's glory revelations fostering unity with Him promoting holiness and enabling divine presence in everyday situations. Ahn released "Say Goodbye to Powerless Christianity: Walking in Supernatural Surrender and Significance" in 2009, encouraging readers to abandon ineffective religious practices favoring life fully yielded to the Holy Spirit for greater impact and fulfillment. Ahn penned "The Grace of Giving: Unleashing the Power of a Generous Heart" in 2013, teaching biblical principles of generosity and how giving from grace can release spiritual and material blessings. In his writings, Ahn stated that God intends believers to lead all societal realms replacing humanistic influences and reflecting commitment to the Seven Mountains Mandate within the New Apostolic Reformation. ==Political activities and views==

Ahn has supported Donald Trump since 2016 by aligning with political efforts like the Stop the Steal movement after the 2020 election and speaking at a January 5, 2021, rally in Washington, D.C., where he declared that believers would throw out Jezebel and rule through Trump under Jesus Christ's lordship while warning of severe consequences if Joe Biden or Kamala Harris became president. Religious studies scholar Matthew D. Taylor described Ahn as an apostle when he spoke to the Stop the Steal crowd to spiritually push Donald Trump across the finish line. Ahn challenged California's COVID-19 restrictions on worship gatherings by holding in-person services at Harvest Rock Church despite Governor Gavin Newsom's orders which led to threats of fines and jail time against Ahn who filed lawsuits arguing that the bans violated religious freedoms and resulted in a settlement where the state paid 1.35 million dollars in legal fees and agreed to treat houses of worship equally in future emergencies. Ahn viewed COVID-19 worship restrictions as rooted in Marxist and humanistic ideologies that seek to control society by weakening church influence while asserting that left-wing governors seized the pandemic to assault Judeo-Christian values and that socialism aims to replace God worship with human-centered ideologies. Ahn announced his candidacy for Governor of California in the 2026 election as a Republican on August 2, 2025, during a rally in Pasadena where he described his decision as obedience to a divine calling rather than personal ambition and positioned his campaign around themes of faith, family, freedom, and compassionate justice while standing against issues like abortion, teen suicide, and perceived spiritual attacks on children. Ahn has been described in scholarly analyses as a leader promoting the restoration of apostolic offices to facilitate spiritual and societal transformation. His political rhetoric often incorporates prophetic language and spiritual warfare motifs to mobilize supporters for cultural and political change. Ahn's candidacy has been analyzed as part of a broader trend of New Apostolic Reformation leaders entering politics to advance The Kingdom of Heaven. In legal battles over COVID-19 restrictions, Ahn's church secured a Supreme Court ruling that influenced religious freedom policies in California. Ahn has criticized public health measures as attempts to undermine church authority and promote secular ideologies. ==Personal life==

Ahn is married to Susan Roxas, known as Sue Ahn. The Ahns have partnered in ministry since founding Harvest Rock Church together in 1994. The Ahns have four children: Gabriel, Grace, Joy, and Mary. ==References==