John Mark Pantana is a native of Lynchburg, Virginia, where he grew up and still resides. He describes himself as a “big goofy white boy” who was immersed in Christian teachings throughout his childhood. However, he struggled with his faith and turned to drugs for a two-year period. At the age of 24, he had a transformative experience in his car when he encountered the Holy Spirit and began to see God as “Papa.”