Amanda Cheatwood
Jul 1, 2025
The story of John Johnson and the Holy Spirit’s move at Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop in Panama City Beach, Florida
When you think of a surf shop, you might imagine sunscreen, beach gear, and racks of colorful boards. But at Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop in Panama City Beach, Florida, something much deeper is happening. Behind the beachwear and surfboards, the Spirit of God is moving powerfully. Healings, baptisms, deliverance, and divine encounters are happening in this small but mighty surf shop—so much so that it has become known as a “house of healing.”
At the heart of it all is John Johnson, a former special forces soldier who once walked far from God. Today, he’s a man on fire for Jesus, spending each day listening for the Holy Spirit, praying for strangers, and helping others step into a life of purpose and healing.
A Surf Shop with a Story
Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop has been part of Panama City Beach since 1982. When John and his wife, Lib, bought the business in 1998, they had no idea it would one day become holy ground. The shop was already a local landmark, filled with decades of pictures showing families buying their first surfboards—thousands of photos on what they call the “Wall of Fame.”
But right after they bought it, disaster struck.
“We lost everything the first year,” John said. A tornado came off the beach and destroyed their home. They had just invested all their savings into the business. “We were working 15-hour days, seven days a week, just chasing the dollar.”
And yet, even in the middle of loss, God had a bigger plan.
Using the insurance money from the tornado, John and his wife were able to buy a larger piece of land just as Panama City Beach was starting to grow. “It didn’t make sense at the time,” John said. “But now we know—God was working all things together for our good. He knew what this place would become.”
They bought over an acre in 2000, back when much of the area was still undeveloped. Years later, this land would become the very place where lives are changed every single day.
A Journey into the Supernatural
Though he knew God, John admits he wasn’t walking closely with Him in those early years. “I was living for my flesh. I told everyone I was a Christian, but I wasn’t living like one.”
Everything began to shift in 2017 when John connected with Pastor Kent Matttox of Word Alive International Outreach. That relationship opened the door to a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit, the prophetic, healing, and deliverance. Pastor Kent became a spiritual mentor to John and helped launch what would become the next chapter of his ministry.
“They brought us up to Word Alive and anointed us,” John said. “They commissioned us and sent us back with a word that God was going to use us down here. They had no idea that just a couple of weeks later, Hurricane Michael would hit Panama City. But we were one of the only businesses left untouched.”
That encounter marked the beginning of John’s transformation—and his journey into a Spirit-led life. He began to pray over the property, anoint it with oil, and take spiritual authority over the land. “I started blowing the shofar every morning. We play worship music 24/7 in the shop. I started walking the property every day, like a Jericho march.”
He even buried stones with scripture in the ground, declaring God’s promises over the space. “This place has become holy ground.”
“I started blowing the shofar every morning. We play worship music 24/7 in the shop. I started walking the property every day, like a Jericho march.”
One morning, John walked into the store and saw something impossible—a surfboard that had been tied up was standing perfectly upright, wedged between tiny floor cracks. “It was like the Lord or one of His angels placed it there. Right in the very spot people say they feel a ladder to heaven.”
He sent photos to Pastor Kent, Johnny Taylor (of the flowing oil ministries), and other trusted friends. “I knew the Lord was saying something. Johnny later said, ‘This is a house of healing.’ And it’s exactly what it’s become.”
When the Holy Spirit Took Over
Another turning point came when John stood alone inthe store and cried out to God. “I had everything—health, a wife, a successful business—but I felt empty. I told God, ‘Send me to hell. I deserve it.’”
He expected a heart attack or some sign of judgment. But nothing happened. Instead, he felt the Lord smiling.
“I didn’t know what grace was. But He showed me. And then I saw the verse: ‘All things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.’ I realized I’d been living for me, but God had something so much better.”
That same day, John had a vision. He dropped the keys to the surf shop on the floor and walked outside. He saw Jesus with twelve men walking southwest, and John was the thirteenth man. Jesus turned and said, “I didn’t want all this. I just wanted that,” pointing to John’s heart.
He saw Jesus with twelve men walking southwest, and John was the thirteenth man. Jesus turned and said, “I didn’t want all this. I just wanted that,” pointing to John’s heart.
Daily Surrender and Supernatural Appointments
John’s days are now led by the Spirit. “Some days are quiet. Other days, the store fills up all of a sudden because God is about to move. We call them divine appointments.”
People walk in without knowing why. Some say they felt drawn in while driving past. Others begin crying the moment John greets them. “I ask, ‘Do you need prayer?’ And nine times out of ten, they break down. The Holy Spirit is already working.”
One woman, a soldier who had served in Afghanistan, was pushed into the shop in a wheelchair. John explained that she had fallen out of the back of a supply truck while deployed and was paralyzed from the neck down. She was in constant pain and had limited mobility. “She rolled in here one day,” John said, “and—make a long story short—Jesus healed her. She got up, walked out the door, and drove her SUV home that same day.”
“She rolled in here, paralyzed from the neck down…and Jesus healed her. She got up,walked out the door, and drove her SUV home that same day.”
Another powerful testimony came from a group of seven college students who came in during spring break. One gave her life to Jesus. All seven received the baptism of the Holy Spirit—though they didn’t even know what it was at the time. Years later, one of the girls returned to thank John. “She said the messages we sent afterward helped them grow in their faith.”
During that return visit, the girl’s sister began crying as they talked. John sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit resting on her. “She needed prayer. She didn’t even know why.” Eventually, their mother joined, and the entire family ended up receiving healing and deliverance right there in the shop.
The Prayer Bench and the Presence
A simple wooden bench has become a sacred space inside Mr. Surf’s. “Thousands have been prayed for on that bench,” John said. Visitors are invited to take off their shoes—like Moses at the burning bush. John anoints them with oil, covers them with his tallit (Jewish prayer shawl), and explains the prophetic meaning of each part. He teaches about the tzitzit (the prayer shawl fringes), the Hebrew names of God, and the promises represented in the shawl.
Then he connects it all to surfing. “You need a board (Jesus), the wave (Holy Spirit), and the ocean (the Father). The tallit is your wax, the oil is your fin, and taking off your shoes is your grip pad. It makes the ride better. Are you ready to surf with the Lord?”
That metaphor became so central to John’s ministry that it inspired a shirt they sell in the shop. It reads: “On Board with the Lord.”
Get on board with the Lord. Ride the waves of glory.
“Pastor Kent loves that one,” John said. “He’s always telling people, ‘Get on board with the Lord. Ride the waves of glory.’” People laugh, nod, and many cry. “It’s memorable. It sticks with them. And they leave different than they came.”
Deliverance, Baptism, and the Power of the Gospel
The store has become a place of deliverance too. Demons are cast out. Addictions are broken. People are set free. And then there are the baptisms. People come to Panama City Beach asking, “Can anyone baptize us in the Gulf?” Local churches are often closed or unavailable. But Mr. Surf’s is ready.
“We’ve had to start scheduling baptism days. We even have baptism certificates now,” John said. “But we still leave room for spontaneous ones.”
And they never just do a quick dunk. “We sit down, go through scripture, talk about the Holy Spirit, and prepare them. Most of the time, they’re baptized in the Holy Spirit before they even touch the water.”
Sometimes they fall out in the Spirit on the prayer bench. Others begin speaking in tongues for the first time. “It’s about discipleship. People have heard these things but never had them explained.”
Legacy, Connections, and What’s Next
John used to work with a man named Robin, his “right-hand man,” who has since moved away. But God brought someone new: a couple connected to the Dawsonville, GA revival. The husband, Peter, had been part of the same baptism of fire movement John experienced.
John was baptized there by Pastor Todd Smith. When asked what he wanted, he replied, “Everything God has for me.” Now, Peter’s wife is joining the team at Mr. Surf’s. “God is connecting everything,” John said. “It’s beautiful.”
He prays every morning for the seven gifts of the Spirit—prophecy, healing, faith. “You have to work the gifts. Like surfing, the more you practice, the stronger you get.”
He also warns against rushing or self-promotion. “I’ve had to repent many times for getting in God’s way. Now I stop and ask, ‘Lord, what do You want?’”
“This isn’t the story we would’ve written. It’s better. Because it’s His.”
Always Expecting the Unexpected
The move of God at Mr. Surf’s is steady and strong. New connections are forming. Old ones are coming full circle. And John is simply staying out of the way. “My friend Johnny Taylor told me, ‘Just don’t get in His way.’ That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Looking back, John can see how every hard moment—the tornado, the losses, the long hours—was used by God to lead them here. “We didn’t understand it at the time, but He really was working all things together for our good,” John said. “This isn’t the story we would’ve written. It’s better. Because it’s His.”
How to Connect with Mr. Surf’s: If you’re planning a visit or need prayer, message John and the team ahead of time through the Mr. Surf’s website mrsurfs.com or social media. Baptisms, healing prayer, and prophetic ministry are often available by request.
How to Pray: John asks for clarity, protection, and continued intimacy with God. Pray Psalm 91 over his life and ministry—that the Lord would cover him, his team, and this holy ground under His wings.
Final Words: “If you come to the shop, don’t be surprised if you walk out changed,” John said. “Just let God do what He wants to do. Stay in His rest. Listen for His voice. Get on board with the Lord. And ride the wave of glory.”
Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop: 7220 Thomas Dr.Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Website: mrsurfs.com Facebook: facebook.com/MrSurfsInstagram: @mrsurfspcb
Want to connect? If you’re planning a visit or seeking prayer, message ahead through the website or social media so the team can welcome you and prepare to minister.
