Life Surge wants to make one thing perfectly clear: It’s all about community. With its in-person events attracting more than 100,000 attendees annually, it’s an exciting time for the Christian organization that’s become a pivotal force in uniting scores of individuals for transformative gatherings.
Founded by Joe Johnson in 2019, Life Surge is filling a void in the Christian community for faith-based education on wealth creation and stewardship.
“In the last three years, we have grown over 46,000%,” says Johnson. Yes, you read that right — 46,000%.
The success extends beyond financial metrics. Its events have become a magnet for high-profile speakers and attendees alike. “Every speaker that we know of wants to speak for Life Surge,” Johnson notes, highlighting the enterprise’s growing influence in the Christian space.
While that roster of speakers is ever-expanding as interest in Life Surge soars, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, author Priscilla Shirer, and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic are some of the featured regulars.
“That’s been the intention from the very beginning, to put God first,” Vujicic said in a Crossmap YouTube video. “If you arrive there on time and you find a seat, you’ve got to get those tickets. They fly fast. These days we’re actually double downing in cities”.
“When you get there, get there early. We set the tone of the day not just with worship and with prayer, but really a banner that we get to share with our heavenly father to let him see that we love him — that everything we have is his. That even the breath in our lungs belongs to him and to open up our hearts and our minds to say ‘God, we’re ready to open our hearts and minds to learn whatever you want us to receive today.’”
Vujicic added, “From the first second of any Life Surge event to the last second,” it’s inspiring. “Priscilla Shirer, she’s amazing. Tim Tebow, he’s amazing. Then we also have some other experts who have mentored and trained many other people in teaching people investment tools.”
Community and Transformation
Life Surge events stand out for their emphasis on in-person attendance and community-building. Rob Collins, chief marketing officer, compares the atmosphere to the Promise Keepers movement. “I remember my first Promise Keepers event and I went to a stadium and there’s 20,000 men, 30,000 men. Oh, my goodness. We’re singing the same things and we’re praying the same things.”
This transformative power is evident in the numbers. At a recent event in Seattle, Life Surge sold 8,000 tickets, and during a gospel presentation, 1,257 people stood up to give their lives to Christ. Adds Johnson, “You could stand and see over a thousand people who were making the same decision as you’re making at the same time.”
Faith, Finance, and Life Surge
Life Surge’s mission goes beyond spiritual transformation. The organization aims to educate Christians on wealth creation and stewardship, areas often overlooked in traditional church settings. “In the financial world, there’s groups of people out there that are more on the starter side of things, how to save money, how to get out of debt … In the faith world, there isn’t really anybody that fits that fills that void, and that’s really where Life Surge kind of sits from a strategic positioning perspective,” says Nosek.
“We are not going to compromise who we are,” Johnson declares.
With events featuring notable figures like musician Crowder, Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec, and actor Kelsey Grammer, Life Surge shows no signs of losing momentum in its quest to change lives.
“We believe in the power of a local community that fellowships together, worships together, and encourages each other exactly where they are,” Johnson shared. “Life Surge is a movement that has a clear purpose: to know God and to make him known.”
Vujicic reflected on his time with Life Surge as one of his favorite experiences.
“I’ve been to 81 countries. I became the highest-paid motivational speaker under age 40,” he recalled. “I’ve received 35,000 invitations to speak. I’ve met 31 presidents. I’ve addressed 10 national governments. A billion people in China know who I am. A billion people in India know who I am.“I’ve been on so many circuits and motivational stages where It feels empty. You can motivate people, but to see tools, knowledge, understanding, drenched, founded, and ended from minute one to the last second in the Holy Spirit, it’s one of the most exciting events that I’ve ever been to in my life.”