Life Surge events have been selling out venues in more than 80% of the cities they visit across America. Through its ethos of worship, wisdom, work, and wealth, this Christian organization is on a mission to elevate hearts and lives and bring some of the most inspiring speakers in the world along for the ride.
The faith-based business education company’s success stems from a unique approach: merging faith and business education with live events. Life Surge is known for featuring notable names, from Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec to actor Kelsey Grammer.
“We want to be authentic to who we are,” Life Surge CEO Joe Johnson says. “We do not put a divide between Sunday and Monday. That’s part of our criteria that [our speakers] have to be authentic.”
What Happens at a Life Surge Event?
What happens at a Life Surge event is that thousands of people come together to soak in stories of faith from Christian leaders, network, learn practical business education, and build community.
Attendees experience live worship sessions, learn about wealth-creation strategies from successful speakers, and connect with like-minded believers. A previous Seattle event sold 8,000 tickets and saw 1,257 people make faith commitments. Its upcoming schedule showcases an impressive mix of faith leaders, athletes, entertainers, and business minds, further demonstrating why it has become the “largest touring Christian brand in the nation.”
On Nov. 16, Life Surge will head to Fort Myers, Florida, where former NFL player Tim Tebow headlines with actress Patricia Heaton, Auntie Anne’s pretzel company founder Anne Beiler, and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic. Bethel Music artists Paul McClure and Bethany Wohrle provide musical entertainment.
“It’s one thing to know about God’s love and to be able to know the verses or put them on your bumper sticker or your home, but it’s different in the moment to know God has a plan and purpose for me,” Tebow said at a Jacksonville, Florida, Life Surge event.
On Dec. 7, Life Surge will be in Austin, Texas. Priscilla Shirer joins pastor and author Craig Groeschel, author and coach John C. Maxwell, and entrepreneur Ed Mylett at Shoreline Church. The event includes teachings from the Benham Brothers on kingdom entrepreneurship.
Shirer, who is frequently featured on Life Surge’s roster of speakers, shared in a Life Surge Instagram video some of the top advice she ever received.
“One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever been given is that someone said to me, an older, wiser woman than myself, said, ‘Priscilla, you cannot do a thousand things to the glory of God, but you can do one at a time.’
“And so it just kind of encourages me to know there are seasons in life and that it’s OK in this season to have to say no to a lot of things so you can say yes to the main things. And that’s OK because seasons will change, and then you’ll move on to the next season.”
Where Life Surge Is Heading In the New Year
The new year is looking bright for the flourishing faith-based organization. On Jan. 11, 2025, NFL legend Joe Montana and actor Dennis Quaid share the stage with surfer Bethany Hamilton and evangelist Christine Caine in San Francisco. Multi-platinum worship artist Taya will perform.
Then, on Jan. 18, Life Surge returns to Florida to hit Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, this time with NFL Hall of Famer Tony Boselli, Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Lysa TerKeurst, Vujicic, and Groeschel.
While live events remain central, Life Surge recognizes the need to reach smaller markets. The brand is developing virtual experiences that maintain its commitment to community building. “We don’t want people just watching a Zoom call like a TV show,” says Jeremy Nosek, chief strategy officer. “We want them building friendships and partnerships, truly joining a community.”
The company maintains its core focus on what it calls “God’s people” — the Christian market. However, its future plans include expanding beyond this initial audience. Life Surge’s immediate priority lies in serving current customers through new products and services.
Johnson frames its growth through its “SURGE” values: Surge-obsessed, Uniquely entrepreneurial, Results-driven, God-centered, and Excellence-focused in execution.
“Most Christian organizations tend to over inspire and under equip,” Johnson notes. “We believe you won’t see true transformation unless you provide practical strategies.” This philosophy drives its emphasis on tangible tools and education alongside inspiration.
Life Surge will roll out new financial market opportunities, including broker partnerships and pre-initial public offering investments. It’s also exploring additional service partnerships aligned with its values.
The company defies conventional wisdom through its live events. When competitors abandoned in-person gatherings during the COVID pandemic, Life Surge saw it as a new pathway to reconnect. “What used to be a red ocean full of competition became a blue ocean with no competition because everybody overnight left it,” Johnson explains.
This fresh perspective really set Life Surge into a league of its own. Its successful attendance at its events validates its core belief that people crave in-person connection more than ever.
Rob Collins, Life Surge’s chief marketing officer, believes the brand’s impact stems from creating spaces for collective faith and learning. “Many attendees have not been in a large venue with other believers,” Collins remarks. “That’s really powerful. That in-person experience is hard to replace.”
