Life Surge, which bills itself as the “largest touring Christian brand in the nation,” is igniting audiences across America with its worship events imbued with business strategies. Founded by Joe Johnson, Life Surge aims to “inspire, transform, and equip” its followers to surge their lives God’s way.
More than 100,000 tickets are sold annually for its high-energy, in-person events.
“We had 1,257 people stand up and give their lives to Christ,” Johnson recounts from a recent event in Seattle that sold 8,000 tickets. “They did it because they were part of a community. They weren’t alone.”
Who Is Speaking at Life Surge?
So, who is speaking at Life Surge, you ask? In short, plenty of boldface names. Life Surge events are full-throttle faith-fueling experiences with speakers such as Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, and shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton, whose compelling life story inspired millions on the big screen through the film Soul Surfer. Their motivational words are combined with moving performances by top-selling Christian recording artists such as Chris Tomlin, Chandler Moore, Taya, and Jeremy Camp to bring people together for a day of self-growth, wisdom, and more.
This sense of unity and collective purpose also sets Life Surge apart during a time when many organizations have shifted to virtual formats. Rob Collins, Life Surge’s chief marketing officer, emphasized the unique impact of these large-scale gatherings: “Many of the attendees have not been in a large venue like that with other believers. There’s power and encouragement, especially if you come from a smaller church.”
Johnson attributes the success of these events to their focus on authenticity and real-world application. “Most companies tend to over-inspire,” he explains. “We believe you’re not going to have true transformation unless you can really equip people with true practical strategies.”
This approach resonates with attendees seeking both spiritual growth and practical skills for success in business and finance. Life Surge offers educational programs in areas such as trading, real estate, and entrepreneurship, all infused with a faith-based perspective. Johnson revealed that the organization has grown 46,000% over the past three years.
He emphasized that Life Surge’s goal is to teach responsible resource management and multiplication for “kingdom impact” rather than promoting materialism. This approach aims to fill what Johnson sees as a void in Christian teaching on wealth creation and stewardship.
Looking ahead, Life Surge plans to expand its offerings while maintaining its core focus on in-person events and community-building. Jeremy Nosek, Life Surge’s chief strategy officer, shared plans for new products in business education, as well as potential virtual options to reach smaller markets.
“We are looking at how do we extend some of what we’re doing physically and to doing virtual versions of the Life Surge event,” Nosek shared. “Community is really important to us, we don’t want to have people just going to a Zoom call and watching a TV show, but still really feel like they’re getting the community aspect.
“They’re building friendships and partnerships and joining a community and all of that. We’re working on a lot of that, how we can really bring community in a big way to some of the digital products that we’ll look at developing.”
For those considering attending a Life Surge event for the first time, Johnson offered simple advice: “Come with an open mind and just enjoy each step of the way. Don’t try to get ahead of it. Just be part of the experience.”
Johnson practices what he preaches. “We don’t really think too much about what is Life Surge’s legacy. We are too preoccupied thinking about what is the legacy of our attendees.”
Those who have experienced Life Surge’s in-person events have plenty of praise to share about it.
“Went to This event, was touched by the Holy Spirit while worshipping,” Pearl Lucas posted in a review on lifesurge.com. “I am so glad I went. It was very inspiring, uplifting and powerful. I left with a totally different, positive attitude. God is good and has truly blessed all the speakers.”
Jamie T. St. Louis said, “I came to hear the word from some of my favorite people but actually received so much more.”
Lisa Shaw found value in attending Life Surge’s in-person event. “As a Christian business owner, and a leader in ministry, I have always attended events, seminars, workshops, and conferences that were either for ministry or for business,” Shaw shared. “What I love about Life Surge is it’s a combination — Worship, the Word, Business and Marketplace.”