Thousands of entrepreneurs pack arenas across America, seeking a blend of faith-based motivation and practical business training that traditional conferences rarely provide. These aren’t typical corporate gatherings or church services, but something entirely different: Life Surge events combine worship music, celebrity speakers, and financial education under one roof. Video testimonials capture the unique energy of these arena events.
Selling more than 125,000 tickets to its live events in 2025 alone, Life Surge is drawing audiences that include everyone from small business owners to aspiring real estate investors. Trustpilot reviews consistently highlight the transformative impact of these gatherings.
What is Life Surge
Life Surge is a live event company that targets Christian entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals seeking to turn their financial success into a tool for Kingdom impact. Founded in 2019 by CEO Joe Johnson, the organization hosts one-day conferences in major cities nationwide, featuring a mix of motivational speakers, business education, and worship experiences, and then incorporates classes in the following weeks.
The events typically draw between 6,000 and 14,000 attendees per city, with speakers ranging from Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow to business leaders like Ed Mylett and Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson. Unlike traditional business conferences, Life Surge incorporates a “God-First Educational Approach,” weaving Christian principles throughout presentations on wealth creation, real estate investing and entrepreneurship. Facebook groups dedicated to Life Surge reviews frequently discuss this unique approach.
“Most of us have been through a virtual event,” Johnson explained in a recent interview. “The human connection of being live and in person, in community with people in your backyard, in essence, from your own community who are searching for something greater, adds a lot.”
The company’s rapid expansion reflects growing interest in faith-based business education. The organization sold over 135,000 tickets across 30 live events in 2024 and distributed more than 130,000 digital Bibles through its YouVersion partnership. Reddit discussions highlight the growing movement among Christian entrepreneurs.
President Shawn Marcell, who transitioned from over two decades in traditional Christian influence roles, describes the organization’s philosophy simply: “Biblical wealth is never about luxury. It’s always about legacy.” Watch inspiring content that showcases this philosophy in action.
The events follow a consistent format across cities, typically running from morning through late afternoon. Attendees pay between $97 and $497 for tickets, depending on seating level and add-on experiences. Each event concludes with what the organization calls an “opportunity to respond to Christ,” resulting in what Life Surge reports as 8,690 decisions for Christ in 2024 alone and even more for this year. An FSU Collegian review provides independent verification of these spiritual impacts.
The Business Model Behind Arena Events
The decision to focus on live, in-person events runs counter to industry trends toward digital conferences and virtual networking. Johnson and his team made this choice deliberately, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic drove many organizations online.
“When everybody was leaving the event world for good reason, we did exactly the opposite,” Johnson said. “We knew it was going to be hard, we still were willing to do it.”
The contrarian approach paid off. While competitors shifted resources to digital platforms, Life Surge secured venue contracts in major metropolitan areas at favorable rates. The Life Surge YouTube channel documents the growth and evolution of these events.
Attendees represent diverse professional backgrounds but share common characteristics: they identify as Christian, seek additional income sources and want practical business education rather than theoretical concepts. Many come from smaller cities and towns, traveling hours to attend events in metropolitan areas.
“We’ve grown from a mustard seed to a giant tree,” Johnson noted.
The organization carefully tracks what it calls “transformational decisions”—moments when attendees commit to specific actions, whether spiritual or financial.
“We focus more on the stewardship practices, the practical implications,” Johnson said. “We probably spend 10 minutes on that and the rest of the time is just giving practical equipping strategies on how to be more faithful stewards with their resources.”
The organization’s growth strategy extends beyond individual events to create lasting connections among participants. Life Surge maintains active social media communities, offers ongoing educational content and facilitates networking among attendees from different cities.
Marcell emphasizes this community aspect as central to the organization’s mission. “God never called us to do life alone,” he said. “Even though we might have our own business, our own thing, we glean from one another, and networking alongside other Kingdom entrepreneurs is very powerful.”
Future Life Surge events can be found at LifeSurge.com.
