Life’s Surge’s day-long and multi-day gatherings regularly attract crowds exceeding 5,000 people per city, and after discovering what people are actually saying about these encounters, it’s obvious why these events are selling out with such enthusiasm. In 2026, people are hungry for guidance, wisdom, financial stewardship, and inspiration for salvation, perhaps more than ever before.
Life Surge Founder Joe Johnson launched the initiative following his personal recovery from bankruptcy, transforming his financial turnaround into a national touring operation that visits multiple cities throughout the year.
Attendees describe powerful emotional moments alongside practical instruction, with worship sessions led by Christian artists creating an atmosphere distinct from traditional business conferences. The events operate under what the organization calls a God-First Educational Approach, emphasizing that wealth building should serve spiritual purposes rather than purely material accumulation.
A Mission Grounded In Personal Transformation
Johnson distills his recovery journey into three actionable principles shared at every Life Surge event. “Number one: you have to get the right knowledge. I was an educated person but with the wrong knowledge,” he explained. “Number two: you have to take action. If you get knowledge and take no action, you’re no better off. And number three: you have to get in the right community of like-minded people.”
This is why Life Surge offers additional resources outside of their main event. Life Surge believes in turning inspiration into action.
The organization has established a stated goal of 100,000 decisions for Christ for 2026, demonstrating that spiritual conversion remains central to the mission despite the financial education content. Last year, Life Surge impressively transformed 25,541 lives for Christ. Life Surge President Shawn Marcell oversees operations for an organization that has grown from regional gatherings to a touring operation requiring partnerships with convention centers, hotels, and local churches to accommodate the crowds.
“Well, I think it’s so important that we understand that God’s given every one of us gifts and talents and abilities that He wants to anoint for his glory,” Marcell said during a CBN News segment. “And one of the greatest mission fields that we have is in the marketplace. God’s not just calling people to the pulpit, but He’s calling them to the marketplace.”
What Attendees Experience And Report
Life Surge reviews consistently emphasize what attending these events is really like. Tamaria Baker wrote in a Google review, “It was an amazing experience. I enjoyed being able to worship freely and be inspired on how to operate in the marketplace. Come prepared emotionally and financially to invest in your future and legacy.”
Jennifer Underwood wrote in a Google review: “Coming to Life Surge 2026 gave me confirmation that I’m on the right path. Thank you[,] Jesus.” The testimonial reflects how attendees describe validation of existing decisions and spiritual encouragement through the integrated experience.
Melissa Z wrote in a Google review, “Amazing and life[-]changing experience! All speakers are exceptional! I laughed, I cried, I learned, I understood so many things. [Grateful] for this opportunity and highly recommend it!” The emotional language characterizes many attendee responses, suggesting the events create a significant psychological impact beyond information transfer.
Rita Fufer wrote in a Google review, “The whole thing has been an amazing experience!!! Life changing all the way….Even my daughter (16) was all into it. Praise GOD!!!” The multi-generational appeal indicates the content resonates across age demographics.
Educational Content And Event Structure
Life Surge events typically span full days or extend across multiple days, with schedules that alternate between worship sessions, keynote presentations, and breakout sessions addressing specific financial topics. Speakers include real estate investors, business owners, financial planners, and ministry leaders who present expertise through explicitly Christian frameworks.
Speakers address practical life topics while citing scriptural passages to support their speeches. One recent review documented the educational approach in detail.
Kelly Hanna wrote in a Google review: “This is such an incredibly amazing experience. Every single speaker had their own way of presenting such a powerful message that was very moved and very inspired[,] and the effect of what you are doing is going to be absolutely amazing.”
The multi-speaker format allows for varied presentation styles and expertise areas.
“Congratulations on taking today to work on yourselves and invest in our King, [Jesus],” Pastor Craig Groeschel said during Life Surge’s recent West Palm Beach event. “Our God wants to do more in you and for you.”
Connect with the community on Instagram and watch event highlights on YouTube.
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