In the often-alienating era of artificial intelligence, Zoom calls, and virtual meetups, human connection has never been more crucial. Life Surge not only understands the importance of people interacting, but promotes it through its in-person live events popping up in cities across America.
Founded by Joe Johnson, Life Surge combines faith-based teachings with practical strategies for personal and professional growth. The organization’s events, which have seen significant attendance growth in recent years, feature a mix of inspirational speakers, worship sessions, and educational content on topics such as entrepreneurship and financial management.
Johnson, who serves as CEO of Life Surge, attributes much of the impact to its focus on physical gatherings. He emphasizes that the fellowship fostered by in-person events creates a more profound and lasting effect on participants compared to virtual alternatives.
What Happens at a Life Surge Event?
What happens at a Life Surge event? Life Surge draws up to 100,000 attendees annually. Those who attend have opportunities to network, listen to inspirational celebrity speakers and immerse themselves in various business education or entrepreneurial support groups.
“Our mission is to inspire, transform, and equip people to surge their lives God’s way,” Johnson says. “I think one of the best achievements is to be able to go to launch our events or our organization in the middle of COVID against a lot of backlash at the time, and to really be able to persevere through that and come out on the other end, which I would call a movement. So I would say that is probably a biggest achievement — just igniting a movement.”
The scale of these gatherings allows participants to experience a sense of shared purpose and collective energy that can be difficult to replicate in digital settings. And it couldn’t come at a better time. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s latest Healthy Minds Monthly poll, about 1 in 3 adults in the United States said they feel lonely at least once a week and 1 in 10 Americans say they feel lonely every day. Some people never completely returned to normal activities postpandemic. Life Surge aims to alter that narrative by bringing people together one conference at a time.
“We believe in live and in-person events, not digital events, not Zoom calls, because people ever since 2020 lack community in a major way,” Johnson explains. “And so a lot of what we do and the power of the effectiveness of what we do is because of community, local communities, local like-minded people, building relationships and getting together.”
At its in-person events, crowds are amped up with powerful speeches by speakers such as former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and inspirational worship concerts by Jeremy Camp, Bethel Music, and Taya.
“I really do think 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, adds a lot that other people do not have,” Johnson remarks.
One of the key features of Life Surge events is the opportunity for collective decision-making. Johnson recounts instances where hundreds or even thousands of attendees have made significant life choices simultaneously, such as committing to faith or embarking on new career paths. The visible presence of others making similar decisions can provide a powerful motivational force and a sense of solidarity.
Life Surge’s Continuous Community Support
Life Surge’s approach to community building reflects a broader trend in the personal development industry. As traditional religious participation declines in some areas, Life Surge is working to provide alternative venues for spiritual growth and kinship formation.
The emphasis on in-person events also allows Life Surge to curate a specific atmosphere and experience for attendees. From the energy of live musical performances to the immediacy of speaker interactions, these elements contribute to what the organization describes as a transformative environment.
“We had 1,257 people stand up and give their lives to Christ,” Johnson shares of a Seattle event. “Wow, that’s a very important transformational moment. But they did it because they were part of a community. They weren’t alone. I just think the power of community, the power of doing things together, knowing that you’re not alone, you’re not taking that step by yourself.”
While the focus on live meetups has been central to Life Surge’s strategy, it also recognizes the need for ongoing support and education. To this end, Life Surge offers various products and services designed to equip participants with practical skills for financial success.
As Life Surge evolves, it faces the task of maintaining its emphasis on personal connections while adapting to changing societal norms and expectations.
“Probably many of the attendees have not been in a large venue like that with other believers,” Rob Collins, Life Surge’s chief marketing officer, says. “And so there’s power and there’s encouragement, and there’s, especially if you come from a smaller church, you’ve never been with more maybe than a couple hundred people and all of a sudden you’re surrounded with thousands of people.
“You’re worshipping together and you’re learning together and you’re being challenged together. That’s really powerful.”