What happens when Christians stop coasting and start stewarding? See how God is stirring thousands to live boldly for His Kingdom through one fast-growing movement.



The president of Life Surge says he sees a spiritual awakening sweeping the nation, as individuals disillusioned by the world's empty promises are discovering true purpose in the God of the Bible. Life Surge President Shawn Marcell told Crosswalk Headlines that thousands of men and women are packing arenas regularly to hear how biblical faith and wisdom can reshape every area of life. An event in Anaheim, Calif., this year drew 6,500 attendees -- with more than 1,200 making life-changing decisions for Christ.

"The pundits have tried. Everybody's tried to do something and create this utopian idea of what society can be, absent God," Marcell told Crosswalk Headlines. "And it has led us over and over and over again down dead ends. The self-help, create-wealth industry has tried to pitch their idea where we're more of a cul de sac than a conduit -- where we just collect and build and have fancy this and fancy that.

"... I think God is on the move and that people are beginning to feel that stirring."

Life Surge events are part-seminars, part worship services that draw businesspeople, entrepreneurs and others seeking to align their faith with their professional calling. Speakers include such individuals as Priscilla Shirer, Nick Vujicic, Tim Tebow, John C. Maxwell, Michael Jr., Jeff Foxworthy and Willie and Korie Robertson. Top Christian artists lead musical worship.

The goal is for attendees to "be both equipped, challenged, inspired, and then take action," Marcell said.

"We gather believers together to talk about how and why to create financial resources for Kingdom impact -- how to take your faith and bring it into the skills and giftings God's called you and created you to do," Marcell said.

Marcell said the events neither promote the prosperity gospel nor what he calls the "poverty gospel."

"You have the prosperity gospel that everybody's going to be blessed and -- you give your heart to Jesus, or you give to this ministry, and money rains down. And we know that's a false gospel," he said. "But there is also a poverty gospel that says, 'Hey, we're just to suffer, just lay low, don't engage anything.' …But I don't believe that's the gospel, either. There should be a healthy tension as believers. I think we should wrestle with this question.

"And I would say that generosity is a good cure for greed. Am I generous? Am I supporting my church? Am I helping people? Because if you're greedy when you don't have anything, you're going to be greedy when you have.

"It's incumbent upon us in the space to constantly remind people that we build wealth for Kingdom impact, to provide for your family and future generations, and to promote God's Kingdom on the earth."

The focus isn't on wealth itself, but on how it's used, Marcell said.

"Because when I build a great company, I employ people," he said. "When I employ people, I'm solving poverty. I used to work overseas. When I fed someone -- they were hungry tomorrow. But when I employ somebody and I give them jobs and opportunity to develop their skills, and I pour into them, I create something that then can impact their entire family and cities and beyond."

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