What the Roys Report DIDN'T Report

What The Roys Report DIDN’T Report

The Roys Report recently did a story on Life Surge, our founder, Joe Johnson, and our president, Shawn Marcell. Just like the stories they’ve run on Christian leaders like Charlie Kirk, Rick Warren, Dave Ramsey, Chris Hedges, John Maxwell, Jim Daly, John Piper, Greg Laurie, David Jeremiah, Jack Graham, Robert Jeffress, and Franklin Graham, the story they ran about us is also negative.

It’s clear that The Roys Report:

  • Made a judgment about us before they even started their “extensive research.”
  • Searched for ammo that could be contorted to fit that end.
  • Ignored any facts that got in the way of their conclusion.
  • Infused the article with a cynical tone impossible to miss.

Of course, you’d expect us to be thick on invective and thin on the actual facts. But we’re a company whose mission is “to see God’s Kingdom SURGE worldwide.” And because of that, we’re committed to transparency. And because of that, we provided The Roys Report with:

  • 58 pages containing 17,901 words of complete, thoughtful answers to the questions they asked.
  • A 72-minute in-person, no-holds-barred interview with Joe Johnson and Shawn Marcell.

Yet The Roys Report not only chose to ignore the answers we sent, but they also didn’t want their readers to have access to them either. In other words, they knew that a careful reading of our facts and their story would reveal the piece for what it was. They didn’t allow their readers to access to any of the facts we provided because they claimed some of them were defamatory. We thought we’d let you decide by reading and watching everything so you could form your own conclusions.

You might think that was an isolated incident of bad judgment by The Roys Report. After all, they claimed that the story on us was the result of “extensive research.”

But consider this. The Roys Report talked to “more than 10 people.” Of the people identified by name:

  • Three people signed up, first for our Impact classes and then for our advanced education programs. Two of them are actively using the education for Kingdom impact.
  • Those same three people mentioned above—plus the spouse of one of them—signed up for our Impact classes. Three of them were so impressed that they signed up for advanced education.
  • Two attendees didn’t sign up for Impact classes because they had concerns.
  • One person had never been to a Life Surge event.
  • One contractor who is suing Life Surge.

Now let’s put that in context:

  • Over 350,000 people have attended a Life Surge event since 2023. Our surveys show a 94% satisfaction rate. That’s 333,719 people changed for the better by Life Surge.
  • Tens of thousands of attendees (the exact numbers are proprietary) have attended one or more Impact Classes, where the satisfaction rate is even higher, again leaving a large number of people who were changed for the better by Impact Classes.
  • Tens of thousands of attendees (the exact numbers are proprietary) have signed up for advanced education, where our satisfaction rate is even higher than that of our Impact Classes.
  • Thousands of people have given Life Surge a 4- or 5-star review on Google and Trustpilot.
  • That’s hundreds of thousands of people the reporter ignored because they didn’t fit her narrative.

But let’s look at the one named student and the three unnamed students the reporter cited in her story. Our motto is, “We don’t stop until you SURGE.” Life Surge asked for the identity of these people so we could help them. The reporter refused our request. She didn’t even offer to reach out to these people on our behalf to see if they would be willing to let us help them. Why didn’t she? Because then the story would be about what Life Surge does to help its students succeed. You could be forgiven for thinking that these people were nothing more than expendable pawns in the reporter’s quest to tell her predetermined story.

As Joe Johnson said in his interview with the reporter: “I want everyone to prosper, everyone to do well. But education, maybe, unlike any other product, unlike that bottle of water right there, requires two people. It requires the company, who’s teaching, who’s training, who is equipping, to do a good job. But it also requires the student to go apply.”

We offer world-class events, education, and experiences. Our hundreds of thousands of reviews and satisfied customers are ample proof of this. But students must apply themselves. And when they decide to, we won’t stop until they SURGE.

When The Roys Report posted their story, we immediately posted comments on their website and Facebook page to provide the truth and point out their errors and deceptions. While the comment on Facebook was posted immediately, our comments on The Roys Report site meant a different fate:

  • Two of our comments remain unposted, or, in the language of The Roys Report, “awaiting moderation” as of the time of writing.
  • Two of our comments were posted—but only after long delays. Likely to stop her readers from accessing the truth in those first critical hours.

I’m sure you can see that the real story is Julie Roys:

  • Withholding the facts from her readers.
  • Going to great lengths to ignore our hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers.
  • Blocking and delaying our comments in order to withhold the facts from her readers.

But whether you can see that Julie Roys is the real story or you’re not convinced yet, please do look at the documents and watch the interview on this site. We’re confident you’ll quickly grasp the truth Julie Roys took great pains to keep from you, as well as the techniques she used to keep the truth from you.

This story, from an organization that claims to conduct “investigative journalism” in order to report the “unvarnished truth,” is deeply disappointing since there was precious little investigation and what it reports isn’t anything like the unvarnished truth. 

We offered The Roys Report the opportunity to attend a seminar free of charge. They declined. We offered The Roys Report the opportunity to attend our Impact Classes. They declined. We offered The Roys Report the opportunity to come to our headquarters and attend a staff meeting. They declined. We offered them the chance to interview Joe Johnson and the president of Life Surge. They didn’t respond. [[We offered The Roys Report a 2,367-word response to their questions. They [[ignored it/use 25 words of it.]] 

The Roys Report didn’t respond because they already had plannedtheir the  story they wanted to tell—not the result of an investigation but rather an unexamined of uncritical regurgitation of old stories reported, erroneously, in secular media.

  • 36% to 53% of small businesses encounter civil suits or threats annually.
  • 43% of all small businesses face the threat of a lawsuit annually.
  • About 45% of small businesses are currently involved in litigation.
  • 90% of all businesses experience a lawsuit at some point during their lifespan.
  • The average company handles 37 lawsuits at any given time. For companies with over $1 billion in revenue, the average number of cases being managed is 147.

Here’s the unvarnished truth:

Joe Johnson and some of his businesses have been sued—but Julie Roys has been sued, too. Sadly, in our litigious society, being sued is part of doing business, and sadly the reporter failed to mention that:

 

  • 20,808 people gave their lives to Jesus over the last yearsince January 2025 at one of our Life Surge events.
  • Our customers have given us a 4.7/5 rating on Google, based on 926 1420reviews.
  • Our customers have given us a 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot, based on 546 499 reviews

Context is important. 

The Roys Report knows better than to drop in a story with isolated, negative, unverified accusations, but they did it anyway. If the same standard was applied to Julie Roys and The Roys Report, for instance, then the following factoids would qualify as the “unvarnished truth:” about Julie Roys:

All of these are true insofar as they can be found in media and legal records. All of them have the truth so far as it goes. All of them have citations. But do they tell the whole truth? Do they present Julie and The Roys Report as they are? I think Julie would argue that they don’t. 

This sloppily, superficially, and carelessly “researched” faux story has citations but not the truth. If you’d like to see our answers to their questions—the answers that The Roys Report didn’t want you to see—you can find them at lifesurge.com/our-response

What is the goal of Life Surge?

  • Life Surge’s mission is to inspire, train, and equip people to multiply their resources for Kingdom impact around the world.
  • Unlike traditional nonprofits, we operate as a for-profit business, preaching the Gospel boldly and achieving massive fruit—19,935 decisions for Jesus in 12 months—without seeking donations.

What are the Impact Classes, and can someone join without attending an event first?

  • Impact Classes are nine-day, highly affordable learning experiences focused on business ownership, real estate, and investing—all for $97 with a money-back guarantee.
  • Attendees rave about the classes, and over 1,000 accepted Christ through them this year alone.
  • A person doesn’t need to go to a main event first.

Are Life Surge speakers paid exorbitant fees?

  • No; in fact, many speakers reduce or even donate their fees because they believe deeply in the mission.
  • Impact trumps celebrity, with powerful moments often delivered by lesser-known names propelled by genuine passion.

What about the claim that Life Surge is a bait and switch?

  • Life Surge emphatically rejects this accusation, backing its value with glowing reviews, radical transparency, and unmatched affordability (tickets from $40 including lunch).
  • We over-deliver, providing practical, Christ-centered content and actionable skills that far exceed what’s promised.

Do you encourage people to go into debt to pay for mentoring?

  • Absolutely not.
  • Though cash payment is preferred, customer demand led to offering independent financing options—which pay Life Surge nothing—ensuring access to ethical, biblically aligned financial growth support without pressure.

Joe Johnson has past business lawsuits. Why trust him?

  • As a seasoned entrepreneur, Joe Johnson has faced a few business failures and lawsuits—factored by the sheer scale of his career, not misconduct.
  • He shares his failures openly, holds a 96% employee approval rating on Glassdoor (elite among CEOs), and enjoys broad trust from both his customers and employees.

What about the Brian McAdam lawsuit?

  • Brian McAdam was a short-term contractor, and his legal complaint—alleging religious discrimination—was never formally served and appeared—as of the time the answers were drafted—to have been dropped.
  • Life Surge stands ready to address any legal action energetically and with absolute integrity.

Anything else you want to say?

  • Life Surge boldly invites skeptics to “come and see”—offering to cover tickets and open all doors to scrutiny.
  • With 19,935 decisions for Christ in a year, stellar ratings, and lives changed nationwide, Life Surge’s story is one of radical impact, bold innovation, and unshakable transparency—rooted in faith, driven by results.

Download Our Response

This is interview was conducted in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 13, 2025 at a Life Surge seminar.

1. How many Life Surge events have taken place since launch? How many this year?

  • Life Surge has hosted 70 unique events since launch, with 22 already this year and a projected total of 29 for 2025.
  • The momentum shows powerful growth and ever-increasing reach.

2. How many people have attended a Life Surge event, and what is average attendance in 2025?

  • Over 350,000 people have taken part since inception.
  • World-class satisfaction is evidenced by stellar reviews and Net Promoter scores (NPS).

3. What percentage of attendees sign up for the $97 classes, attend those classes, or sign up for advanced programs?

  • While exact percentages are proprietary, thousands annually choose added classes and advanced training.
  • NPS scores far surpass industry norms, signaling truly world-class educational experiences.

4. Why did Joe Johnson focus Life Surge around faith instead of relaunching something like Get Motivated?

  • Life Surge’s heartbeat is to inspire, train, and equip others to SURGE their resources for Kingdom Impact.
  • Joe Johnson pivoted from past business models to focus on seeing God’s Kingdom SURGE worldwide.

5. How specifically does building wealth advance Kingdom Impact according to Life Surge?

  • Building wealth, for Life Surge, means stewarding God-given resources and leveraging them for Kingdom purposes—supporting churches, missions, family, justice, generosity, and unique personal callings.
  • Wealth becomes powerful only when it’s focused on advancing God’s agenda on earth through practical acts of service and generosity.

6. Do the advanced training programs lead to licensure or certification, or merely more expertise?

  • Life Surge’s advanced training delivers Kingdom Impact through actionable knowledge and mentoring, not traditional credentialing.
  • The focus is on measurable, life-changing results, not outdated degrees—a game-changing approach compared to conventional education.

7. Can you connect with graduates who now use their wealth for Kingdom Impact?

  • Life Surge spotlights moving testimonies:
  • Danielle, a single mom overcoming adversity through nonprofit work
  • Luis, an immigrant building a Kingdom business and helping the poor
  • Aprille, a company president who balances family, generosity, and faith-driven work.
  • Their transformative stories exemplify real-life Kingdom Impact in action.

8. What is Shawn Marcell’s response to the recent ruling against Welfont, and why take advice from someone with his track record?

  • The accusation is countered by precise context: Shawn is not a financial advisor but a faith-driven leader.
  • Welfont’s model helped nonprofits and followed well-established legal precedent, making the case baseless and, in any case, unrelated to Life Surge’s mission.
  • Litigation is, unfortunately, normal in real estate.

9. How does Life Surge’s partnership with YouVersion work? What is donated, and what does it achieve?

  • Life Surge self-finances its ministry, donating strategically to partners like the YouVersion Bible app.
  • By channeling $10 from each class registration, Life Surge has contributed over $344,849—enabling more than 862,000 Bible downloads globally in 2025, with a goal to reach $1 million.
  • Donations fuel app development and global Bible access, dramatically multiplying spiritual impact.

The statistics cited in the following document were accurate when the document was finalized on September 25, 2025. Since then, statistics like the number of people who have made a decision for Christ and the amount of money donated to ministries like YouVersion have increased.

Download Part 1

Summary of Answers to Ann Marie’s Questions – Round 4

This document addresses 12 questions with comprehensive responses defending Life Surge and Joe Johnson against Philadelphia Inquirer allegations.


1. Also, please send the statement from Amy Wolfe and her attorney’s contact info, when you can.

  • Amy Wolfe has provided both a summary and detailed statement acknowledging that the business relationship with Joe Johnson is healing through mutual understanding and forgiveness.
  • She clarifies that her previous legal claims were made in the adversarial context of litigation without the full picture, and she now recognizes Joe honored his personal guarantee of approximately $1 million and has stepped up to reconcile.
  • Most tellingly, she has decided to work with Joe again, stating “I have faith in Joe’s ability to make things work. That should tell you everything you need to know.”

2. Joe Johnson’s statement on Amy Wolfe-related matters

  • Joe Johnson describes the relationship with Amy Wolfe as one of his painful entrepreneurial valleys that has been transformed through God’s healing power from conflict to restoration.
  • Joe felt extorted when her attorney threatened reputational damage unless he paid beyond his original guarantee, but after refusing for two years, they settled for exactly what he initially offered—the $1 million personal guarantee he honored.
  • When Amy revived the controversy 10 years later, instead of Joe taking legal action, God orchestrated a remarkable reconciliation where they not only forgave each other but began working together again.

3. Let me know what was incorrect in the Philly articles.

  • The Philadelphia Inquirer article contains numerous factual inaccuracies and was written before reporters even attended a Life Surge event, contradicting their actual experience where 100% of interviewed attendees said they didn’t buy anything and would absolutely attend the event again.
  • The article’s primary source, Amy Wolfe, has since recanted many of her statements, admitting she couldn’t find evidence to support some claims and acknowledging her lawsuit was part of an “adversarial dance” that painted Joe in the worst possible light.

4. Inquirer: “Joe Johnson was a principal of at least a half dozen companies and charities that were subject to controversy or financial disarray.”

  • While Joe Johnson openly shares both his business failures and successes, the Inquirer’s characterization uses selective factoids to create a false narrative, omitting his numerous successes entirely.
  • The source of much “controversy” was Amy Wolfe herself, who has since corrected the record and recanted many statements.
  • Using this same selective factoid approach, one could similarly mischaracterize Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, or Sam Walton by highlighting only controversies while ignoring their achievements—revealing more about the reporter’s bias than the truth.

5. Inquirer: “A real estate brokerage Johnson founded prior to Life Surge is facing at least three active lawsuits alleging the company helped arrange millions of dollars of fraudulent tax breaks in multiple states.”

  • Being sued is a normal part of doing business in America’s litigious society, where 90% of all businesses experience lawsuits during their lifespan and companies with over $1 billion in revenue average 147 cases being managed.
  • Just because someone files a lawsuit doesn’t make the allegations true—many lawsuits are frivolous shakedown attempts, which is exactly what Life Surge argues Amy Wolfe’s lawsuit was.
  • The article fails to provide this critical context that distinguishes between accusations and proven facts.

6. Inquirer: Johnson claims he paid back his creditors after a 1996 bankruptcy even though he didn’t have to, but he didn’t.

  • Joe did repay everyone he could find and all taxes owed related to the 1996 business failure. His credit score reflects this.
  • The issue was an obscure county clerk requirement where taxpayers must personally appear to show proof of payment for records to be updated—something Joe had no idea about for almost 30 years.
  • He has now retained someone to locate the 30-year-old payment records to properly update these outdated county records.

7. Inquirer: Joe is applying the same suspect principles he learned and practiced at Get Motivated Seminars

  • Joe learned invaluable lessons from Get Motivated—both what to do and what not to do—particularly regarding building healthy cultures, creating consistent educational products, and providing strong follow-up and discipleship for new believers.
  • He deliberately went more faith-based and made different choices specifically because of lessons learned from that experience.
  • Every entrepreneur learns from both successes and failures in their journey.

8. Inquirer: “They’re predators who want to be your mentors, and they eventually weasel dollars out of you,” Wolfe said of the Get Motivated seminars. “It happened to me.”

  • This statement is categorically false and contradicted by Amy Wolfe’s own written statement, which clearly states she “expressed interest in investing opportunities” and approached Joe first, not the other way around.
  • It was Wolfe who initiated interest in investing, Wolfe who chose to participate as a lender with $13 million, Wolfe who made the decision to foreclose despite Joe’s adamant opposition, and Wolfe who failed to support students after she took control of the company.
  • Over two million people attended Get Motivated Seminars throughout its history—if this claim had any truth, thousands would echo it, but they don’t.

9. Inquirer: Life Surge is really just a big bait and switch

  • Life Surge delivers exactly what it promises: inspiring, training, and equipping people to multiply their resources for Kingdom impact through exceptional value—a full-day event with world-class speakers, musicians, and lunch for an average of $39.
  • The company achieves “Blue Ocean Disruption” by offering more value at less than half the typical conference price, with optional additional training backed by a 100% refund guarantee and a “We Don’t Stop Until You SURGE” commitment.
  • With a 4.8 out of 5 average rating, 90% five-star reviews, and an industry-leading Net Promoter Score of 63+, the overwhelming customer satisfaction proves that Life Surge is about building and serving, not bait-and-switch.

10. Inquirer: Life Surge encourages people to go into debt to pay for mentoring.

  • Life Surge offers programs ranging from free to $40,000 to suit everyone, with 50–60% of attendees coming, worshiping, and leaving without purchasing anything beyond the event ticket.
  • For those who choose additional training, third-party financing companies work directly with customers to provide options based on their individual credit and income—similar to mortgage brokers helping people buy homes.
  • Joe Johnson himself financed his education when he was broke and in debt, and countless students have transformed their lives by investing in education through financing, later paying off all their debts and building financial freedom.

11. Inquirer: Life Surge wraps itself in Christianity to dupe people out of their money.

  • Life Surge does not dupe anyone—it directly fulfills its mission to inspire, train, and equip people to multiply their resources for Kingdom impact, addressing a critical need in a country where 67% live paycheck to paycheck and 59% can’t cover a $1,000 emergency.
  • While many Christian events motivate, few provide concrete action steps; Life Surge goes beyond inspiration to equip believers with practical skills in investing, real estate, and starting Kingdom businesses.
  • Just as Chick-fil-A, Regent University, and Herman Miller don’t give away their products for free despite Christian ownership, Life Surge operates as a for-profit business focused on Kingdom Impact while delivering exceptional value.

12. Inquirer: Life Surge is nothing but a timeshare presentation orchestrated to sell expensive financial classes that should really be free.

  • Life Surge is a for-profit educational organization, not a timeshare company—it clearly states on its website and materials that it offers one-day events, three-day classes, and advanced training to help people multiply their resources for Kingdom Impact.
  • The Bible says, “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18), and just as Christian businesses like Chick-fil-A and Regent University charge for their services while delivering exceptional value, Life Surge does the same.
  • The “timeshare” characterization reveals a fundamental misunderstanding, as the reporters wrote their article before even attending the event and maintained their preconceived narrative despite experiencing the truth firsthand.

Download Part 2

This document provides key metrics about Life Surge’s performance in the first three quarters of 2025.

Download Life Surge Facts

This spreadsheet shows how Life Surge’s ratings on Google Reviews and Trustpilot compares with those of other premier education companies and trusted consumer brands. We chose Google Reviews and Trustpilot because they are third-party sites that enjoy widespread trust.

Download Customer Satisfaction Stats