Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is facing criticism over his association with Life Surge, a for-profit Christian organization accused of combining religious messaging with aggressive sales tactics that allegedly left some customers in debt. Life Surge disputes those allegations.
“I am so devastated that Christians like Tim Tebow made me trust in something that has taken so much money from me,” one person wrote in a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), according to documents reported by Mother Jones. “This is evil, especially because I’m disabled on a limited income.”
The FTC has not publicly announced enforcement action against Life Surge.
Life Surge rejected the claims through spokesperson Richard Lorenzen. In comments to Mother Jones, Lorenzen said the company “does not condone using a person’s religious faith, fear, or spiritual beliefs to pressure that individual into purchasing a product.”
However, interviews with roughly a dozen Life Surge customers, along with additional FTC complaints reviewed by Mother Jones, describe a sales process that allegedly began with inexpensive event tickets before moving attendees toward costly seminars. Customers could pay as little as $20 to attend an event, where they were then offered a $97 three-day “impact class.” Those sessions reportedly promoted SurgeU programs priced between $10,000 and $40,000.
Mother Jones reported that people unable to cover the five-figure cost were directed toward outside lenders, with some customers describing intense pressure to take on new credit. One attendee said Life Surge helped her obtain an American Express card carrying a $25,000 limit.
Tim Tebow is facing scrutiny over his connection to the for-profit Christian organization Life Surge
Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and his wife, Demi-Leigh Tebow, walk on the field before the Mississippi State Bulldogs faced the LSU Tigers on September 16, 2023
Karen Neal, a 61-year-old former Life Surge customer, said she initially questioned whether she could afford the program. “I was pretty hesitant,” Neal told Mother Jones in an interview featured on a recent episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out. “I was like, ‘We don’t, you know, we don’t have the money to do this.’”
Neal said Life Surge representatives brought in an outside company that could help participants secure credit cards, including cards advertised as offering zero-percent interest for a limited period.
She recalled being told: “Why don’t we get you a credit card for more than the $13,000 so that way you’ve got some extra money on the credit card that you can use for business stuff?”
“Okay, that sounds like a great idea,” Neal said. She added that the process ultimately resulted in approval for an American Express card with a limit of about $25,000.
According to Mother Jones, Life Surge presenters also encouraged some customers to consider borrowing against the equity in their homes to pay for the programs.
Neal paraphrased the message she said she heard at the event: “You have your own house. Don’t you have equity in your own house? Go use some of the equity in your own house.”
In hindsight, Neal said she has begun questioning the methods she believes Life Surge used to persuade customers.
“I see many of these strong Christian artists and strong Christian people that are up there speaking at the Life Surge conferences,” Neal told Mother Jones. “And it’s like, do they know what’s happening to some of these people that are getting into this?”
Her account resembles complaints collected by Mother Jones and discussions on a Reddit thread asking, “Is Life Surge Christian Conference a scam?”
One FTC complainant said they expected “a Christian-based day of like-minded businesspeople,” but instead encountered what they described as a bait-and-switch sales pitch for investment courses. “We are very disappointed but also concerned by the amount of people bought into this,” the customer wrote.
Tebow and former ESPN host Sage Steele are scheduled to speak at a Life Surge event in Charlotte
Alongside the FTC complaints cited by Mother Jones, Our News Outlet said it found additional grievances filed with the Better Business Bureau.
‘I attended a Life Surge event recently on June 20, 2026 with my partner,’ read one complaint reviewed by Our News Outlet. ‘We were excited for this event, having believed it would be a night of worship and hope as believers. Instead, we were moved into high pressure sales tactics advertising trading and real estate courses for 97$, a supposed 4000$+ value, or so they said.’
The individual claimed to have bought two courses before changing their mind and asking for a refund. A response from Life Surge is also shared on the Better Business Bureau website, purportedly showing the customer had been refunded.
Another dissatisfied customer was trying to regain $30,000 they claimed to have spent on courses.
‘On March 18 and 25 of 2023, my husband and I attended the “Business Surge” classes,’ read the complaint. ‘We were taken in by the strong Christian messages and trusted the renowned speakers to represent only a trustworthy business. We listened to how we could “generate kingdom wealth” and “create a legacy” for our kids and grandkids. We were continuously assured that “with the right tools and support ANYONE can be successful online.”’
They claimed to have ultimately spent $30,000 on a website design course, only to discover they could have learned the same material for closer to $2,000, according to the complaint.
A response from Life Surge is also included on the website, showing the company’s attempt to contact the dissatisfied customer.
The Broncos recently welcomed Tebow back before a game at Mile High Stadium
The organization does not preach the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God rewards strong faith and financial donations with material wealth, but rather the concept of ‘kingdom impact’: The more money one makes, the more they can do for God.
A popular public speaker since ending his NFL and minor-league baseball careers, Tebow is described by the organization as a ‘Kingdom Ambassador’ and spoke at 20 Life Surge events between 2024 and 2025, according to Mother Jones, which reports he’s on pace for that many in 2026 alone. Life Surge’s upcoming schedule lists Tebow speaking at five of its next eight events.
As a result, Mother Jones puts his estimated potential total from Life Surge somewhere between $2 million and $4 million.
Our News Outlet has sought comment from the Tim Tebow Foundation and Life Surge, which had its full response to Mother Jones posted online. Tebow did not respond to Mother Jones’ request for comment.
Not all of the reviews of Life Surge are negative, Mother Jones reported. Many described the experience as life changing, while encouraging others to partake.
Lorenzen told Mother Jones that headline speakers are not asked to promote or endorse Impact Classes or any other advanced training programs, but nevertheless, the website still unearthed footage of Tebow doing exactly that: ‘o I know that many of you today have probably signed up for classes, have probably signed up to take the next step. I want to encourage you to finish that, to follow through on that commitment, to finish strong.’
Denver’s Tebow (No. 15) is seen praying on the field after a game against the Patriots in 2011
For its part, Life Surge has defended itself against claims of high-pressure sales tactics, saying the company ‘does not train its representatives to pressure customers into borrowing or taking on debt they cannot afford.’
Mother Jones also reported the periodic disclaimers shared with the crowds, warning about the inherent risks of investing, and Lorenzen stressed that Life Surge doesn’t promise wealth to its customers.
But one concerned Life Surge employee explained things far differently on the condition of anonymity.
‘You’ve heard all about the people who are losing thousands and thousands of dollars and just are being asked to cash in their 401Ks and piggyback credit cards in order to pay for these classes,’ the employee told Mother Jones. ‘It just doesn’t seem like something a good Christian motivational speaker or pastor would want to be a part of.’
Tebow has now been out of the NFL for five years after a failed attempt to make the Jacksonville Jaguars as a tight end in 2021. These days, the 39-year-old former University of Florida and Denver Broncos star works as an analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network, while continuing his extensive philanthropic work.
