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Steven Furtick
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Larry Stevens Furtick Jr.[1] (born February 19, 1980), known professionally as Steven Furtick, is an American pastor, author,[2] singer, and composer of Elevation Worship. He is the founder and general overseer of Elevation Church, based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Furtick was born and raised in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and attended Berkeley High School.[3] At the age of 16, after reading the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, he felt called to pastor a church in a major city.[4] He studied at North Greenville University in communication and earned a Bachelor of Arts, then he studied at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Divinity.[5]

Ministry

[edit]

In 2004, Furtick served as worship leader at Christ Covenant Church in Shelby, North Carolina, a Baptist Church.[4] In 2006, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and founded Elevation Church with seven families and his own.[6] The church had their first service on February 5, 2006.

In 2007, he helped found the music group Elevation Worship as a songwriter and since has been nominated for GMA Dove and Grammy Awards,[7] winning a Grammy for their album, Old Church Basement.[8]

In 2007, he made headlines when his church gave $40,000 to members in envelopes with $5, $20, and even $1,000, telling them to spend it kindly on others.[4]

Furtick speaks at events all over the world including the 2011 Global Leadership Summit hosted by Bill Hybels,[9] the C3 Conference 2012 hosted by Ed Young Jr.,[10] the Hillsong Conference 2012 hosted by Brian Houston,[11] and the Presence Conference in 2012 and 2013 hosted by Phil Pringle.[12] Furtick also participated in The Elephant Room 1 and The Elephant Room 2 hosted by James MacDonald.[13] Furtick was named to Oprah's SuperSoul100 list of visionaries and influential leaders in 2016.[14]

In 2012, in response to a need of mentorship for 1,000 students in area schools, Furtick launched an outreach program at Elevation Church called the M1 Initiative. Furtick said, "We have always said we want to be a blessing to our city and support our leaders with a volunteer force they can count on." More than 1,600 members responded and committed to mentoring a child for the 2012–2013 school year.[15]

Furtick has committed to donating 12 percent of Elevation Church's giving to support outreach efforts nationally and globally.[16]

Public life and media

[edit]

Furtick is a New York Times best selling author.[2] He has also participated in various philanthropic campaigns, donating clothes and furniture to families in need.[4]

In 2013, Furtick declined to answer questions regarding his salary, his tax-free housing allowance, how much he makes from books and speaking fees, and how the church is governed.[17] Elevation has stated that Furtick is generous to the church with the money he receives from writing books—that he arranges for the church to purchase his books directly from the publisher, allowing Elevation to receive the author's discount and keep the money from sales. They have also reported that the publisher pays the church to produce marketing materials to promote Furtick's books. Elevation has confirmed that Furtick's salary is set by a Board of Overseers composed of other megachurch pastors, who vote on his salary based on a compensation study conducted by an outside firm, and that Furtick does not vote on his own salary.[18][19]

On October 2, 2020, Trinity Broadcasting Network began airing programming from Furtick, replacing the Kenneth Copeland ministries program "Believer's Voice of Victory".[20]

Bibliography

[edit]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

GMA Dove Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 "O Come to the Altar"
(credited as songwriter) 		Song of the Year Nominated
Worship Song of the Year Nominated
2018 "Do It Again"
(credited as songwriter) 		Worship Song of the Year Nominated
2020 "See a Victory"
(credited as songwriter) 		Song of the Year Nominated
"The Blessing (Live)"
(credited as songwriter) 		Worship Recorded Song of the Year Won
2021[21] "Graves into Gardens"
(credited as songwriter) 		Song of the Year Nominated
"The Blessing"
(credited as songwriter) 		Won
Himself Songwriter of the Year (Non-artist) Nominated
"Never Lost"
(credited as songwriter) 		Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
"Tumbas A Jardines"
(credited as songwriter) 		Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
"Graves into Gardens"
(credited as songwriter) 		Worship Recorded Song of the Year Won
"Jireh"
(credited as songwriter) 		Nominated
Graves into Gardens
(credited as producer) 		Worship Album of the Year Nominated
Old Church Basement
(credited as producer) 		Won
Living Color
(credited as producer) 		Children's Album of the Year Nominated
2022 "Jireh"
(credited as songwriter) 		Song of the Year Nominated
Worship Recorded Song of the Year Nominated
"Rattle!"
(credited as songwriter) 		Song of the Year Nominated
Lion
(credited as producer and art director) 		Worship Album of the Year Nominated
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year Nominated

Grammy Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Hallelujah Here Below Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Nominated
2021 "The Blessing"
(credited as songwriter) 		Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song Nominated
2022 Old Church Basement Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Won

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Steven Furtick

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from Grokipedia
Steven Furtick (born February 19, 1980) is an American evangelical pastor, author, singer, songwriter, and composer of Elevation Worship who is the founder and general overseer of , a headquartered in .
launched in 2006 with a small initial group and has expanded to multiple campuses and a substantial online following, reporting average weekly attendance exceeding 20,000 by the early 2020s through high-production services and media outreach. Furtick holds a in communications from and a from , informing his preaching that emphasizes bold faith, personal potential, and audacious prayer. His notable achievements include authoring New York Times bestsellers such as Sun Stand Still (2010), which advocates "audacious faith," and Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God's Voice Above All Others (2014), alongside producing music with , which has garnered Grammy recognition for albums.
Furtick's ministry has faced scrutiny from theological observers for teachings that critics argue prioritize human empowerment over divine sovereignty, including statements suggesting innate godliness within individuals and interpretations of Scripture that blur distinctions between God's law and human limitations. Such positions have led to accusations of veering toward modalism in Trinitarian explanations and promoting a man-centered that aligns with emphases, prompting calls from discernment ministries to evaluate his against biblical . Despite these debates, Furtick maintains a broad appeal through relatable, motivational messaging that has propelled Elevation's growth and his personal influence in evangelical circles.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Upbringing

Larry Stevens Furtick Jr., known professionally as Steven Furtick, was born on February 19, 1980, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, where he spent his formative years in a modest, working-class family environment. His father, Larry Stevens Furtick Sr., worked diligently in various capacities, exemplifying a strong work ethic that Furtick later referenced as influential in shaping his own drive and resilience. Limited public details exist on his mother's role or the family's prior religious practices, suggesting that Furtick's early childhood lacked intensive formal Christian immersion, with his household prioritizing practical labor over overt spiritual pursuits. Furtick's initial exposure to faith occurred during his teenage years, marked by a personal at age 16, after which he discerned a divine calling to pursue ministry and establish a church in a major city. This pivotal moment shifted his focus from typical adolescent activities—such as those of his partying peers—to hands-on , including organizing outings for at-risk youth from local trailer parks to recreational venues like Frankie's Fun Park. Such experiences fostered an early commitment to and , laying the groundwork for his emerging religious centered on transformative experiences. By age 17, Furtick had assumed the role of youth minister at Baptist Mission in Moncks Corner, leading a group of 30 to 40 teenagers weekly in a small, mission-style setting that emphasized personal growth and cultural influence through . This early leadership position, initiated shortly after his conversion by his senior pastor, honed his preaching skills and reinforced a vision of ministry as active intervention in young lives, distinct from passive . These teenage milestones represented Furtick's primary faith formation, transitioning him from a conventional upbringing to a proactive spiritual path.

Formal Education and Influences

Furtick earned a degree in communications from , a Baptist-affiliated institution in Tigerville, . This undergraduate program provided foundational training in communication skills relevant to pastoral ministry and . Following his bachelor's degree, Furtick pursued graduate studies at the in , where he completed a degree. The seminary's curriculum emphasized biblical exegesis, , and within a conservative evangelical framework, offering rigorous preparation for ordained ministry. Public records detail limited specific intellectual or spiritual mentors from Furtick's academic years, though his training exposed him to influential figures in Baptist , such as seminary faculty focused on scriptural authority and doctrinal . These formative experiences informed his early preaching style, which initially aligned with traditional evangelical emphases on personal and biblical application prior to his independent ministry launch in 2006.

Ministry and Church Leadership

Founding and Growth of Elevation Church

Elevation Church was founded by Steven Furtick, its lead pastor and general overseer, in . Prior to founding the church, Furtick served as worship leader at Christ Covenant Church, a Baptist church in Shelby, North Carolina, in 2004. In 2006, he moved to Charlotte, where he established Elevation Church with a core group of seven families from Christ Covenant Church. The inaugural worship service was held on February 5, 2006, in a high school facility, drawing an initial attendance of 121 individuals. In 2007, as an early outreach and generosity initiative, Elevation Church distributed $40,000 to members in envelopes containing denominations of $5, $20, and $1,000, instructing them to spend the money kindly on others. The church began as a small, independent evangelical congregation focused on and , quickly outgrowing temporary venues and necessitating relocation to larger spaces. By 2015, Elevation Church had expanded into a model, achieving weekly attendance surpassing 17,000 across multiple campuses in the Charlotte area, including a new University City location renovated at a cost of nearly $5 million. This rapid numerical growth continued into the mid-2010s, exceeding 20,000 weekly attendees, driven by a multi-site strategy that replicated services via video preaching from the main Ballantyne campus to locations. The adoption of this operational model, combined with extensive online streaming, facilitated further expansion to over 15 physical campuses and a global digital reach. In June 2023, formally withdrew its affiliation with the , effective immediately, as announced in a letter to SBC leadership, marking a shift toward fully independent amid ongoing denominational tensions. Recent annual reports indicate stabilized in-person attendance around 17,000 weekly across 20 campuses as of 2024, reflecting adaptation to post-pandemic patterns while maintaining high online engagement. This trajectory underscores the church's emphasis on scalable, production-driven services as key to its sustained expansion.

Organizational Structure and Practices

Elevation Church operates as a multi-site congregation with 19 campuses across and extending to , , utilizing a video model where sermons delivered at the main Ballantyne campus in Charlotte are broadcast to satellite locations. This structure centralizes preaching under lead pastor Steven Furtick while allowing localized campus operations, including production teams handling audio, video, , and live switching to maintain consistency across sites. The church emphasizes high production values in services, employing advanced technical setups such as point-to-point video feeds and portable AV systems to create engaging worship environments, even in temporary venues. Staff leadership includes roles like Chunks Corbett and directors overseeing international regions and communications, operating under core values of unity, , and sacrificial giving among employees. Volunteer systems, known as eTeams, form the backbone of operations, with focused on connecting attendees through training like e101 , team placements in areas such as guest services, parking, and worship production, and ongoing communication to sustain involvement. Baptism practices prioritize numerical outcomes, with the church maintaining precise counts of immersions as part of its evangelistic focus; however, internal manuals guide participants on staging "spontaneous" baptisms, including pre-planning responses, practicing entries into baptismal pools, and coordinating to create an atmosphere of immediate divine response during services. Church officials have acknowledged these events as organized while asserting the underlying conversions are genuine. Following its withdrawal from affiliation on June 29, 2023, maintains denominational independence, stating the decision does not alter its commitment to broader prayer and mission support but reflects a shift away from cooperative ties amid SBC actions on issues like female pastors. Internally, practices emphasize through invitation-driven and high-energy services over structured discipleship programs, with Furtick stating the church avoids certain studies to prevent hindering evangelistic momentum and explicitly noting it is not designed for those already familiar with .

Theological Teachings

Core Doctrines and Preaching Style

Furtick's teachings affirm foundational evangelical doctrines, including the Bible as God's inspired and error-free Word, the existence of one God in three persons as the Trinity, and salvation as a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection rather than human effort. These core beliefs position humanity as created in God's image yet separated by sin, with the church serving as a unified body for gospel outreach and eternal destiny determined by relationship with Christ. A distinctive emphasis in Furtick's doctrines is "audacious faith," which he presents as bold, proactive trust in God to achieve extraordinary outcomes, drawing from biblical examples such as 's for the sun to stand still in Joshua 10:12-14. This concept, integral to Elevation Church's culture, encourages believers to align personal ambitions with divine purposes through and action, fostering a mindset of overcoming limitations via confident reliance on God's power. Furtick's preaching style features high-energy, charismatic delivery marked by rhythmic repetition, emphatic vocal modulation, and dynamic gestures to build emotional intensity and audience engagement. Sermons typically apply Old and narratives to modern self-improvement, using personal stories and motivational rhetoric to inspire listeners toward empowerment and resilience in daily challenges. This approach prioritizes experiential connection over expository analysis, aiming to evoke immediate faith responses through vivid, relatable illustrations.

Prosperity Gospel Elements and Biblical Alignment

Furtick's teachings incorporate elements characteristic of the prosperity gospel, positing that strong faith manifests in material prosperity and personal success as signs of divine favor. He has echoed influences by promoting the "little gods" doctrine, suggesting believers possess god-like authority through faith, akin to teachings from figures like . In sermons, Furtick has claimed that "broke the for love" by sending , framing divine action as overriding established rules to demonstrate affection, which aligns with emphases on 's submission to human-like relational dynamics over immutable holiness. Elevation Church, under Furtick's leadership, emphasizes —defined as 10% of income—as a foundational act of prioritizing financially, presented as biblically mandated and tied to spiritual breakthroughs. This practice yielded over $97 million in tithes and offerings in a recent fiscal year, alongside additional year-end contributions exceeding $11 million, reflecting the doctrinal link between generous giving and expected divine reciprocity. These elements diverge from orthodox biblical theology, which does not condition God's blessings primarily on faith-induced wealth or health but emphasizes suffering, humility, and cross-bearing as normative for believers, as seen in the experiences of Jesus, Paul, and early Christians. Prosperity-oriented claims like "little gods" authority contradict scriptural affirmations of God's unique sovereignty (Isaiah 44:6) and human creatureliness, while portraying God as "breaking" His law undermines the doctrine of divine immutability and atonement through perfect obedience (Hebrews 4:15). Theological critiques, rooted in Reformed and evangelical traditions, argue such teachings prioritize self-empowerment over repentance and reliance on grace, fostering a causal inversion where human faith purportedly compels divine outcomes rather than submitting to providential will.

Public Engagements and Media

Authorship and Publications

Steven Furtick has authored multiple books published primarily by Multnomah and FaithWords, which elaborate on motifs of audacious faith, personal identity in Christ, and surmounting self-doubt to pursue divine potential, aligning with his sermonic emphases at . His 2010 debut, Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask for the Impossible, released September 21 by Multnomah Books, draws from Joshua 10 to advocate "audacious faith" via bold, specific prayers that challenge readers to expect miraculous interventions rather than settling for incremental progress. Furtick's 2012 publication, Greater: Dream Bigger. Start Smaller. Ignite God's Vision for Your Life, issued September 4 by Multnomah, employs the biblical prophet Elisha's narrative to promote initiating obedience in modest acts as a pathway to expansive purpose, emphasizing that greater outcomes stem from alignment with God's vision over human ambition. Furtick's 2014 publication, Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God's Voice Above All Others, released by Multnomah Books, addresses overcoming negative internal dialogue and self-defeating thoughts to better hear God's voice. Furtick's 2016 publication, (Un)Qualified: How God Uses Broken People to Do Big Things, released April 5 by Multnomah Books, explores how God qualifies and uses imperfect, broken individuals to accomplish significant purposes, encouraging readers to reject feelings of disqualification and embrace their God-given potential despite personal shortcomings. Furtick's 2017 publication, Seven-Mile Miracle: Journey Into the Presence of God Through the Last Words of Jesus, released March 28 by Multnomah Books, reflects on the seven last statements of Jesus from the cross, guiding readers on a journey to experience deeper intimacy with God's presence. In February 2024, Furtick released Do the New You: 6 Mindsets to Become Who You Were Created to Be through FaithWords, which achieved New York Times bestseller status and has sold over 105,000 copies, centering on six mindsets for embracing God-ordained identity and discarding counterfeit self-concepts to foster authentic transformation. These works recur on themes of overcoming perceived limitations through faith-activated action and divine empowerment, functioning as ministry extensions via 's distribution channels, including study guides and devotionals for congregational use and small-group . While praised for motivational accessibility in evangelical contexts, reception includes scrutiny over bulk purchases by to amplify initial sales rankings. According to Elevation Church, Furtick arranges for the church to purchase his books directly from the publisher, allowing the church to receive the author's discount and keep the money from sales, and the publisher pays the church to produce marketing materials to promote the books. The organization attributes these arrangements to resource provision rather than personal enrichment.

Music Ministry and Performances

Elevation Worship functions as the worship ministry of Elevation Church, which Steven Furtick founded on February 5, 2006, in , initially launching with fourteen members. In 2007, Furtick helped found Elevation Worship, serving as a songwriter. The group originated as the church's in-house worship team to support weekly services, evolving into a dedicated musical outlet that produces original songs for congregational singing and emotional immersion during live gatherings. Furtick, serving as lead pastor, has co-written select tracks, such as "New Thing Coming," integrating them to align with sermon themes and heighten participant engagement. Live performances emphasize a production style characterized by arena-scale spectacle, including dynamic lighting, high-energy blending pop-rock with electronic elements, and structured crowd participation to amplify communal . This approach, evident in multisite services across sixteen locations and online platforms, aims to replicate an immersive, concert-like atmosphere that sustains extended singing sessions and responsive interactions. Elevation Worship has released numerous albums featuring hit songs like "The Blessing," "Jireh," "O Come to the Altar," "Graves Into Gardens," and "Do It Again," which have garnered millions of streams and RIAA certifications for sales and streaming equivalents. Global reach extends via of services, enabling international audiences to join virtually, as demonstrated by the 2020 recording of "" incorporating a worldwide . Collaborations with entities such as on projects like (2021) and artists including Brandon Lake and have broadened its stylistic range and listener base.

Tours and Public Appearances

Steven Furtick has conducted Elevation Nights arena tours since 2022, featuring his preaching alongside worship music from , as an extension of his ministry into large-scale public events. These tours evolved from the church's post-2010s expansion, shifting from regional gatherings to national productions drawing tens of thousands across multiple cities annually. The 2022 tour debut included stops in major venues, emphasizing live sermons on biblical themes integrated with musical performances of songs like "Graves Into Gardens." By 2024, the spring Elevation Nights tour sold out eight arenas, averaging 11,600 attendees per night and ranking among the largest tours historically. In 2025, the spring tour ran from February 25 in Fort Worth, Texas, to March 6 in Washington, D.C., with sellouts breaking prior records for worship events. A fall extension followed, including October dates such as October 25 at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky; October 26 at Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia; October 28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida; and October 29 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, where Furtick preached messages on faith amid contemporary challenges. Beyond tours, Furtick has appeared at external conferences, including the 2015 Potter's House "Endure the Race" event hosted by T.D. Jakes, where he addressed perseverance in ministry. He joined Jakes again for discussions on leadership and overcoming adversity, such as a 2021 virtual conversation on Joshua 1:5 and mental resilience. Additionally, Furtick's ministry has expanded to television broadcasting. On October 2, 2020, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) began airing programming from Steven Furtick, replacing the "Believer's Voice of Victory" program by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. This represented an expansion of his public engagements and media outreach through television. Furtick served as a keynote speaker at the 2025 International Leadership Summit organized by T.D. Jakes, alongside figures like Joel Tudman, focusing on cross-generational strategies in a rapidly changing world. These appearances highlight collaborations with established evangelical leaders, emphasizing practical application of scripture to personal and organizational growth.

Awards and Achievements

Music and Literary Recognitions

, the music ministry of founded by Steven Furtick, has received multiple nominations in various categories and one win in the Best Album category. Nominations include for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2019, "The Blessing" (credited as songwriter) for Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song in 2021, and the 2022 win for (collaborating with ). The group earned further nominations for in 2023 and for When Wind Meets Fire alongside the song "" in 2024. At the , Elevation Worship has received multiple nominations and wins for songs credited to Steven Furtick as songwriter. These include:
  • "O Come to the Altar" (credited as songwriter) nominated for Song of the Year and Worship Song of the Year in 2017
  • "Do It Again" (credited as songwriter) nominated for Worship Song of the Year in 2018
  • "See a Victory" (credited as songwriter) nominated for Song of the Year in 2020
  • "The Blessing (Live)" (credited as songwriter) won Worship Recorded Song of the Year in 2020
  • Steven Furtick nominated for Songwriter of the Year (Non-artist) in 2021
  • "Graves into Gardens" (credited as songwriter) nominated for Song of the Year in 2021
  • "Never Lost" (credited as songwriter) nominated for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year in 2021
  • "Tumbas A Jardines" (credited as songwriter) nominated for Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year in 2021
  • "Graves into Gardens" (credited as songwriter) won Worship Recorded Song of the Year in 2021
  • "The Blessing" (credited as songwriter) won in 2021
  • "Jireh" (credited as songwriter) nominated in 2021
Elevation Worship secured Worship Album of the Year for When Wind Meets Fire and Worship Recorded Song of the Year for "I Know A Name" on October 10, 2025, contributing to a total of eight Dove Awards as of 2024. The group's music has achieved significant commercial chart success, with "Praise" holding the No. 1 position for 20 weeks on Billboard's chart as of July 2024, marking one of only nine songs to reach that milestone. won three in 2024 for Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album (Can You Imagine?), and Top Christian Song (""), and was named Billboard's Top Christian Artist of the year-end 2024 charts. Furtick's literary works have attained New York Times bestseller status, including Greater and Do the New You, the latter selling over 105,000 copies since its February 2024 release. The audiobook for Do the New You, written and narrated by Furtick, was nominated as a finalist in the Faith-based & category at the 2025 .

Controversies and Criticisms

Doctrinal and Theological Critiques

Critics from conservative evangelical circles, including pastor John MacArthur, have described Steven Furtick as unqualified to teach due to perceived deficiencies in doctrinal fidelity and biblical exposition. MacArthur's assessment, delivered during a Shepherds' Conference Q&A, highlights concerns over Furtick's lack of formal theological training and emphasis on motivational over exegetical preaching. Furtick's teachings have been accused of promoting a man-centered that prioritizes personal empowerment and emotional experience over God's sovereignty and human depravity. Discernment ministries argue this approach twists Scripture by applying every biblical narrative directly to contemporary audiences, disregarding historical and literary context to foster rather than and Christ-centered . Such preaching, critics contend, risks producing false conversions by offering assurance based on subjective feelings instead of objective scriptural criteria like , the principle of Scripture's sole authority. A specific point of contention is Furtick's endorsement of "little gods" , where he has implied believers possess a divine essence akin to 's, drawing from a misinterpretation of Psalm 82:6 ("I said, 'You are gods'"). Conservative theologians label this as bordering on , akin to doctrines popularized by figures like , as it elevates humanity to near-divine status and undermines 's unique . They assert it deviates from orthodox Trinitarian by blurring Creator-creature distinctions, potentially leading followers to self-deification rather than submission to . In a sermon, Furtick stated, " broke the for ," using an illustration of a exceeding a 55 mph to aid his child, to emphasize over legalism. Critics rebut this by arguing it portrays as a lawbreaker, contradicting His immutable holiness and the law's reflection of His character; to break it would render a sinner, incompatible with biblical attributes of and . Theologians like counter that 's fulfillment of the law through Christ's atonement upholds rather than violates it, preserving divine righteousness. This claim exemplifies broader critiques of Furtick's , where motivational analogies supplant precise .

Church Practices and Ethical Concerns

In March 2024, Elevation Church distributed Easter invitations that deliberately avoided terms such as "resurrection," "Calvary," and "the blood of Jesus," with church leaders explaining the omission as an effort to prevent alienating potential non-Christian attendees and enhance seeker-friendliness. This approach drew backlash from Christian commentators, who argued it undermined the doctrinal essence of Easter by prioritizing broad appeal over explicit proclamation of biblical events. A 2014 investigation by WCNC Charlotte exposed Elevation Church's use of a internal manual titled "Spontaneous Baptisms – A How-To Guide," which directs volunteers to pre-position themselves and initiate responses to baptism calls, selecting "young, energetic" participants for stage visibility to create perceived momentum and encourage broader participation. Critics, including outlets like The Christian Post, described the tactic as emotional manipulation staged for optics, potentially inflating baptism counts by prompting unplanned decisions amid crowd dynamics rather than relying solely on individual conviction. In response, Furtick rejected manipulation accusations, asserting that fear of divine judgment precluded such practices and emphasizing the church's tracking of over 10,000 baptisms since 2006 as evidence of authentic revival. The church's operational emphasis on quantifiable metrics—such as weekly attendance exceeding 20,000 across multiple campuses and detailed tallies—has fueled claims that numerical targets overshadow deeper discipleship, fostering environments where rapid conversions prioritize volume over sustained spiritual maturity. Observers contend this metrics-driven culture, exemplified by volunteer directives to amplify visible responses, risks producing superficial commitments that lack follow-through in biblical or . Elevation officials counter that such data reflects genuine engagement, with Furtick stating, "We count people because people count," aligning metrics with evangelistic imperatives.

Financial Transparency and Lifestyle Questions

Elevation Church derives the majority of its revenue from tithes and offerings contributed by attendees across its multi-campus network, totaling $108 million in 2023, including $11.12 million from a year-end offering. Additional income streams include proceeds from events, music releases, and book sales by Furtick, though these are not itemized separately in public financial summaries and appear secondary to congregational giving. The church publishes annual audited consolidated prepared under U.S. , covering overall revenue, expenses, and assets, but as a exempt from IRS filing requirements, it does not disclose granular breakdowns such as individual or detailed program spending allocations. Furtick's personal compensation from the church remains undisclosed, determined by an internal board of overseers comprising pastors from other megachurches, a process that has drawn calls for greater transparency given the organization's scale. In 2013, amid media scrutiny over his home purchase and church finances, Furtick declined to answer questions regarding his salary, tax-free housing allowance, how much he makes from books, speaking fees, and how the church is governed. Independent estimates of his salary have ranged widely, from low figures like $38,000 annually—potentially reflecting only base pay excluding royalties—to over $500,000 based on extrapolations from church budget allocations for leadership support, though no verified public documentation confirms these amounts. Lifestyle indicators, such as Furtick's 2013 purchase and construction of a 19-acre estate in , valued at approximately $1.7 million with 8,400 square feet of heated living space, have fueled , particularly in light of his prosperity-oriented teachings emphasizing material blessings as divine favor. Church representatives stated the property was funded through personal book royalties and not church salary, describing it as a "gift from God." Elevation Church has stated that Furtick arranges for the church to purchase his books directly from the publisher, allowing Elevation to receive the author's discount and keep the money from sales. The church has also stated that the publisher pays the church to produce marketing materials to promote Furtick's books. Yet the lack of itemized sourcing beyond self-reported assurances has sustained questions about the interplay between pastoral earnings and congregational contributions. Regarding charitable giving, Elevation Church reports directing about 12% of its annual revenue—roughly $12 million in 2023—toward external causes, including local aid, school support, and global missions, and holds accreditation from the attesting to basic stewardship standards. However, verifiable details on program outcomes remain limited, with no evidence of large-scale, independently audited initiatives like sustained networks or alleviation efforts commensurate with the church's $100 million-plus annual intake, prompting critics to highlight a perceived disconnect between revenue volume and tangible community impact.

Personal Life and Influence

Family and Personal Background

Steven Furtick was born Larry Stevens Furtick Jr. on February 19, 1980, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, where he spent his early years in a small-town environment. Furtick married Holly Furtick, the daughter of a Baptist pastor, in 2002 at the age of 22, shortly after completing his freshman year of college. The couple has three children: daughter Abbey and sons Elijah and Graham, with the latter named in honor of evangelist Billy Graham. Holly Furtick maintains a supportive role in the family, prioritizing child-rearing and household responsibilities while sharing personal interests like cooking and audiobook listening. The family emphasizes relational stability, with publicly affirming their long-term marital commitment, including a 23-year milestone celebrated in June 2025.

Broader Cultural and Denominational Impact

Steven Furtick's ministry through has significantly shaped contemporary evangelical worship practices, particularly among younger audiences, by leveraging high-production music and dissemination. , associated with the church, has amassed millions of streams and listeners, contributing to a model where emotional, concert-like services prioritize and personal empowerment over traditional liturgical depth. This approach aligns with broader trends toward multi-campus, seeker-sensitive models that emphasize spectacle and relatability, as evidenced by Elevation's reported weekly attendance averaging over 10,000 in recent years and annual tithes exceeding $100 million in 2023. Such styles have popularized in digital spaces but drawn criticism from orthodox theologians for fostering superficial engagement, with detractors arguing that the focus on individual triumph risks conflating with biblical discipleship. Denominationally, Furtick's influence underscores fractures within evangelical networks, exemplified by Elevation Church's voluntary withdrawal from the (SBC) on July 1, 2023, shortly after the SBC expelled several churches for employing female pastors. Although loosely affiliated with the SBC for over two decades, Elevation's exit—amid scrutiny over its egalitarian practices, including roles for women in preaching—highlighted tensions between growth-oriented, megachurches and bodies enforcing complementarian doctrines. This move reflects a broader denominational shift where independent megachurches like Elevation prioritize autonomy and cultural adaptability, potentially accelerating the SBC's loss of influence among younger, urban evangelicals who view traditional structures as rigid. Critics within conservative evangelical circles, including reformed theologians, contend that such enables unchecked theological innovation, contrasting with the accountability mechanisms of historic denominations. Long-term effects on perceptions include mixed outcomes in follower retention and doctrinal formation, with experiencing flat in-person membership and declining revenue as of 2024 despite sustained online reach. Anecdotal accounts from former attendees describe disillusionment with the church's "me-centered" preaching, leading to exits among those seeking deeper , though empirical data on retention remains limited. Furtick's model has normalized prosperity-inflected in evangelical subcultures, influencing perceptions of as performative , yet it has provoked pushback from figures prioritizing scriptural , who warn of eroding standards in favor of cultural accommodation. This duality—viral appeal versus theological critique—positions Furtick as a flashpoint in evangelicalism's negotiation between numerical expansion and doctrinal rigor.

References

  1. https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Steven-Furtick-Bio.pdf
  2. https://www.gotquestions.org/Steven-Furtick.html
  3. https://www.elevationchurch.org/about
  4. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/117906/steven-furtick/
  5. https://stevenfurtick.com/about
  6. https://godwords.org/the-false-teaching-of-steven-furtick/
  7. https://www.monergism.com/false-teachings-steve-furtick
  8. https://growing4life.net/false-teacher-friday-steven-furtick/
  9. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article137555703.html
  10. https://www.facebook.com/StevenFurtick/posts/my-dad-was-a-pretty-hard-working-man-one-day-before-i-went-to-college-he-told-me/1087573184597429/
  11. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article137428913.html
  12. https://www.youthworker.com/student-elevation/
  13. https://www.facebook.com/StevenFurtick/photos/when-i-was-17-i-was-the-youth-minister-santee-circle-baptist-mission-in-moncks-c/1673181262703282/
  14. https://carm.org/preachers-and-teachers/steven-furtick/
  15. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article137428913.html
  16. https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-furtick-189b78317
  17. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/steven-furtick.html
  18. https://www.patheos.com/faith-figures-database/s/steven-furtick
  19. https://www.wbtv.com/story/28524334/from-121-to-17000-plus-charlottes-elevation-church-congregation-keeps-growing/
  20. https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article14407898.html
  21. https://www.christianpost.com/news/elevation-church-collects-more-than-100m-in-tithes-offerings.html
  22. https://resi.io/blog/how-elevation-church-uses-live-streaming-to-reach-an-international-audience/
  23. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/07/elevation-church-steven-furtick-leave-southern-baptist-sbc/
  24. https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/elevation-church-withdraws-from-sbc-cooperation/
  25. https://ministrywatch.com/furticks-elevation-church-revenue-down-in-person-membership-flat/
  26. https://reachrightstudios.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-multisite-churches/
  27. https://www.churchproduction.com/education/elevation_church_simulcasts_services_to_four_satellite_campuses/
  28. https://app.getmxu.com/playlists/getting-started-with-elevation-church
  29. https://rocketreach.co/elevation-church-management_b5c2b2b6f42e0f23
  30. https://www.elevationchurch.org/eteams
  31. https://www.elevationchurch.org/jobs/b68e89643d41
  32. https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/investigations/i-team/how-elevation-church-pastor-furtick-produce-spontaneous-baptisms/275-292975851
  33. https://religionnews.com/2014/02/24/megachurch-pastor-steven-furticks-spontaneous-baptisms-spontaneous/
  34. https://www.christianpost.com/news/its-not-so-spontaneous-elevation-church-admits-spontaneous-baptisms-are-well-organized-events-but-results-are-genuine.html
  35. https://revfrankhughesjr.org/images/Pitting_Evangelism_Against_Discipleship.pdf
  36. https://airocross.com/2011/08/18/furticks-elevation-church-on-evangelism/
  37. https://www.elevationchurch.org/beliefs-values
  38. https://www.changingkingdoms.com/post/sun-stand-still-audacious-prayers-steve-furtick
  39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxYGa3P5Fh4
  40. https://camlhyde.com/2020/03/05/2020-3-5-its-time-to-walk-away-from-steven-furtick/
  41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFT2_lIRWTo
  42. https://premierchristian.news/us/news/article/steven-furtick-s-elevation-church-reports-over-100m-in-tithes-and-offerings
  43. https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Stand-Still-Happens-Impossible/dp/1601423225
  44. https://store.elevationchurch.org/products/sun-stand-still-book
  45. https://www.amazon.com/Greater-Bigger-Smaller-Ignite-Vision/dp/160142325X
  46. https://store.elevationchurch.org/products/greater-book
  47. https://www.amazon.com/Crash-Chatterbox-Hearing-Gods-Others/dp/1601424566
  48. https://store.elevationchurch.org/products/crash-the-chatterbox-book
  49. https://www.amazon.com/Unqualified-God-Uses-Broken-People/dp/1601424590
  50. https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Mile-Miracle-Journey-Presence-Through/dp/1601429223
  51. https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2024/03/03/advice-how-to-and-miscellaneous/
  52. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/steven-furtick/do-the-true-you/9781668653753/
  53. https://store.elevationchurch.org/collections/steven-furtick-books
  54. https://ministrywatch.com/new-press-reports-on-elevation-church-and-pastor-steven-furticks-manipulation-of-his-book-sales/
  55. https://www.christianpost.com/news/elevation-church-cfo-answers-questions-about-sale-of-steven-furticks-newest-book.html
  56. https://www.air1.com/music/blog/behind-the-music/the-history-of-elevation-worship-a-new-worship-sound-4041
  57. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSf-NCzjwcnXErUBW_qeFvA
  58. https://na.panasonic.com/news/elevation-church-produces-cinematic-worship-broadcasts-with-varicam-lt-cinelive-system
  59. https://music.apple.com/us/artist/elevation-worship/287874918
  60. https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCSf-NCzjwcnXErUBW_qeFvA
  61. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9EK8dAXl6I
  62. https://www.grammy.com/news/elevation-worship-same-god-video-performance-new-song-2022-album-lion-old-church-basement-positive-vibes-only
  63. https://www.elevationworship.com/tour
  64. https://climatepledgearena.com/premier-productions-announces-elevation-nights-tour-featuring-elevation-worship-and-steven-furtick/
  65. https://mergepr.com/2024/04/24/elevation-nights-24-with-elevation-worship-and-pastor-steven-furtick-returns-this-fall/
  66. https://gospelmusic.org/news/elevation-worship-sells-out-tour
  67. https://www.ticketmaster.com/elevation-worship-tickets/artist/2248014
  68. https://www.313presents.com/news/detail/elevation-worship-pastor-steven-furticks-elevation-nights-tour-comes-to-little-caesars-arena-march-2-2025
  69. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSSI4-XXHaY
  70. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFtEzyB2uJk
  71. https://www.tdjakes.org/news/t-d-jakes-international-leadership-summit-to-focus-on-cross-generational-collaboration-paving-the-way-for-leaders-in-a-quickly-changing-world/
  72. https://thisisils.org/speakers/
  73. https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/elevation-worship-earns-1st-grammy-award-win/
  74. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2019-grammy-nominations-complete-list-nominees
  75. https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2021-grammy-nominations-list
  76. https://www.thechristianbeat.org/elevation-worship-wins-two-gma-dove-awards/
  77. https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/elevation-worship-praise-20-weeks-no-1-hot-christian-songs-chart-1235739683/
  78. https://www.billboard.com/pro/elevation-worship-2024-top-christian-artist-billboard/
  79. https://www.audiopub.org/2025audies
  80. https://www.gty.org/blogs/B160509/unqualified-not-unworthy
  81. https://bereanresearch.org/steven-furtick-teaches-that-god-breaks-the-law/
  82. https://www.challies.com/articles/did-god-break-the-law-for-love/
  83. https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/steven-furtick-facing-backlash-because-elevation-church-wont-use-words-like-resurrection-on-easter-invites/
  84. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/03/easter-elevation-worship-blood-resurrection-church-sing/
  85. https://www.bobweathers.net/elevation-church-and-its-easter-ad-sure-invitations-are-important-but-what-matters-more-is-what-comes-next/
  86. https://valuetainment.com/triggered-from-the-bible-elevation-church-avoids-using-words-like-resurrection-on-easter/
  87. https://www.christianpost.com/news/elevation-church-emotionally-manipulating-thousands-into-spontaneous-baptisms-say-critics.html
  88. https://www.christianpost.com/news/steven-furtick-rips-critics-im-too-scared-of-god-to-manipulate-baptisms-thats-just-sick-he-says-then-baptizes-400.html
  89. https://thewartburgwatch.com/tww2/2013/11/05/steven-furtick-its-about-numbers-keep-giving-10342-maybe-youll-get-3d/
  90. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/slowchurch/2014/02/19/steven-furtick-and-the-disneyfication-of-baptism/
  91. https://ministrywatch.com/amp/steven-furticks-elevation-church-revenue-exceeds-108m-in-2023/
  92. https://cdn.elevationchurch.org/2025_AnnualReport.pdf
  93. https://cdn.elevationchurch.org/images/2024%2520Audited%2520Financial%2520Statements.pdf
  94. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/61741162
  95. https://www.wfae.org/local-news/2013-10-24/reporter-discusses-stories-on-wealth-of-elevation-church-pastor-steven-furtick
  96. https://www.ulc.org/ulc-blog/a-look-at-some-of-the-wealthiest-pastors
  97. https://efurtick.wordpress.com/
  98. https://ministrywatch.com/amp/million-dollar-homes-become-status-symbols-of-televangelists-and-pastors/
  99. https://theaquilareport.com/how-a-pastor-built-a-multi-million-dollar-home/
  100. https://chicagodefender.com/megachurch-pastor-says-1-7-million-home-is-gift-from-god-2/
  101. https://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=36038
  102. https://www.elevationchurch.org/outreach
  103. https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlotte/comments/1ebccxh/elevation_church_rakes_in_108m_last_year/
  104. https://biblehub.com/q/who_is_steven_furtick.htm
  105. https://www.charlottemagazine.com/on-gods-stage-elevation-church/
  106. https://babka.cafe/newserx/170516-who-is-steven-furticks-wife-discover-the-inspiring-story-of-holly-furtick-dcover
  107. https://www.wbtv.com/story/34733950/want-to-know-more-about-elevations-pastor-here-are-10-furtick-facts/
  108. https://www.hollyfurtick.com/about-holly
  109. https://www.facebook.com/hollyfurtick/posts/happily-married-23-years-today-and-i-am-really-proud-of-the-happy-part-steven-fu/1261247888698066/
  110. https://ministrywatch.com/ep-451-willow-creek-pastor-dave-dummit-steven-furticks-elevation-church-and-the-state-of-the-church/
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