Megachurch pastor Craig Groeschel follows Tim Tebow in suspending ties to Life Surge

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(RNS) — The pastor of one of the nation’s largest churches will no longer speak at Life Surge, a series of Christian leadership and finance events accused of pressuring attendees into taking on thousands in debt.

Pastor Craig Groeschel of the Edmond, Oklahoma-based Life.Church joins former college football star Tim Tebow and Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla as speakers who have cut ties or suspended their involvement with Life Surge in the wake of an investigation by Mother Jones magazine and sports podcaster Pablo Torre.

Groeschel had been scheduled to speak at Life Surge events in Charlotte, North Carolina; Hartford, Connecticut; Tampa, Florida; and Nashville, Tennessee, this fall. He will not do so in light of recent reports, said a spokesperson for Life.Church, which draws 100,000 people to services at campuses around the country.

“Pastor Craig is grateful to have had the opportunity to share his message at these events,” she told RNS in an email. “He doesn’t plan to speak at any upcoming events and will continue to prioritize his ministry to the church.”

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