Steven Furtick _ How To Reset Your Heart

Steven Furtick _ How To Reset Your Heart
Larry Stevens Furtick Jr., known globally as Steven Furtick, was born on February 19, 1980, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, a small town outside of Charleston. His upbringing was rooted in Southern Christian culture, but his approach to ministry would later break nearly every mold of traditional church leadership. From an early age, Steven displayed a sharp intellect and an intuitive curiosity about faith. He was raised in a loving Christian family that emphasized the importance of church involvement, biblical values, and personal integrity.

Steven’s early spiritual awakening came at the age of sixteen when he read Jim Cymbala’s book “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.” The story of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and its revival through prayer ignited something deep inside him. It wasn’t just inspiration — it was a divine calling. Furtick felt an unshakable conviction that one day he would build a church that would reach people far beyond the walls of a traditional congregation. This inner vision became the seed of what would later become Elevation Church, one of the most influential and innovative churches in the world.
After graduating from Berkeley High School, Steven pursued his passion for ministry by enrolling at North Greenville University, a small Christian college in Tigerville, South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, a field that later shaped his powerful preaching and media presence. His ability to craft messages that blend theology, psychology, and storytelling can be traced back to his background in communication studies.

Following his undergraduate studies, he continued to deepen his theological foundation by earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. During these years, Furtick served in various church ministries, gaining experience in youth leadership, music, and preaching. It was during this formative period that his unique preaching style began to emerge — dynamic, passionate, and deeply relevant to modern life.
In 2006, at the age of twenty-six, Steven Furtick, along with his wife Holly Furtick and a small group of eight families, relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, to start a new kind of church. Their dream was bold: to create a ministry that would connect with those who had given up on religion but still longed for God. With a small team and enormous faith, they launched Elevation Church in the ballroom of a Charlotte high school.

The first service drew around 120 people — modest by today’s standards, but monumental for a group driven solely by vision. Furtick’s leadership philosophy was rooted in the belief that “great moves of God often start small.” Over the following years, Elevation grew exponentially, quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing churches in the United States. By 2025, Elevation Church had expanded into multiple campuses across the U.S. and abroad, with tens of thousands attending weekly — both in person and online.
At the heart of Elevation’s success is its visionary culture — a blend of spiritual passion, organizational excellence, and creative innovation. Steven Furtick envisioned a church where faith met culture, where worship was artistic and authentic, and where messages spoke directly to the struggles of everyday people.

Elevation Church became famous for its energetic worship music, produced by Elevation Worship, the Grammy-winning music ministry founded under Furtick’s leadership. Songs like “O Come to the Altar,” “Do It Again,” “Graves Into Gardens,” “The Blessing,” and “See a Victory” have touched millions worldwide. Furtick co-wrote several of these anthems, blending his theological insight with artistic creativity.

Under Furtick’s leadership, Elevation has maintained a mission summarized in three words: “See what God can do through you.” This phrase captures the church’s belief that every believer has a divine calling and that faith must be lived out with purpose and courage.
Steven Furtick’s preaching style is both theatrical and deeply biblical. His sermons often draw on personal stories, psychological insights, and vivid metaphors. He combines humor, vulnerability, and biblical depth in a way that makes complex theological truths accessible to everyday people. His messages often focus on themes such as faith, identity, purpose, perseverance, and the grace of God.

Unlike many traditional preachers, Furtick frequently incorporates modern analogies, cinematic storytelling, and motivational techniques. He often speaks about overcoming internal battles — doubt, insecurity, fear — and discovering one’s identity in Christ. Many describe his preaching as “faith meets psychology meets motivation.”