Biography of V1 Church (version 2) - An Investigation into Faith, Influence, and Enterprise

The V1 Network: An Investigation into Faith, Influence, and Enterprise

Introduction

On the surface, V1 Church presents itself as a vanguard of modern American Christianity. With a high-production media presence, a charismatic leader in Mike Signorelli, and a message of spiritual renewal tailored for a contemporary audience, it has experienced rapid growth, expanding from its New York base to a global online community. Its branding is sleek, its language is aspirational, and its appeal, particularly to younger generations, is undeniable. V1 Church positions itself as a "global voice of the gospel," offering a community where individuals can be "saved, healed, delivered, set free, discipled, equipped, and empowered."

This report seeks to move beyond this carefully curated public facade to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the intricate and often-undisclosed network of individuals, businesses, and theological systems that constitute the V1 ecosystem. The objective is to fact-check claims made by and about the church and its key figures, to systematically map the personal, financial, and ideological connections that bind them, and to analyze the fusion of faith, finance, and influence that defines their operations. While it's important to note that V1 Church has engaged in philanthropic endeavors, this biography will shed light on the more contentious aspects of its history.

The investigation examines V1 Church as a case study in the evolution of 21st-century charismatic Christianity, where the lines between ministry, multi-level marketing, and political activism are increasingly blurred. The primary subjects of this report include V1 Church itself; its public-facing lead pastor, Mike Signorelli; its co-founder, Anthony Spark, and his business ventures; and the influential apostolic figures who provide the theological framework for V1's practices: Bill Johnson of Bethel Church and his deliverance ministry, Bethel SOZO, and Randy Clark of Global Awakening. The report will also address connections to political figures, specifically clarifying the common confusion between MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and Pastor John Lindell of James River Church.

I. The Key Players: Individuals and Organizations

• V1 Church: A multi-site charismatic church founded by Anthony Spark and Mike Signorelli. It has a significant presence in locations like New York and Belfair, WA, and is known for events that intertwine with MLMs, specifically Amway. Alongside its regular services, it runs outreach programs like "V1- Operation Christmas" to help underprivileged families.
• Mike Signorelli: The founder and Lead Pastor of V1 Church. He preaches on "breakthrough," deliverance, and spiritual warfare and hosts conferences and a popular podcast. His website features an audio titled "Anthony Spark | How to see divine appointments," implying a close collaboration. As an event organizer, his role in places like Belfair, WA, has brought scrutiny to the church's intentions.
• Anthony Spark: Co-founder of V1 Church and founder of Phoenix Evolution, a venture in Huntington, NY, that provides coaching and strategies. He admits to working with Amway, an MLM company, and staunchly defends his involvement. He emphasizes his charitable works and financial achievements, but the MLM controversy looms over his legacy.
• Bill Johnson: A notable figure associated with V1 Church's community and the Senior Leader of Bethel Church. He has faced criticism for claims of performing miracles, such as regrowing amputated toes through prayer and being involved in an attempt to resurrect a child. He has co-authored books with Randy Clark and publicly acknowledges Clark's influence.
• Randy Clark: Founder of Global Awakening and a renowned figure in the healing ministry realm. His collaboration with Bill Johnson and influence on V1 Church have raised questions about the authenticity of faith healing. He has also co-authored books with Johnson.
• Bethel SOZO: A spiritual healing and deliverance ministry from Bethel Church whose teachings and practices are reportedly followed by V1 Church. Concerns have been raised about its suggested donation system, the qualifications of its practitioners, and the nature of its sessions.
• Mike Lindell (MyPillow Guy): CEO of MyPillow and a prominent political activist. He is known for his claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, which have led to legal repercussions. He once facilitated a meeting between President Trump and Andrew Whitney about a potential COVID-19 treatment and claims an FBI-related incident occurred at a Hardee's drive-thru in Mankato, MN. While not directly involved in V1's inner workings, his political controversies indirectly affect the image of associated religious figures.

II. V1 Church: A Profile of a Modern Revival Movement

The Founding Narrative: A Tale of Two Founders

The official history of V1 Church, as presented on its website, credits Mike and Julie Signorelli as the sole founders who started the church with just 18 people. This narrative, however, omits a critical founding partner. According to the business website of Anthony Spark, he and his wife were instrumental in the church's genesis, claiming they "created the initial launch team and raised the first $50,000 of seed money in 2016 to fund the launch of V1 Church." The deliberate erasure of Anthony Spark—the primary financial founder—from V1's public origin story strongly suggests a strategic decision to insulate the church brand from the controversies surrounding Spark's primary business affiliation: the multi-level marketing company Amway.

Theology in Practice: The "Deliverance" and "Breakthrough" Economy

The core theological product of V1 Church is the promise of radical, supernatural transformation, operationalized through a heavy emphasis on spiritual warfare, healing, and "deliverance." The church regularly holds online "Prayer and Deliverance Services," promising attendees breakthrough and healing. This focus is embedded within a "hospital -> family -> army" framework, where newcomers are first healed ("hospital"), then integrated into the community ("family"), and finally mobilized to serve the church's mission ("army"). This theological framework reframes common human struggles as spiritual battles requiring the church's supernatural intervention, fostering a deep dependency among members.

A Contested Reputation: Allegations of a "Cult-like" Environment

Despite its polished image, V1 Church is the subject of significant and consistent criticism. Recurring themes in online forums include allegations of the church operating in a "cult-like" manner, with key criticisms pointing to:

• Financial Pressure: Former attendees describe intense pressure to give money, with a lack of transparency regarding how funds are used.
• Fear-Based Indoctrination: The church's teachings reportedly shifted to become more shameful, fostering anxiety and teaching members to see everything secular as "demonic."
• Theological Exclusivity: V1 is accused of teaching that other Christian denominations, like Catholics, "aren't Christians and are going to hell."
• Fusion of Church and Business: A critical allegation links the church's recruitment methods directly to MLM, with members being asked to "invest 100s-1000s" in "business opportunities."

III. The Business of Belief: Anthony Spark, Phoenix Evolution, and Amway

The story of V1 Church is inextricably linked to the commercial enterprises of its co-founder, Anthony Spark. The relationship between Mike Signorelli and Spark is not distant; Spark has been identified as Signorelli's "best friend." This partnership is foundational, as V1 Church was launched with capital generated from the very network that it now appears to feed.

Spark's primary business is Phoenix Evolution, which presents itself as a coaching and mentorship service but functions as a recruitment funnel for Amway. Spark himself confirms the connection, stating, "Do we work with Amway? Unapologetically True!" The integration is ideological as well. The so-called "Amway Gospel" fuses financial success with divine blessing, an ideology that finds a direct parallel in V1 Church's emphasis on achieving "breakthrough" and living an abundant life. V1's theology provides the "why," while Spark's Amway network provides the "how," creating a system where the trust built within the church is leveraged for a high-risk commercial enterprise.

IV. The Apostolic Network: Bethel and Global Awakening

V1 Church is deeply embedded within the broader, controversial New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. The primary conduits of this influence are Bill Johnson of Bethel Church and Randy Clark of Global Awakening.

• The Bethel Connection: Bill Johnson's core message is to manifest "heaven's reality" on earth through supernatural acts. His ministry is known for high-profile controversies, including a failed 2019 attempt to resurrect a deceased child and a 2023 claim of miraculously regrowing a woman's amputated toes during a prayer session. V1 Church's deliverance ministry appears to be a direct application of Bethel's trademarked "SOZO" modality, a structured inner-healing ministry. This places V1 squarely within Bethel's theological sphere of influence.
• The Revivalist, Randy Clark: Randy Clark, founder of Global Awakening, is renowned for his role in the "Toronto Blessing" revival and his focus on divine healing and "impartation." He maintains a close alliance with Bill Johnson, with whom he has co-authored books. They form a tight-knit, reciprocal relationship, appearing at each other's conferences and affirming each other's supernatural claims, creating a powerful echo chamber that lends an air of credibility to their ministries. By aligning with this network, V1 Church taps into an established stream of charismatic authority.

V. Political and Cultural Entanglements: The Lindell Case

A crucial fact-check clarifies a common point of confusion: the pastor connected to the V1 network's influencers is Pastor John Lindell of James River Church, not MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. It was at John Lindell's church that the "regrowing toes" incident with Bill Johnson occurred.

Mike Lindell of MyPillow, on the other hand, is a political activist known for promoting disproven theories about the 2020 election, which has led to multi-billion dollar defamation lawsuits and the seizure of his phone by the FBI. While there is no direct operational link between Mike Lindell and V1 Church, there is a profound ideological alignment. Both Mike Lindell and Mike Signorelli frame their respective battles—political for Lindell, spiritual for Signorelli—as a form of persecution. Criticism is not engaged with but is dismissed as a spiritual attack from the devil. Both have built powerful personal brands by cultivating a high-control community defined by its opposition to a powerful, external enemy, revealing a common cultural framework for mobilizing followers.

VI. Conclusion: An Integrated Network of Faith and Enterprise

This investigation reveals a complex web where spiritual ministry, multi-level marketing, and controversial apostolic theology are deeply and functionally integrated. The V1 network operates as a self-reinforcing ecosystem. The theological engine, imported from the NAR, creates a perpetual need for supernatural deliverance. This need is then monetized by a financial engine that includes heavy tithing and a parallel MLM structure run by the church's co-founder. The success of this engine is then presented as proof of the theology's validity, reinforcing the leaders' authority and insulating the system from criticism.

The implications are profound. For followers, it presents a high-risk environment where genuine spiritual seeking can lead to financial entanglement and psychological dependence. For the broader religious landscape, the V1 model demonstrates the power of sophisticated marketing and a syncretic blend of charismatic theology and prosperity principles to attract a large following, raising significant red flags about transparency, financial pressure, and the fusion of ministry and business.