Boston Avenue United Methodist Church

What Boston Avenue United Methodist Church does

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church is a historic, theologically progressive United Methodist congregation located at 1301 South Boston Avenue in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, founded in 1893 and serving the Tulsa metro area for more than 130 years. The church operates traditional worship in its iconic art-deco Sanctuary at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, plus a contemporary Alternative Worship service in the Jubilee Gym, with the 11 a.m. service streamed live on the website, YouTube, Facebook, and broadcast on KTUL-TV Channel 8. Beyond worship, it runs three wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: Boston Avenue Weekday School (a licensed 3-star early childhood center serving children 4 months through PreK), Sistema Tulsa (an El Sistema-model social-change-through-music education program launched in 2014 under Director Jose Luis Hernandez), and Tulsa Theatre Works (a free theatre education program for students ages 10–18 with summer productions such as Annie).

The church's business and revenue mechanics are those of a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization: primary income derives from congregation tithes and offerings, supplemented by tuition from Boston Avenue Weekday School, ticket revenue from special events (e.g., Tulsa Theatre Works productions, Comedy for Peace), suggested donations for programs such as Vacation Bible School, and special mission offerings ($22,043 Lenten/Easter 2025 offering cited). It maintains an extensive portfolio of strategic mission partnerships, including McCurdy Ministries in Española, New Mexico (National Mission Partner since 2019, $130,000+ invested, 79 servants across 9 mission teams), San Lucas Mission in Guatemala ($225,000+ raised cumulatively), Rise Against Hunger (250,000+ meals packaged over 12 years as of July 2026), 1st Step Male Diversion Program (added 2024), and local partners including Emergency Infant Services, INCOG Area Agency on Aging, Our Blood Institute, and Project Transformation.

The church is led by Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Samuel T. Powers (appointed July 2024), four associate ministers (youth, faith formation, missions, pastoral care/Alternative Worship), and a staff of 11–50 across functions including finance, communications, facilities, weekday school, Sistema Tulsa, and Tulsa Theatre Works. Technology is limited to streaming and digital ministry tooling for online worship; no proprietary AI, API, or software products are disclosed. The organization is part of the United Methodist Church denomination under the Oklahoma Conference's Northeast District and is governed by a board of directors with no equity owners. Recent strategic signals include the June 2025 closure of the Cookson Hills Indigenous Center campus and its transition to community-based ministry, alongside continued growth of in-house education and arts programs.

Name

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church

Legal name

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church

Website

https://bostonavenue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1893

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Historic downtown Tulsa United Methodist church founded in 1893 offering traditional and contemporary worship, a licensed early-childhood weekday school, Sistema Tulsa music education, Tulsa Theatre Works, and extensive regional and international mission partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Early childhood education
• Community music education
• Mission outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church provides Christian worship services (traditional Sanctuary worship and Alternative/Contemporary worship) and a portfolio of faith formation, education, and community programs including Boston Avenue Weekday School (BAWS), Sistema Tulsa music education, Tulsa Theatre Works, Vacation Bible School, and mission partnerships. The church's primary offering is spiritual community and religious services supported by educational and outreach programming for children, youth, adults, and the broader Tulsa community.

Product overview

Boston Avenue United Methodist Church offers a portfolio of ministry and educational programs including traditional and contemporary worship services (Sanctuary Worship and Alternative Worship), children's education programs (Boston Avenue Weekday School/BAWS and Vacation Bible School), music education (Sistema Tulsa), performing arts (Tulsa Theatre Works), small groups, mission partnerships, and various life-stage ministries for children, youth, and adults. The church operates as a traditional Methodist congregation with diverse programming spanning faith formation, community service, and arts education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sistema Tulsa: A social change through music education program operated by Boston Avenue UMC in partnership with community organizations, providing free music education to students in the Tulsa area.
• Tulsa Theatre Works
• Boston Avenue Weekday School (BAWS)

Products and services

• Traditional Sanctuary Worship Traditional worship services held in the iconic art-deco Sanctuary at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays, with the 11 a.m. service streamed live on the website, YouTube, Facebook, and broadcast on KTUL-TV Channel 8 in the Tulsa market. Open to all in the community.
• Alternative Worship Contemporary worship service held in Jubilee Gym at 11 a.m. on Sundays, featuring modern Christian music, weekly communion, and liturgical elements with a modern application. Open to all community members.
• Boston Avenue Weekday School (BAWS) Licensed 3-star early childhood education center providing quality care and education for children from four months through PreK, open Monday through Friday from 8:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Boston Avenue campus.
• Sistema Tulsa Social change through music education program providing free violin and orchestral instrument instruction, summer camps, and outreach coordination for children and youth in the Tulsa area.
• Tulsa Theatre Works Free theatre education program offering instruction and performance opportunities for students ages 10-18 who experience barriers to arts access, featuring annual summer productions with cast, crew, and orchestra.
• Vacation Bible School (VBS) Annual summer program for children featuring Bible stories, crafts, music, science activities, and recreation, with programs for both children and adults. Free to attend, with a suggested $40 donation to help cover food and other costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000 meals packaged for Rise Against Hunger over 12 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Rise Against HungercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2026Partnership for meal packaging events. Over 12 years, Boston Avenue volunteers have packaged 250,000+ meals. Annual events involve multiple United Methodist churches in the Northeast District working together to package meals for those experiencing hunger worldwide.
• 1st Step Male Diversion ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Boston Avenue's newest mission partner supporting justice-involved young men ages 18-25 to avoid prison through counseling, job training, housing, and mentorship. The church conducts volunteer workdays and supports the July Mission Offering.
• McCurdy Ministries (McCurdy Indigenous Center)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019National Mission Partner since 2019. Nine mission teams (79 servants) have traveled to McCurdy in Española, NM, investing over $130,000. Work includes VBS, construction, LEER literacy program, sewing initiatives, and campus improvements.
• San Lucas Mission (San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mission partnership with mission trips and the Friends of San Lucas fundraising effort that raised over $225,000. Supports transformational ministry in Guatemala.
• Cookson Hills Indigenous CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner hosting volunteer 'Tool Tyme' events for over 20 years. Currently retooling from campus-based to community-based ministry following campus closure in June 2025.
• Emergency Infant Services (EIS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner providing baby supplies. Church donated 5,191 diapers, 1,880 baby wipes, 859 oz formula, and $785 in a single drive.
• INCOG Area Agency on AgingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ramp building ministry. INCOG identifies recipients and supplies grant funding for accessible home entrances.
• Our Blood Institute (OBI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlood drives held at the church. 11 donors at summer drive saved up to 33 lives. OBI makes donations to Family Promise when donors schedule 24 hours in advance.
• Project TransformationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partnering with churches for reading buddy programs to strengthen communities.
• Tulsa Theatre WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree theatre education program for students ages 10-18 with barriers to arts access. Uses church facilities for summer productions; 65+ participants in Annie production serving 400+ students annually.
• United Women in FaithcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch women's organization with members attending state assembly and participating in church ministries and mission work.
• United Methodist Churches (Northeast District)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCluster of churches in the Oklahoma Conference Northeast District collaborating on mission events including Rise Against Hunger meal packaging.
• Susan Panciera Memorial Scholarship FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship fund supporting education and training of musicians seeking careers in church music. First class of recipients announced from music programs nationwide.
• Sistema TulsacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial change through music education program operating at the church in partnership with community organizations. Serving children and youth throughout the Tulsa area.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• First United Methodist Church of Tulsa: The other major downtown Tulsa United Methodist Church. Directly comparable denomination, geography, and congregational scale, and competes for the same theologically progressive Methodist families in the Tulsa metro.
• Asbury United Methodist Church (Tulsa): A large, long-established United Methodist congregation in Tulsa offering multi-generational programming and mission outreach. Directly comparable as a same-denomination, same-city peer with similar mission-driven community engagement.
• Church of the Resurrection (United Methodist): The largest United Methodist Church in the United States, based in Leawood, Kansas. Comparable as a large UMC with extensive multi-generational programming, multiple worship styles, community outreach, and digital reach.
• Highland Park United Methodist Church (Dallas): A large, historic United Methodist Church in Dallas with extensive programming, music ministry, mission partnerships, and a comparable theologically progressive mainline identity. Comparable scale and program breadth to Boston Avenue.
• St. Luke's United Methodist Church (Houston): One of the largest United Methodist churches in the U.S., operating Texas Medical Center campus with extensive programming, multiple worship services, and global mission work. Comparable as a large, program-rich UMC.
• Christ United Methodist Church (Plano, TX): A large United Methodist congregation with multi-site operations, contemporary and traditional worship, and broad community outreach. Comparable as a UMC with diverse programming and a multi-generational member base.
• First United Methodist Church of Orlando: A historic downtown United Methodist Church with a comparable mix of traditional worship, music and arts ministry, mission partnerships, and children's/early childhood education programs.
• First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City: The flagship UMC in Oklahoma's largest city, part of the same Oklahoma Conference. Comparable as a large downtown UMC with extensive programming, mission work, and historic building.
• St. Andrew's United Methodist Church (Wesley Chapel, FL): A large, program-rich United Methodist Church with contemporary and traditional services, children's and youth ministries, and significant community outreach - a structural analog in another region.

Regional players

• All Souls Unitarian Church (Tulsa): A theologically progressive, mainline congregation in Tulsa sharing an overlapping audience of theologically liberal Tulsa families. Comparable as a same-city, mission-oriented, arts-friendly congregation, though denominationally distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BostonAvenueUMC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIrhrjjD08meW7hRhqqkMWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/BostonAvenueUMC
• Instagraminstagram.com/bostonavenueumc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boston-avenue-united-methodist-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boston Avenue United Methodist Church