What Vibrant Faith does

Vibrant Faith Ministries, Inc. is a Loveland, Colorado-based nonprofit Christian ministry founded in 1997 (as The Youth & Family Institute, renamed in 2010) that develops research, coaching, training, and digital resources for faith formation in churches, ministry leaders, and Christian parents and families. The organization is led by Executive Director Rick Lawrence and Director of Research & Resource Development Dr. Nancy Going, with a small core staff of 1-10 supplemented by a network of 14+ ICF-certified coaches operating across multiple Christian denominations.

Vibrant Faith's product portfolio centers on downloadable digital resources (TalkCards, devotionals, curricula, video courses, MasterClasses) priced from $8.99 to $319.99 as one-time purchases with lifetime access, sold through a WooCommerce e-commerce storefront and delivered as PDFs, MP4 video, MP3 audio, and slide decks via email and text. Coaching services are delivered through a partnership with Jim LaDoux's SurfaceToSoul.org, including ICF-certified coach training, individual and team coaching, and the Leading Well pastoral development program. In-person training is anchored by the Rooted conference (next iteration April 29-May 1, 2026, Scottsdale, AZ) and the five-month Reachable Reconciliation course ($500 individual, $2,500-$3,000 group). Research initiatives include the Lilly Endowment-funded 4th Soil Parenting Project (20 churches) and Raising Faithful Kids (12 churches), working with a total of 24 partner churches across 16 states.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure combining one-time digital product sales, professional services revenue routed through a partner organization, grant funding (Lilly Endowment, Siebert Lutheran Foundation), event/training fees, and donation solicitation. Go-to-market is community-led and content-driven, with three articles published weekly, two active podcasts, Constant Contact email campaigns, and a coaching referral network. The organization has no proprietary AI/ML capabilities and is not a technology company by its own characterization, relying instead on standard web, e-commerce, and video conferencing infrastructure.

Name

Vibrant Faith

Legal name

Vibrant Faith Ministries

Website

https://vibrantfaith.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vibrant Faith is a Loveland, Colorado-based nonprofit Christian ministry that provides faith-formation research, ICF-certified coaching, training events, and downloadable digital resources to churches, ministry leaders, and Christian parents across multiple denominations in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith Formation & Christian Ministry Resources

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Religious Education, Kids & Family Faith Programming (MPABALAM)

Keywords

• Faith formation resources
• Christian ministry training
• Church coaching services
• Family ministry resources
• Religious education content

Headquarters

HQ city

Ellendale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Digital Resource Sales: One-time purchase of downloadable digital resources (curricula, TalkCards, devotionals, video courses, MasterClasses) via the online store. Individual products priced $8.99 to $319.99. One-time purchase grants lifetime access. Churches may share within their ministry context.
2. Coaching Services (via SurfaceToSoul.org): Ministry leadership coaching provided through partnership with Jim LaDoux and SurfaceToSoul.org. Includes ICF-certified coach training, individual coaching, team coaching, and congregation-level consulting. Revenue flows through the coaching partner organization.
3. Grant Funding (Lilly Endowment): Vibrant Faith has received at least two Lilly Endowment grants funding research projects: the 4th Soil Parenting Project (Lilly Endowment Inc. Extending the Church's Capacity grant) and the CallingNOW resource development. These grants fund church partnerships and resource development rather than operating revenue.
4. Training & Events: In-person retreat events (e.g., Rooted conference, April 29–May 1, 2026 at Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale AZ) and online MasterClass courses ($19.99 each). Reachable Reconciliation five-month training course: $500 for individuals, $2,500-$3,000 for groups.
5. Donations & Contributions: Vibrant Faith solicits financial donations on its Give page (donate.stripe.com), asking supporters to help fund coaching expansion, the Visual Faith Project, and church training. Positioned as a nonprofit ministry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vibrant Faith develops and sells research-based Christian faith formation curricula, talk-cards, devotional tools, and structured parenting resources, alongside ICF-certified coaching services for ministry leaders and church training programs such as the multi-month Reachable Reconciliation course. Offerings are sold through an online e-commerce store to both churches (with multi-seat and bundle licensing) and individual Christian families, with prices ranging from $8.99 talk-cards up to multi-thousand-dollar training engagements.

Product overview

Vibrant Faith is a faith formation ministry offering a comprehensive portfolio of resources, training programs, and research initiatives designed to help churches transform faith formation across all ages and generations. The core product portfolio includes devotional experiences (CallingNOW, Parenting with Purpose, Lives of Meaning and Purpose), parenting resources (Familying The Faith, Faithful Parenting, Practical Tools for Raising Faithful Kids, Parable Partners, Pop-Up Conversations for Parents), youth ministry curriculum (Following Jesus Curriculum, The Life of Jesus TalkCards, Visual Faith), and small-group resources (Listening to Jesus Together, The Sacred Stories Project, Reachable Reconciliation TalkSheets). These are complemented by MasterClasses (online training modules on topics like Liturgical Practices, Storytelling, and Intergenerational Ministry), coaching services (provided through SurfaceToSoul.org partnership), and research initiatives including the 4th Soil Parenting Project, Raising Faithful Kids, and The Presence Project. The company focuses on home-centered, church-supported approaches to faith formation with digital downloadable products priced between $10-$320, and coaching/training services for ministry leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Vibrant Faith works with 24 U.S. churches across two Lilly Endowment-funded research projects, conducting ministry experiments toward a 'Familying the Faith' mindset.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• SurfaceToSoul.org (Jim LaDoux)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Vibrant Faith partners with Jim LaDoux and SurfaceToSoul.org to provide coaching training, coaching services, consulting, and coach training for church leaders. Jim LaDoux served as Director of Coaching Services for Vibrant Faith for more than two decades and now leads his own coaching organization while continuing to partner on grant projects. He is the author of 'Surface to Soul' coaching workbook. SurfaceToSoul.org houses the Vibrant Faith Coaching School and Leading Well Pastoral Development Program.
• Dr. Christian Smith (University of Notre Dame)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Christian Smith, sociology of religion professor at Notre Dame and author of 'Handing Down the Faith,' is a featured instructor in Vibrant Faith's MasterClass program. His research on the '4th Soil' parenting model underpins Vibrant Faith's 4th Soil Parenting Project. His finding that engaged fathers with authentic faith most influence children's lifelong faith directly shapes Vibrant Faith's coaching frameworks.
• Laura Kelly Fanucci (Mothering Spirit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaura Kelly Fanucci, writer and founder of Mothering Spirit, is a MasterClass instructor for Vibrant Faith. Her two-session video training 'Faith Formation at Home' is included in the Familying the Faith multimedia resource. She contributes expertise on parenting and faith formation to Vibrant Faith's content.
• Rev. Dr. Felix Villanueva (Surface to Soul Coaching School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRev. Dr. Felix C. Villanueva, MCC (Master Certified Coach, ICF), co-founded the Vibrant Faith Coaching School alongside Jim LaDoux. He serves as Director of the Coaching School and leads coach training with ICF certification pathways. He is a retired U.S. Navy Chaplain and former denominational executive.
• Group PublishingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGroup Publishing partnered with Vibrant Faith to produce and distribute the Mirror/Mirror (renamed 'Know-Me Notes') resource — post-it notes and questions for spark parent/child conversations. Vibrant Faith developed the concept but partnered with Group Publishing for wider distribution as Vibrant Faith does not carry physical inventory.
• Rev. Dr. Mark A. Slaughter (MasterClass Instructor)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRev. Dr. Mark A. Slaughter serves as Minister of Worship Arts at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (Burnsville, MN) and is a MasterClass instructor for Vibrant Faith's 'Liturgical Practices That Build Resilience In Your People' course. He has 35+ years of ministry experience and holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.
• Adam Young (MasterClass Instructor)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdam Young, a trauma therapist and host of the popular podcast 'The Place We Find Ourselves,' is a MasterClass instructor for Vibrant Faith's 'Transforming Community Life Through Storytelling' course. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) certified in EMDR and an Allender Center Fellow.
• Christina Embree (MasterClass Instructor)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChristina Embree, founder and director of ReFocus Ministry, is a MasterClass instructor for 'Reimagining Intergenerational Ministry.' She holds a doctorate in spiritual formation with a focus on age segregation and intergenerational ministry, and serves as Minister of Generational Discipleship for the Great Lakes Conference of the Brethren in Christ.
• Franciscan Renewal Center (The Casa)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Franciscan Renewal Center (The Casa) in Scottsdale, AZ hosts the annual Rooted conference for Vibrant Faith. Located at 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, the center provides meeting space, accommodations, pool, hot tub, hiking trails, and a prayer labyrinth for retreat attendees.
• Dr. Josh Packard (Keynote Speaker)minorOthersDr. Josh Packard serves as a keynote speaker at the Rooted 2026 conference, presenting on 'The Power of Listening to Parents.' He is associated with Future of Faith and has conducted research on parent engagement in faith formation.
• Sarah Cowan Johnson (Keynote Speaker)minorOthersSarah Cowan Johnson serves as a keynote speaker at the Rooted 2026 conference, presenting on 'Habit-Stacking Practices for Parents.' She is a recognized thought leader in family discipleship and faith formation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RightNow Media: Streaming Bible-study and training video library for churches, with family ministry and leadership content. Comparable target buyer (church leaders) and similar denomination-agnostic distribution model via subscriptions.
• Group Publishing: Christian children's and family ministry publisher and event producer. Direct competitor in faith formation resources for families and churches; already partners with Vibrant Faith on the Know-Me Notes product, evidencing deep overlap in audience and product format.
• Orange (reThink Group): Family ministry curriculum and parenting content provider focused on church-family partnerships. Highly comparable in targeting Christian parents and churches with intergenerational, home-centered faith formation content.
• Faith Formation Ministries (Christian Reformed Church): Denominational ministry focused on intergenerational faith formation and family discipleship within the CRC. Highly comparable mission and methodology (catechesis, intergenerational ministry), though denomination-specific.

Broad incumbents

• Abingdon Press: United Methodist publishing house producing Bible studies, curriculum, and ministry resources. Comparable in publishing ministry and faith formation resources for church leaders.
• Concordia Publishing House: Publishing arm of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod producing Sunday school curricula, VBS, and family ministry resources. Comparable in faith formation publishing, though denomination-specific (LCMS vs. Vibrant Faith's ecumenical reach).
• David C Cook: Large Christian publisher offering curriculum, children's ministry resources, and church transformation tools (including the NIV translation). Comparable in serving churches with published faith formation content across denominations.
• Sparkhouse (Augsburg Fortress): Ministry resource arm of Augsburg Fortress (ELCA-affiliated) producing curricula for children, youth, and intergenerational ministry. Direct overlap with Vibrant Faith's curriculum offerings, particularly for Lutheran audiences.

Emerging players

• Building Faith (Virginia Theological Seminary): VTS-hosted Christian formation resource hub producing articles, curricula, and training for church leaders. Comparable in providing practical faith formation content and training to Episcopal and ecumenical church leaders.
• Fuller Youth Institute: Research-driven youth and family ministry organization producing original studies, resources, and the Sticky Faith research. Comparable in combining academic research (like Vibrant Faith's Smith partnership) with practical ministry resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jimladoux
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jimladoux
• Xx.com/vibrantfaith

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Vibrant Faith