Clemson United Methodist Church

What Clemson United Methodist Church does

Clemson United Methodist Church (CUMC) is a non-profit religious congregation in the SC Conference (Anderson District) of The United Methodist Church, headquartered at 300 Frontage Road, Clemson, South Carolina, with a secondary campus at the Wesley Student Center (105 Addison Lane) on the Clemson University campus. The church serves a multi-generational community spanning infants through retired adults, offering three weekly worship services — Traditional at 8:30am and 11:00am, The Vine modern worship at 9:45am in the Christian Life Center — alongside live and on-demand YouTube streaming, Wesley Worship on Wednesdays at 6:30pm for college students, and an online worship sign-in option.

The church operates an interlocking ministry portfolio that includes Children's Ministry (Nursery through 5th grade), Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, the Clemson Wesley college ministry, more than twenty adult Cell Groups, Stephen Ministry (one-to-one pastoral care), Prayer Ministries, three music ensembles (Chancel Choir, Celebration Ringers, Vine Band), and global mission support for three world missionaries in Liberia, Southeast Asia, and Guatemala. Two revenue-generating childcare programs — Little Lights Learning Center (full-time year-round preschool, Mon–Fri 7:00am–5:30pm, 8 classrooms, infants through age 5) and Mother's Morning Out (part-time program, Sep–May, ages 9 months to 3 years) — operate as tuition-based services on the church campus. Facilities include the Sanctuary, the Christian Life Center (256-capacity, opened 2015), and an on-site Columbarium.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: voluntary tithes and offerings (the dominant line, collected in-person, by mail, and via Vanco/PayPal/Venmo/Apple Pay), recurring tuition from the two childcare programs ($650–$700/month tiers with $50 application, $100 enrollment, and $50 annual supply fees), and episodic facility rental income from weddings and community events. The church employs a salaried staff of 13+ including a Senior Pastor (Rev. Tommy Wilkes), Minister of Discipleship (Rev. Meg Wilkes), Campus Minister (Steve Simoneaux), Director of Music (Rodney Cleveland, since August 2024), Children's Ministry Director (Candice Bell), and the directors of the two childcare programs, plus Financial Secretary, Operations Manager, and Music Associates. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the church has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no traditional funding rounds — operations are sustained by member contributions, program fees, and facility rentals.

Name

Clemson United Methodist Church

Legal name

Clemson United Methodist Church

Website

https://clemsonumc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clemson United Methodist Church is a non-profit United Methodist congregation in Clemson, South Carolina, operating three weekly worship services, a campus ministry, two tuition-based childcare programs, and 20+ adult ministries, funded primarily by member offerings and program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious services and faith-based community ministry

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Preschool childcare
• College campus ministry
• Pastoral care ministry
• Community mission outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Clemmons

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional church revenue through weekly donations, online giving, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and mailed offerings from congregation members
2. Childcare Services: Little Lights Learning Center (full-time preschool) and Mother's Morning Out program generate tuition revenue
3. Facilities Rental: Rental income from Sanctuary and Christian Life Center for weddings and community events

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clemson United Methodist Church is a United Methodist congregation that delivers weekly worship services (Traditional and The Vine Modern), college ministry through the Clemson Wesley Foundation, full-time and part-time preschool childcare (Little Lights Learning Center and Mother's Morning Out), pastoral care via Stephen Ministry, age-tiered faith formation programs for children, youth, adults, and seniors, and mission outreach supporting local and international ministries. Services are delivered primarily in person at the Clemson, SC campus and online via YouTube streaming.

Product overview

Clemson United Methodist Church offers a unified portfolio of faith-based ministry programs and services. The core offerings include Traditional Worship (8:30am and 11:00am) and The Vine Modern Worship (9:45am) services, both available in-person and via YouTube streaming. Supporting ministries encompass Children's Ministry (with Nursery, Kid's Club, Vacation Bible School), Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade with Fellowship, Breakfast, retreats, Confirmation), Clemson Wesley College Ministry (Wednesdays at 6:30pm), and over twenty Adult Small Groups including Bible studies, interest groups, and fellowship organizations (United Methodist Men, United Women in Faith, Golden Guild). Childcare services include Little Lights Learning Center (full-time preschool, 7am-5:30pm, infants to 5 years) and Mother's Morning Out (part-time, 9 months to 3 years, September-May). Additional services include Stephen Ministry (one-to-one pastoral care), Prayer Ministries, Music Ministry (Chancel Choir, Celebration Ringers, Vine Band), mission programs (Salkehatchie Summer Service, UMCOR Disaster Relief, World Missionaries), community service partnerships, facility rentals (Christian Life Center, Sanctuary for weddings), Online Giving via PayPal/Venmo/Apple Pay/Vanco, and a Columbarium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Lights Learning Center: Full-time, year-round preschool providing childcare and early education for infants through pre-kindergarten ages.
• Mother's Morning Out
• Clemson Wesley
• The Vine

Products and services

• Traditional Worship Service

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Clemson Wesley FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry partnership serving as congregational home for college students, faculty, and staff. Provides Wesley Worship on Wednesdays at 6:30pm at the Wesley Student Center with free meals and student-led worship.
• Healthy Women Healthy LiberiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Dr. Chris Hena who provides medical care in Liberia under this organization's umbrella. Part of global mission outreach.
• Sunbeam Language and Vocational Center (Southeast Asia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Connie Wieck as educator teaching English and coordinating the center in Southeast Asia. Part of international mission work.
• Healing GuatemalaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Dr. Luke Rhyee serving in Guatemala through this medical mission organization. Global mission partnership.
• UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational disaster relief organization. CUMC participates in UMCOR relief efforts including Hurricane Helene relief to Spruce Pine, NC.
• Salkehatchie Summer ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual mission trip program through SC UMC. Rev. Tommy Wilkes serves as Director of Bishopville Salkehatchie. Church youth participate in summer service projects.
• Family PromiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomelessness prevention ministry. CUMC volunteers host homeless families by providing meals, laundry facilities, and overnight stays at the church.
• Clemson Community CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal food pantry organization. CUMC members volunteer and contribute food offerings during Sunday worship services.
• Habitat for Humanity (Pickens)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing ministry. CUMC volunteers participate in home construction projects in the local community.
• Our Daily BreadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal meal service organization. CUMC accepts food donations and volunteers help with meal planning, preparation, and kitchen organization.
• Our Daily RestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ministry serving those in need. CUMC provides meal, clothing, and monetary donations; volunteers assist with office tasks and life skills guidance.
• Meals on Wheels (Pickens County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior meal delivery service. CUMC partners to support local Meals on Wheels program.
• Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMC-affiliated retreat facility. CUMC Youth use this location for annual retreats and spiritual enrichment programs.
• Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMC retreat center used for CUMC Youth annual retreats and pilgrimage experiences.
• Hinton Rural Life CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetreat center hosting Theotokos Retreat for youth confirmation program. Part of confirmation class retreat experience.
• Theotokos RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual retreat at Hinton Rural Life Center included in youth confirmation program.
• Elevation Dance CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance enrichment program for children at Little Lights Learning Center, part of enrichment activities for children 2 years and older.
• Scholastic Book OrdersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLittle Lights Learning Center participates in Scholastic book orders, providing monthly opportunities for families to purchase books (Class Code: T6DG3).
• Amazing AthletesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnrichment program for children at Little Lights Learning Center offering sports and movement activities.
• Epworth by the SeaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMC-affiliated retreat center used for youth retreats and spiritual enrichment.
• United Women in FaithcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMC women's organization with four active circles at CUMC (Abigail-Dorcas, Hannah-Priscilla, Mary-Martha, Miriam). United in faith through mission initiatives, reading programs, retreats, and devotional growth.
• SC Reconciling Ministries NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level reconciling ministry network. CUMC's 'As You Are' class is officially recognized as a Reconciling group advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
• The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenominational affiliation providing theological framework, mission support, and connectional ministry structure. CUMC is part of the SC Conference.
• Stephen MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational lay caring ministry program. CUMC has trained Stephen Ministers who provide confidential one-to-one Christ-centered care for people experiencing life difficulties.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Church of the Resurrection (United Methodist): One of the largest UMC congregations in the U.S. (Leawood, KS), known for innovative multi-site programming including preschool, online giving, and contemporary worship. Larger-scale, more established UMC peer demonstrating the programmatic breadth CUMC could scale toward.
• Bering Memorial United Methodist Church (Houston, TX): Progressive Reconciling UMC in Houston with a focus on community service to underserved populations, contemporary worship, and small-group formation. Comparable progressive UMC identity and social-justice orientation at larger scale.
• Highland Park United Methodist Church: Large progressive-leaning UMC in Dallas, TX with multi-generational programming, contemporary and traditional worship, preschool, and substantial community outreach. Comparable in theological positioning and service breadth though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• University United Methodist Church (Chapel Hill, NC): UMC congregation adjacent to a major research university (UNC-Chapel Hill), operating campus ministry alongside traditional and contemporary worship, children's, and youth programs. Highly comparable model combining college-town campus ministry with multi-generational parish programming.
• Trinity United Methodist Church Clemson: UMC congregation in the Clemson, SC area operating under the same SC Conference/Anderson District structure with comparable worship, education, and community ministry offerings. Direct denominational and geographic peer competing for the same member pool.
• First United Methodist Church Clemson: Another UMC congregation in Clemson, SC serving the same local community and Clemson University student population with similar traditional worship, Sunday school, and community outreach programming. Direct same-denomination, same-geography competitor for members and donor dollars.
• Buncombe Street United Methodist Church: Large historic UMC congregation in Greenville, SC (same SC Conference as CUMC) offering traditional and contemporary worship, children's and youth programs, and community service. Direct denominational peer in the same region with overlapping programmatic structure.
• Wesley United Methodist Church (Waco, TX): Historic UMC congregation in a college town (Baylor University) operating a Wesley Foundation campus ministry alongside traditional worship and family programming. Same college-town UMC model with a parallel pipeline from the local university.
• St. Andrew United Methodist Church (Mauldin/Simpsonville, SC): UMC church in the greater Greenville/Upstate SC area within the same SC Conference, offering comparable worship, education, and family ministry programming. Direct denominational peer competing for Upstate SC families and tithers.

Regional players

• Aldersgate United Methodist Church (Anderson, SC): UMC congregation in Anderson, SC, located in the same Anderson District of the SC Conference as CUMC, offering comparable traditional worship, Sunday school, and community programs. Close denominational peer within the immediate district.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ClemsonUnitedMethodistChurch/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/clemsonumc
• Xx.com/clemsonumc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Clemson United Methodist Church