The Church Online

What The Church Online does

The Church Online is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based private LLC that operates as a full-service digital marketing, media, and technology agency exclusively serving churches and faith-based ministries. Founded in 2002 by Melissa Wharton and Reverend Dr. William H. Curtis, the company began as a dial-up and DSL internet service provider and over more than 20 years evolved into an integrated agency offering website design and development, mobile app development, live and on-demand video streaming (with multi-platform distribution to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Roku via a content delivery network), video production, professional graphic design, social media management, brand management, in-house printing, and event planning and promotion. The company also operates Wharton Curtis Press, a wholly-owned book publishing subsidiary offering manuscript review, ghostwriting, editing, layout, copyright/ISBN registration, and distribution for faith-based authors.

The company's platform is built around custom web and media development with proprietary elements such as mobile-responsive custom media pages (integrating tithes/offering links, chat rooms, and note-taking apps), multi-platform streaming, real-time stream monitoring, and an emerging AI/technologies layer that provides interactive video avatars for 24/7 visitor engagement, voice and video cloning, multilingual video translation with lip-syncing, and synthesized audio content for devotionals, podcasts, and virtual sermons. Customers are segmented into churches of all sizes (small, medium, mega), faith-based ministries, individual authors, and ministry leaders/pastors; named customers include Central Baptist Church of Baltimore City, New Psalmist Baptist Church, Mount Ararat Baptist Church, Christ Missionary Baptist Church, and others. The company has completed more than 150,000 projects and its streams have reached more than 30 million viewers.

The business model combines one-time project-based professional services fees (websites, apps, design, video, publishing) with recurring Enterprise Management Services packages that bundle the full service suite as a "virtual team" for clients that prefer an outsourced function over in-house staffing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is delivered through custom quotes. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: consultation request forms, dedicated phone (412-349-0049) and email ([email protected]) sales contacts, an active blog (TCO Talks), and a partner/referral program targeting industry consultants. The company is founder-owned, employs an on-site Pittsburgh workforce supplemented by a globally distributed team, and shows no record of external institutional investment.

Name

The Church Online

Legal name

The Church Online, LLC

Website

https://thechurchonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Church Online is a Pittsburgh-based, founder-owned full-service digital agency founded in 2002 that exclusively serves churches and faith-based ministries with website and mobile app development, video streaming, publishing, brand and social media management, and AI-powered media services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Media, Publishing & Broadcasting (Radio, TV, Digital, Press) (BPAGAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith & Religious Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAK), Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD)

Keywords

• Church digital marketing
• Faith-based services
• Video streaming ministry
• Church website development
• Book publishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Project-Based: One-time project fees for websites, apps, video production, graphic design, and brand management services. Custom project request forms for different service categories.
2. Enterprise Management Services: Customizable service packages providing ongoing access to full suite of services including streaming, design, video, publishing, social media, and brand management at a fraction of the cost of maintaining internal teams.
3. Book Publishing Services: Full-service publishing including manuscript review, ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, book layout and cover design, copyright and ISBN registration, and distribution.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Church Online is a full-service digital marketing, technology, and creative agency that designs and develops websites, mobile apps, video streaming platforms, and branded media for churches and faith-based ministries. It also produces videos, graphic design, printed materials, social media campaigns, and books (via its Wharton Curtis Press imprint), and offers enterprise management bundles that act as an outsourced digital team.

Product overview

The Church Online is a full-service digital marketing and media agency for churches and faith-based ministries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of integrated services organized around a core technology and creative services platform. The main offerings include Website Design and Development, Live and On Demand Video Streaming, Video Services, Professional Design, Writing and Publishing (via Wharton Curtis Press), Social Media Management, Brand Management, Enterprise Management Services (a bundled virtual team solution combining all services), Mobile App Design and Development, Event Planning and Promotion, and Full Service Printing. The portfolio is complemented by Emerging Technologies and AI services featuring interactive avatars, voice/video cloning, and synthesized audio content. The platform is designed for churches of all sizes, from small ministries to mega churches, offering both individual services and customizable enterprise packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wharton Curtis Press: Book publishing imprint of The Church Online, offering full-service publishing, ghostwriting, proofreading, and editing services for faith-based authors.

Products and services

• Website Design and Development
• Live and On-Demand Video Streaming High-quality live and on-demand video streaming to unlimited viewers worldwide, with mobile-responsive custom media pages, multi-platform distribution to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and Roku, real-time stream monitoring, and analytics, designed for churches and ministries.
• Video Services Video production services including sermon clips, announcements, book trailers, sermon bumpers, promotional spots, and on-location shoots for churches and faith-based clients.
• Professional Design Graphic design services for magazines, mailers, logo development, book layout, brochures, flyers, newsletters, and event programs, targeted at church and ministry communications.
• Writing and Publishing Full-service book publishing including manuscript review, ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, book layout, cover design, copyright and ISBN registration, and distribution, offered to faith-based authors via the Wharton Curtis Press imprint.
• Social Media Management Social media content creation, strategy, and ongoing management to help churches expand their outreach and engage their community across major social platforms.
• Brand Management Brand strategy and management services including visual identity development, consistent messaging, and reputation protection for faith-based organizations and authors.
• Enterprise Management Services Customizable ongoing service package combining streaming, design, video, publishing, social media, and brand management, providing ministries with a virtual team at a fraction of the cost of maintaining internal staff.
• Mobile App Design and Development Custom mobile app design and development for churches with push notifications, expanded content, streamlined communication, live streaming integration, and social media integration, delivered through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• Event Planning and Promotion Event planning, marketing, and promotion services including strategic research, event logistics, fundraising strategy, custom event websites, and on-site event management for ministries and faith-based organizations.
• Emerging Technologies and AI AI-powered solutions including interactive hyper-realistic video avatars with 24/7 FAQ answering, voice and video cloning for announcements and personalized messages, lip-synced video translation into multiple languages, and synthesized audio content for social media, podcasts, scripture readings, and virtual sermons.
• Full Service Printing In-house printing services producing marketing materials, promotional items, and church publications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Video streams viewed by more than 30 million people
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nucleus (by Evermore): Nucleus offers church websites and branded media as a managed service for churches. It is a directly comparable website and design services peer serving the same Baptist/Protestant ministry buyer that TCO targets.
• Subsplash: Subsplash is a leading faith-based digital engagement platform offering mobile apps, websites, streaming, and giving for churches. It competes directly with TCO across streaming, apps, and websites, but is productized SaaS rather than a full-service agency.
• Tithe.ly: Tithe.ly provides churches with giving, apps, streaming, and website solutions in an integrated platform. It overlaps TCO on streaming, website, and app services but competes as a self-serve SaaS rather than a custom agency model.
• Pushpay (now Parable): Pushpay/Parable is a major church engagement and giving platform serving thousands of US churches. While primarily giving-focused, it has expanded into streaming and engagement features that overlap TCO's media and brand services.
• Sharefaith: Sharefaith provides church websites, media (graphics, video), presentation software, and apps for ministries. It is a direct peer in website design, professional design, and media production for the same church vertical.
• BoxCast: BoxCast provides live video streaming and production tools specifically built for churches and houses of worship. It is a direct technology peer to TCO's streaming product line, though delivered as a SaaS platform rather than agency service.
• Church Community Builder (by Pushpay): Church Community Builder is a church management and engagement platform (now part of Pushpay) handling directories, groups, check-in, and communication. It competes with TCO on the engagement side of ministry digital services.

Broad incumbents

• ACS Technologies (Realm/ACI): ACS Technologies is a long-established church management software vendor offering Realm, ACI, and broader back-office and engagement tools for faith-based organizations. It is a broad incumbent in faith-based software that overlaps TCO's website and engagement services as part of a wider portfolio.
• Vimeo OTT / Dacast: Vimeo and Dacast are general-purpose video streaming and OTT platforms used by many faith organizations. They are broad incumbents offering the underlying streaming infrastructure TCO builds on, competing on price and self-service simplicity.

Emerging players

• Faithlife (Logos Bible Software): Faithlife provides faith-based software, content, and community tools for Christians including Bible study, church presentations, and media. It is an emerging player intersecting TCO's ministry buyer on digital content, publishing, and engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thechurchonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/thechurchonline1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-church-online
• Instagraminstagram.com/thechurchonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The Church Online