Central Church

What Central Church does

Central Church is a 170-year-old, independent, non-profit Christian religious organization headquartered in Ewing Township, New Jersey (originally founded as Central Baptist Church of Trenton in April 1854). It operates from a single campus at 2015 Pennington Road — a facility originally built in 1957 and expanded in 2008-2009 for over $6 million — and serves a multi-ethnic, multigenerational congregation through modern and classic in-person worship services, online streaming via YouTube and a dedicated online church platform, and a structured ministry ecosystem spanning children (Central Kids), students (Breakaway, grades 6–12), young adults (Devoted, ages 18–30), men's, women's, and global missions programs, as well as Life Groups, Serve Teams, and a benevolence/Prayer & Care ministry.

The church's technology stack is entirely composed of standard, third-party church management and communication platforms: Church Center App (online giving, event registration, group sign-ups), Planning Center (group management and attendance tracking), Text In Church (SMS outreach), YouTube and an online church platform (worship streaming), and a WordPress website supported by Google Analytics, Google Signals, and CookieYes consent management. There are no proprietary technology assets, AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or patents disclosed.

Central Church's business model is non-commercial and entirely donation-funded. Primary revenue comes from voluntary tithes and offerings (recurring contributions managed through the Church Center giving platform and in-person envelopes), supplemented by periodic special capital campaigns — most prominently the active "Help Bring Hope" campaign targeting $800,000 toward retiring the remaining $1.3M mortgage by December 2026 — and a small merchandise revenue line via a branded store (thechurch.shop/shop/centralchurch/). Growth, outreach, and congregant acquisition are community-led, driven by Sunday worship services, Life Groups, ministry programming, social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and community events. The church is governed by an Overseeing Elder-led leadership model under Lead Pastor Anthony Gilmer (installed November 2020) with Associate Pastor Tyrone Perkins (hired 2022).

Name

Central Church

Legal name

Central Church

Website

https://worshipatcentral.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1854

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Church is a 170-year-old independent, non-profit Christian church in Ewing Township, NJ, serving a multi-ethnic, multigenerational congregation through in-person and online worship, age-segmented ministries (Kids, Students, Young Adults, Men's, Women's), Life Groups, and approximately 16 global missionary partnerships, funded entirely by voluntary tithes and offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services (Christian Church)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Christian worship services
• Church ministry programs
• Children's ministry programs
• Youth ministry programs
• Global missions support

Headquarters

HQ city

Trenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Members and attendees contribute financially through regular tithes and offerings, which constitute the primary source of church revenue. Giving is managed through the Church Center online giving platform and in-person envelopes.
2. Special Campaigns and Capital Fundraising: The church conducts periodic capital campaigns to raise funds for specific purposes, such as the 'Help Bring Hope' mortgage payoff campaign targeting $800,000 by December 2026. These campaigns invite above-and-beyond gifts from the congregation over a defined period.
3. Merchandise Sales: The church operates a Merch Store (thechurch.shop/shop/centralchurch/) selling branded merchandise to congregants and supporters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Central Church is a Christ-centered, non-profit religious organization that delivers weekly worship services (modern and classic) both in-person at its Ewing Township, NJ campus and online via streaming and YouTube. It offers age-specific ministries for children, students, young adults, women, and men, plus Life Groups, global missionary partnerships, pastoral care and benevolence support, baptism and membership classes, and volunteer Serve Teams. The organization is funded through voluntary member tithes and offerings, periodic capital campaigns, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Central Church is a traditional brick-and-mortar church with a digital ministry component. The church offers in-person and online worship services (Modern and Classic), supported by the Church Center App for giving and registrations. Ministry programs include Central Kids (children's programs), Central Students (youth ministry), Young Adults (Devoted), Women's and Men's Ministries, Global Missions (international missionary support), Life Groups (small groups), Serve Teams (volunteer opportunities), and Prayer and Care Ministry. The church's online presence includes Church Online streaming and a YouTube channel (@WorshipAtCentralVideos).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Weekly worship services including Modern Services (contemporary worship with live band) at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, and a Classic Service (traditional music) at 9:30 AM, with online streaming options available for remote participants. Summer schedule may differ (currently 10:00 AM).
• Central Kids Children's ministry program for infants through 5th grade. Specific launch date not disclosed. Age-appropriate Bible teaching, worship, and fellowship for children from newborns through 5th grade, including Sunday morning programs (9:30 AM and 11:00 AM), Wednesday night clubs, Kids Worship, and Sports Camp. Designed for parents seeking safe, biblically-grounded environments for their children's spiritual development.
• Central Students (Breakaway) Youth ministry program for grades 6-12. Specific launch date not disclosed. Youth ministry for middle and high school students (Grades 6-12) featuring weekly Breakaway Youth Nights (Tuesdays) with games, worship, and small groups, plus Sunday Life Groups during the school year and student-focused discipleship programs.
• Young Adults Ministry (Devoted) Young adult community for ages 18-30. Specific launch date not disclosed. Community and faith-development program for young adults aged 18-30 featuring the 'Devoted' group that meets monthly, plus life groups, prayer, and social events. Welcomes both Central attendees and outsiders.
• Women's Ministry Women's ministry program with life groups and events. Specific launch date not disclosed. Women's life groups, mom's groups, events, and a dedicated newsletter designed to promote community and inspire women to connect deeply with God and each other across a diverse, multigenerational demographic.
• Men's Ministry Men's ministry program with life groups and events. Specific launch date not disclosed. Men's life groups and events designed to promote community and inspire men to connect deeply with God and each other.
• Global Missions Global missions program supporting approximately 16 missionary teams. Specific launch date not disclosed. International missionary support program partnering with missionaries worldwide in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America through various mission organizations including Wycliffe Bible Translators, Avant Ministries, Word of Life, Push The Rock, Missions Door, The New Horizons Foundation, InterVarsity, Friends of Fort Liberté, The Center for Mission Mobilization, and Friends of Israel.
• Life Groups Small group ministry with weekly meetings on a semester basis. Specific launch date not disclosed. Small group ministry offering Bible study, fellowship, and prayer groups of 8-12 adults meeting weekly in homes, at the church building, or online. Groups are segmented by demographic (mixed, women, men, young adults, marriage, support) and run on a semester basis (fall, winter, spring).
• Serve Teams Volunteer ministry program across multiple service areas. Specific launch date not disclosed. Volunteer ministry opportunities across multiple service areas including First Impressions, Worship and Tech, Kids, Students, Life Groups, Prayer and Care, Creative Team, and Operations.
• Prayer and Care Ministry Pastoral care and benevolence support service. Specific launch date not disclosed. Prayer team and benevolence support offering confidential prayer requests, care cards, and financial assistance through the Deacons of Care for members experiencing short-term crises.
• Church Center App Mobile application for church management, giving, and engagement. Specific launch date not disclosed. Mobile application (iOS and Android) used for managing online giving, event registrations, life group sign-ups, sermon access, and text updates for congregants and visitors.
• Church Online Streaming Online worship streaming platform. Specific launch date not disclosed. Online worship service platform (centralachristcenteredchurch.online.church) enabling live and archived remote participation in Sunday services via digital streaming, supported by a YouTube channel (@WorshipAtCentralVideos).
• Central Church Merch Store Branded merchandise store. Specific launch date not disclosed. Branded merchandise store (thechurch.shop/shop/centralchurch/) selling Central Church apparel and accessories to congregants and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170+ years of continuous operation and community witness since 1854.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Urban PromisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church partners with Urban Promise, a local organization, as part of its commitment to 'following Christ anywhere' by serving the local community. The partnership enables outreach beyond church walls through community engagement events and programs.
• Restoring Hearts MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church partners with Restoring Hearts Ministries, a local organization dedicated to addressing the physical needs of residents. This aligns with the church's vision of 'bringing hope to the hurting' through practical community support.
• David & Jenny Rowe (Wycliffe Bible Translators)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports David & Jenny Rowe as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators serving in Africa. David works as a Systems Engineer/Programmer developing software tools for complex scripts used in Asian languages, while Jenny serves as a Leadership Development Specialist mentoring and coaching leaders in French-speaking Africa.
• Gary & Esperanza Williams (Avant Ministries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Gary and Esperanza Williams as Avant Ministries missionaries in Guatemala City. Gary has taught Bible for over 40 years at Central American Theological Seminary (SETECA), and Esperanza leads Club 3:16, a ministry serving the poor in the El Encinal neighborhood.
• Tomoo & Kaori Koike (Word of Life International Ministries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Tomoo & Kaori Koike, missionaries with Word of Life Japan since 1991. They work with local church ministries in Sendai and Minami-sanriku, run Bible and English cafes, help with SYME (School of Youth Ministry in English), and oversee teen programs at several local churches.
• Scott Canterberry (Push The Rock)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Scott Canterberry, head of North American Operations for Push The Rock (PTR), a global sports ministry that introduces people to Jesus through sports. Scott also leads afterschool programs in public schools in the Lehigh Valley PA and Mercer County, NJ, and summer sports camps.
• Workneh & Tersit Tesfaye (Missions Door)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Workneh & Tersit Tesfaye, Missions Door missionaries serving as Regional Director of New England, E. Canada & Africa. Workneh planted Emmanuel Disciples Church in Boston (2012) and Salvation Rock Church in Ethiopia (2016), and oversees multiple churches in rural Ethiopia. Tersit serves alongside him at Emmanuel Disciples Church.
• Ryan & Mandy Kennedy (The New Horizons Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Ryan & Mandy Kennedy, missionaries in Indonesia under The New Horizons Foundation. They minister to Tribesmen, Muslims, and Christians through teaching at an Indonesian Bible College, a Christian Community Center, and by showing the Jesus film in remote tribal villages and distributing Bible lessons in Trade and Heart languages of 3 remote mountainous tribes (over 40,000 people).
• Jonas & Beth Menezes (Avant Ministries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Jonas & Beth Menezes, serving under Avant Ministries in Porto Velho, Brazil since December 1984. Their focus is initiating churches in towns where people commit to Jesus and pursue Him in discipleship. The current church plant covers 13 neighborhoods in the Sevilha-Bairro Novo area, with weekly discipleship groups and ongoing church building construction since February 2022.
• Laura Vellenga (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Laura Vellenga, who serves full-time with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, supervising graduate student and faculty work on campuses in eastern PA, NJ, and Delaware, including Princeton University. She plants chapters of faculty ministry and builds witnessing communities of graduate students.
• Dasnis & Sherlie Pierre (Friends of Fort Liberté)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Dasnis & Sherlie Pierre, who pastor Jerusalem Baptist Church in Fort Liberte, Haiti. Their holistic ministry addresses body, mind, and soul, with a primary focus on education. Central has sent teams to Haiti for over 10 years to support the clinic and ministry.
• Thor Magnus Odland (The Center for Mission Mobilization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Thor Magnus Odland and his wife Kate Odland, dual Norwegian American nationals working with The Center for Mission Mobilization. They have worked in missions for over 20 years, pioneering outreaches to unchurched young people in Norway and Sweden, and now support efforts in the 10/40 window from their base in Northwest Arkansas.
• Tom & Lorna Simcox (Friends of Israel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Tom & Lorna Simcox of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Tom is the Church Ministries training coordinator and Bible/prophecy teacher, preaching and teaching across the U.S. Lorna recently retired as editor-in-chief of Israel My Glory magazine. Both teach about Biblical truth concerning Israel and its Messiah.
• Allison Stump (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports Allison Stump, who serves full-time with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship across three athlete chapters at The College of New Jersey, Monmouth University, and Rider University. She engages athletic communities — teams, coaches, athletes, trainers, and support staff — in questions of who Jesus is.
• David & Danora BachmannminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports David & Danora Bachmann. David serves as On-air Radio Content Production Consultant and National Church Plant Team Lead Pastor, consulting and training radio stations in Brazil, Panama, Bolivia, and Paraguay in partnership with National Organizations. Danora serves as Women's State Prayer Chapter Leader, Children's Ministry Developer, and Church/Christian School Accountant. Their church, Antioch Church, was established in 2012.
• Shepherd StaffminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCentral Church partnered with Shepherd Staff to conduct an external search for the position of Pastor of Impact and Engagement. Shepherd Staff handles candidate sourcing and application forwarding; the church directs all inquiries to Shepherd Staff rather than receiving applications directly.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Institutional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church supports InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at multiple campuses including The College of New Jersey, Monmouth University, Rider University, and Princeton University through its missionaries Laura Vellenga and Allison Stump. InterVarsity has had a vital presence on hundreds of college campuses for over 75 years, proclaiming Jesus as Lord and engaging in discipleship around Scripture.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Elevation Church: A Charlotte, NC-based multi-ethnic megachurch with a strong digital presence and streaming infrastructure similar to Central's online church platform. Operates at much larger scale but is a recognized leader in multi-ethnic, digital-first ministry.
• Christ Fellowship Church: A large South Florida-based multi-ethnic church with a similar vision for diverse, multi-generational ministry and a similarly structured kid/student/young adult ecosystem. Operates at a larger scale but addresses the same demographic and programmatic needs.
• McLean Bible Church: A larger Northern Virginia-based multi-ethnic non-denominational church with a comparable ministry ecosystem (kids, students, young adults, missions) and similar multi-ethnic positioning. Larger scale than Central but operates in a comparable organizational tier.
• North Point Community Church: An Atlanta-area multi-ethnic megachurch founded by Andy Stanley with a similarly structured ministry model (kids, students, young adults, small groups) and an explicit focus on reaching unchurched people. Operates at significantly larger scale but shares the multi-ethnic, community-led church model.
• The Church of Eleven22: A Jacksonville, Florida-based non-denominational church with a similar missional philosophy, contemporary worship style, and broad ministry ecosystem (kids, students, young adults, missions). Larger but operationally comparable.

Direct peers

• Transformation Church: Trenton-based church plant that was founded by Central's current Lead Pastor Anthony Gilmer in 2017. Shares Central's theological DNA, multi-ethnic vision, and Trenton-area mission field, making it the closest direct peer by origin and ethos.
• Liquid Church: A New Jersey-based multi-ethnic, multi-site church with a comparable ministry ecosystem (kids, students, young adults) and similar size and demographic focus. Operates in the same general region as Central, making it a direct functional peer in multi-ethnic congregational ministry.
• Westside Bible Baptist Church: A church plant of Central located in West Trenton, planted by Pastor Tyrone Perkins in 1988. Shares theology, leadership lineage, and the broader Trenton-area ministry context, making it a direct peer with deep historical ties.
• Bayside Church: A Northern California-based multi-site church with a similar size, multi-generational ministry structure, and small-group-driven engagement model. Comparable in organizational scale and program breadth to Central.
• North Coast Church: A San Diego-area multi-site church of similar size and ministry model, with comparable kids, students, and small-group infrastructure. Closely analogous in scale and operational structure to Central.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WorshipAtCentralVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/worshipatcentral
• Instagraminstagram.com/worshipatcentral
• Xx.com/CentralChurchNJ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christ-center-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Central Church