Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Religious Organization / Lutheran Church and Preschoolbethlehemluth.org

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a 175-year-old ELCA congregation in St. Charles, Illinois, serving approximately 1,700 members across 500 households through weekly worship services, faith formation programs, music ensembles, and pastoral care, and operating Bethlehem Preschool Center, an at-capacity early childhood education program for ages 3–6.

Company typePrivate
Founded1851
HeadquartersSt. Charles, United States
Headcount—
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Bethlehem Lutheran Church does

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a 175-year-old ELCA-affiliated congregation located at 1145 N 5th Avenue, St. Charles, Illinois, serving approximately 1,700 members across roughly 500 households in the Fox Valley and greater Metro Chicago area. The organization operates two weekly Sunday worship services (Contemporary at 9:00 AM and Traditional at 10:45 AM, with the Traditional service livestreamed on YouTube), comprehensive faith formation programming across all age groups (Sunday School, Preteens' Connect, Confirmation, High School Youth Group), four music ensembles, and pastoral care including weddings and funerals. The congregation is led by Lead Pastor Jared Olson (called March 2025), Director of Church Operations Deacon Heather Feltman, and an elected Congregation Council.

The church runs an adjacent operating subsidiary, Bethlehem Preschool Center (founded 1968), which provides all-day childcare (ages 3–6, year-round, 6:30 AM–5:30 PM) and half-day preschool programs (September through May). The Preschool has earned the Bronze Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois and operates at or near capacity. Technology infrastructure is modest and consumer-grade: YouTube livestreaming, Spotify podcast distribution for sermons and Faith Forum recordings, Vanco and Zelle for digital tithes/offerings, Constant Contact for the Bethlehem Weekly newsletter, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify).

The business model is a nonprofit religious organization supported primarily by voluntary congregational tithes and offerings, supplemented by preschool tuition revenue and modest ancillary income from fundraising events (e.g., Spaghetti Supper raised $10,000; Feed the Need raised $13,000). The congregation also deploys capital outward via the Expansive Church grant ministry, which has awarded 30 grants totaling $73,935 over 3 years to local nonprofits. As a Reconciling in Christ congregation since January 2025, Bethlehem has publicly committed to LGBTQIA+ inclusion and racial equity work, positioning itself within the progressive wing of American Lutheranism. There are no external investors, no disclosed financial statements, and no funding rounds.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Legal name: Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Website: https://bethlehemluth.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1851
Operating status: Operating
Short description: Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a 175-year-old ELCA congregation in St. Charles, Illinois, serving approximately 1,700 members across 500 households through weekly worship services, faith formation programs, music ensembles, and pastoral care, and operating Bethlehem Preschool Center, an at-capacity early childhood education program for ages 3–6.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Bethlehem Lutheran Church industry classification

Industry

Product category: Religious Organization / Lutheran Church and Preschool
NAICS: Religious Organizations (813110), Child and Youth Services (62411)
SIC: Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)
akta.pro industry: PRIMARYBPAGAJAA
Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues)
Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations
SECONDARYEDACAAAN
Faith-Based Childcare Centers
Education/Early Childhood Education/Daycare & Childcare Centers
SECONDARYBPAGAJAG
Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)
Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

Religious worship services
Faith formation programs
Early childhood education
Community outreach grants
Preschool childcare services

Where Bethlehem Lutheran Church is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: St. Charles
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Bethlehem Lutheran Church business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary contributions from congregants during weekly worship services and through online giving platforms. Members contribute financially to support church operations, missions, and community programs.
Preschool Tuition: Bethlehem Preschool Center charges tuition for all-day childcare and half-day preschool programs. Weekly rates for full-day programs range from $130-$305 depending on days attended; monthly rates for half-day programs are $250-$300.
Expansive Church Grant Program: Church provides grant funding to local nonprofits and entrepreneurs addressing social issues. Funded through congregational generous year-end responses and noisy offerings.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Weekly	All-Day Childcare - 2 days per week
Subscription	Weekly	All-Day Childcare - 3 days per week
Subscription	Weekly	All-Day Childcare - 4 days per week
Subscription	Weekly	All-Day Childcare - 5 days per week
Subscription	Monthly	Half-Day Preschool - 3's & 4's Program
Subscription	Monthly	Half-Day Preschool - 4's & 5's Program
One time/ perpetual license	Pay-as-you-go	Preschool Registration Fee

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Bethlehem Lutheran Church product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Bethlehem Lutheran Church provides weekly Christian worship services (Contemporary and Traditional liturgy), comprehensive faith formation programs for all ages, early childhood education through Bethlehem Preschool Center (ages 3-6), pastoral care including weddings, funerals, and baptisms, and community outreach via the Expansive Church grant program and partnerships with Hesed House and Lazarus House. Digital services include YouTube livestream worship, Spotify sermon podcasts, and online giving through Vanco and Zelle. The congregation serves approximately 1,700 members and the broader St. Charles, IL community.

Product overview

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a religious organization offering a portfolio of worship services and community programs. The church operates two weekly worship services (Contemporary at 9:00 AM and Traditional at 10:45 AM) with music programs including Bethlehem Singers, handbell choirs (Jubilation and Sounds of Joy), and Praise Team. Religious education encompasses Sunday School, Preteens' Connect, Confirmation, and Youth Group. The Bethlehem Preschool Center provides early childhood education for ages 3-6. Community outreach includes the Expansive Church grant ministry, Reconciling in Christ inclusion ministry, and support for Hesed House and Lazarus House. Digital offerings include online giving, YouTube streaming, and Spotify podcasts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Contemporary Worship Service Contemporary worship held Sundays at 9:00 AM in Fellowship Hall, featuring modern music style, participatory elements, and a more casual atmosphere. Offered to congregants and visitors.
Traditional Worship Service Traditional liturgical worship held Sundays at 10:45 AM in the Sanctuary, featuring classic hymns, organ music, and formal liturgy. Livestreamed online via YouTube for remote participation.
Bethlehem Preschool Center Early childhood education and childcare for children ages 3-6, including all-day childcare (6:30am-5:30pm year-round) and half-day preschool (September through May). Awarded Bronze Circle of Quality through ExceleRate Illinois. Weekly tuition $130-$305; monthly half-day tuition $250-$300; $100 registration fee per child.
Children's and Youth Faith Formation Programs Comprehensive faith formation programs including Sunday School (ages 3 through 3rd grade), Preteens' Connect (grades 4-5), Confirmation (grades 6-8), and High School Youth Group (grades 9-12).
Bethlehem Singers Adult Vocal Ensemble Adult vocal ensemble (high school age and older) that participates in worship services, rehearsing Wednesday evenings in the choir loft.
Jubilation Handbell Choir Handbell choir for grades 6 and above meeting Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00pm, performing monthly during worship from September through May. Directed by Linda Culley.
Sounds of Joy Handbells Ensemble Handbell ensemble using 4+ octave range of bells and hand chimes, led by Michelle Fisher, participating monthly in worship and special services.
Praise Team Contemporary Worship Band Contemporary worship band consisting of singers, instrumentalists (drums, guitar, bass, keyboard), and audio/video technicians, rehearsing Thursday evenings and leading Contemporary worship services.
Expansive Church Grant Ministry Grant program that extends financial support to local nonprofits and entrepreneurs addressing social issues and community needs. 30 grants totaling $73,935 awarded over 3 years to 13+ recipient organizations.
Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Ministry Ministry commitment to welcome, inclusion, and advocacy for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, with focus on racial equity and anti-racist work. Affiliated with Reconciling Works.
Online Giving Digital tithing and donation platform enabling congregants to give online through Vanco payment services and Zelle, with options to direct funds to specific ministries.
Online Streaming and Podcast Traditional worship services livestreamed on YouTube, with sermons and Faith Forums available on Spotify podcast for on-demand audio consumption.

Quantifiable outcome

30 grants totaling $73,935 invested in community over 3 years
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Bethlehem Lutheran Church technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Bethlehem Lutheran Church partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem is a member congregation of the ELCA, sharing in worldwide ministry with about 10,000 other congregations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. ELCA provides theological guidance, synod support, and connection to broader church mission.
Lazarus HousemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem serves Lazarus House on the 2nd Saturday of each month, providing food to unhoused men, women, and children at 214 Walnut Street in St. Charles.
Hesed HousemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem serves Hesed House on the 4th Friday of even months (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec), providing hearty dinners for approximately 150 homeless individuals at Aurora facility.
Lutheran World ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusy Hands quilting group meets weekly to assemble quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Personal Care Kits assembled during Women's Fall Gathering.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch hosts educational sessions and volunteer opportunities supporting LSSI foster care and family services programs.
Reconciling WorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem became an official Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation on January 26, 2025, affiliated with Reconciling Works ministry of the ELCA. Proceeds from RIC T-shirt sales support Reconciling Works.
Expansive Church Grant RecipientsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch has awarded grants to 13+ local nonprofits including Tri-city Health Partnership, Friends of Child Advocacy, Young Life, Lazarus House, Mutual Ground, Next Gen, Horsepower Therapeutic, Lumunos, Belong, Rising Lights, Joshua Tree, Easter Seals, and Anderson Humane Society.
St. Andrew ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem provides $6,000 total support over 5 months to St. Andrew Church through Metro Chicago Synod, helping mentor Pastor Alex Molina under Pastor Ruban Duran's guidance.
Pottawatomie Park DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency evacuation agreement for safety situations affecting church and preschool community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Bethlehem Lutheran Church competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Trinity Lutheran Church: Mainline Lutheran congregation with comparable worship, education, and community-outreach programs of similar scale in the broader Midwest. Operates as a direct comparable to Bethlehem's ELCA-affiliated model with overlapping service mix.
Immanuel Lutheran Church: ELCA-affiliated congregation operating both traditional/ contemporary worship and an early childhood education program, paralleling Bethlehem's combined church-plus-preschool operating model.
Grace Lutheran Church: Mainline ELCA congregation operating Sunday worship, faith education, and community service programs of comparable scale to Bethlehem; relevant direct peer for tithe-based revenue model and multi-generational ministry.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: ELCA congregation of comparable scale and program breadth, including worship, children/youth ministry, and preschool-adjacent services; meaningful direct comparable for evaluating Bethlehem's operating model.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church: Referenced as an actual Bethlehem pastoral-mentoring partner through the Metro Chicago Synod; this shared ELCA affiliation and synod-level coordination makes it a direct comparable on size, denomination, and ministry scope.
Hope Lutheran Church: ELCA congregation with comparable mid-sized suburban profile, faith-formation programs for children and youth, and community outreach activities similar in scope to Bethlehem's ministries.
Faith Lutheran Church: ELCA congregation with traditional/ contemporary worship services and faith formation programs for all ages, paralleling Bethlehem's ministry portfolio and serving as a benchmark for mainline Lutheran operations.
St. John Lutheran Church: ELCA-affiliated congregation with established preschool/early childhood center and traditional/ contemporary worship services, mirroring Bethlehem's dual church-and-preschool operations.

Broad incumbents

First United Methodist Church: Mainline Protestant congregation operating as a broad incumbent in the same St. Charles/ Fox Valley religious landscape; competes for similar congregant demographics and offers comparable worship, education, and outreach programs.

Regional players

St. Charles Episcopal Church: Local mainline Christian congregation serving the St. Charles, IL market with traditional liturgical worship and community outreach; relevant regional peer competing for the same household base and donor pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Bethlehem Lutheran Church financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Bethlehem Lutheran Church leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Bethlehem Lutheran Church subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries1 record

Bethlehem Lutheran Church funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Bethlehem Lutheran Church M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Bethlehem Lutheran Church

What does Bethlehem Lutheran Church do?

Is Bethlehem Lutheran Church a public or private company?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Bethlehem Lutheran Church founded?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church was founded in 1851.

Where is Bethlehem Lutheran Church based?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is headquartered in St. Charles, United States, in the North America region.

How does Bethlehem Lutheran Church make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Tithes and Offerings are the primary driver. The others are preschool Tuition and expansive Church Grant Program.

Who are Bethlehem Lutheran Church's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Trinity Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Hope Lutheran Church, Faith Lutheran Church and St. John Lutheran Church. First United Methodist Church is listed as a broad incumbent. St. Charles Episcopal Church is listed as a regional player.

Does Bethlehem Lutheran Church have an API?

No public API is recorded for Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

What industry is Bethlehem Lutheran Church in?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church's product category is Religious Organization / Lutheran Church and Preschool. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAA, Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues), with a secondary code of EDACAAAN, Faith-Based Childcare Centers. Its NAICS code is 813110 and its SIC code is 8600.