Renew
Renew (RENEW.org) is a 501c3 Christian ministry and disciple-making network that publishes theological articles, books, podcasts, and assessments, runs the annual National Gathering, and offers the RenewU Certificate in Theology for church leaders and disciples.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersFranklin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Renew does
Renew (RENEW.org) is a Franklin, Tennessee-based 501c3 Christian ministry and disciple-making network founded in 1996. Its stated mission is to renew the teachings of Jesus to fuel disciple making across ethnicities, generations, nations, and communities. The organization serves primarily church leaders and pastors, with a secondary audience of church members and disciples seeking theological content and formation; it is co-founded by Bobby Harrington, who also co-founded Discipleship.org and leads Harpeth Christian Church. Named customers and affiliates include Southeast Christian Church (event host), Ozark Christian College, Lipscomb University, and Pepperdine University, alongside the RenewU certificate program for individual learners.
The core 'product' is a content and community platform rather than a software platform. RENEW.org distributes theological articles, free eBooks, published books (via its bookstore and Amazon), audiobooks, sermon tools, and multiple podcasts (Kingdom Culture, Scripture in Black & White, Real Life Theology, RENEW.org Daily) through a website, mobile app, podcast platforms, email newsletter, and social channels. Beyond content, the ministry delivers a Disciple Maker Assessment, a RenewU Certificate in Theology, and an annual National Gathering (with regional and online events) that anchors community engagement. Underlying technology is conventional web content management and mobile app delivery; the organization explicitly does not rely on proprietary technology or AI/ML infrastructure.
The business model is donation-supported nonprofit operation combined with modest commercial revenue. The primary revenue stream is charitable contributions to a 501c3, supplemented by one-time book and audiobook sales through the bookstore and Amazon, paid registration for the Gathering and regional/online events, and tuition from the RenewU certificate program. Pricing is predominantly freemium (articles, many eBooks, podcasts, and app content are free), with premium paid offerings on books, events, and RenewU. Go-to-market is community-led and content-led: SEO-oriented articles, multi-channel digital distribution, donor cultivation, and annual flagship event convening.
Renew firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Renew
- Legal name
- Renew.org
- Website
- https://renew.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Renew (RENEW.org) is a 501c3 Christian ministry and disciple-making network that publishes theological articles, books, podcasts, and assessments, runs the annual National Gathering, and offers the RenewU Certificate in Theology for church leaders and disciples.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Renew industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Christian Discipleship Resources and Ministry Publishing
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirituality & Personal Growth Publishing (Mindfulness, Contemplative, New Age) (MPAJAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters) (MPAJAHAI), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD)
Keywords
Where Renew is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franklin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Renew business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, RENEW.org relies on the generous financial support of faithful friends and partners. Donations are the primary revenue source for sustaining the ministry's operations and mission of disciple making.
- Book and Resource Sales: RENEW.org sells books, eBooks, and resources through its website and bookstore. Notable publications include '7 Practices of Disciple Making Churches', 'N. T. Wright: A Theological Appraisal', and other theological resources for disciple making.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free content and resources |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Renew product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Renew (RENEW.org) is a 501c3 Christian ministry that publishes theological content (articles, podcasts, videos, free eBooks), sells books and audiobooks through its online bookstore, delivers the RenewU Certificate in Theology program, offers the Disciple Maker Assessment tool, and runs the annual National Gathering along with regional and online events for church leaders focused on disciple making. The organization operates as a network connecting disciple-making church leaders across denominations, generations, nations, and communities, distributing its resources globally through its website, mobile app, podcast platforms, email newsletter, and social media.
Product overview
Renew (Renew.org) is a 501c3 Christian ministry focused on renewing the teachings of Jesus to fuel disciple making. The organization operates primarily as a content and education ministry rather than a technology company, offering a unified portfolio of theological resources including the RENEW.org website and mobile app as the primary platform for accessing content, free theological ebooks, published books on disciple making, podcasts (Kingdom Culture, Scripture in Black & White, Real Life Theology, RENEW.org Daily), Real Life Theology Conversations, RenewU certificate program, Disciple Maker Assessment, and annual national gathering events. The ecosystem centers on equipping church leaders and disciples through theological content and community events rather than software products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RenewU: Certificate in Theology program through RenewU
- RENEW.org App
- Real Life Theology Podcast
- Kingdom Culture Podcast
- Scripture in Black & White Podcast
- RENEW.org Daily
Products and services
- Books (Paid Theological Books) Paid physical and digital books on disciple making, theology, and Christian ministry, available for purchase through the Renew online bookstore and Amazon, targeted at church leaders, pastors, and Christian readers.
- Free eBooks Downloadable theological eBooks covering biblical theology, disciple making, and practical Christian living, distributed free of charge to church leaders, pastors, and Christian readers.
- Audiobooks Audiobook versions of Renew's theological and disciple-making titles, available for streaming or download through the renew.org Resources section for individual consumers and church leaders.
- Podcasts A portfolio of theological podcasts including Kingdom Culture, Scripture in Black & White, Real Life Theology Podcast, and RENEW.org Daily audio editions of articles, distributed free through Podbean, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts for church leaders, pastors, and Christian disciples.
- Real Life Theology Conversations (RLTC) Interactive theological discussion content featuring conversations on faith, doctrine, and disciple making topics, published on the renew.org website for church leaders, pastors, and Christian disciples seeking deeper theological engagement.
- RenewU Certificate in Theology A structured certificate program in theology offered through RenewU, providing formal theological education focused on disciple making for church leaders, pastors, and lay learners.
- Disciple Maker Assessment An online evaluation tool that assesses and guides individuals in their disciple-making journey and spiritual growth, designed for church leaders, pastors, and individual disciples.
- RENEW.org National Gathering An annual in-person national gathering featuring main stage speakers, breakout sessions, and theological thunderdomes for disciple-making church leaders, hosted at Southeast Christian Church, with regional and online events supplementing the flagship program.
Companies that use Renew
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Renew technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Renew partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Southeast Christian ChurchcoreSoutheast Christian Church serves as the host venue for the annual RENEW.org National Gathering. The church, located in Louisville, KY, provides facilities for the multi-day event featuring main sessions and breakout tracks.
- Christian Churches Pension PlanminorListed as a sponsor for RENEW.org events, supporting the ministry's mission.
- Christian StandardminorPartner organization supporting RENEW.org events with messaging about 'Leveraging the Power That Comes From Our Unity.'
- Exponential.orgcoreRalph Moore works as 'Church Multiplication Catalyzer' at Exponential.org, connecting the disciple-making network with church multiplication efforts.
- RenewU (Renew University)coreRenewU offers a Certificate in Theology program, providing formal theological education in partnership with RENEW.org's disciple-making focus.
- Discipleship.orgcoreCo-founded by Bobby Harrington alongside RENEW.org, Discipleship.org is a national disciple-making network.
- Ozark Christian CollegeminorDaniel McCoy serves as affiliate professor of philosophy for Ozark Christian College, connecting academic theological education with RENEW.org resources.
- Lipscomb UniversityminorScott Sager serves as Vice President of Church Relations at Lipscomb University and is a speaker at RENEW.org events.
- Pepperdine UniversityminorDyron Daughrity serves as Divisional Dean, Religion and Philosophy at Pepperdine University and participates as a scholar in RENEW.org events.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Renew competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RightNow Media: B2B video streaming library for churches with discipleship, Bible study, and leadership content—comparable audience (church leaders) and content mission, but delivered through a subscription SaaS model rather than donations.
- The Gospel Coalition: Evangelical content and community network publishing articles, podcasts, conferences, and theological resources for church leaders and members—directly comparable in mission, audience, and content formats.
- Ligonier Ministries: Reformation-focused teaching ministry producing theological articles, podcasts, a daily devotional, online courses, and conferences—closely comparable in educational content, denominational positioning, and donation-supported model.
- Exponential.org: Church multiplication network hosting national conferences, podcasts, and resources for church planters and leaders—an existing Renew strategic partner with overlapping audience and event model.
- Desiring God: Long-running Christian content ministry built around John Piper's teaching, producing articles, books, podcasts, and conferences for discipleship-focused audiences—an extremely comparable freemium content-and-events model.
- ChurchLeaders.com: Online publication and resource hub providing articles, podcasts, and tools specifically for pastors and church leaders—directly overlapping with Renew's primary church-leader segment.
- Discipleship.org: National disciple-making network co-founded by Bobby Harrington alongside RENEW.org. Operates as a sibling organization with overlapping audience of church leaders and pastors, making it the closest peer by mission and leadership.
Broad incumbents
- Moody Publishers: Established Christian book publisher and broader ministry producing discipleship, theology, and Christian living titles—a larger incumbent in Renew's paid-books category with comparable editorial focus.
- Bible Gateway: Dominant online Bible and Christian content platform offering free devotionals, articles, and audio content—comparable freemium content model at significantly larger scale.
- Christianity Today: Large, established evangelical media organization publishing magazines, articles, podcasts, and conferences—broader topical scope and larger scale than Renew, but overlapping audience and content categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Renew social profiles
Digital presenceRenew financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Renew leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Renew funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Renew M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Renew
What does Renew do?
Renew (RENEW.org) is a 501c3 Christian ministry that publishes theological content (articles, podcasts, videos, free eBooks), sells books and audiobooks through its online bookstore, delivers the RenewU Certificate in Theology program, offers the Disciple Maker Assessment tool, and runs the annual National Gathering along with regional and online events for church leaders focused on disciple making. The organization operates as a network connecting disciple-making church leaders across denominations, generations, nations, and communities, distributing its resources globally through its website, mobile app, podcast platforms, email newsletter, and social media.
Is Renew a public or private company?
Renew is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Renew founded?
Renew was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Renew based?
Renew is headquartered in Franklin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Renew make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are book and Resource Sales.
Who are Renew's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RightNow Media, The Gospel Coalition, Ligonier Ministries, Exponential.org, Desiring God, ChurchLeaders.com and Discipleship.org. Broad incumbents are Moody Publishers, Bible Gateway and Christianity Today.
Does Renew have an API?
No public API is recorded for Renew.
What industry is Renew in?
Renew's product category is Christian Discipleship Resources and Ministry Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAH, Spirituality & Personal Growth Publishing (Mindfulness, Contemplative, New Age), with a secondary code of MPAJAHAI, Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters). Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8600.