Alongside

What Alongside does

Alongside Inc. is a registered Christian non-profit ministry headquartered in Richland, Michigan, that provides residential counseling and care retreats for missionaries, pastors, ministry leaders, and their families. Founded in 2000 by Dr. Jeanne Jensma after the closure of Tuscarora Resource Center, the organization operates two purpose-built campuses in Southwest Michigan: a 125-acre wooded campus in Richland (acquired 2013) and a 290-acre lakeside campus at Pine Lake in Battle Creek. The core product portfolio includes five distinct retreat programs: the flagship 3-week Renewal & Growth Retreat (up to 12 times per year, max 12 suites per cohort), a 5-day Pastor's Retreat, an 11-day MedRetreat for cross-cultural healthcare missionaries, a 5-day Marriage Rekindled couples retreat, and a 5-day Reset wellness retreat. Programs are delivered in-person by licensed mental health professionals (LPC, LCMHC, LMSW, PsyD, LP) supported by a MedTeam staff and dedicated Kids & Teen Programs that run parallel to adult content.

The business model is a hybrid of participant fees and charitable donations. Participants pay approximately two-thirds of actual program costs; the remaining one-third is subsidized through donations managed via Network for Good and structured funds (General Fund, Scholarship Fund, Pine Lake Second Campus expansion). Pricing is one-time per retreat, ranging from $1,175 per child/teen for the Renewal & Growth program to $6,975 per couple, with a separate Annual Study Trip to Israel priced at $5,363 per person from Chicago. The go-to-market motion is application-based enrollment: prospective participants complete detailed applications reviewed by a clinical registrar, with remote meetings for additional information and acceptance-based registration. There is no proprietary technology platform — services are delivered entirely in-person by counselors with ministry backgrounds, and the organization is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Marketing is conducted through the website, email newsletter, social media, and referrals from churches, mission organizations, Christian schools, and faith-based nonprofits.

Name

Alongside

Legal name

Alongside Inc.

Website

https://alongsidecares.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alongside is a non-profit Christian ministry that operates residential counseling and care retreats in Southwest Michigan for missionaries, pastors, healthcare missionaries, and their families, with programs ranging from 5-day wellness retreats to a 3-week intensive.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Counseling and Care Retreats

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAGAMAB

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Wellness, Spa & Health Retreats

SECONDARYTHAGAMAI

Holistic & Alternative Therapy Retreats (Naturopathy, Energy Work)

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Wellness, Spa & Health Retreats

Keywords

• Christian counseling retreats
• Ministry leader care
• Residential counseling programs
• Pastor wellness retreats
• Marriage enrichment retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Hickory Corners

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Renewal and Growth Retreat Fees: 3-week intensive counseling retreat program with fees covering lodging, program, adult counseling, and materials. Individual participants pay $5,300, couples pay $6,975, and children/teens pay $1,175.
2. MedRetreat Fees: 11-day counseling program for healthcare missionaries with fees covering lodging, program, adult counseling, and materials. Individual participants pay $3,050, couples pay $4,300, and children/teens pay $800.
3. Marriage Rekindled Retreat Fees: 5-day marriage counseling retreat for couples in ministry. Fee of $2,250 per couple includes programming and accommodation but not meals.
4. Pastor's Retreat Fees: 5-day retreat for pastors and church leaders including programming, accommodations, and meals at $1,775 per individual.
5. Reset Retreat Fees: 5-day wellness retreat at $1,425 per individual covering programming and accommodation.
6. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Participants pay only two-thirds of actual cost; remaining one-third subsidized through donations. Various funds available including General Fund, Scholarship Fund, and Pine Lake Second Campus expansion.
7. Annual Study Trip: Travel program to Israel (February 28 - March 11, 2027) priced at $5,363 per person from Chicago, with land-only option at $4,163.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alongside provides residential counseling and care retreats for Christian missionaries, pastors, ministry leaders, healthcare missionaries, and their families. Programs range from 3-week intensive Renewal & Growth Retreats to 5- to 11-day specialized retreats (Pastor's Retreat, MedRetreat, Marriage Rekindled, Reset) delivered on-site at Alongside's two Michigan campuses, combining individual counseling, group counseling, seminars, and parallel children/teen programs.

Product overview

Alongside operates as a unified counseling and care retreat platform offering multiple distinct retreat programs for Christian ministry leaders, missionaries, pastors, and their families. The core portfolio includes the 3-week Renewal & Growth Retreat (the flagship program), the 5-day Pastor's Retreat, the 11-day MedRetreat for healthcare missionaries, the 5-day Marriage Rekindled couples retreat, and the 5-day Reset wellness retreat. All retreats are delivered on-site at Alongside's residential campuses in Southwest Michigan and include counseling services, seminars, and group sessions. The company also provides Kids and Teen Programs for families attending retreats and offers an Annual Study Trip to Israel. The various retreat programs are designed to serve different segments and seasons of ministry life while sharing a common methodology of counseling-based renewal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Renewal & Growth Retreat: A 3-week residential counseling retreat for missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders designed to help them find healing and move forward with hope.
• MedRetreat
• Pastor's Retreat
• Marriage Rekindled
• Reset

Products and services

• Renewal & Growth Retreat A 3-week residential counseling retreat for missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders that combines initial assessments, 13 individual/couple counseling sessions, 14 group counseling sessions, and 26+ hours of seminars to address burnout, trauma, and ministry-related stress. Participants stay on-site at Alongside's Richland campus; fees are $5,300 per individual, $6,975 per couple, and $1,175 per child/teen.
• Pastor's Retreat A 5-day retreat at the Pine Lake Campus offering rest, community, and encouragement for pastors and church ministry leaders through seminars, small groups, and a rhythm of rest and reflection. Fee of $1,775 per individual includes programming, accommodations, and meals.
• MedRetreat An 11-day specialized counseling retreat for healthcare missionaries and cross-cultural healthcare professionals and their families, combining plenary sessions, group counseling, and personal counseling to address the unique challenges of medical missions. Fees are $3,050 per individual, $4,300 per couple, and $800 per child/teen.
• Marriage Rekindled A 5-day marriage retreat for couples in vocational Christian ministry that integrates biblical teaching with attachment-theory-based materials from Dr. Sue Johnson's Created for Connection. Fee of $2,250 per couple includes programming and accommodation but not meals.
• Reset A 5-day guided wellness retreat at the Pine Lake Campus for individuals and couples in ministry to recover healthy rhythms of life through prayer, community meals, experiential learning, and personal reflection. Fee of $1,425 per individual covers programming and accommodation.
• Kids and Teen Programs Age-appropriate care programs running parallel to adult retreat content for children from infancy through adolescence, with Early Childhood, Elementary, and Teen tracks led by dedicated coordinators. Programs address themes of loss, grief, transition, stress, resilience, and emotions; available by request for additional per-session fees.
• Annual Study Trip to Israel An annual study trip to Israel allowing participants to study the Biblical story in its geographical and cultural context. Scheduled for February 28 – March 11, 2027; priced at $5,363 per person from Chicago (including airfare) with a land-only option at $4,163 and a single room supplement of $1,173. Organized in partnership with Casara Travel Enterprises (Friendship Tours).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 participants helped find hope and healing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered foundational and minor.

• Gull Lake MinistriesfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partnership providing space for Alongside after relocation to Michigan in 2002 before acquiring their own campus property
• Network for GoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonation platform used for online giving, including support for Christian leaders fund and event registrations
• BluePayminorOthersPayment processing service for retreat payments and donations
• Casara Travel Enterprises (Friendship Tours)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel tour operator organizing the annual Israel study trip including airfare arrangements and ground logistics
• Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International AirportminorOthersLocal airport providing transportation access for retreat participants; located 10 miles from Richland campus
• ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability)minorOthersFinancial accountability accreditation body that Alongside is accredited through

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kanuga: An Episcopal conference and retreat center in Hendersonville, NC offering residential retreats, spiritual formation, and wellness programming on a multi-acre campus — closely comparable to Alongside in faith-based residential retreat model.
• Pine Cove: A Christian camp and retreat ministry headquartered in Tyler, TX operating multiple residential camps focused on youth and family ministry — comparable faith-based residential programming operator with similar mission-aligned nonprofit structure.
• Ridgecrest Conference Center (LifeWay): A Baptist-affiliated conference center in Ridgecrest, NC offering residential retreats and ministry-focused programming — directly comparable to Alongside's faith-based residential retreat model.
• Laity Lodge: A Christian retreat center operated by the H.E. Butt Foundation in the Texas Hill Country, offering residential spiritual renewal programs for clergy and lay leaders on a dedicated campus — similar faith-based retreat model targeting ministry professionals.
• Mo-Ranch Assembly: A Presbyterian retreat center along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, TX providing lodging-based Christian programming and spiritual formation — comparable to Alongside as a faith-based residential retreat operator.
• Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center: A United Methodist retreat and conference center in Lake Junaluska, NC offering lodging-based spiritual formation programs — comparable faith-based residential retreat operator.
• Montreat Conference Center: A Presbyterian-affiliated conference and retreat center in Montreat, NC operating lodging-based programs for clergy and laity — directly analogous to Alongside's mission-leader residential retreat offering.
• Barnabas International: A missionary member-care organization providing pastoral counseling, debriefing, and renewal services for cross-cultural Christian workers — directly comparable to Alongside's missionary-focused care mission.

Broad incumbents

• Focus on the Family: A large Christian organization providing counseling, marriage programs, and family ministry resources at much greater scale than Alongside — a broader incumbent in the faith-based counseling space with overlapping pastoral care offerings.

Emerging players

• Heart Support: An emerging ministry-focused mental health organization providing online resources, courses, and peer support for pastors and ministry leaders — represents a digitally-delivered alternative to Alongside's in-person retreat model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Alongside-INC-100064703014556
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alongside-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/alongsidecares

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Alongside