What Mission Alive does

Mission Alive is a Dallas, Texas-based religious nonprofit founded in 2004 by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen that equips leaders to start Innovative Faith Communities (IFCs) — new church expressions focused on transforming six categories of marginalized communities: Urban, Immigrant/Refugee, Native/Indigenous, Rural, Transitioning Suburban, and University. Its core product architecture consists of a six-phase church planting process (Solidify Calling, Assess Readiness, Launch, Train/Inititate, Grow/Refine, Give Back) operationalized through several interconnected programs: Catalyze Coaching (a three-tier, ICF Level 1 accredited coach training sold at $700, $2,295, and $3,650), Discipleship Cohorts (small-group spiritual formation programs serving 200+ people globally since 2021), and the Outfitters Residency (a 12–24 month apprenticeship operating at five church plant sites). The technology stack is conventional — WordPress, Stream Equipping (proprietary learning portal at streamequipping.missionalive.org), YouTube, email, and Classy for donations — with the organization's most defensible assets being proprietary frameworks (Marginalization Responsive Ministry, Human Flourishing as Telos) and a network of 8+ affiliated churches and 5+ active IFCs.

The organization is led by Executive Director Tod Vogt (in role since January 2015, with the organization 18+ years) and Director of Coaching and Discipleship Steve Shaffer (ICF PCC), with an eight-member board drawn from across North America and Restoration Movement heritage. Mission Alive's revenue model blends donations (one-time and monthly recurring), tiered coaching program fees, publication sales (books and workbooks via Amazon and Next Step Resources), and a self-replenishing Harvest Fund (15% admin fee on grants disbursed to IFCs, with recipient IFCs tithing 10% of offerings back for 10 years). The dominant capital signal is a flagship partnership with Pepperdine University's Empower and Equip Initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., launching the Rural and Small Town Initiative (RSTI) to plant five new IFCs in rural/small-town America between 2024 and 2027; Mission Alive Canada was also formalized in early 2025 under Executive Director Jeremy Hoover.

Name

Mission Alive

Legal name

Mission Alive

Website

https://missionalive.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mission Alive is a Dallas-based nonprofit founded in 2004 that equips leaders to plant Innovative Faith Communities in marginalized populations across North America via ICF-accredited coaching, Discipleship Cohorts, an Outfitters Residency, and Lilly Endowment/Pepperdine-funded rural expansion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Church Planting & Ministry Training Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Church planting training
• Coaching certification programs
• Discipleship small groups
• Ministry leadership development
• Rural community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Coaching Program Fees: Mission Alive generates revenue through tiered Catalyze Coach training programs: Leadership Track ($700 lab or online), Leadership + Certification Bundle ($2,295), and full Bundle Package including Professional Track ($3,650). These are one-time program fees with prerequisites creating natural upsell pathways.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Primary funding mechanism for core ministry operations. Donors can give to Mission Alive general fund, Harvest Fund (for new church plants), Mission 813 (women's IFC support), or Jonathan Van Rheenen Memorial Endowment. Accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations at various levels ($75-$1,000+).
3. Harvest Fund Grants: Disbursements to new IFCs distributed over approximately 3 years based on mission deliverables. Mission Alive takes 15% administrative fee. IFCs commit to tithe 10% of offerings for first 10 years back to the fund.
4. Grant Funding (Lilly Endowment/Pepperdine): Mission Alive receives grant funding through partnership with Pepperdine University's Empower and Equip program. Initial grant of $7,500,000 from Lilly Endowment to Pepperdine supports Rural and Small Town Initiative. A second grant extends RSTI efforts for two additional IFCs.
5. Publication Sales: Revenue from published books and workbooks: 'Catalyze Coaching' book, 'Catalyze Coaching Workbook', and Discipleship Cohort materials (12-week and 16-week versions for disciples and facilitators). Available through Amazon and Next Step Resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Mission Alive equips Christian leaders to launch and grow Innovative Faith Communities (IFCs) focused on transforming marginalized populations in North America. Its core offering is a multi-program portfolio: the IFC church planting pathway, ICF-accredited Catalyze Coaching training (Leadership/Certification/Professional tracks), Discipleship Cohorts (small-group spiritual formation), and the Outfitters Residency apprenticeship, all funded through donations, grants, and program fees.

Product overview

Mission Alive is a church planting ministry organization that operates as a unified set of interconnected programs rather than a traditional software platform. Their core offering is the Innovative Faith Communities (IFCs) program, which is supported by training initiatives including Catalyze Coaching (ICF-accredited coach training), Discipleship Cohorts (spiritual formation groups), and Outfitters Residency (12-24 month apprenticeship). The organization runs specialized initiatives including the Rural and Small Town Initiative (RSTI) and 100 Marginalized Communities Initiative, along with supporting resources like the Freshwater blog and Mission 813 (women's leadership support). The six types of IFCs provide a framework for different ministry expressions from individual initiatives to full missional churches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mission 813: A ministry of Mission Alive acknowledging the important role women have played throughout history to advance the church. Named for Luke 8:1-3, it provides encouragement, financial support, and practical assistance to female IFC (Innovative Faith Community) leaders.
• Catalyze Coaching
• Discipleship Cohorts
• Outfitters Residency
• Rural and Small Town Initiative (RSTI)

Products and services

• Innovative Faith Communities (IFCs) Church planting and community development program that equips leaders to start new faith communities focused on transforming marginalized populations through a serve-first approach.
• Catalyze Coaching Coach training program with three tracks (Leadership, Certification, Professional) that prepares individuals to practice coaching in ministry or professional settings, accredited by International Coach Federation as ACSTH/Level 1.
• Discipleship Cohorts Small group program with three levels (Adult Disciples, Facilitator, Level 3) that trains Christians in listening to God through Scripture, prayer, and mission.
• Outfitters Residency 12-24 month missional church planting residency in North America designed to equip emerging church planting leaders under mentoring of veteran church planters.
• Rural and Small Town Initiative (RSTI) Program in partnership with Pepperdine University's Empower and Equip Initiative funded by Lilly Endowment to support rural and small-town churches and communities, planning to plant five new IFCs by 2027.
• 100 Marginalized Communities Initiative Initiative to start innovative churches in 100 marginalized communities across six types: Urban, Immigrant, Native/Indigenous, Rural, University, and Transitioning Suburban.
• Mission 813 Ministry that provides encouragement and financial support specifically to female IFC leaders, modeled after women who supported Jesus' ministry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 baptisms at Gentle Road Church of Christ (Regina) in one year
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Pepperdine University - Empower and Equip InitiativeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Mission Alive is a recipient partner in a $7.5M grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to Pepperdine University's Empower and Equip program. The partnership focuses on encouraging and supporting rural and small-town churches, their leaders, and communities. Mission Alive contributes missional expertise for the Rural and Small Town Initiative (RSTI), planning to plant five new IFCs in rural/small-town communities between 2025-2027. A second grant extends the partnership to fund two additional IFCs, increasing total RSTI IFCs to five. Mike Cope directs Pepperdine's Empower and Equip program.
• Mission Alive CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Jeremy Hoover serves as Executive Director of Mission Alive Canada. Organization is developing relationships with Restoration Movement heritage colleges in Canada and other partners. Lufkin Street Ministries (Canada chapter) mentioned in context of cross-border ministry.
• Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ (New Orleans)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Mission Alive assisted in finding a new minister for this 90+ year old church. Through the ministry opportunities program, Russell Mann was connected and now serves with the church. Mission Alive helps connect church planting leaders with ministry opportunities at existing churches seeking missional transformation.
• Irving Hispanic Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2024Sponsored ribbon cutting event for Southeast Irving Community Center (opened Sept 17, 2024). Mary Ann Kellam advocated for the center. Partnership supports community outreach and visibility for The Table Irving IFC.
• Life Changing Housing Associates (LCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Housing partner for The Table Irving. Provided housing at Meadowbrook Heights Apts for Steve and Laura Allen, formerly homeless individuals in recovery. Mission Alive works with housing providers to support marginalized community members.
• Wide Awake Therapy (Rosemary Parker, LPC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Therapist partner working with The Table Irving's H.O.P.E. support group for single women and moms dealing with addiction or mental health issues. Partnership provides trauma-informed care alongside IFC ministry.
• Abilene Christian UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Mission Alive originated from Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen who taught Missions at ACU from 1986-2003. Many board members and staff have degrees from ACU (Tod Vogt's MMiss, Steve Shaffer's MDiv, Jason Locke's MDiv/DMin/MS in Missions). Historical connection as birthplace of Mission Alive's founding vision and ongoing talent pipeline.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Church Multiplication Network (CMN): CMN is a Church of the Nazarene-affiliated church planting network providing assessment, training, coaching, and grants to planters. It is comparable to Mission Alive as both run structured planter pathways combining training, coaching, and grant capital with a network of partner churches.
• Stadia Church Planting: Stadia is a church planting training and funding organization that partners with planters globally. It directly compares to Mission Alive as both train, assess, and financially support church planters through an extended pathway with similar coaching and coaching-development offerings.
• Acts 29: Acts 29 is a global church planting network that identifies, trains, and resources church planters with assessment processes, coaching, and ongoing support. Like Mission Alive, it operates a multi-phase planter pathway with network churches, though Acts 29 is denominationally broader.
• NewChurches.com: NewChurches.com is a church planting resources and consulting ministry offering assessment, training, coaching, and content for planters. It is comparable to Mission Alive as both operate as faith-based equipping organizations focused on church multiplication through training and ongoing leader development.
• Send Network (North American Mission Board): Send Network is the Southern Baptist Convention's church planting sending network, providing assessment, training, and funding for church planters across North America. It is comparable to Mission Alive as both run multi-phase planter pathways with assessment retreats, coaching, and network placement.
• ReTrain Network: ReTrain Network provides church planting residencies, assessment, and coaching for planters, particularly within restoration-movement / independent Christian traditions. It is comparable to Mission Alive as both offer residency and apprenticeship models with similar theological traditions.

Broad incumbents

• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): Cru is a broad faith-based nonprofit with extensive leadership development, discipleship, and ministry training programs globally. It is comparable to Mission Alive as a broad incumbent in faith-based leadership formation and disciple-making at significantly larger scale.
• Young Life: Young Life is a large faith-based nonprofit focused on discipleship and leadership development among youth, with extensive volunteer training pipelines. It is comparable to Mission Alive as a broad incumbent operating similar faith-based leadership and discipleship training at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• Church Answers / Church Plant Bootcamp (ChurchoftheRock): Church Plant Bootcamp is a focused church planting training intensive that provides condensed training to planters. It is an adjacent emerging peer to Mission Alive on the training product side, though smaller in scope and lacking the IFC network model.
• V3 Movement: V3 Movement is a church planting and leadership development movement that emphasizes coaching-driven leader formation. It overlaps with Mission Alive on the coaching-and-formation side of the planter pathway but is a smaller, more emerging player without the established restoration-movement network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mission-alive/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/missionalive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mission-alive
• Instagraminstagram.com/missionalive

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Mission Alive