Church By The Bay

What Church By The Bay does

Church By the Bay is a Baptist Christian church headquartered at 22 Waterview Close in Portarlington, Victoria, Australia, founded in 1993 and affiliated with the Baptist Churches of Victoria. It operates as a not-for-profit religious organisation serving the Bellarine Peninsula community across multiple locations, including Portarlington, Clifton Springs, Ocean Grove, St Leonards, and Indented Head. The church's primary offerings include weekly Sunday morning worship services (held at 9:30am and livestreamed via YouTube), Life Groups (small discipleship communities of 2-12 people meeting throughout the week), children's ministry (Kid's Church, ages 3 to Grade 5), youth programs (Adventurers, Year 6+), Alpha courses for exploring Christian basics, prayer ministries including a 24/7 prayer room, and seasonal outdoor services at Portarlington Pier Park.

The church generates revenue through three streams: voluntary tithes and offerings (accepted via Square point-of-sale, cash, or online banking), the Son Shine Op Shop (a volunteer-run second-hand clothing and bric-a-brac retail store at 1-5 Geelong Road, Portarlington), and the Kingdom Builders designated giving program supporting external mission partners. Funds are allocated to operating overheads, local ministries, and a portfolio of 10+ global mission partners focused on unreached people groups, Bible translation, and community transformation in countries including Uganda, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The church maintains a wholly-owned operating subsidiary (Son Shine Op Shop) and operates under a 'Church Without Walls' vision adopted in 2019, with leadership provided by Lead Pastor Dave Rock (since 2009) and Associate Pastor Michael Curtis (joined December 2024).

From a technology and operations standpoint, CBTB runs no proprietary technology platform — its digital footprint consists of a WordPress website, Mailchimp email newsletter, Facebook and Instagram social channels, YouTube livestreaming (CBTB Media Team), and Square point-of-sale for in-person giving. It employs seven staff, with a broader volunteer base running ministry programs and the Op Shop. In 2024 the church launched a cross-denominational preaching school spanning seven churches and three denominations, and it participates in regional collaboration through the Bellarine Pastors Network.

Name

Church By The Bay

Legal name

Church By the Bay

Website

https://churchbythebay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Church By the Bay is a not-for-profit Baptist church in Portarlington, Victoria, serving the Bellarine Peninsula community through weekly worship services, Life Groups, youth and children's ministries, prayer programs, and a volunteer-run op shop, funded by voluntary donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious community services
• Christian worship services
• Youth ministry programs
• Baptist church ministry
• Community outreach programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portarlington

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Church By the Bay is a not-for-profit organization that relies on regular donations from members of the church family and community. Donations support church building overheads and various ministries serving the church family and wider Bellarine community. Giving is accepted via Square point-of-sale on Sundays, cash/check in 'Tithes' boxes, or online banking.
2. Son Shine Op Shop: Second-hand clothing and bric-a-brac shop operated by volunteers. All profits support the missions and community ministries of Church By the Bay. The shop serves as both a revenue source and a community contact point.
3. Kingdom Builders: Designated giving program where members can pledge financial support towards specific missions. Funds are allocated separately from general tithes and used to support mission partners identified by the EGS committee.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Church By The Bay is a Baptist church providing weekly Sunday worship services, small-group discipleship (Life Groups), youth and children's ministry, prayer gatherings, Alpha Christian-exploration courses, and community outreach programs including a volunteer-run thrift store. All services are offered free of charge to community members across the Bellarine Peninsula, supported by voluntary donations, tithes, and mission-partner funding.

Product overview

Church By The Bay is a Baptist church offering a portfolio of spiritual formation and community services. Core offerings include Sunday morning worship services (9.30am, in-person and livestreamed), Life Groups (small group discipleship gatherings in multiple Bellarine locations), Kid's Church (children's ministry for ages 3-Grade 5), Adventurers Youth (youth programs for Year 6+), Alpha courses (Christian basics exploration), Prayer Ministry (including 24/7 prayer rooms and intercessor groups), and seasonal Outdoor Services in the Park. Community-facing services include Son Shine Op Shop (thrift store supporting missions), and EGS/Kingdom Builders (mission partner funding). Giving options include in-person and online donation methods. The church also provides 3 Circles as a discipleship resource.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Son Shine Op Shop: A community op shop selling donated second-hand clothing, bric-a-brac, honey, sweets, soaps and other gift items. All profits support the missions and community ministries of Church By the Bay.

Products and services

• Sunday Morning Worship Services Weekly worship gatherings held at 9:30am featuring worship songs, communion, teaching, prayer, and fellowship. Services are held in-person at 22 Waterview Close, Portarlington and livestreamed online via YouTube. Open to all community members and visitors free of charge.
• Life Groups Small group gatherings of 2-12 people that meet throughout the week in various locations across the Bellarine Peninsula (Portarlington, Clifton Springs, St Leonards, Indented Head, Ocean Grove) for discipleship, fellowship, and community support.
• Kid's Church Children's ministry program for ages 3 to Grade 5, running during Sunday services with programs including Seekers and holiday programs. Aims to build understanding of the Gospel and identity in Christ.
• Adventurers Youth Youth community for Year 6 and up offering Friday night social programs (7-9pm during school terms) and Sunday morning Bible study. Volunteer-led by Nick and Olivia Geerling.
• Alpha Course Course for exploring Christian belief basics addressing questions about Jesus, prayer, and God's guidance, with hospitality and weekly discussion. Designed for those investigating Christianity.
• Prayer Ministry Includes 24/7 Prayer room (using the official 24/7 Prayer platform), weekly Intercessors gatherings (Monday 10am), Global Prayer (1st Thursday monthly), and dedicated prayer ministry team offering focused prayer support.
• Son Shine Op Shop Volunteer-run thrift store at 1-5 Geelong Road, Portarlington selling donated second-hand clothing, bric-a-brac, honey, sweets, and gifts. Profits support church missions and community ministries. Open Mon-Sat with winter/summer hours.
• EGS (External Gospel Support) & Kingdom Builders Mission support committee that recommends, raises, and relates to mission partners. Supports unreached people groups, gospel proclamation, church planting, and community transformation through financial giving and Kingdom Builders pledges.
• Outdoor Service in the Park Monthly outdoor worship services held at Portarlington Pier Park at 11am from October through Easter Sunday. Includes baptisms and community lunch.
• Giving/Tithes Not-for-profit donation system accepting offerings via Square point-of-sale, cash/check in 'Tithes' boxes, or online banking. Used to support church building overheads and ministries.
• 3 Circles Video-based resource explaining the gospel and what it means to follow Jesus through the commands to love God, love others, and share the gospel.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bible Society (David Barnett, Indigenous Bible Translation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal Gospel Support (EGS) committee recommends David Barnett for partnership with Bible Society's Indigenous Bible Translation program. Part of EGS mission partner selection criteria focusing on unreached people groups and gospel proclamation.
• ZulaRoo (Boltons)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEGS committee has partnered with Boltons serving with ZulaRoo through Celebrate Messiah. Part of church's mission to support gospel proclamation to unreached people groups.
• Bushikori Christian Centre, Uganda AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBushikori Christian Centre in Uganda Africa is a mission partner through EGS, including child sponsorship program. Selected for holistic approach combining church planting with community transformation.
• EmpartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEGS mission partner focused on reaching unreached people groups through gospel proclamation and community transformation.
• Jenga AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEGS mission partner working towards sustainable gospel work with unreached people groups.
• New Life Fellowship, Cambodia / New Life FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEGS mission partner in Cambodia including New Life Fellowship and New Life Foundation. Selected based on criteria of unreached people groups and holistic ministry.
• Open DoorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational mission partner supporting persecuted church worldwide. EGS committee supports Open Doors as part of global gospel mission.
• SIM (Serving In Mission) - ShortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrendan Shorts serves with SIM (Serving In Mission). EGS supports Shorts family as mission partners focused on gospel proclamation.
• Bellarine Pastors Network (Tim King)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch actively supports Tim King, leader of Bellarine Pastors Network, fostering collaboration among churches for training, development, and Church without walls vision implementation.
• Red FrogsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative mission partner working with other churches to share the gospel through Red Frogs program in the region.
• Blue MooseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative mission partner working with other churches to share the gospel in the region.
• SUFMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative mission partner (Schools and Youth Ministry) working with other churches for gospel outreach.
• Baptist Churches of VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch By the Bay is part of the Baptist Union family of churches, having joined with Baptist Churches of Victoria a few years prior to 2023.
• Foundation 61minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal drug and rehabilitation ministry. Jules Rock serves as secretary for Foundation 61, connecting church community to this ministry.
• 24/7 PrayercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtilizes official 24/7 Prayer resources for their prayer events and sign-up process. Church participates in 24 Hours of Prayer events using their resources and platform.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB): London church that developed the Alpha course that Church By the Bay actively runs. Directly comparable on programming choice (Alpha evangelism pathway) and on a 'small + prayer + Alpha' ministry footprint, although operating at much larger scale in the UK.
• Hillsong Church: Iconic Australian-origin megachurch network known for worship music, digital delivery, and multi-campus growth. Comparable as the Australian benchmark for church programming scale, though materially larger and more commercialized than Church By the Bay.
• C3 Church Global: Australian-origin global church network with strong local congregation model and contemporary service programming. Comparable as a peer Australian church context and as a reference point for how Australian churches have grown or consolidated over recent years.
• Baptist Union of Victoria: Regional denominational body of which CBTB is an affiliated church. Comparable as the institutional umbrella providing governance, training, and missional standards across a portfolio of similar Baptist congregations in Victoria.
• Saddleback Church: Pioneering church behind the modern 'Life Group' / small-groups model that CBTB directly mirrors. Useful as the archetype for the same discipleship model and for understanding how the Life Group structure can be scaled or stretched across a congregation.
• North Point Church: Andy Stanley's Atlanta-area church; widely used as a reference model for small-group-driven community engagement and life-stage ministry architecture. Comparable on operating philosophy even though its scale is many orders of magnitude larger.

Others

• Open Doors Australia: International persecuted-church mission partner of Church By the Bay's EGS program. Comparable as a faith-based non-profit operating in the same donor ecosystem, although Open Doors is a recipient/supplier relationship rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Crossway Baptist Church: Baptist community church in the Melbourne metropolitan / Victoria region with a comparable local congregation model and small-group focus. Operates a similar scale of community programming and sits within the same Baptist family of churches, making it the most direct reference point for CBTB's day-to-day operating context.
• CityLife Church: Large Australian Baptist/Christian community church emphasizing small groups, youth ministry, and life-stage programming. Conceptually similar ministry architecture (Life Groups, kids/youth, community outreach) operating in the same Australian demographic context as Church By the Bay.

Regional players

• St Jude's Anglican Church Portarlington: Other denomination's congregation in the same Portarlington catchment. Directly comparable in the immediate geographic market and represents the realistic local competitive set for congregants, volunteers, and community outreach funding on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cbtbmediateam7891
• Facebookfacebook.com/churchbythebayportarlington
• Instagraminstagram.com/churchbythebay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/church-by-the-bay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Church By The Bay