Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Raymore, MO

What Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Raymore, MO does

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a non-profit congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) located at 310 Johnston Pkwy in Raymore, Missouri, founded in the fall of 1986. The organization delivers Christian worship, faith formation, and community outreach to a local membership base plus the surrounding Raymore/Cass County community. Its core offering consists of two Sunday morning worship services (8:00 and 10:45 AM) with rotating Holy Communion, supplemented by Sunday School, Confirmation, Vacation Bible School, and a broad portfolio of small-group ministries (Adult Bible Class, Adult Midweek, Catechism Club, Men's Bible Study, LWML women's group, Quilters, Bunco, Seasoned Saints).

The church operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, Guiding Star Preschool, which provides Christ-centered half-day, full-day, and daily preschool programs for ages 3-5, Monday through Friday. Supporting infrastructure includes Facebook Live streaming of the 8:00 AM service, a YouTube channel, Zoom-enabled hybrid Bible classes, an audio sermon archive, a document library, the weekly Starlett newsletter, and a member directory built on Instant Church Directory.

Revenue mechanics are entirely donation- and tuition-based. Bethlehem solicits voluntary tithes and offerings through in-person collections supplemented by recurring electronic giving via Shelby Giving and Simply Giving by Thrivent Financial, while Guiding Star Preschool generates fee-based revenue from its early-childhood programs. Pastoral leadership has been continuous under Rev. Dr. Matthew D. Priem since 2009, with staff headcount reported at 6 employees, and the organization is governed locally by a Staff, Governance Board, and Elder structure under LCMS doctrinal standards.

Name

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Raymore, MO

Legal name

Bethlehem Lutheran Church-LCMS

Website

https://bethlehem-raymore.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is an LCMS-affiliated non-profit congregation in Raymore, Missouri, delivering Sunday worship, faith formation, and small-group ministry to local members, and operating Guiding Star Preschool as a wholly-owned early-childhood subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Worship Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Child Care Services (6244), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN)

Keywords

• Christian worship services
• Religious education programs
• Christ-centered preschool
• Lutheran congregation ministries
• Community faith outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Raymore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Church receives voluntary tithes and offerings from congregation members during worship services and through online giving platforms to support ministry and mission.
2. Electronic Giving: Online giving through Shelby Giving platform and Simply Giving by Thrivent Financial for electronic funds transfer (EFT) with weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly recurring donation options.
3. Guiding Star Preschool Tuition: Guiding Star Preschool, a ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, offers daily, half-day, and full-time preschool programs for ages 3-5, Monday-Friday.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bethlehem Lutheran Church delivers Christian worship services, faith formation programming, and Christ-centered preschool education as a single congregation affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Its primary offering is Sunday worship with Holy Communion (8:00 and 10:45 AM services, live streamed to Facebook), complemented by Children's Ministry (Sunday School, Confirmation, VBS), adult Bible studies and small groups, and the wholly-owned Guiding Star Preschool serving ages 3-5. The church also operates community outreach ministries including disaster response (LERT) and grief support (Hearts of Mercy & Compassion).

Product overview

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a single-unified ministry offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering centers on Sunday worship services (8:00 and 10:45 am) with live streaming, complemented by Children's Ministry (Sunday School, Confirmation, VBS) and the affiliated Guiding Star Preschool. Supporting programs include Bible Studies and Small Groups for all ages, Audio Sermons for virtual attendance, Online Giving through multiple platforms, a Document Library for schedules and resources, and community outreach ministries including LERT disaster response and Hearts of Mercy & Compassion. These products function as an integrated church ministry ecosystem rather than discrete software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Sunday morning worship services held at 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM, with combined services on special occasions. Holy Communion celebrated on rotating Sundays. The 8:00 AM service is live streamed to Facebook for virtual attendance. Designed for congregation members, prospective visitors, and the broader Raymore community.
• Children's Ministry Faith formation programming for children from Parents & Twos through Senior High, including Sunday School, Confirmation instruction, Children's Midweek programs (spring and fall), and annual Vacation Bible School. Designed for congregation families and community children seeking biblical education and faith development.
• Guiding Star Preschool Christ-centered early childhood education ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church offering daily, half-day, and full-time programs Monday-Friday for ages 3-5 years. Curriculum features daily devotion, chapel time, Bible stories, and Christian living application in a stimulating educational environment. Designed for parents seeking faith-integrated preschool education for their children.
• Bible Studies and Small Groups Multiple Bible study and fellowship opportunities including Adult Bible Class (Sundays), Adult Midweek Bible Study (Wednesdays, with Zoom option), Catechism Club (youth), Men's Bible Study, Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), Bunco fellowship, Quilting ministry, and Seasoned Saints seniors group. Designed for adults and seniors seeking ongoing faith education, fellowship, and community engagement.
• Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Disaster Response Disaster response ministry jointly operated with St Matthew, Lee's Summit since 2025, serving the Western District of Missouri. Provides resources for disaster preparation and offers relief and recovery assistance to those affected by tragedy as part of LCMS Lutheran Early Response Teams. Designed for communities affected by natural disasters and emergencies.
• Hearts of Mercy & Compassion Ministry providing physical and spiritual symbols (hearts and crosses) to families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness, sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. Operated through Lutheran Church Charities with Bethlehem contact Roger Fox. Designed for grieving families and individuals experiencing serious illness.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St Matthew, Lee's Summit (LERT Team)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, Bethlehem joined forces with St Matthew, Lee's Summit to create a NEW LERT team for the Western District of Missouri. Lutheran Early Response Teams (LCMS ministry) offers resources to help prepare for disasters, and provides relief and recovery assistance to those affected by tragedy.
• Guiding Star PreschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuiding Star Preschool is an outreach ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, providing strength and support to parents in raising their children in a caring, Christ-centered atmosphere. The preschool offers daily, half-day, and full-time preschool programs for ages 3-5, Monday-Friday, with curriculum focused on exploring God's world and growing within His love.
• Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethlehem is a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which provides doctrinal guidance, resources, news, events, and network support. Bethlehem accepts and teaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther and subscribes unconditionally to all symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
• Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LWML is an official auxiliary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, focused on affirming women's relationship with Christ, encouraging active mission ministries, and supporting global missions. Bethlehem's LWML group participates in mission projects and Love in Action activities.
• Lutheran High School of Kansas CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLutheran High-KC prepares students for today, tomorrow, and eternity in a diverse, compassionate Christian school setting. Students develop skills to prepare for universities while understanding their identity as children of God.
• Campus Ministry NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus Ministry Network helps students, parents, and church workers find their school and get connected to campus ministry resources through molcms.college.
• Lutheran Church Charities - Hearts of MercyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHearts of Mercy & Compassion provides physical and spiritual symbols (hearts and crosses) to families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness, sharing the hope of Jesus Christ. Bethlehem contact is Roger Fox.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Cadence Education: Premier operator of private early childhood education programs in the U.S., operating over 200 schools under multiple brand names. Comparable to Guiding Star Preschool in core service (tuition-based preschool and early childhood care), competitive overlap in the same parent demographic, and similar monthly billing cadence.
• Primrose Schools: Large national private preschool franchise offering early childhood education (ages 6 weeks to pre-K) with a proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum. Comparable to Guiding Star Preschool in core product (tuition-funded early childhood education for ages 3-5) and target market (working families seeking structured preschool), though secular rather than faith-based.
• Guidepost Montessori: Large national network of private Montessori schools serving infants through elementary. Comparable to Guiding Star Preschool in core product (private, tuition-funded early childhood education), parent demographic (educated, working families), and recurring monthly billing model — though operating a different pedagogical framework.

Others

• Lutheran Church Charities: LCMS-aligned ministry partner of Bethlehem, providing the Hearts of Mercy & Compassion program that Bethlehem distributes locally. Comparable as an LCMS ministry organization offering faith-based community services and disaster response (K-9 Comfort Dogs) — operates at a much larger national scale but in overlapping mission space.
• Concordia Seminary: LCMS seminary in St. Louis where Bethlehem's pastor completed formation. Functions as the upstream supplier of LCMS pastors and doctrinal resources — comparable in LCMS doctrinal alignment and theological mission, though operating at the seminary-education level rather than congregational level.
• Lutheran High School of Kansas City: LCMS-affiliated college-prep high school in the Kansas City area explicitly listed as a Bethlehem partner. Functions as the next-stage educational pipeline for Bethlehem's youth — comparable in LCMS identity and Christ-centered mission, though operating at high-school rather than congregational level.

Direct peers

• Concordia Lutheran School: LCMS-affiliated K-8 Lutheran school system offering faith-integrated education in the Kansas City region. Comparable to Bethlehem in denominational affiliation, faith-based mission orientation, and operation of education programs (Sunday school equivalent) — though anchored in K-8 rather than preschool.
• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Lee's Summit: Nearby LCMS congregation in Lee's Summit, MO that partnered with Bethlehem in 2025 to form a joint Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) for the Western District of Missouri. Operates as a comparable LCMS parish with worship, children's ministry, and community outreach — directly comparable in denomination, scale, and operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bethlehemlutheranchurch7394
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bethlehem.Raymore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bethlehem-lutheran-church-raymore-mo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Raymore, MO