Black Rock Church

What Black Rock Church does

Black Rock Church (legal name: Black Rock Congregational Church) is a non-denominational Christian church founded in 1849 in Fairfield, Connecticut, currently led by Senior Pastor Joshua Feay (appointed November 2024, succeeding Dr. Stephen A. Treash who served 1997-2024). The church operates a multi-site ministry with its primary 76,000 square foot, debt-free facility on an 18-acre campus at 3685 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, a secondary Easton campus (Growth Center opened June 2024 for counseling via Renew Counseling partnership), and a former Stamford location (Black Rock Long Ridge, 2007) now being converted into intern housing. It serves thousands of congregation members weekly through five Sunday worship services spanning Traditional (8:30 AM), Contemporary (9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM), and Young Adults/Sanctuary (5:00 PM) formats, plus age-specific ministries covering children (Birth-Grade 5), students (Grades 6-12), young adults (18-35), and adults.

The church's core programs include Sunday worship services, age-segregated discipleship ministries, 40+ community groups across 11+ Fairfield County towns, Living Free support groups, global missions supporting 50+ partners in 27 countries (including Chikondi TV reaching nearly 1 million viewers across 45 countries in 5 languages), local community engagement with 10+ partner organizations, and care services including counseling, financial assistance, and prayer support. Its content distribution spans a 1,571-sermon archive, YouTube channel (live streaming of two Sunday services), Spotify podcast, and social media across Facebook and Instagram. Technology infrastructure consists of the Realm church management platform (third-party SaaS) for member communication, online giving, and connect forms; no proprietary technology products are developed.

Revenue is generated exclusively through tithes, offerings, and capital campaign contributions from congregation members and donors, with no disclosed financial figures. The church employs approximately 37 staff (firmographics) to 50+ (historical references), led by Executive Pastor Kevin Butterfield and Executive Director & Missions Pastor Jeremy Taylor, governed by a Board of Elders chaired by Shew Lee. The church was debt-free as of November 2022 following a $12 million facility construction project, and celebrated 175 years of continuous operation in 2024.

Name

Black Rock Church

Legal name

Black Rock Congregational Church

Website

https://blackrock.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1849

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Rock Church is a 175-year-old non-denominational Christian church in Fairfield, Connecticut, operating a multi-site ministry that serves thousands weekly through Sunday worship, age-specific discipleship programs, 40+ community groups, global missions in 27 countries, and local community engagement, funded entirely by congregational tithes and offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Christian church ministries
• Community small groups
• Global missions program
• Pastoral care counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from congregation members through traditional and digital giving methods. The church offers online giving through Realm (onrealm.org/blackrock/-/give/now), mobile giving options, and in-person collection during services.
2. Ramsey+ Membership: Partnership with Ramsey Solutions providing financial peace university content, suggesting a referral or partnership revenue stream.
3. Capital Campaigns: One-time and recurring fundraising campaigns for facility expansions and special initiatives. The church raised over $12 million for the Lighthouse Project facility expansion and completed paying off the 76,000 square foot facility in November 2022.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Black Rock Church is a non-profit religious organization that provides weekly Christian worship services in multiple styles (Traditional, Contemporary, and Young Adults) along with age-specific ministries for children, students, young adults, and families. It operates community groups, support groups, global missions programs, pastoral care and counseling services, a summer day camp, and discipleship courses, supported by digital channels including sermon archives, podcasts, and YouTube streaming.

Product overview

Black Rock Church offers a comprehensive suite of ministry programs and services centered around its mission to 'Love God, Love People, Serve Our World.' The church operates as a multi-generational, family-friendly congregation with Sunday worship services in Traditional, Contemporary, and Young Adults formats. Core programs include age-specific ministries (Kids, Students, Adults), small groups (Community Groups, Topic-Based, Living Free Support), Global Missions with partners in 27 countries, and local Community Engagement initiatives. The church also provides pastoral care services through Black Rock Cares, baptism and membership programs, and serves as a hub for missions outreach including the long-running Summer Adventure day camp. Digital ministry is supported through online sermon archives, podcasts, and YouTube streaming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sanctuary: Young adult ministry (18-35 year olds) with Sunday evening worship service, small groups, and events
• Summer Adventure
• Ignite
• Black Rock Global Kids
• Black Rock Cares
• Second Saturday Serving
• Fifth Sunday Donations
• Embark
• Black Rock Global Missions

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services offered in multiple styles: Traditional at 8:30 AM, Contemporary at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 12:00 PM, and Young Adults/Sanctuary at 5:00 PM. Designed for multi-generational families and individuals.
• Sanctuary (Young Adults Ministry) Dedicated young adult ministry for ages 18-35 featuring Sunday evening worship service at 5:00 PM, Midweek Summer Nights, Ignite College Ministry, and Connect Parties.
• Kids Ministry Children's ministry serving newborns through Grade 5 with Sunday Kids Church, Kids Midweek programs (Wednesdays), Summer Adventure day camp, and Black Rock Global Kids missions education.
• Student Ministry Youth ministry for grades 6-12 featuring Fusion (high school), Thrive (middle school), Deep End, summer events, and retreats. All programming is free and open to the community.
• Groups (Community, Topic-Based, Living Free Support) Small group ministry including Community Groups for Bible study and fellowship, Topic-Based Groups for focused study, and Living Free Support Groups for those facing challenges such as grief, anxiety, divorce, and addiction.
• Global Missions International missions program supporting over 50 partner families and organizations in 27 countries, including mission trips, prayer partnerships, and financial support for global outreach.
• Community Engagement Local outreach and service programs partnering with organizations including Bridgeport Rescue Mission, Hopeline, Operation Hope, Urban Impact, and others, featuring Second Saturday Serving and Fifth Sunday Donations initiatives.
• Membership Program Church membership program requiring a personal commitment to follow Jesus, completion of the 7-week Embark course, and active participation in serving teams or groups.
• Embark Discipleship Course A 7-week group course exploring what it means to believe in Jesus, surrender to His will, and grow in relationship with God, serving as the church's primary discipleship framework.
• Baptism Baptism services by immersion for believers, including adult and student baptism interest forms and educational resources about the meaning and practice of baptism.
• Serving Teams Volunteer ministry opportunities across multiple areas including Guest Connections, Community Engagement, Kids Ministry, Student Ministry, Worship, Adult Discipleship, Multilingual Ministry, and Production & Tech.
• Black Rock Cares (Care & Prayer) Support services including pastoral counseling, financial assistance, meals, transportation, funeral planning, support groups, and prayer ministries for church and community members.
• Summer Adventure Day Camp Summer day camp program for kids entering Grades 1-9, running for over 50 years as a fun, safe environment for spiritual growth and community building.
• SHINE (Special Needs Ministry) Ministry providing support and accommodations for individuals with special needs to participate in church programs alongside their peers.
• Pre-Engagement and Pre-Marriage Preparation An 8-week mentorship program for seriously dating or engaged couples to assess relational strengths, prepare for marriage, and evaluate their relationship readiness.
• Gap Year / Global Intern Program Program for missions-minded young adults ages 18-26 to explore and prepare for potential missionary calling through structured guidance and experience.
• Online Media (Sermons, Podcast, YouTube) Digital content including sermon archives, podcast episodes available on Spotify, and YouTube channel with live streaming and recorded services.
• Black Rock Global Kids Family missions project engaging kids in learning about missions, praying, and supporting global partners.
• Growth Center (Counseling) Counseling center at the Easton property providing professional counseling services through partnership with Renew Counseling.
• Online Giving Voluntary financial giving through Realm (onrealm.org/blackrock), mobile giving, and in-person collection; the church's primary funding mechanism.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaching nearly 1 million estimated viewers through Chikondi TV program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chikondi AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to bring 13 new Bible-based TV and YouTube episodes to kids across the Middle East and Africa (March 2026-February 2027). Chikondi is a TV program promoting godly character, preparing children for the future, and introducing Christ to whole families through engaging storytelling. Broadcasting in 5 languages across 45 countries, reaching nearly 1 million estimated viewers.
• Seeds of Hope (Erin Duerr)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop three vegetable gardens helping feed over 300 children in Nigeria (March 2025-February 2026).
• Living Water InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to implement sustainable Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs in South Asia. Guided by concern for whole person - physical and spiritual - believing only Jesus can truly transform people and heal factors leading to poverty, hunger, and thirst.
• HomeBridge VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides comprehensive trauma-informed healing, job training and placement, and supportive environment for formerly incarcerated residents.
• Pivot MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBible-based in-residence recovery program for men treating drug and alcohol addiction as a spiritual problem and returning men to their families usefully whole.
• Hopeline Pregnancy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChrist-centered, pro-life pregnancy center offering hope and support to women and families facing unplanned pregnancies.
• Urban ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth in the low-income, PT Barnum public housing community of Bridgeport.
• Operation HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides services to neighbors in Fairfield who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Bridgeport Rescue MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides vital services to men, women, and children facing hunger, homelessness, and addiction by offering help to heal and return to community whole.
• Partnership to End Human Trafficking (PEHT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides survivors of human trafficking a pathway toward healing and independence through community outreach, residential recovery, and economic empowerment.
• Renew CounselingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership at Growth Center Easton property opened June 2024 for professional counseling services, serving many people through Renew Counseling.
• Walnut Hill Community ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1981, with support from Black Rock leadership, 7 Black Rock families in the Danbury area began laying foundation for what became Walnut Hill Community Church - one of the largest churches in New England alongside Black Rock.
• Center Community ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 1979, Black Rock 'adopted' a Cambodian refugee family which brought other Cambodians to worship at Black Rock. In 2004, Black Rock's Cambodian Fellowship became an independent church called Center Community Church.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North Coast Church: Multi-site church in San Diego County, California, known for its small-group 'NCN' model and contemporary + traditional service options. Comparable to Black Rock's community-group network and dual worship-style approach.
• Life.Church: One of the largest multi-site churches in the U.S. with a strong online/digital church presence (Church Online Platform) and free digital content. Comparable in multi-style services, Open House-style newcomer pathways, and national digital reach — analogous to Black Rock's YouTube/podcast strategy.
• Elevation Church: Multi-site church based in Charlotte, NC, with strong contemporary worship and young-adult programming (Elevation Worship brand). Comparable to Black Rock's Sanctuary young-adult ministry and contemporary service style.
• Summit Church: Large multi-site church in Durham, NC, with strong next-steps pathway, baptism culture, and digital content distribution. Comparable to Black Rock's baptism, membership, and Embark discipleship course offerings.
• Walnut Hill Community Church: Large non-denominational church in Bethel, Connecticut — explicitly identified in Black Rock's history as a church plant supported by Black Rock families in 1981. Same Connecticut geography, similar multi-generational model, and described as 'one of the largest churches in New England' alongside Black Rock.
• Saddleback Church: Large multi-site church in Lake Forest, California, with a global church-planting network (PEACE Plan) and global missions partnerships in 196+ countries. Closely comparable to Black Rock on global-missions scale, multi-generational programming, and leadership-transition dynamics.
• North Point Community Church: Large multi-site non-denominational church in metro Atlanta led by Andy Stanley. Comparable on multi-site strategy, strategy-driven (vs. program-driven) ministry philosophy, and emphasis on next-steps small group engagement — closely matching Black Rock's 'process-based' approach.
• Willow Creek Community Church: Pioneering large multi-site church in suburban Chicago known for seeker-sensitive services and small-group strategy. Comparable on multi-style worship (Traditional/Contemporary) and community-group depth that mirrors Black Rock's 40+ small groups.
• Church of the Highlands: Large multi-site church in Birmingham, Alabama, with strong small-group model and contemporary service programming. Comparable in the structured 'groups + serving teams + membership' pathway that mirrors Black Rock's Next Steps framework.

Emerging players

• Chikondi Adventures: Bible-based media ministry producing the Chikondi TV program reaching ~1 million viewers in 5 languages across 45 countries, and a Black Rock strategic partner. Highly relevant as a comparable faith-based broadcasting and global-media peer — mapping to MPABALAN-style broadcasting activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/blackrockchurchct
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackRockChurch
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackrockchurch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackrockchurch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles57 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Black Rock Church