Church In The Forest

What Church In The Forest does

Church in the Forest is a private, multi-denominational Christian nonprofit church operating from the award-winning Erdman Chapel on the Stevenson School campus in Pebble Beach, California. Founded September 13, 1987, the church serves the Monterey Peninsula faith community through weekly Sunday worship, pastoral care, Bible study, and seasonal community events, while also operating as a venue for weddings, baptisms, celebrations of life, and concerts. Its music program is anchored by a Greg Harrold Opus 12 baroque pipe organ (built 1992) and a Steinway Model B Grand Piano (acquired 1995) under a Ph.D.-credentialed Music Director, supplemented by guest artists and a Dr. Joe Verska Memorial Music Fund (2022).

The business model is a member-supported nonprofit: annual member pledges supply over 80% of the annual operating budget, with supplementary income from wedding and life-event venue rentals, concerts, general donations via PayPal and Zelle, memorial gifts, and a Legacy Giving program (wills, trusts, estate plans) channeled into a Fund for the Future. The organization employs 5–6 paid staff (pastor, music director, special events coordinator, graphic designer, office administrator) and operates with no parent company, no outside investment, no subsidiaries, and no public equity. Distribution is primarily in-person at Erdman Chapel, with a digital extension through a WordPress-based website and SoundCloud-hosted Sunday sermon archives; programmatic offerings include Sunday Bible Study, Women's Bible Study, Men's Bible Study, Growth Groups, a Prayer Chain, and a Member Care Team for homebound members. Geographic reach is concentrated on the California Monterey Peninsula, with global digital reach only through the SoundCloud archive channel.

Name

Church In The Forest

Legal name

Church in the Forest

Website

https://churchintheforest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Church in the Forest is a multi-denominational Christian nonprofit church founded in 1987, providing worship, pastoral care, weddings, and concerts from Erdman Chapel on the Stevenson School campus in Pebble Beach, California, supported primarily by member pledges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization / Church Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Christian worship services
• Multi-denominational church
• Wedding ceremonies
• Pastoral care
• Religious music ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Pebble Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Pledges and Donations: Annual pledges from church members provide over 80% of annual budget revenue. Members make regular financial commitments as expressions of faith. Donations accepted via PayPal and Zelle ([email protected]).
2. Legacy Giving and Estate Gifts: Members and friends extend financial support through Legacy Gifts in wills, trusts, estate plans, life income gifts, or outright gifts. All Legacy Gifts are invested in the church's Fund for the Future. Legacy givers are honored as members of the Legacy Circle.
3. Memorial Gifts: Memorial Gifts honoring loved ones are gratefully accepted to enhance the mission of the church.
4. Wedding and Life Event Services: The church charges fees for wedding ceremonies and life events. Fees include use of chapel, minister services, organist/pianist, special event coordinator, parking and guest entry to Pebble Beach. Deposits and balance payments required.
5. General Donations: Donations accepted via PayPal and Zelle from visitors and supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Church in the Forest provides multi-denominational Christian worship services, life event ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, celebrations of life), pastoral care, biblical study groups, and a music ministry, all centered in the award-winning Erdman Chapel on the Stevenson School campus in Pebble Beach. The church's offering combines inclusive liturgical worship with high-quality musical performances using a Greg Harrold Opus 12 baroque organ and Steinway Model B Grand Piano. Member pledges fund over 80% of operations, with supplemental revenue from donations, wedding fees, memorial gifts, and legacy giving.

Product overview

Church in the Forest is a multi-denominational Christian church providing spiritual worship, pastoral care, and community services. The organization operates as a unified ministry offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include Sunday worship services held at Erdman Chapel on Stevenson School campus, life event ceremonies (weddings, baptisms, celebrations of life), and music ministry featuring the Greg Harrold Opus 12 organ and Steinway Model B grand piano. Educational programs include Sunday Bible Study, Women's Bible Study, Men's Bible Study, and Growth Groups for fellowship. The church maintains pastoral care services including a Prayer Chain and Member Care Team, alongside giving programs including Legacy Giving, Annual Pledge, and Memorial Gifts. Music ministry extends to concert events and the annual Blessing of the Animals gathering. Past sermons are archived via SoundCloud integration. The church accepts donations through PayPal and Zelle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services featuring scripture-based sermons, hymns from Protestant traditions, prayers, and Holy Communion, with musical accompaniment on the organ and piano. Held at 10:00 AM with music prelude at 9:45 AM, followed by fellowship.
• Wedding Ceremonies Christian wedding ceremonies held in Erdman Chapel, including use of the chapel for rehearsal and event, services of the minister, organist/pianist, special event coordinator, and Pebble Beach parking access for guests. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at booking.
• Baptisms Christian baptism services for individuals and families, conducted with respect and care at Erdman Chapel.
• Celebrations of Life Non-funeral life event ceremonies honoring significant milestones, transitions, or remembrances, held at the church or chapel.
• Music Ministry Concerts and Performances Comprehensive music program featuring professional and amateur guest musicians, choir performances, organ and piano recitals, and special concerts including the annual Carols in the Forest, presented in Erdman Chapel.
• Concert Events Seasonal concerts by church musicians, Bach Festival ticket holders, and visiting performers held in Erdman Chapel's acoustic environment.
• Blessing of the Animals Annual community gathering celebrating beloved animals with special blessings, held each September, open to the wider Monterey Peninsula community.
• Bible Study Groups Multiple weekly Bible study groups including Sunday morning Bible Study (led by Pastor Mike, 9:00–9:40 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room), Women's Bible Study (first and third Tuesdays, led by Rev. Dr. Laura Harbert in Pacific Grove), Men's Bible Study (Thursday mornings), and Growth Groups for fellowship and faith exploration.
• Pastoral Care and Prayer Chain Confidential pastoral consultations provided at the church, coffee spots, homes, or hospitals, with a Member Care Team visiting homebound members. A Prayer Chain enables members to share prayer requests and provide spiritual support.
• Annual Pledge Program Annual giving commitment program where members pledge yearly financial contributions as expressions of faith. Pledge income provides over eighty percent of the revenue for the church's annual budget.
• Legacy Giving Program Planned giving program allowing members and friends to extend financial support through wills, trusts, estate plans, life income gifts, or outright gifts. All Legacy Gifts are invested in the church's Fund for the Future, with honorees recognized as members of the Legacy Circle.
• Memorial Gifts Program Donation program accepting gifts in memory of loved ones to enhance the mission and programs of the church.
• Sunday Sermon Archives Online archive of past Sunday services and sermons available for streaming and replay through SoundCloud, accessible via the church website.

Named customers3 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stevenson SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch in the Forest is located in the award-winning Erdman Chapel at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach. The chapel was designed by architect John Lyon Reid. The church was conceived by Joseph Wandke, President of Stevenson School, and the church is situated on the Stevenson School campus among the Monterey Pines of Del Monte Forest.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (Belvedere): Episcopal parish in coastal Marin County offering worship, music, weddings, and pastoral care in an affluent residential setting. Comparable in worship model and life-event programming, though serving a different geographic market.

Broad incumbents

• La Jolla Presbyterian Church: Larger Presbyterian congregation in coastal La Jolla with extensive music, education, and wedding ministries. Comparable as a multi-program Christian congregation in an affluent coastal California community.
• Wayfarers Chapel: Iconic glass-and-redwood chapel in Palos Verdes designed by Lloyd Wright, known for weddings and architectural significance. Comparable as a destination chapel venue with a similar nature-immersed setting, though operating at a larger scale and as a nonprofit affiliated with the Swedenborgian Church.

Direct peers

• St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Pacific Grove): Episcopal congregation in Pacific Grove offering worship, music, weddings, and pastoral care on the Monterey Peninsula. Comparable in denominational roots, scale, and life-event services.
• Carmel Presbyterian Church: Presbyterian congregation in Carmel where Pastor Mike Harbert previously served as Associate Pastor. Comparable in worship model, music ministry, and Monterey Peninsula community focus.
• All Saints' Episcopal Church (Carmel): Historic Episcopal congregation in Carmel serving the Monterey Peninsula with worship, music programs, weddings, and pastoral care. Comparable in scale, denominational heritage, and community-led outreach to Church in the Forest.
• Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula: Non-denominational Christian church serving the Monterey Peninsula community with worship services, life-event ceremonies, and outreach programming. Directly comparable as a community-driven congregation of similar size.
• Church of the Wayfarer: A small, well-established Christian congregation in Carmel-by-the-Sea offering Sunday worship, music ministry, weddings, and community events to the Monterey Peninsula. Closely comparable in mission, scale, and service mix to Church in the Forest.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/church-in-the-forest

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 Church In The Forest