City Church

What City Church does

City Church is a non-profit religious organization headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, operating as an affiliated church within the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies (FCA) movement. It is led by Lead Pastor Tom Flaherty, with Chris Lanser serving in a Business Pastor/CFO administrative capacity, and operates with approximately 65 employees. Its core product is congregational ministry — in-person worship services, age-stratified programming for children through adults, small-group community, and pastoral care — delivered primarily to local Madison-area residents, with a supplemental global missions footprint extending internationally.

The church runs an integrated ministry ecosystem rather than a single product. It maintains partnership-based K-12 education through Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS), supports higher-education ministry through Christian Life College-Madison, and reaches audiences beyond its physical campus via a broadcast partnership with 97X Radio. A global missions program extends engagement and fundraising reach internationally. Together these sub-brands form a multi-generational, multi-channel ministry stack designed to retain members across life stages and reduce single-point dependency on the Sunday worship service.

Its business model is non-profit and contribution-based: there are no priced products or subscription tiers. Operating revenue is generated through tithes, offerings, and donations from congregants and supporters, augmented by fundraising for capital projects such as the 2026 facility expansion. The 2026 building program represents a significant capital commitment and signals both physical capacity growth and continued reinvestment in on-site programming. Pricing model is effectively "free at point of consumption" with voluntary, recurring member giving as the underlying revenue mechanic; the target segment is local Madison-area Christian congregants and extended donor/mission networks.

Name

City Church

Legal name

City Church Madison

Website

https://citychurchonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

City Church is a non-profit religious organization in Madison, Wisconsin, affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies and led by Pastor Tom Flaherty, serving local congregants through worship, K-12 and higher-education partnerships, broadcast media, and global missions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services (Church / Worship)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Services (611), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA), Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Worship services
• Religious education
• Community ministries
• Theological training
• Faith-based programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: The primary revenue stream comes from member tithes and offerings collected during Sunday services (in-person via Giving Boxes), online through the MyWell platform, or by mail. Donors can give one-time or recurring gifts and may link bank accounts or use debit/credit cards.
2. Non-Cash Giving: Accepts appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs) and property donations (vehicles) with potential for greater tax benefit compared to selling and donating cash.
3. Marriage Counseling Fees: Premarital counseling offered at $35 per couple.
4. AWANA Registration: Children's ministry program AWANA/Ignite with registration fee of $30 covering handbooks, uniforms, activities, prizes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

City Church Madison is a multi-generational evangelical church that delivers weekly Sunday worship services (8:30 AM and 11 AM) with contemporary music and biblical teaching, supported by a broad ecosystem of life-stage ministries (children, youth, young adults, women, men, seniors, marriage, freedom/recovery) and on-site programmatic infrastructure such as The Prayer Room, Christian Life College-Madison, and an accredited K-12 school partnership. Services and content are also distributed online via live streaming, podcasts, and recorded media, while funding flows through voluntary tithes, online giving, and program fees.

Product overview

City Church Madison is a multi-generational church organization offering a unified ministry portfolio centered on Sunday worship services and extensive programming across all life stages. The core offerings include weekly Sunday worship services (in-person and live-streamed) complemented by specialized ministry sub-brands: Men's, Women's, Young Adults, Prime Time Senior Adults, City Kids (children nursery-5th grade), ACTIVATE Youth (7th-12th grade), Marriage, Worship + Arts, and Prayer ministries. Additional programs include The Prayer Room, Freedom Ministry, Missions + Outreach, Life Structure recovery support, Library, Culture Council, and Christian Life College-Madison (accredited degree program). Supporting platforms include Online Giving (MyWell/Subsplash), Media Library (YouTube/Castos podcasts), and Church Center for registrations. The church is affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• City Kids: Children's ministry for infants through 6th grade featuring worship, prayer, and teaching on the lower level during services
• ACTIVATE
• The Prayer Room
• Prime Time
• House of Prayer

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly worship services held at 8:30 AM and 11 AM on Sundays at 4909 East Buckeye Road, Madison, WI, featuring contemporary worship songs, preaching, and community gatherings. Services are also live-streamed online via Facebook and YouTube with closed captioning.
• Men's Ministry Ministry program for men focused on connection to God, His Word, and other men for spiritual growth, accountability, and fellowship through events like Men's Breakfast and Men's Retreat.
• Women's Ministry Ministry empowering women in their relationship with Christ through Bible study, events, retreats, and community gatherings, including the annual Women's Retreat at Green Lake Conference Center.
• Young Adults Ministry Ministry serving young adults (post-high school through 20s/30s) focused on fellowship and spiritual growth through Thursday night gatherings, Guys/Gals Connect Groups, social events, and Beholding Nights.
• Prime Time Senior Adults Ministry Ministry for adults 50+ offering monthly gatherings, trips, activities, and a Connect Group for fellowship and community.
• City Kids Ministry Children's ministry for infants through 5th grade offering Sunday programming, Wednesday AWANA/Ignite clubs, VBS, and special events with age-appropriate Bible teaching and activities.
• ACTIVATE Youth Ministry Youth ministry for students in 7th-12th grade meeting Wednesday evenings for worship, prayer, teaching, and small groups in the Youth Center.
• Marriage Ministry Ministry offering wedding preparation with mentoring couples, premarital counseling using SYMBIS assessment ($35 per couple), marriage enrichment classes, and crisis support resources.
• Prayer Ministry Ministry featuring Tuesday Night Prayer meetings, House of Prayer every Monday night 6:30-8:30 PM, Healing Prayer, Prophetic Prayer, and Freedom Prayer ministries.
• The Prayer Room Dedicated space for prayer, worship, and personal Bible study open 6 AM-6 PM Monday through Friday, featuring private prayer rooms, Freedom Prayer sessions, and Healing Prayer ministry.
• Freedom Ministry Ministry committed to bringing freedom and healing through Jesus to those bound by lies, fears, emotional wounds, or oppression, offering Freedom Prayer sessions on select Thursday evenings.
• Missions + Outreach Ministry supporting both global missions (missionary families in the U.S., Central/South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, India, and Asia) and local community partnerships, with annual Fall Missions Conference and Faith Promise giving.
• Life Structure Ministry Recovery and support ministry offering counseling, mentoring, accountability, and resources for those seeking freedom from alcohol, drugs, and harmful habits, including Celebrate Recovery and AA meetings.
• Christian Life College - Madison Accredited college program offering Associate of Arts in Christian Studies degree and Certificate in Christian Studies, with in-person classes taught by local pastors and faculty.
• Abundant Life Christian School (campus partnership) K-12 accredited Abundant Life Christian School located on the City Church campus, offering educational programs from kindergarten through high school and housing the AWANA clubs and Ignite program.
• 97x Radio Christian radio outreach broadcasting to neighborhoods surrounding City Church and the greater Madison area from studios on the City Church campus, targeting the younger generation.
• Alpha Course 10-week series exploring the Christian faith through shared meals and conversations, held twice yearly in spring and fall with groups closed after the third week.
• Annual Events and Conferences Annual events including the Intimacy With God Conference, Missions Conference, as well as VBS, Men's Retreat ($110 adults, $100 early bird by Aug 15, $50 youth), Women's Retreat, Alpha Course, and School of the Bible classes.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 75% of missions funds go directly to monthly support for missionaries on the field
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA fully accredited K-12 school located on the City Church campus whose mission is to develop students committed to disciples of Jesus Christ through excellent, comprehensive, Biblically-integrated education. ALCS houses AWANA clubs and Ignite program.
• Christian Life CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian Life College-Madison is an off-campus program of Christian Life College (Mount Prospect, Illinois) offering Associate of Arts in Christian Studies degree and Certificate in Christian Studies. Fully accredited by the Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries.
• Fellowship of Christian AssembliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity Church is affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, a denominational organization providing doctrinal oversight, ministerial credentials, and fellowship with other like-minded churches.
• Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane CountyminorOthersLocal ministry partner supported by City Church through missions giving and community outreach.
• Ethical Trading CominorOthersLocal ministry partner in ethical trading.
• Extended Hands PantryminorOthersLocal food pantry ministry.
• International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES)minorOthersInternational campus ministry organization with local chapter.
• Love First MinistriesminorOthersMinistry supporting foster families with Placement Packs including clothing, toiletries, shoes. Also supports low-income families in the community.
• Outside the WallsminorOthersLocal ministry outreach partner.
• Shelter From the Storm Ministries Inc.minorOthersLocal ministry providing shelter and support services.
• 97x RadiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChristian radio outreach broadcasting to neighborhoods surrounding City Church and greater Madison area, targeting younger generation with attractive media alternative. Located on City Church campus.
• International House of Prayer (IHOP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouse of Prayer at City Church is modeled after the IHOP-KC (Kansas City) 24/7 prayer and worship concept, based on the tabernacle of David model.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northland Church: Multi-site evangelical church affiliated with the Acts 29 Network, offering contemporary worship and family ministries. Comparable in ministry structure and contemporary worship model, though operating a multi-site model.
• The Vine Church Madison: Madison-area evangelical church focused on contemporary worship and small-group community. Direct peer operating in the same geographic market with similar target demographic.
• Crossroads Church (Madison, WI): Madison-based evangelical congregation offering contemporary worship and life-stage ministries. Direct peer competing for the same Madison Christian demographic with overlapping ministry structures.
• Blackhawk Church: Large multi-campus evangelical church based in Madison, WI. Direct geographic and functional peer — comparable non-denominational/evangelical Christian church serving the same Madison metro with similar multi-generational ministry programming.

Broad incumbents

• Elevation Church: Large multi-site evangelical church with strong digital media and broadcast presence. Comparable as a broad incumbent in contemporary evangelical ministry with parallel investment in media distribution.
• Life.Church: One of the largest multi-site churches in the U.S., creator of the Church Center / Planning Center ecosystem that City Church uses. Comparable as a broad evangelical ministry operator, but at significantly larger scale with digital innovation focus.

Emerging players

• International House of Prayer (IHOP): Kansas City-based 24/7 prayer and worship movement whose model City Church's House of Prayer is directly patterned after. Comparable niche in sustained prayer ministry with overlap in theological emphasis.

Others

• Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS): K-12 accredited Christian school co-located on City Church's campus. Ecosystem partner rather than competitor — provides educational programming and shared facility relationship.
• Christian Life College: Mount Prospect, IL-based accredited theological college whose Madison off-campus program is hosted by City Church. Ecosystem partner rather than peer, providing the educational accreditation that underwrites CLC-Madison.
• Fellowship of Christian Assemblies: Denominational network to which City Church is affiliated. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem participant providing doctrinal oversight and ministerial credentials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CityChurchofMadison
• Facebookfacebook.com/citychurchmadison
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries2 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 City Church