Counties

What Counties does

Counties is a Christian charity registered in England and Wales (Charity No. 264278, Company No. 01041761), founded circa 1899 and recently rebranded from Counties Evangelism to Counties. The organisation's core function is inspiring and equipping local churches to make Jesus known, delivered through a portfolio of programmes organised around four pillars: evangelist training (Connect Evangelist Training Programme - CETP, a six-module online course; Project 125, aiming to raise 125 church-based evangelists over three years), schools engagement (GSUS Live for secondary RE and the Life Exhibition multi-media experience for primary schools, collectively reaching tens of thousands of pupils annually), church support (Counties Connect Network covering ~170 churches, Church Revitalisation Project engaging 60 churches, and Church Planting Training with GLO Europe and M4 Europe), and community chaplaincy (Neighbourhood Chaplains - 194 trained chaplains; FRANKS Missions methodology). Counties also publishes Ignite Magazine quarterly, runs BarnFest (~900 attendees from 80+ churches) and the annual Connect Conference, and operates Chatnow.org for online evangelism.

Underlying technology is not a differentiator: Counties is non-software in its value proposition. Its digital stack consists of a Squarespace website, Stripe payments (139 countries), Mailchimp for supporter communications, Eventbrite for event registration, and partnerships with Stewardship and Charities Aid Foundation for donation processing. CETP is delivered through the Equipping Churches UK platform. Pricing and revenue are donation-based rather than transactional: the organisation does not charge for core services; training programmes request voluntary donations; CETP is funded at approximately £1,750 per evangelist raised; GSUS Live and Life Exhibition are provided free to schools, sponsored by churches and Counties. The revenue model rests on individual donations (regular and one-time, Gift Aid-reclaimed), church partnerships, trust and foundation grants (including The Evangelization Society), and legacy gifts, with a community-led go-to-market relying on word-of-mouth, the church network, and content marketing (Ignite Magazine, podcasts, regional events). Operating geographies are England and Wales with Northern Ireland activity via Life Exhibition. Leadership is CEO Martin Erwin with COO/Trustee-backed safeguarding; the organisation is governed by a board of trustees and headquartered in Westbury, Wiltshire.

Name

Counties

Legal name

Counties

Website

https://countiesuk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-based nonprofit services (evangelism and church support)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

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 & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF), Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Evangelism training
• Church planting support
• Religious education resources
• Community chaplaincy
• Church revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Westbury, Wiltshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Counties receives donations from individual supporters who contribute regularly or as one-time gifts. Donations can be made via card payments through Stripe, bank transfers, standing orders, and legacy gifts. The organization maximises donations through Gift Aid claims with HMRC.
2. Church Partnerships: Churches become supporters of Counties, gaining access to resources, training, and network connections. Churches provide financial support as part of their mission giving.
3. Trust and Foundation Grants: Counties receives grants from trusts and charitable foundations including The Evangelization Society (Counties grants).
4. Legacy Gifts: Supporters can leave a legacy to Counties in their will, providing long-term sustainable funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Counties is a UK Christian charity that inspires and equips local churches to make Jesus known through a national network of 42 evangelists, training programmes, school RE resources, and community chaplaincy. It offers the Connect Evangelist Training Programme (CETP), GSUS Live and Life Exhibition multi-media school resources, Church Revitalisation and Church Planting support, Neighbourhood Chaplains community outreach, the One2Lead youth programme, Chatnow.org online evangelism, and events such as BarnFest and the Connect Conference. The charity is funded by individual donations, church partnerships, trust grants, and legacy gifts, and operates primarily across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Product overview

Counties is a Christian charity (formerly Counties Evangelism) offering a portfolio of interconnected evangelism products and services for local churches. The core offering includes the Connect Evangelist Training Programme (CETP) for equipping church members in evangelism, school RE resources (GSUS Live for secondary schools and Life Exhibition for primary schools), Neighbourhood Chaplains community outreach, Church Planting and Church Revitalisation support, youth programme One2Lead, and annual events including BarnFest festival and Connect Conference. Supporting resources include Ignite Magazine (quarterly publication), FRANKS Missions methodology, and Project 125 initiative for raising local church evangelists. The organization also operates Chatnow.org for online evangelism. These products work together to fulfill Counties' mission of making Jesus known through inspiring and equipping local churches across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Counties Connect: A network for churches focused on the Great Commission, providing regional networking, training, and support for church leaders.
• GSUS Live
• Life Exhibition
• Connect Evangelist Training Programme (CETP)
• Neighbourhood Chaplains
• Church Revitalisation Project

Products and services

• Connect Evangelist Training Programme (CETP) A six-module self-paced online training programme equipping everyday Christians to share their faith. Includes video content, mentoring, flexible learning, online webinars, and practical ministry opportunities for church members.
• GSUS Live Interactive RE learning experience for secondary school students exploring themes of fear, forgiveness, and rejection through teachings of Jesus, using Bible story animations, contemporary songs, and short films.
• Life Exhibition Multi-media experience for primary school children (Year 5 & 6) that complements RE teaching through interactive stations, a dark room Easter story experience, and tablet-based activities.
• Neighbourhood Chaplains Community chaplaincy scheme where trained volunteers visit homes to provide friendship, support, and share the Gospel with isolated or lonely people in local communities.
• Church Revitalisation Multi-year pathway for local church growth designed for dwindling or ageing congregations, providing structured support for revitalisation and renewed mission effectiveness.
• Church Planting Training Training programmes and support for church planters, delivered in partnership with GLO Europe, Church Growth Trust, and M4 Europe to establish new congregations.
• One2Lead Youth programme equipping young adults to become passionate about evangelism and share the Gospel with their peers.
• Connect Conference Annual national conference for churches focused on the Great Commission, including the Connect Network for ongoing peer support and vision casting for church leaders.
• Ignite Magazine Quarterly printed magazine mailed to supporters, featuring equipping stories, ideas, and news of what Counties is doing across the UK.
• BarnFest Annual evangelistic festival held at a farm venue featuring worship services, seminars, live music, children's activities, and community outreach. BarnFest 2025 drew almost 900 people from 80+ churches.
• Chatnow.org Online Christian chat platform led by Counties evangelist Matt Rich that enables people to talk with Christians and find answers about Christianity through live online conversations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170,000+ children reached through Life Exhibition over 20 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GLO EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time mission partner focused on Summer mission teams, church planting in Europe, and training. Counties partners with GLO for overseas mission trips (e.g., Hungary teams), Connect Evangelist Training Programme co-development, and Church Revitalisation Project collaboration. Stephen McQuoid, GLO Europe General Director, co-authored 'Learning to Follow' with Counties CEO Martin Erwin.
• Church Growth TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Counties on the Church Revitalisation Project. Church Growth Trust provides expertise in church properties and supports church revitalisation initiatives. Highgate International Church is one of CGT's property churches working with Counties.
• M4 EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean mission network partner supporting church planting and evangelism initiatives across Europe.
• Echoes InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission organisation providing mission resources and support, referenced in Counties partnerships for international mission engagement.
• Evangelical AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCounties is a member of the Evangelical Alliance, part of the movement to inspire and equip the Church. Membership provides access to broader network and national advocacy.
• ThirtyOne:EightcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSafeguarding organisation (formerly CCPAS) that assists Counties with safeguarding policy updates and responding to serious safeguarding concerns. Counties has used ThirtyOne:Eight expertise for many years.
• Stewardship.org.ukminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUS tax-deductible giving partner allowing American supporters to make donations that qualify for tax deductions through Counties' partnership with Stewardship.
• Equipping Churches UKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform for delivering Connect Evangelist Training Programme courses, providing online registration and course delivery infrastructure.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New Wine: UK Christian network that equips church leaders, runs conferences and training events, and supports church planting and revitalisation. Direct peer to Counties Connect Network, Connect Conference, and church revitalisation work.
• Spring Harvest: UK Christian organisation running large-scale festivals, teaching programmes, and church-equipping resources. Direct peer to Counties' BarnFest festival and evangelism training portfolio.
• YWAM (Youth With A Mission) UK: Global Christian mission movement with a strong UK presence focused on training, discipleship, and outreach. Comparable to Counties' evangelist training (CETP), youth programme (One2Lead), and outreach deployment model.
• Church Army: UK-based Anglican evangelism and mission organisation that trains evangelists, plants churches, and runs community outreach programmes. Direct functional peer to Counties' evangelist training, church planting, and community chaplaincy model.
• Torch Trust: UK Christian charity providing resources, holidays, and support for people with sight loss, alongside broader mission and church-equipping work. A UK Christian mission peer operating in a similar funding and volunteer-driven model.
• Keswick Ministries: UK-based Christian convention and teaching ministry focused on Bible teaching, discipleship, and equipping Christians for mission. Comparable to Counties' training, conference, and discipleship activities.
• Echoes International: UK-based Christian mission support organisation providing resources, prayer, and funding for cross-cultural mission work. Listed Counties partner and a comparable UK Christian mission-support peer.
• GLO Europe: European Christian mission organisation focused on church planting, training, and mission team deployment. Long-standing strategic partner of Counties and a direct peer in evangelist/church-planter training.
• Church Growth Trust: UK charity supporting church revitalisation through property, governance, and growth resources. Active partner of Counties on the Church Revitalisation Project and a direct functional peer in the church-revitalisation niche.
• Scripture Union: Christian charity delivering school-based RE and outreach work across the UK and Ireland, including school resources and youth engagement. Direct peer to Counties' GSUS Live and Life Exhibition school RE programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqKQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CountiesUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/countiesuk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/counties

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Counties