Downline Ministries

What Downline Ministries does

Downline Ministries is a Memphis-based, Tennessee-incorporated nonprofit religious organization founded in 2006 by Dr. Kennon Vaughan. Its mission is to restore biblical discipleship in and through the local church by equipping men and women to know God's Word and make disciples. The organization delivers a nine-month Institute training program that walks students through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, offered in in-person format in Memphis and South Texas, virtually via LiveStream or on-demand recordings, in Spanish (Español Institute), and internationally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A parallel Emerging Leaders program provides a nine-month residential discipleship experience for young adults in their twenties that integrates classroom training, local church involvement, service opportunities, one-on-one discipleship, and full-time work.

Downline's core technology stack is a conventional digital delivery layer rather than an AI-driven platform. It includes the MyDownline student portal for content access and login, Vimeo-based video streaming for the Virtual Institute, the Downline Builder interactive web tool for assembling customized discipleship curriculum for one-on-one or small group use, and a Squarespace-hosted public website. Lifetime access to recorded course video is included with tuition, and students can earn up to 30 hours of seminary credit through partnerships with Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary. The organization maintains active social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X) and a weekly podcast, The Downline Podcast, hosted by Dr. Jamie Trussell.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure combining tuition (Memphis Institute $1,800; Virtual Institute $1,000 individual / $700 small group / $600 large group; Emerging Leaders $1,800; Español $500; Ethiopia 2,000 birr), tax-deductible donations including the Rope Holders recurring giving program, merchandise sales through an e-commerce store (DVD curriculum $55-$70, apparel, promotional items), global mission trip fees ($1,700-$3,600 depending on destination), and event-driven fundraising via an annual golf tournament. GTM is exclusively relationship-driven: pastors and church leaders act as primary referral sources into the Institute, students apply online, and alumni networks generate word-of-mouth. Headcount stands at 14, with a faculty of named Bible teachers (Dr. Kennon Vaughan, Dr. JB Selecman, Dr. Robert Coleman, Donna Gaines, Sandy Willson, Jason Cook) and operational leadership under Executive Director Graham Spell.

Name

Downline Ministries

Legal name

Downline Ministries

Website

https://downlineministries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Downline Ministries is a Memphis-based nonprofit founded in 2006 that delivers a nine-month biblical discipleship Institute through in-person, virtual, Spanish, and international formats, equipping Christ-followers and church partners across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Discipleship Training

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Support Services (6117), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Discipleship training
• Biblical education
• Religious ministry
• Church partnerships
• Christian leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis, TN

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Payments: Revenue from Institute tuition fees including Memphis Institute ($1,800), Virtual Institute ($1,000 individual), Español Institute ($500), and Emerging Leaders program ($1,800). Deposits required upon acceptance with monthly payment options available.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to general fund, scholarship funds, staff support, and global ministry. Recurring giving programs including Rope Holders monthly/annual supporters.
3. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce store selling DVD curriculum packs ($55-$70), apparel including sweatshirts ($34.99), t-shirts ($20-$30), and promotional items like stickers ($5), magnets ($7.50+), and luggage tags ($14.99).
4. Global Trip Fees: Mission trip participation fees ranging from $1,700-$3,600 depending on destination (Central America $1,700-$2,400, Africa $2,800-$3,500, Asia $2,600-$3,400), including airfare, lodging, and training costs.
5. Golf Tournament: Annual golf tournament fundraising event with team registrations ($1,000-$1,200 per team) and corporate sponsorships supporting the Emerging Leaders program.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Downline Ministries provides a nine-month discipleship training program that walks students through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, equipping them to make disciples in their homes, churches, and communities. Programs are delivered in-person (Memphis, South Texas, Español, Ethiopia) and virtually, supplemented by digital curriculum tools, podcasts, and DVD study materials for churches and individuals.

Product overview

Downline Ministries offers a platform of biblical discipleship programs centered around the Downline Institute, a nine-month training program that walks students through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The core portfolio includes the Institute (available in-person in Memphis and South Texas, virtually, and in Spanish), the Emerging Leaders program for young adults, and various resource products including the DVD Curriculum, Digital Core Curriculum, Downline Builder tool, and The Downline Podcast. Additional offerings include Global Training for international disciple-makers, seminary credit partnerships, and the Rope Holders support program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Downline Institute The primary nine-month discipleship training program that walks students through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, equipping them to make disciples in their homes, churches, and communities. Delivered in-person at Memphis, South Texas, and virtual formats. Tuition $1,800 for Memphis Institute.
• Emerging Leaders Program A specialized nine-month discipleship training program for young adults (20s) learning to make disciples in a post-campus world. Combines classroom training, local church involvement, service opportunities, one-on-one discipleship, full-time work, and community living. Accepts 30-40 young adults per year. Tuition $1,800 with housing ~$600/person.
• Virtual Institute Online version of the Downline Institute allowing participation via LiveStream or On Demand recordings for those outside the 30-mile radius of Memphis. Individual tuition $1,000; group pricing available for 3-9 students at $700/student and 10+ students at $600/student. Includes lifetime access to video library.
• Instituto Downline en Español Spanish-language version of the Downline Institute providing biblical discipleship training in Spanish at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, TN. Total tuition $500 with $250 deposit upon acceptance.
• South Texas Institute Regional Downline Institute location serving Gonzales and Shiner/Yoakum areas in Texas. Program runs Early September 2026 through late April 2027 at Two Rivers Bible Church and Peachtree Building.
• Downline Ethiopia International discipleship training program in partnership with International Evangelical Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Classes meet Saturdays 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesdays 6:00pm-8:00pm September 2026 through May 2027. Program cost: 2000 birr. Launched Fall 2022.
• Global Training Trips International discipleship conferences and mission trip programs that equip disciple-makers in over 40 countries through partnerships and customized training. Mission trip fees range $1,700-$3,600 depending on destination, including airfare, lodging, and training costs.
• Downline Builder Interactive online tool for building customized discipleship curriculum for one-on-one relationships or small groups. Allows leaders to assemble curriculum tailored to their discipleship contexts.
• DVD Curriculum Pack Physical DVD-based curriculum featuring Dr. Kennon Vaughan's seven scripturally-centered messages on making disciples. Pack of 3 DVDs, teacher guide, 5 student guides, and pocket student guide for $70. Student Pack (3 DVDs, student guide, pocket student guide) for $55.
• Digital Core Curriculum Video Collection Essential video teachings including Thessalonic Legacy, The Great Commission, Multiplication, and John 21 that form the foundation of the Downline Institute. Digital download with PDF containing video links. $40. Includes an Español option taught by Emanuel Magliocchini.
• Rope Holders Program Partner support program providing prayer, monthly giving, vision sharing, and encouragement for leaders behind disciple-making ministry. Includes monthly/annual recurring giving options.
• Seminary Credit Program Partnership with Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary allowing students to earn seminary credits through Downline Institute participation. Automatic 10 DTS credit hours for completing Downline coursework, with eligibility for additional 12 DTS credit hours via Advanced Standing process; up to 30 hours of seminary credit total.
• Downline Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament fundraising event with team registrations ($1,000-$1,200 per team) and corporate sponsorships supporting the Emerging Leaders program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of disciple-makers trained from over 60 churches
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Evangelical Church (IEC), Addis AbabacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Downline Ethiopia launched in Fall 2022, equipping disciple-makers through International Evangelical Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Golden Apple Institute (Wroclaw Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership with Golden Apple Institute in Wroclaw, Poland. Students receive over 130 hours of biblical, practical, and reproducible training from over 30 respected local pastors and leaders.
• Southern Baptist Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeminary partnership providing Institute students opportunity to receive seminary credit for their participation in the Downline Institute.
• Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing automatic 10 DTS credit hours for completing Downline coursework, with eligibility for additional 12 DTS credit hours via Advanced Standing process. Students in vocational ministry can receive additional 12 hours of MACL elective credit.
• Young LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership with Young Life Costa Rica for discipleship training; testimonial from Priscilla Solórzano Pérez.
• Kent Austell & Family, EthiopiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissionaries in Ethiopia who have partnered with Downline training teams to help fan into flame a greater discipleship-minded culture within their ministry.
• Warren Construction & RenovationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for the annual Downline Golf Tournament. Owner Tyler Warren was an Emerging Leader student in class of 2011-2012 and is passionate about making disciples.
• Harvest Church MemphiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost church for Memphis Institute classes; home to Dr. Kennon Vaughan as Lead Pastor and base of operations for the ministry.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Another seminary credit partner, SBTS operates comparable lay and church-leader training pathways. Represents both a partner and adjacent competitor in biblical education for church leaders.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: A major evangelical seminary with which Downline partners for credit; DTS's extension and lay-leader programs overlap with Downline's Institute audience for biblically-grounded training.
• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): One of the largest U.S. parachurch organizations with extensive discipleship and leadership development programming globally. Operates in the same broad category but with vastly greater scale and resources.

Direct peers

• Man in the Mirror: Provides church-based discipleship and men's ministry resources targeting local church transformation, with a similar mission to Downline's church-partnership model.
• The Navigators: A long-established international parachurch ministry focused on discipleship and making disciple-makers, with similar church-partnership and small-group approaches. Comparable in mission, target audience, and faith-based education model.
• Bible Study Fellowship (BSF): An interdenominational Bible study and discipleship organization offering systematic, multi-year Scripture training—an offering structurally aligned with Downline's nine-month Institute.
• Master's International School of Discipleship: Focused on intensive discipleship training programs for young adults, similar to Downline's Emerging Leaders program in audience and residential learning model.

Regional players

• Africa Inland Mission: An international missions organization with comparable global disciple-making training partnerships in Africa, overlapping with Downline's Ethiopia and broader 40+ country footprint.

Emerging players

• RightNow Ministries: A digital streaming Bible study and discipleship platform widely adopted by churches; represents a technology-enabled alternative model for distributing discipleship curriculum at scale.
• Watermark Resources (Discipleship Pathway): Watermark Church's church-wide discipleship pathway programs serve similar church-partnership use cases for equipping congregants, comparable in audience and methodology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/dlministries
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DownLineMinistries
• Facebookfacebook.com/downlineministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/dlministries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/downline-ministries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Downline Ministries