Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley

What Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley does

Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley is a non-profit religious congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), specifically the Saint Paul Area Synod, founded in 1964 and headquartered at 7800 West County Road 42 in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The church holds Sunday worship services at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary with simultaneous livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube, and delivers a portfolio of programs including baptism services, a three-year confirmation program for middle school students, children/youth/family ministry, vocal and bell choirs, support groups, and pastoral care. Governance is exercised through a Church Council, with operations supported by seven paid staff led by two called pastors (Pastor Reed Fowler and Pastor Sarah Ollhoff), a Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry (Leslie Pietila), and Music Ministry Co-Director (Sheryl Vande Kamp).

The church operates an extensive community outreach portfolio through its Community Connections initiative, with partnerships spanning Second Harvest Heartland's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for seniors, Every Meal weekend meals at Cedar Park Elementary, the Shepherd of the Valley food shelf, The Link's C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center for at-risk youth, CATCH transitional housing, BRAVELY household goods delivery, and the DARTS Breathing Space memory-loss respite program launched on-site in September 2025. In November 2024, Grace consolidated four justice-focused ministry teams into a unified Public Faith Team addressing anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, climate justice, and community generosity, and participates in advocacy coalitions including ISAIAH, Faith in Minnesota, and the Palm Sunday Path at the State Capitol. The church also maintains a Companion Congregation Partnership Covenant with Messengers of Christ Lutheran Church in Santa Elena, Guatemala, originally established in 2009 and renewed for a three-year term in November 2023.

Grace Lutheran operates on a donation-based revenue model with no public financial disclosures; core worship and formation programs carry no fees, while specialized programs charge nominal amounts (SALT at $10 per series, All-Congregation Retreat at $56 per person) that are offset by available scholarships. Capital funding flows through the Grace to Flourish Capital Campaign, which has already disbursed a $25,000 benevolence gift to South Metro Aid & Rent Trust (SMART). The technology stack is intentionally modest—Squarespace for web presence with YouTube and Facebook Live for streaming—and the church has adopted a stated policy of not using generative AI for any pastoral communications, including sermons, prayers, or newsletters.

Name

Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley

Legal name

Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley

Website

https://graceofav.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley is a non-profit ELCA congregation in Minnesota providing Sunday worship, faith formation, and youth ministry, alongside an extensive community outreach portfolio spanning food assistance, housing support, and social justice advocacy through 15+ organizational partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), 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

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Worship services
• Faith formation
• Community outreach
• Church ministries

Headquarters

HQ city

Apple Valley

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grace Lutheran Church provides Sunday worship services (in-person and livestreamed), baptism and confirmation programs, children/youth/family ministry, music ministry (vocal and bell choirs), community outreach programs (food distribution, transitional housing support, rent assistance), an international companion congregation partnership with ILAG in Guatemala, and justice ministry through the Public Faith Team integrating anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, climate justice, and outreach.

Product overview

Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley is a congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offering a unified ministry portfolio centered on worship, faith formation, and community service. Core offerings include Sunday worship services (in-person and livestreamed), baptism and confirmation programs, children/youth/family ministry, the Guatemala Partnership (ILAG) international mission, Community Connections outreach programs, and the Public Faith Team justice ministry. The church also publishes a weekly Friday email newsletter. The church explicitly does not use generative AI for any communications, including sermons, prayers, or newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly worship services held Sunday mornings at 9:30a in the sanctuary, including song, prayer, sermon, and Holy Communion. All services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube and are open to people of all ages.
• Confirmation Program Three-year program for middle school students exploring the Bible, Christian faith values, and connections between faith and real life, with scholarship support available so that fees are not a barrier to participation.
• Baptism Services Baptism celebrations held during Sunday morning worship services, welcoming people of all ages from babies to older adults.
• Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Ministry programs for children and youth including Kids in Worship, milestone ministry, intergenerational community-building activities, and broader CYF programming led by a dedicated director.
• Guatemala Partnership (ILAG) International companion congregation partnership with Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG) and Messengers of Christ in Santa Elena, Guatemala, established in 2009 and renewed as a three-year covenant in November 2023, based on prayer, mutual respect, frequent communication, and a financial commitment from Grace including delegation trips and project support.
• Community Connections Outreach partnership programs including the on-site C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center for at-risk youth, MN FoodShare campaign, CSFP food distribution for seniors and people with disabilities, Every Meal weekend meals, CATCH transitional housing, SMART rent assistance, BRAVELY household goods delivery, Open Door Pantry support, and DARTS Breathing Space group respite.
• Public Faith Team Unified justice ministry team addressing anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, climate justice, and community generosity, formed in November 2024 by merging the previous Racial Justice, Reconciling in Christ, Green, and Outreach Ministry Teams.
• Weekly Friday Email Newsletter Weekly email newsletter sent to congregation and interested community members containing pastoral notes, announcements, news, and a 'Grace Celebrates' section of community milestones.
• Music Ministry Music ensembles including vocal choir and bell choir, led by Music Ministry Co-Directors, supporting Sunday worship and special services.
• All-Congregation Retreat Annual October retreat at $56 per person with financial support available to offset costs, designed for whole-congregation participation.
• SALT Senior Adults Learning Together Interfaith adult education program for senior adults offered each October at $10 per participant per series, with two presentations selected from four Monday morning options covering nature, historical events, religion, sports, and current issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 189 families supported with household goods bridging bags since early February 2026 (87 families in one month)
• +7 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG) / Messengers of Christ (Mensajeros de Cristo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Grace Lutheran Church was asked by the St. Paul Area Synod in 2009 to become a partner church with ILAG (Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala). A three-year Companion Congregation Partnership Covenant between Grace and Messengers of Christ Lutheran Church in Santa Elena, Guatemala was renewed in November 2023. The covenant defines a relationship based on prayer, mutual respect, and frequent communication, with a financial commitment from Grace. ILAG was founded in 1991 by Bishop Horacio and Pastora Esther Castillo. Delegations travel from Grace to Guatemala, and Grace supports fellowship hall construction and other projects at the partner congregation.
• The Link's C.O.R.E. (Community, Outreach, Resources, and Empowerment) Drop-In CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Link's C.O.R.E. Drop-In Center is located in Grace Lutheran Church. C.O.R.E. provides a place where youth who are at-risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness can get help with basic needs (food, clothes, shower, laundry) and connections to case management and longer-term services such as housing. 27 bridging food bags were shared with the CORE Drop-In Center in November 2025.
• Second Harvest Heartland (CSFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrace is a monthly distribution site for Second Harvest Heartland's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), specifically for senior citizens and those living with disability. Church members coordinate the distribution of food to recipients.
• Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church (Apple Valley Food Shelf)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrace participates in MN FoodShare Campaign each March, the largest grassroots food and fund drive in Minnesota, directly supporting the local food shelf at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Food donations from Grace are delivered to Shepherd of the Valley. Shepherd of the Valley Food Shelf is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
• Every MealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvery Meal is an organization committed to fighting childhood hunger through their Weekend Meal Program. Grace members deliver food weekly to Cedar Park Elementary School to help fill the weekend food gap. Grace also supports Every Meal through quarterly Noisy Offerings.
• CATCH (Coalition on Affordable Transitional Community Housing)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATCH is a non-profit ecumenical faith-based 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1988 by Dakota County congregations. Grace Lutheran sponsors one CATCH apartment providing affordable transitional housing for people with low and limited incomes.
• DARTS Breathing SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDARTS Breathing Space is a group respite program for individuals with early-to-mid stage memory loss, providing social engagement while caregivers receive up to a four-hour break. Grace began hosting Breathing Space in September 2025, recruiting volunteers and signing up participants. Grace also receives Noisy Offering support for DARTS.
• SALT (Senior Adults Learning Together)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSALT is a non-profit interfaith coalition of 12 churches in the south metro area. For $10, participants select two presentations from four options each Monday morning in October. Topics cover nature, historical events, religion, sports, current issues, and more.
• South Metro Aid & Rent Trust (SMART)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMART is a collaborative effort of several ELCA congregations in the southern metro of the Twin Cities to help neighbors impacted by immigration enforcement operations. Funds are distributed for groceries, hygiene and household necessities, and rent assistance. Managed and housed at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagan. Grace sent $25,000 from Capital Campaign funds plus additional congregational donations.
• BRAVELYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrace collaborates with BRAVELY to deliver household goods to families sheltering in place or impacted emotionally, spiritually, or financially from ICE activities.
• The Open Door PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrace delivers bridging food bags to The Open Door Pantry as part of ongoing food insecurity support.
• Lake Area Discovery CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Area Discovery Center operates at Grace Lutheran Church as a preschool and childcare program, deepening on-site community partnerships.
• ELCA St. Paul Area SynodcoreOthersGrace is a congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), specifically part of the St. Paul Area Synod. The ELCA has 8,500 congregations in 65 synods. Grace participates in Synod Assembly, and the Synod established a companion synod relationship with ILAG in 2005.
• ISAIAHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISAIAH is a coalition of churches and mosques in Dakota County that have come together in response to ongoing threats to civil rights and safety net programs. Grace participates in the Dakota County Lighthouse Team through ISAIAH. Over 35 members of Grace attended the August Town Hall meeting about SNAP and Medicaid cuts. ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota hosted the 'A Light in the Storm' Convention (December 2025) with a goal of 5,000 attendees.
• Faith in MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith in Minnesota is a coalition partner with ISAIAH in organizing faith-based advocacy and mass actions. Together they hosted the 'A Light in the Storm' Convention (December 2025) as part of a broader movement to protect Minnesota families across race, place, and religion.
• Transforming FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransforming Families is a Minnesota-based organization hosting peer-led support groups for trans and gender expansive youth and their families. One of their support groups meets at Grace Lutheran Church. Hannah Edwards from Transforming Families spoke at a forum in November 2025.
• Our Saviour's Lutheran Church (Minneapolis)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrace invited the congregation to join the Easter Vigil service at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on April 4 at 6:30p. This congregation has held Easter Vigil services for many years.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/GraceLutheranChurchAV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grace-lutheran-church-apple-valley-mn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Grace Lutheran Church of Apple Valley