Heukelbach

What Heukelbach does

Stiftung Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach is a German nonprofit foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) headquartered in Bergneustadt, Nordrhein-Westfalen, focused on "Alltagsmission" — equipping Christians to share their faith in everyday life contexts. The foundation operates exclusively in the German-speaking region (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) with a team of approximately 50 employees, supervised by the Bezirksregierung Köln and governed by a three-member board led by managing director (geschäftsführender Vorstand) Manuel Maier alongside board members Bernd-Udo Flick and Christian Schöps.

The foundation runs a multi-platform media ministry spanning the Doppeldecker-Crew children's audio drama series, the quarterly LebenPlus magazine, Radio HBR, the DarumOstern Easter campaign, the Machbar podcast, the grow training platform, the 10-lesson Glaubenskurs VERTIKAL video course, the 9 Schritte evangelism guide, a Warum Glauben blog with over 100 articles, and an FSJ/BFD voluntary service program across the DACH region. All offerings are provided at no cost to users, with a small online shop (shop.heukelbach.org) selling books, info booklets, and Christian media products at cost or free.

The revenue model is almost entirely donation-based: the foundation explicitly states its offerings are "100% kostenfrei," funded by supporters. Distribution is digital-first through the heukelbach.org website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and a Mailchimp newsletter, with physical products through the shop and volunteer labor via the FSJ/BFD program (400€ monthly stipend plus housing and mentoring). The foundation is currently building a new four-story "Missionszuhause" headquarters with video/audio studios and team offices, and has begun developing GPT-based AI assistants via the Langdock platform to support its Christian media operations.

Name

Heukelbach

Legal name

Stiftung Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach

Website

https://heukelbach.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stiftung Missionswerk Werner Heukelbach is a German nonprofit foundation equipping Christians in German-speaking Europe to share their faith in everyday life through podcasts, video courses, magazines, audio dramas, and volunteer programs, funded entirely by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Nonprofit Christian Ministry

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Media, Publishing & Broadcasting (Radio, TV, Digital, Press) (BPAGAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Christian media production
• Faith education resources
• Religious broadcasting services
• Evangelism training programs
• Christian magazine publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergneustadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a German civil law foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts), Heukelbach operates entirely on donations from supporters. All offerings are provided free of charge to users. The foundation explicitly states that their free services are made possible by donors: 'Unsere Angebote sind zu 100% kostenfrei – und das verdanken wir Menschen wie dir!'
2. Shop Sales: The foundation operates a shop (shop.heukelbach.org) selling books, info booklets, and Christian media products. Products include the O-Ton series, Martin Luther materials, and various faith-building resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stiftung Heukelbach is a German nonprofit foundation that produces and distributes Christian media content and training to equip everyday Christians for personal evangelism ('Alltagsmission'). Its offerings include a children's audio drama series, a quarterly magazine, a Christian radio program, podcasts, a video-based faith course, an online shop for evangelism materials, and training events, all provided free to users and funded by donations.

Product overview

Stiftung Heukelbach operates as an ecumenical Christian foundation that equips everyday Christians for personal evangelism ('Alltagsmission'). The organization functions as a multi-platform ministry with sub-brands including the Doppeldecker-Crew children's audio series, LebenPlus magazine, RadioHBR, DarumOstern Easter resources, and grow training platform. Core offerings include the Glaubenskurs VERTIKAL (a 10-lesson video Bible course), the 9 Schritte zum Leben evangelism guide, a blog with over 100 articles on faith topics, the Machbar Podcast, and an online shop. They also offer FSJ/BFD voluntary service programmes in media production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Doppeldecker-Crew: Christian audio drama and media program for children
• LebenPlus
• grow
• DarumOstern
• RadioHBR
• Das Wort
• Glaubenskurs VERTIKAL
• 9 Schritte

Products and services

• Doppeldecker-Crew Children's audio drama series (Hörspielserie) for Christian evangelism with characters and interactive extras, aimed at engaging children with Christian faith concepts.
• Magazin LebenPlus Quarterly lifestyle magazine (print and online) covering Christian faith, evangelism, and life questions for German-speaking Christian readers.
• RadioHBR Christian online radio station broadcasting faith-based content to German-speaking audiences.
• DarumOstern Easter-focused evangelism campaign and seasonal program explaining the meaning of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• grow Training Platform Training platform providing seminars and spiritual development resources for Christians seeking to grow in personal evangelism skills.
• Das Wort Christian media program and resource focused on Biblical teaching and the Word of God for German-speaking audiences.
• Glaubenskurs VERTIKAL Ten-lesson Bible course presented through video format (approximately 20 minutes per topic) covering fundamental Christian faith topics including God's nature, the Bible, and salvation through Jesus Christ.
• 9 Schritte zum Leben Nine-step guide for individuals exploring Christianity, explaining the Gospel and why humanity needs the good news, including how to become a Christian.
• Machbar Podcast Podcast for 'Alltagsmissionare' (everyday missionaries) covering practical faith-sharing topics, distributed via Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• Warum Glauben Blog Online blog section with over 100 articles answering questions about faith, Jesus, the Bible, and life's big questions for seekers and believers.
• Heukelbach Online Shop Online store selling evangelistic products, Bibles, course materials, info booklets, the O-Ton series and Martin Luther-related materials at cost or free.
• FSJ/BFD Voluntary Service Programme Year-long voluntary service programme (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr / Bundesfreiwilligendienst) in media production, social media, writing, customer service, shipping and accounting, with 400€ monthly allowance plus housing and mentoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 articles published on faith topics
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Doppeldecker-CrewcoreOthersThe Doppeldecker-Crew is an audio drama series produced by Heukelbach for children, featuring animated characters that teach Christian values and faith concepts. It is one of the foundation's flagship content products.
• LebenPlus MagazincoreOthersLebenPlus is a quarterly Christian lifestyle magazine produced by Heukelbach, covering topics relevant to faith living and evangelism.
• DarumOsterncoreOthersEaster campaign by Heukelbach focusing on explaining the meaning of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Radio HBRminorOthersChristian radio station operated by Heukelbach, broadcasting faith-based content to German-speaking audiences.
• LebensWerk e.V. PaderbornminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for FSJ/BFD volunteer seminars with spiritual focus. LebensWerk e.V. Paderborn provides accompanying seminars for volunteers.
• Emmaus InternationalminorOthersInternational Christian organization referenced as part of Heukelbach's network and partner organizations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Campus für Christus: German evangelical mission organization focused on personal evangelism and student/young professional ministry. Direct peer in equipping 'everyday missionaries' in DACH with training and resources, sharing Heukelbach's personal-evangelism mission.
• ERF Medien: German Christian media nonprofit operating national radio (ERF Radio), TV (ERF Plus), and online content. Most direct comparable: similar DACH faith-media mission, donation-funded, multi-channel distribution including audio and radio—just at significantly larger scale.
• factum Verlag: German Christian publishing house producing books, audio, and evangelism materials in interdenominational tradition. Direct peer in producing faith-formation print and audio products for DACH consumers and churches via donation/sale channels.
• Bibel TV: Germany's Christian television channel and associated online platform. Direct peer in DACH faith broadcasting with overlapping content (Bible teaching, evangelism, family programming) and comparable donation-based funding model.
• Willow Creek Deutschland: German branch of Willow Creek Community Church, focused on leadership training, evangelism, and church planting. Comparable in equipping Christians for personal ministry and providing training resources (conferences, courses) in the DACH region.
• IDEA: IDEA is the leading German Christian news magazine and online media outlet covering evangelical life and theology. Direct peer in producing Christian media content for DACH German-speaking audiences, including a print magazine (analogous to LebenPlus).
• pro.media: German Christian communications agency and media producer serving faith-based organizations. Direct peer in producing Christian multimedia content (video, audio, print) for DACH churches and ministries, often as a service provider to similar evangelism-oriented organizations.
• Alpha Kurs Deutschland: German branch of the Alpha Course, a foundational Christianity introduction course with video lessons. Direct peer in running structured, video-based evangelism courses (analogous to Glaubenskurs VERTIKAL) targeting seekers across DACH denominations.

Broad incumbents

• SCM Stiftung Christliche Medien: One of Germany's largest Christian publishers and media groups (including Gerth Medien, SCM Hänssler). Comparable in producing Christian books, audio, and faith-formation content for the DACH market, with broader portfolio and longer operating history.

Others

• Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: German Bible Society publishing Bibles and Scripture-based resources. Adjacent rather than competing peer—operates in the same faith-publishing ecosystem, with overlapping Bible teaching resources (analogous to Das Wort and Glaubenskurs).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVC2inCkNLYxWpmy9J-QAbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/heukelbach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/missionswerk-werner-heukelbach
• Instagraminstagram.com/mwheukelbach/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Heukelbach