LORD OF GLORY LUTHERAN CHURCH

What LORD OF GLORY LUTHERAN CHURCH does

Lord of Glory Lutheran Church is an independent congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) established in 1974 in Elk River, Minnesota, serving the Elk River, Big Lake, Monticello, and Zimmerman communities. The church operates a 5,500 sq ft sanctuary (built 1984, capacity 275-300) with a 6,000 sq ft fellowship hall addition completed in 1993, supported by a lean staff of approximately five employees including Senior Pastor Dan Gifford, Associate Pastor Carl Seim, an Office Manager/Treasurer, an Organist, and additional lay leadership. There is a notable data inconsistency: the firmographics record lists Grayslake, Illinois, while every operational signal — the church website, physical address (15550 190th Ave NW, Elk River, MN 55330), phone number, and management location — situates the church in Elk River, MN; the Elk River location is the operative primary site.

Its core offerings are worship services in Traditional and Blended formats held on Sunday mornings, supplemented by Confirmation for grades 6-8, Vacation Bible School, adult and youth Bible studies, men's and women's ministry groups, CareNet home visitation, and a Prayer Chain. The supporting technology stack is entirely composed of consumer and SaaS platforms: Facebook for live streaming of services, YouTube as the archive channel, the Vanco online giving platform for ACH and card donations, a 360unite member portal for sign-in, and email and the church website as primary communications channels. No proprietary technology, mobile app, or API is operated.

The business model is non-commercial: revenue is generated solely through voluntary tithes and offerings from congregation members, collected via online giving, in-person collection plates, and bank bill pay. There are no priced products, no customer contracts, and no published financial statements. Outreach is supported through partnerships with local food shelves, women's centers, breakfast programs, and Lutheran-aligned institutions including the LCMS Minnesota North District, Concordia University St. Paul, Lutheran Island Camp, and Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Name

LORD OF GLORY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Legal name

Lord of Glory Lutheran Church

Website

https://lordofglorylutheran.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lord of Glory Lutheran Church is an LCMS congregation in Elk River, Minnesota, offering Traditional and Blended worship, Bible study, Confirmation, youth programs, and community outreach, funded entirely by voluntary member tithes and offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

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 Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Lutheran church services
• Christian worship programs
• Bible study education
• Youth ministry programs
• Community religious outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Elk River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Church accepts tithes and offerings through multiple channels including online ACH bank transfers, credit/debit card payments, in-person collection plates, and bank bill pay services.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lord of Glory Lutheran Church provides Lutheran worship services in both Traditional and Blended styles, sacramental ministry, Christian education for all ages (Sunday School, Confirmation, Adult Bible Study, Vacation Bible School), youth and family ministry programs, and seasonal community outreach events such as Breakfast in Bethlehem. Ministry is supported through voluntary tithes and offerings from congregants and visitors.

Product overview

Lord of Glory Lutheran Church offers a comprehensive portfolio of worship, educational, and community programs. Core offerings include Sunday worship services (Traditional and Blended formats) with live streaming via Facebook and YouTube; Bible study programs for adults, youth, and children; a Confirmation program for middle schoolers; and Vacation Bible School during summer months. The church also provides adult ministries such as CareNet visitation, LWML women's groups, Men's Group fellowship, Praise Team music, and Prayer Chain. Community engagement includes outreach to local organizations, mission support, and special events like the annual Breakfast in Bethlehem. Digital giving is available through online and mobile payment options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Worship Service Liturgical Lutheran worship service in the Traditional style for congregants and visitors seeking a classic liturgical experience.
• Blended Worship Service Worship service combining liturgical elements with contemporary music for congregants and visitors who prefer a more modern style.
• Livestream Worship (Facebook Live / YouTube) Real-time broadcast of worship services via Facebook Live and YouTube for members who cannot attend in person, including shut-ins and distant supporters.
• Confirmation Program Multi-year catechetical instruction program preparing middle-school youth for confirmation in the Lutheran faith.
• Sunday School / Christian Education Weekly Christian education classes for children held during the education hour at the church.
• Adult Bible Study Ongoing small-group or large-group Bible study sessions for adult members focused on Scripture study and discussion.
• Vacation Bible School (VBS) Annual themed summer Bible school program for children in the church and surrounding community.
• Youth Ministry Program Ongoing youth ministry activities, fellowship, and faith formation events for middle and high school students.
• Breakfast in Bethlehem Annual seasonal Advent/Christmas outreach event held for families and the wider community, typically featuring a meal and Christmas program.
• Online Giving (Vanco) Online donation platform enabling members and visitors to submit tithes and offerings electronically via the Vanco payment system.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

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.

• Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLord of Glory is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), a confessional Lutheran denomination. The church aligns with LCMS doctrine and participates in synod-wide initiatives.
• Minnesota North District of the LCMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe church is affiliated with the Minnesota North District of the LCMS, which provides district-level support, oversight, and resources to member congregations.
• Concordia University, St. PaulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an affiliate organization. Concordia University is an LCMS university that may serve as an educational partner for church members seeking higher education.
• Lutheran Island CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated Christian camp supported by the church. Also listed as a mission support recipient. Provides camping ministry for youth and families.
• Christ Serve RanchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated Christian ranch ministry listed as an affiliate organization.
• Lutheran Hour MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Lutheran ministry supported by the church through mission giving. Provides radio and digital ministry content.
• CAER Food ShelfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElk River food shelf supported through church outreach programs. Helps address food insecurity in the local community.
• Elevier Women's CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElk River women's center supported through church outreach.
• Elk River Breakfast ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal breakfast program supported through church outreach in Elk River.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLutheran high school in Otsego supported through church outreach.
• Great River Faith in ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBecker-based faith organization supported through church outreach programs.
• Homeless Helping HomelessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Cloud-based organization supported through church outreach.
• Monticello Help CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonticello-based community help center supported through church outreach.
• Samaritan's PurseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Christian organization supported through church outreach.
• Project 24 (Christ's Care for Children: Kenya)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission to Kenya supported through church mission giving. Part of LCMS mission support.
• Overcomers International FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSt. Cloud-based ministry supported through mission giving.
• Faith and Zion Lutheran ChurchesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint youth activities and events planned with Faith and Zion Lutheran churches for 6th-12th grade students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Pushpay: A leading digital giving and engagement platform used by thousands of churches. Comparable as an alternative or successor to Lord of Glory's Vanco giving system, relevant for benchmarking online donation infrastructure in faith-based nonprofits.
• Planning Center: A widely adopted church management software suite (check-ins, groups, giving, services planning). Adjacent peer relevant to Lord of Glory's operational technology stack and how small congregations digitize administration.

Direct peers

• Concordia Lutheran Church (LCMS): An LCMS-affiliated confessional Lutheran congregation with a similar ministry portfolio (worship, education, youth, outreach). Shares Lord of Glory's denominational alignment, liturgical tradition, and parish structure.
• Life.Church: One of the largest and most influential churches in the U.S., pioneering the fully digital and hybrid worship model. Directly comparable to Lord of Glory's use of Facebook Live and YouTube for streaming services and online community engagement.

Emerging players

• Churchome: A former multisite congregation that has reorganized around a digital-first worship model with global online reach. Comparable to Lord of Glory's hybrid aspirations and use of Facebook/YouTube distribution.
• Elevation Church: A fast-growing multi-site church known for high-production-value online services and digital-first engagement. Relevant peer for benchmarking Lord of Glory's streaming strategy and digital outreach effectiveness.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): The largest Lutheran denomination in the U.S. and the principal alternative to LCMS. Competes for Lutheran members in the same Minnesota market and operates a similar congregation-network model with multi-generational programming.
• Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod: The national denomination to which Lord of Glory belongs. Operates as the broader incumbent governing body, providing seminary education, missionary support, and shared resources that directly shape Lord of Glory's operations and identity.

Regional players

• Woodbury Lutheran Church: A growing Twin Cities-area Lutheran congregation with multiple worship styles, strong children's and youth programming, and community partnerships. Comparable as a fellow Minnesota Lutheran church balancing tradition with contemporary ministry.
• North Heights Lutheran Church: A large ELCA Lutheran church in the Twin Cities metro area (Arden Hills). Comparable to Lord of Glory as a Minnesota-based Lutheran congregation offering multi-generational programs, contemporary and traditional worship, and broad community outreach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuiA-G9YgIk_3sDvgT1Ml2w
• Facebookfacebook.com/lordofglorylutheran
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lord-of-glory-lutheran-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about LORD OF GLORY LUTHERAN CHURCH