Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

What Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists does

The Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is a regional nonprofit religious organization founded on September 26, 1944, as the first Regional Conference organized within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Headquartered in Mokena, Illinois, the conference serves over 31,000 Adventist members across 103 churches spanning five Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The conference was established specifically to serve African American Adventist communities and continues to operate with a mission focused on urban ministry, evangelism, education, and community development, including multilingual outreach to Hispanic/Latino, Korean, Ghanaian, and Kinyarwanda-speaking populations.

The conference delivers its mission through a multi-faceted portfolio of ministries including congregational pastoral care, Christian education through five operating schools spanning pre-K through high school, youth and Pathfinder/Adventurer programs, a year-round Camp Wagner retreat facility in Cassopolis, Michigan, health and wellness retreats, prison ministry, urban ministry, prison reentry support, and the Hope for Today media ministry distributing Christ-centered programming via YouTube. Its technology infrastructure supports church operations through streaming and media production capabilities, church management systems, and digital donation processing through the Adventist Giving platform. The conference maintains approximately 13 corporate office staff at headquarters, with nearly 200 total employees including pastors, teachers, and operational staff distributed across churches and schools in the territory.

The organization's revenue model is anchored in voluntary member tithes and offerings, supplemented by school tuition, camp and retreat fees, and health ministry registration fees. Distribution occurs primarily through direct-to-consumer delivery via local churches, schools, and the Camp Wagner facility, with digital channels including YouTube streaming, email newsletters, the conference website, and social media extending reach across the territory. The conference operates under the governance of the Lake Union Conference and ultimately the General Conference of the Worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, which has more than 22 million members globally.

Name

Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Legal name

Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Website

https://lrcsda.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is a regional religious nonprofit serving over 31,000 members across 103 churches in five Midwestern states, delivering worship, Christian education through five schools, camp and retreat programming, and media ministry, funded primarily by member tithes and offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Religious conference services
• Christian education
• Church administration
• Camp retreat programs
• Media ministry programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Mokena, Illinois

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from church members collected through local congregations and remitted to the conference; primary funding source for conference operations, ministries, and schools.
2. School Tuition and Fees: Tuition revenue from five operating schools (Chicago SDA Christian School, Flint Fairhaven Elementary, Indianapolis Capitol City Elementary, Peterson-Warren Academy, South Suburban SDA Christian School) educating children from pre-K through high school.
3. Camp Wagner Programs and Retreats: Camp fees for youth camps, junior camps, adult retreats, and facility rentals at the Camp Wagner retreat grounds in Cassopolis, Michigan, serving year-round programming.
4. Health and Wellness Retreat Fees: Registration and accommodation fees for the annual LRC Health & Wellness Retreat, including cabin rentals and meal plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is a regional religious organization that provides pastoral leadership, governance, and ministry services to over 100 Seventh-day Adventist churches across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. It operates a network of Christian schools (pre-K through high school), a year-round camp and retreat facility (Camp Wagner), and produces Christ-centered media programming through the Hope for Today media ministry. The conference coordinates evangelistic campaigns, youth and family ministries, health and wellness retreats, and community outreach programs.

Product overview

The Lake Region Conference is a religious organization that provides ministry services, not a technology product company. Its offerings include Christian education through a network of schools (pre-kindergarten through high school), media ministries (Hope for Today programming distributed via YouTube), and technology support services for churches including streaming, production, and digital engagement capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education Department Services Oversees and supports the conference's network of Christian elementary and high schools, providing faith-based education from pre-kindergarten through high school across the territory.
• Hope for Today Media Ministry Christ-centered media programming covering health and wellness, social justice, men's and women's ministry, and content for children, youth, and young adults distributed via YouTube.
• Media Ministry Technical Support Provides support to churches for streaming, production equipment, and installation, helping Lake Region churches communicate through effective media, technology, and digital engagement.
• Information & Technology Services Supports the Gospel Mission through technology ministries with core values of Trust in God, Ministry through Service, Integrity, and Visionary Solutions, including IT services supporting connectivity and proprietary church software applications.
• Camp Wagner Retreat Facility Year-round campground and retreat facility in Cassopolis, Michigan offering youth camps, junior camps, adult retreats, convocations, and group rentals.
• LRC Health & Wellness Retreat Annual retreat offering holistic health programming covering hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and stress management, combining physical, mental, and spiritual well-being with cabin and meal packages.
• Church Governance and Pastoral Leadership Spiritual leadership, governance, and administrative oversight for 100+ local Seventh-day Adventist churches across five Midwestern states, including pastoral area leadership and executive committee administration.
• ACTIVATE Leadership Training Summit Annual training summit equipping ministry leaders across departments including elders, clerks, treasurers, deacons, youth, children's ministries, health, and prison ministries.
• Quadrennial Constituency Session Quadrennial governance session for the election of officers and departmental directors; the 30th session is scheduled for August 9, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74 baptisms in one week at Indianapolis East Side Church through Compassion Project evangelistic campaign.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lake Union ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1944The Lake Region Conference is one of six conferences within the Lake Union Conference, under the direction of the Worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. The parent union provides governance, administrative oversight, and coordination across the Lake Union territory.
• Worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church / General ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe global Seventh-day Adventist Church body with presence in 208 countries and more than 22 million members. The Lake Region Conference operates as part of this worldwide denomination under the direction of the General Conference.
• Andrews UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abraham Henry serves on the board of trustees for Andrews University. The university, located in Berrien Springs, Michigan (within Lake Union territory), provides theological education and hosts major conference events including the 24th Lake Union Constituency Session.
• Oakwood UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abraham Henry founded Oakwood University's Collegiate Master Guide Program and serves on the board of trustees. Oakwood University is a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist university in Alabama that trains church leaders and ministers for the denomination.
• AdventHealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abraham Henry serves as an executive board member for AdventHealth, one of the largest faith-based health care systems in the United States, aligning with the conference's health ministry initiatives.
• Howard Performing Arts Center (Andrews University)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHoward Performing Arts Center at Andrews University serves as the venue for the Lake Region Conference's 30th Quadrennial Session on August 9, 2026, providing facilities for constituency meetings and conference events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Oakwood University: Historically Black SDA university where LRC's president founded the Collegiate Master Guide Program and serves on the board. A key feeder pipeline for pastors and teachers serving LRC churches and schools.
• Andrews University: SDA theological university located within Lake Union territory (Berrien Springs, MI), hosts LRC's 30th Quadrennial Session, and supplies theological training for LRC pastors. Operates as a strategic ministry partner rather than a competitor.

Others

• AdventHealth: One of the largest faith-based health systems in the US, connected to the SDA denomination. LRC's president serves on its executive board, and the system's health-and-wellness mission aligns with LRC's Health Ministry programming — an enabling institutional partner rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Southwestern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: Regional Conference headquartered in Texas serving African American Adventist congregations across the Southwestern US. Identical SDA governance tier and ministry structure as Lake Region Conference.
• South Central Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: Regional Conference serving African American Adventists in the South Central US (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma). Closest direct structural peer — same denominational tier, same member demographic, same conference-level operating responsibilities.
• Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: One of the other Regional Conferences within the North American Division, historically serving African American Adventist congregations. Directly comparable governance structure, ministry portfolio, and denominational accountability framework as the Lake Region Conference.
• Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: Regional Conference serving African American Adventists across the Northeastern United States. Comparable in governance tier, member-base profile, and ministry scope (schools, camp, prison, urban, and media ministries).
• Central States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: Sister Regional Conference also founded to serve African American Adventist communities, covering Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and surrounding states. Shares nearly identical operating model, conference-level school governance, and camp meeting structure.

Broad incumbents

• North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists: Continental governing body for the SDA Church in the US, Canada, and several island territories. Sets policy, allocates resources, and coordinates strategic initiatives across all nine unions including Lake Union, making it the highest-level comparable denominator structure.
• Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: Parent union conference overseeing six local conferences including Lake Region. Operates one administrative tier above LRC with broader geographic and budgetary scope, but covers overlapping ministries (education, communication, stewardship) and shares the same denominational mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEhiTfko3eUS4ZSAWEAy3Dg
• Facebookfacebook.com/lrchealthwellness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-region-conference-of-seventh-day-adventists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists