Matthews United Methodist Church

What Matthews United Methodist Church does

Matthews United Methodist Church is a private non-profit religious organization and Lighthouse Congregation of The Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, headquartered at 801 South Trade Street in Matthews, North Carolina. Founded circa 1877-1880, the church has served Matthews and Southeast Charlotte for nearly 150 years. It operates four concurrent Sunday worship services — Traditional (8:15 AM and 11:00 AM), Contemporary (9:30 AM), and Centro Cristiano Hosanna Spanish-language worship (12:30 PM) — alongside monthly United Kids Family Worship.

The church runs an extensive ministry portfolio organized by life stage: United Kids (newborn through 6th grade), United Youth (grades 7-12 including a basketball league exceeding 230 players), United Young Adults, and multi-generational Adult groups. Specialized programs include the Rainbow Ark Ministry for persons with disabilities (anchored by the annual Rainbow Express Camp serving 140+ participants and 175 volunteers), Inclusive Grace (LGBTQIA+ Reconciling Ministry), Centro Cristiano Hosanna (representing six nationalities), and a Music & Worship Arts ministry encompassing Sanctuary Choir, MUMC Orchestra, handbell choirs, and children's music. Digital engagement runs on the ACS Technologies Realm platform (Realm Connect mobile app) with livestreaming on Vimeo, YouTube, and Facebook, email via Mailchimp, and SMS via Remind.

Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary tithes and donations, supplemented by nominal program fees (e.g., $12/hour for nursery staff, $12-$22 for workshops), facility use fees, and an active capital campaign and endowment. There are no commercial pricing tiers for worship or ministry participation. The church is led by Senior Pastor David Christy and an Executive Pastor, with a 36+ person paid staff including directors across age-level ministries, music, communications, missions, and operations, plus a Treasurer. As a non-profit congregation, there is no equity, venture funding, or commercial ownership structure.

Name

Matthews United Methodist Church

Legal name

Matthews United Methodist Church

Website

https://matthewsumc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Matthews United Methodist Church is a non-profit United Methodist congregation in Matthews, North Carolina, serving Matthews and Southeast Charlotte since circa 1877 with four weekly worship services, full age-level ministries from nursery through seniors, and specialized disability, Hispanic, and LGBTQIA+ programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services and Church Ministries

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Christian education programs
• Youth and family ministry
• Community missions
• Music worship arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Matthews

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Matthews United Methodist Church provides Christian worship services (Traditional, Contemporary, and Spanish-language Centro Cristiano Hosanna), age-segmented faith formation programs for children, youth, young adults, and adults, music and worship arts ministries, disability and LGBTQIA+ inclusive ministries, mission and outreach programs, and community fellowship. All services are offered free of charge to participants, with operating support from voluntary donations, tithes, and pledges, supplemented by a small number of nominal program fees.

Product overview

Matthews United Methodist Church is a multi-generational United Methodist congregation offering a portfolio of ministry programs centered on worship, Christian education, and community service. The church operates three main Sunday worship services: Traditional Worship (8:15 AM and 11:00 AM) featuring organ and choir, Contemporary Worship (9:30 AM) led by a Praise Team, and Centro Cristiano Hosanna Spanish-language worship (12:30 PM). Age-level ministries include United Kids (children from newborn to 6th grade), United Youth (grades 7-12), and United Young Adults. Specialized ministries cover disability support (Rainbow Ark), LGBTQIA+ inclusion (Inclusive Grace), and global missions. The church uses Realm Connect App as its primary digital engagement platform for directory, check-in, registration, and communication. Music & Worship Arts Ministry encompasses multiple ensembles including Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, handbell choirs, and children's music programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• United Kids: Children's ministry program for kids from birth through 6th grade
• United Youth
• United Young Adults
• Centro Cristiano Hosanna
• Rainbow Ark Ministry
• Inclusive Grace
• The Micah Connection

Products and services

• Traditional Worship Services Traditional worship services held at 8:15 AM and 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary, featuring organ, Sanctuary Choir, liturgical readings, and traditional hymns. Offered free of charge to congregants and visitors.
• Contemporary Worship Services Contemporary worship service held at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary, led by the Praise Team with modern music, dramatic and technical media. Offered free of charge to congregants and visitors.
• Centro Cristiano Hosanna Spanish Worship Spanish-speaking worship service held at 12:30 PM on Sundays, representing multiple Spanish-speaking nationalities with home groups, studies, and serving opportunities. Offered free of charge.
• United Kids Ministry Christian children's ministry program for ages newborn through 6th grade, offering Sunday morning groups, Vacation Bible School, Music & Arts Camp, children's choirs, Rainbow Ark disability ministry, and monthly Family Worship experiences.
• United Youth Ministry Youth ministry program for grades 7-12 offering Sunday night gatherings, small groups, mission trips, youth basketball league, service opportunities, and summer programming.
• United Young Adults Ministry Ministry for young adults and college-age individuals offering activities, service trips, student scholarships, and small groups.
• Realm Connect App Mobile church community app providing church directory access, mobile check-in for worship and groups, event registration, group communication, serving opportunities, and giving management. Available for iOS and Android. Uses 256-bit encryption.
• Music & Worship Arts Ministry Comprehensive music ministry including Sanctuary Choir, MUMC Orchestra, The Joyful Ringers handbell choir, Contemporary Praise Team, Melody Makers Community Choir, Children's Music programs, and Worship Arts (production, altar guild, ushers).
• Rainbow Ark Ministry Disability ministry offering Sunday groups for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities, along with Rainbow Express summer camp partnerships. In 2025 served 140+ campers and volunteers.
• Inclusive Grace Reconciling Ministry Reconciling Ministry supporting and celebrating LGBTQIA+ persons, their families, and friends within the church community.
• Global Impact Missions Mission and outreach program with international partnerships, local service opportunities, and leadership team coordinating global impact efforts.
• Racial Bridge-Building Ministry Diversity and racial reconciliation ministry offering Bridge-Builders Conversations, fellowship events with partner churches, and annual Martin Luther King Jr. march.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rainbow Express Camp 2025: 70 Kid & Teen Campers and Buddies at Day Camp plus 70 Young Adult Campers at Evening Camp with 175 volunteers throughout the week
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rainbow Express MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Impact Missions partner offering specialized summer camp experiences for persons with disabilities. Rainbow Express Camp held annually at MUMC campus with Feast with Friends and WillBeans Coffee programs. In 2025, the camp served 140+ campers and volunteers including 70 Day Camp participants and 70 Evening Camp participants.
• Mt Moriah Missionary Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridge-Builders Fellowship partner for interracial church community. Joint events held 5th Sunday of each month bringing together multiple Matthews area churches. Partnership honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with annual march to Townhall.
• Morningstar Lutheran ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Matthews-area community forums addressing topics including racial bridge building, mental health, and honoring police and first responders.
• Matthews Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Matthews-area community forums and interfaith initiatives.
• The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent denomination through the Western NC Conference. MUMC is a Lighthouse Congregation committed to remaining part of The United Methodist Church and serving those who have lost church homes through disaffiliation or closure.
• Western NC Conference of The United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional conference providing denominational oversight. MUMC designated as a Lighthouse Congregation following Methodist splits.
• Lake JunaluskaminorOthersThe largest Methodist Retreat Center in the world, located in NC. Referenced as destination for inspiration and denominational gatherings.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Providence United Methodist Church: Another Matthews/Charlotte-area UMC with similar multi-generational programming and denominational structure. Direct competition for congregants in the same geographic market.
• Elevation Church: Large Charlotte-based megachurch with contemporary worship, extensive youth/family programming, and digital-first engagement strategy. Competes for the same Charlotte-area families with multiple campuses.
• Forest Hill Church: Multi-campus Charlotte-area church with comparable children, youth, and missions programs and contemporary worship. Direct competitor in the same regional market.
• Myers Park United Methodist Church: Large historic United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC with similar inclusive/progressive stance and extensive programming across age levels. Directly comparable as a same-denomination, same-metro congregation targeting similar demographic segments.
• St. John's Baptist Church: Major Charlotte-area Baptist congregation with comparable multi-generational programming, music ministry, and community missions. Direct competitor for Charlotte-metro congregants with similar operational scale.
• Matthews Presbyterian Church: Named partner church within Matthews, with comparable community programming and interfaith engagement. Direct peer in the same town for congregant share.
• Davidson United Methodist Church: Suburban Charlotte-area UMC congregation with comparable age-level ministries, music programs, and missions focus. Comparable denomination, geography, and operational scale.
• Christ Community Church (Charlotte): Charlotte-area non-denominational church with comparable contemporary services, family/youth focus, and missions emphasis. Competes for similar demographic segments.

Others

• Lake Junaluska Assembly: The largest Methodist retreat center in the world and a referenced partner/affiliation of MUMC. Comparable faith-based programming and denomination, but operates as a retreat/conference destination rather than a local congregation.

Regional players

• Central United Methodist Church (Asheville, NC): Historic Western NC Conference UMC with similar music, missions, and inclusivity programming. Same denominational network but serves a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/matthewsumc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MatthewsUMC/shorts
• Facebookfacebook.com/matthewsumckids
• Instagraminstagram.com/matthewsumc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/matthews-united-methodist-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Matthews United Methodist Church