New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church

What New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church does

New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church (NHELC / DBA: NHELC) is a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit incorporated in Pennsylvania and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and SEPA Synod, headquartered at 2941 Lutheran Road, Gilbertsville, PA 19525. Founded in 1700 by Daniel Falckner, it is documented as the oldest German Lutheran Church in America, with a continuous operational history that includes Henry Melchior Muhlenberg's pastorate (1742–1761) and the Revolutionary War hospital use of its sanctuary (1777–1778); the congregation celebrated its 325th anniversary in 2024–2025. The church serves as a worship community offering weekly 9:00 AM Sunday services (in-person and live-streamed via Facebook Live and YouTube), with communion on first and festival Sundays, and a full suite of faith formation, music, and community programs.

The organization's product portfolio centers on worship services, faith formation (Sunday School, Adult Forum, Catechism, multiple choirs), youth programming (Camp Falckner overnight camp since 1962, Kid's Camp, Flutter youth group), inclusive disability ministry (Rejoicing Spirits), a food insecurity program (Loaves & Fishes, 250,000+ meals served since inception, capacity 1,000 meals/week, $2/meal production cost), community gardening (Garden of Hope, 3,000 sq ft), peer support recovery ministry, and senior and family engagement. Two adjacent operating subsidiaries extend the church's commercial activity: Sunshine Learning Center (an existing early-childhood education center for ages 2 through 5th grade) and the planned New Hanover Family Learning Center (NHFLC) expected to open Fall 2025. The Reconciling in Christ (RIC) designation, completed in 2023, formally positions the congregation as an inclusive, LGBTQIA+-welcoming and racial-equity-committed community.

Revenue is generated through recurring donations and tithes (online via Simply Giving and Tithe.ly, plus mailed and in-person contributions), program registration fees (Camp Falckner $75/camper in 2025), food ministry donations and grants (county, state, federal, corporate), early-childhood tuition (Sunshine Learning Center and incoming NHFLC), and community fundraising events (Chicken Dinner, Great Swamp Picnic, Annual Congregational Dinner). Strategic partnerships include ReconcilingWorks (RIC certification), Trellis for Tomorrow (Garden of Hope partner site), Calvary Lutheran Church's Rejoicing Spirits model (West Chester, PA), and referral relationships with NAMI, Community Health and Dental Center, and the Attic Youth Center. Technology integration is modest: live streaming on Facebook and YouTube, Zoom for Adult Forum, SignUpGenius for volunteer coordination, and Canva for graphic design. Revenue figures, headcount, and detailed financials are not publicly disclosed in the input data; Annual Reports (2020–2025) and Annual Budgets (2022–2026) are linked on the website but contents were not extracted.

Name

New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church

Legal name

New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church

Website

https://newhanoverlutheran.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1700

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church is a 325-year-old Lutheran congregation in Gilbertsville, PA offering worship, faith formation, food ministry (250,000+ meals served), inclusive disability services, youth camps, recovery support, and early-childhood education via Sunshine Learning Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAA

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

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAD

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYEDACACAK

Faith-Based Nursery & Playgroups

Education/Early Childhood Education/Nursery Schools & Playgroups

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Community food ministry
• Youth summer camp
• Inclusive congregation

Headquarters

HQ city

Gilbertsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Tithes: The church receives financial contributions from congregation members through weekly offerings, online giving via Simply Giving and Tithe.ly platforms, and mailed donations. The church has 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, making donations tax deductible.
2. Program Registration Fees: Camp Falckner overnight youth camp charges registration fees ($75 per camper in 2025, with camperships available for those needing financial assistance). Kids Camp 2026 also has registration requirements.
3. Food Ministry Donations: Loaves & Fishes Food Ministry is funded by donations from neighbors, charities, local companies, and County, State and Federal Grants. Each meal costs $2.00 to produce and distribute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church operates as a 501(c)(3) religious congregation providing weekly worship services (Sundays at 9:00 AM in the Sanctuary with online streaming), sacraments, pastoral care, and a comprehensive portfolio of ministries including food assistance (Loaves & Fishes), community gardening (Garden of Hope), inclusive disability worship (Rejoicing Spirits), peer support recovery, youth and children's programs (Camp Falckner, Kid's Camp, Sunday School), and music ministry. The church is preparing to launch the New Hanover Family Learning Center for early childhood Christian-based education in Fall 2025.

Product overview

New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church offers a comprehensive portfolio of worship, educational, and community service programs centered around their core Sunday worship service and sanctuary. The church operates multiple ministry programs including the Loaves & Fishes Food Ministry (serving over 250,000 meals), Garden of Hope community garden, Rejoicing Spirits inclusive worship, Peer Support Recovery Ministry, and music programs featuring various choirs. The church is expanding into early childhood education with the planned New Hanover Family Learning Center for children ages 2 through 5th grade. Youth programming includes Kid's Camp, Camp Falckner overnight camp, Flutter youth group, and Sunday School. The church also provides online worship streaming via Facebook and YouTube Live.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sanctuary Worship Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Served over 250,000 meals since inception through Loaves & Fishes Food Ministry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trellis for TomorrowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrellis for Tomorrow operates a Food For All raised bed garden program in which NHELC is a Partner Site. Trellis provides garden design and installation, ongoing instruction and guidance, irrigation systems, garden plantings, regular garden checks, and expertise sharing. NHELC hosts a 3,000 square foot garden surrounded by 5,000 square feet of deer fencing at its campus.
• Sunshine Learning CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunshine Learning Center is a separate ministry located at newhanoverlutheran.org that operates as an early childhood education center. The church website promotes Sunshine Learning Center enrollment and links to its separate website (sunshinelc.org).
• Food Pantry Network (Montgomery, Berks and Chester Counties)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLoaves & Fishes Food Ministry produces and distributes meals to anyone who cannot provide for themselves, working with food pantries across three Pennsylvania counties to reach community members in need.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPeer Support Recovery Ministry refers community members to NAMI resources including local centers in Reading and Lansdale, in-person and online support groups, and a Help Line (1-800-950-6242).
• Community Health and Dental Center (CHDC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCHDC offers Integrated Behavioral Health Services at locations in Pottstown, Boyertown, and Barto area. The Peer Support Recovery Ministry refers community members to CHDC as a resource (610-326-9460).
• ReconcilingWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReconcilingWorks hosts the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program. NHELC is officially recognized as an RIC partner congregation, listed on a roster of congregations providing a message that they are a safe place to worship and serve. The church completed its RIC journey in 2023.
• Attic Youth Center (Philadelphia)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOn October 6, the church welcomed nadeen herring from Attic Youth Center who presented 'LGBTQIA+ 101' educational session for the congregation as part of the RIC journey.
• Rejoicing Spirits (Calvary Lutheran Church, West Chester)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rejoicing Spirits inclusive worship ministry model was originally developed at Calvary Lutheran Church in West Chester, PA. NHELC adapted this model for its own congregation to serve individuals with developmental disabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nhelc7389
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewHanoverLutheranChurch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-hanover-lutheran-church

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 New Hanover Evangelical Lutheran Church