Riverlife Baptist Church

What Riverlife Baptist Church does

Riverlife Baptist Church is an independent non-profit Baptist church operating from a purpose-built campus at 47 Jennifer Street, Seventeen Mile Rocks, in Brisbane's western suburbs. Founded in 1966 as Kenmore Baptist Church, the church has served the area for 60 years and currently describes a congregation of approximately 2,500 people with over 1,000 attendees across its two Sunday services (9am and 5pm). It is governed by a 10-member volunteer board of elders chaired by Joel Kelder, with Senior Pastor Jo Leutton leading a staff team of approximately 25 pastoral, operational, and support personnel.

The church operates a portfolio of programs across all life stages: Kids Church, Boys' Brigade, Girls' Brigade, Foundations (Grade 6 discipleship), Youth programs (Years 7–12), Young Adults (18–30), Life Groups meeting in homes, Seniors ministries, Alpha, and a Streams discipleship curriculum (Starting Out, Transforming, Engaging, Restoring). Supplementary services include LifeCentre prayer/Sozo ministry, professional counselling (Rae Turner), crisis response, English Conversation Classes, Riverlife Cafe, a Baptist Football Club, and venue hire of a 1,500-seat auditorium and 200-seat hall. Its digital infrastructure centers on a Squarespace website, live streaming via riverlife.online.church, YouTube sermon archives, and podcasts (Bible Streams and Going Deeper) on Spotify and Apple.

Revenue is generated primarily through voluntary tithes and offerings, processed via the Church Center Giving platform (transitioning from Pushpay) and direct bank deposits. Secondary revenue streams include venue hire (auditorium, hall, commercial kitchen, and cafe), program fees (Football Club registration A$440–A$505, Foundations A$200, Boys'/Girls' Brigade ~A$71–A$75 per term, Community Choir A$40/term), and Cafe sales. The church is supported by over 20 volunteer ministry teams and operates as a community-led organization with word-of-mouth referrals and digital content distribution as its primary go-to-market motions.

Name

Riverlife Baptist Church

Legal name

Riverlife Baptist Church

Website

https://riverlifechurch.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Riverlife Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church in Brisbane's western suburbs serving approximately 2,500 congregants across two Sunday services, with age-spanning ministries from kids through seniors, pastoral care, community outreach, and venue hire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services / House of Worship

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Worship services
• Pastoral care
• Community outreach
• Youth ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Seventeen Mile Rocks

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary giving from church members and attendees as an act of worship and generosity, reflecting the church's core values of open-handed giving.
2. Venue Hire: Auditorium (1500 seats), Hall (200 seats), and additional facilities available for hire for concerts, conferences, graduations, retreats, and community events. Commercial kitchen and cafe facilities also available.
3. Program Fees: Fees for structured programs including Boys' Brigade ($75/term), Girls' Brigade ($71/term), Riverlife Football Club ($440-$505 for men, $360-$390 for women), Foundations ($200 for 12-week program).
4. Cafe Sales: Riverlife Cafe generates revenue through barista-made coffee, organic teas, and food sales. Open Tuesday-Wednesday mornings and Sundays.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Riverlife Baptist Church is a multi-generational Baptist church operating in Seventeen Mile Rocks, Brisbane, delivering Sunday worship services (9am and 5pm), discipleship pathways, pastoral care, counselling, youth and children's ministry, prayer and inner healing ministry, and community outreach programs. It also operates supporting commercial-style offerings including an on-site cafe, venue hire, a football club, English classes, and structured fee-based youth programs (Boys' Brigade, Girls' Brigade, Foundations).

Product overview

Riverlife Baptist Church is a multi-generational Baptist church in Brisbane offering a comprehensive suite of spiritual formation, community connection, and support services. The church operates primarily through Sunday worship services (9am and 5pm) supplemented by specialized ministries including Kids Church, Youth Programs, Young Adults, and Life Groups for all ages and life stages. Spiritual development is supported through Alpha, Streams Courses (Starting Out, Transforming, Engaging, Restoring), the LifeCentre prayer ministry with Sozo and MOREH tools, and counselling services. Community engagement includes the Riverlife Cafe, English Conversation Classes, Community Choir, Football Club, Community Lunch, Street Teams crisis assistance, and Venue Hire for external events. Media offerings include sermon podcasts (Bible Streams, Going Deeper) and online giving via Church Center. The church transitioned from Pushpay to Church Center for online donations in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Services Regular weekly worship services held at 9am and 5pm on Sundays, open to all. Includes in-person attendance at the Seventeen Mile Rocks campus and online streaming via riverlife.online.church.
• Kids Church Sunday children's program for kids aged 1 year to Grade 6, offered during the 9am service during school terms. Includes Bible-based interactive teaching, activities, and volunteer-led groups.
• Youth Programs Friday Night Youth (6:30-9pm) for Years 7-12 and Sunday Youth Church for Years 7-10, providing fellowship, discipleship and faith development for high school students.
• Young Adults Community group for 18-30 year olds meeting at 5pm Sunday services with dinner gatherings, Life Groups, quarterly connection dinners, All In Nights, and Guys and Gals Nights.
• Life Groups Small group gatherings meeting in homes, parks, and cafes for fellowship, prayer, Bible study, and mutual care. Central to community connection and spiritual growth.
• LifeCentre Prayer and Inner Healing Ministry Prayer ministry and inner healing service offering Sozo and MOREH ministry tools, holistic spiritual healing, and personal ministry sessions.
• Alpha Course Eight-week interactive course exploring questions of faith and life over a meal, open to all regardless of background. Runs Thursday evenings with free dinner.
• Streams Courses Discipleship course series including Starting Out (intro to Christianity), Transforming (freedom in Jesus), Engaging (spiritual gifts and calling), and Restoring (healing and inner freedom).
• Counselling Services Professional counselling offered by accredited counsellor Rae Turner, addressing grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationships, and personal growth. Fee-for-service with supervision available.
• English Conversation Classes Free weekly English language classes for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students held Tuesday mornings during school terms, with teaching assistants and dietary-accommodating morning tea.
• Venue Hire Facility rental including Auditorium (1500 seats), Hall (200 seats), and extra facilities (foyer, cafe, kitchen, lounge, kids rooms, youth hall, meeting rooms). Available for concerts, conferences, weddings, and community events.
• Riverlife Cafe On-site cafe offering barista-made coffee, organic teas, and food options. Open Tuesday-Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings. Part of community hospitality and connection.
• Riverlife Football Club Soccer club fielding Senior Men's and Women's teams playing in Queensland Christian Soccer Association at Kingfisher Park. Includes training and volunteer expectations.
• Boys' Brigade Structured program for school-aged boys aged 8-18, meeting Tuesday nights during school terms. Term fee of $75.
• Girls' Brigade Structured program for school-aged girls meeting Tuesday nights during school terms. Term fee of $71.
• Foundations Grade 6 Discipleship Program 12-week discipleship program for Grade 6 students covering all costs including excursions, activities, food, and Foundations weekend ($200). Participants receive a Bible.
• Community Choir Community choir meeting Mondays 7-9pm during school terms. Term fee of $40 or $160 for full year.
• Crisis Response Service Practical and spiritual support for those experiencing hardship, relationship issues, trauma, or illness. Includes counselling referrals, prayer support, and financial assistance coordination.
• Community Life Programs Various community programs including Street Teams (practical assistance), Community Lunch (Wednesdays), KidsPlay (playgroup), Japanese Christian Fellowship, and Youth Detention Ministry.
• Prayer Ministry Prayer support including Sunday-Friday Prayer Chapel (7am-8pm), United Prayer sessions (multiple times weekly), and prayer request submission via Church Center.
• Podcasts Bible Streams podcast (biblical teaching) and Going Deeper podcast (culture and people of Riverlife), available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Online Giving Digital tithing and donations via Church Center Giving platform, with bank transfer options (BSB 704-913, Account 100001891). Transitioning from Pushpay.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 years of continuous ministry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• North Point Church (Atlanta): Large US-based church with comparable multi-generational programming, digital content distribution, and community outreach model. Indirect peer — useful international benchmark for scale and operational structure.
• Wesley Mission Queensland: Established Queensland-based faith organization with community services, counselling, and venue operation. Comparable on community-services portfolio and Australian geography, though broader than a single congregation.
• Salvation Army Australia: Large, established faith-based organization in Australia with extensive community outreach (crisis support, family services, retail). Comparable on community-services operating model and Australian footprint, though broader in mission.

Direct peers

• Planetshakers Church: Large Melbourne-based Pentecostal church with strong worship and youth focus, similar generational programming, and active podcast/online presence. Directly comparable in community-led, multi-generational operating model.
• Liberty Church Australia: Large charismatic church in Brisbane with comparable worship style, life-stage programming, and venue hire / community facility use. Operates in the same Brisbane market with overlapping target demographics.
• C3 Church (Global City Church): A large Australian Pentecostal/charismatic church network with similar theological posture, contemporary worship, Life Group model, and digital content distribution. Comparable in size and operational structure.
• Citipointe Church: A large Baptist church headquartered in Brisbane. Directly comparable as a denominational peer in the same city with similar Sunday service structure, discipleship programs, and multi-generational community focus.
• Crossway Baptist Church: Baptist church in Brisbane with similar discipleship pathway, contemporary services, and community program portfolio. Direct denominational and geographic peer.
• Hillsong Church (Australia): Formerly Brisbane-originated large charismatic church with similar worship and teaching model, multi-site presence, podcast and digital content, and young-adult focused programs. Compares on denomination-adjacent theological stance and scale of services.

Regional players

• Baptist Union of Queensland: Denominational governance body for Baptist churches in Queensland. Comparable as the regional umbrella organization under which Riverlife operates, providing context on denominational programs and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RiverlifeBaptistChurch/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/riverlifeyouthau
• Instagraminstagram.com/riverlife.cafe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/riverlifebaptistchurch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 Riverlife Baptist Church