Starting Point Child Care
Starting Point is an 8-week church-based small group curriculum operated under North Point Ministries and authored by Andy Stanley, designed for unchurched individuals exploring Christianity in a judgment-free conversational setting, supported by a companion podcast, book, and leader materials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersColumbus, Ohio, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Starting Point Child Care does
Starting Point is an 8-week small group curriculum program operated under North Point Ministries and authored by Andy Stanley, designed for individuals who are curious about Christianity, returning to faith, or otherwise unchurched. The program creates a conversational environment where questions and doubts about God, Jesus, and the Bible are welcomed without pressure or judgment, distinguishing it from traditional Bible studies that assume belief. Its primary customer segment is unchurched faith seekers, with churches and ministry leaders functioning as the B2B channel that recruits, trains, and equips volunteer facilitators to run groups locally.
The core product stack consists of the Starting Point group program, a companion podcast distributed through Apple Podcasts and Spotify, a full-color participant book available on Amazon, and structured leader materials including weekly PDF guides and New Leader Orientation content. The technology layer is light: the program is delivered through in-person small group facilitation, with digital touchpoints limited to podcast audio, online video content, and downloadable leader resources. There are no AI components, proprietary software platforms, or app-based delivery mechanisms disclosed.
The revenue model relies on one-time book sales through retail channels (primarily Amazon) alongside what appears to be free or included access to church implementation materials. Pricing for church licensing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution follows a community-led go-to-market motion: churches adopt the curriculum, recruit and train volunteer leaders through New Leader Orientation, and promote the program to unchurched attendees of their services. Marketing channels include church referral networks, the companion podcast, blog content addressing common faith questions, and cross-promotion through the broader North Point Ministries ecosystem.
Starting Point Child Care firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starting Point Child Care
- Legal name
- Starting Point
- Website
- https://startingpoint.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Starting Point is an 8-week church-based small group curriculum operated under North Point Ministries and authored by Andy Stanley, designed for unchurched individuals exploring Christianity in a judgment-free conversational setting, supported by a companion podcast, book, and leader materials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starting Point Child Care industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Education and Ministry Curriculum
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)
Keywords
Where Starting Point Child Care is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus, Ohio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Starting Point Child Care business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Starting Point books sold through Amazon and other retail channels. The full-color Starting Point book provides materials for group participants.
- Church Materials Licensing: Churches access leader materials, applications, orientation content, and promotional resources. Some materials available through the Irresistible Church store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Starting Point Book |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Starting Point Child Care product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starting Point is an 8-week small-group ministry program designed to help unchurched individuals and faith seekers explore Christianity through guided conversations rather than lectures. The program is licensed to and facilitated by partner churches using a printed participant book, weekly podcast episodes, optional videos, and leader guides. Operating under North Point Ministries, it is positioned as a safe, judgment-free on-ramp into faith and church community, with the book sold to consumers on Amazon and church implementation materials provided to ministry partners.
Product overview
Starting Point operates as a single unified product—a church ministry program consisting of an eight-week group experience curriculum for exploring Christian faith. The core offering includes the Starting Point group program, supported by complementary resources: the Starting Point Podcast (audio companion episodes), the Starting Point Book (participant print/digital guide), and Leader Materials (weekly guides and training resources for group facilitators).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Starting Point 8-Week Group Experience An engaging 8-week group experience for unchurched individuals, faith seekers, and people returning to Christianity, providing a safe conversational environment to ask questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible. Implemented by partner churches.
- Starting Point Book (A Conversation About Faith by Andy Stanley) A full-color book that accompanies the 8-week Starting Point group experience, used by participants to access video content and podcast episodes. Also sold through retail channels such as Amazon.
- Starting Point Podcast Weekly podcast episodes that accompany each week of the Starting Point group curriculum, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, providing accessible audio content for participants.
- Starting Point Leader Materials and Training A package of facilitator resources including PDF weekly leader guides for each of the eight weeks, New Leader Orientation materials, and promotional videos for churches. Designed for use by trained volunteer leaders facilitating Starting Point groups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Churches report successfully moving unchurched people from Sunday services into Starting Point groups
Companies that use Starting Point Child Care
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Starting Point Child Care technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Starting Point Child Care partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- North Point MinistriescoreNorth Point Ministries, led by Andy Stanley, is the parent organization behind Starting Point. The program is developed and distributed through the North Point ministry ecosystem, with content integrated into North Point sermon series.
- Irresistible Church StoreminorStarting Point promotional materials and the Starter Kit are available through the Irresistible Church store for church implementation.
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights4 records
Starting Point Child Care competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Life.Church Open Network: Life.Church and its open-resources arm (including the YouVersion Bible app and free curriculum) compete directly with Starting Point by offering churches free, high-production small group and discipleship materials.
- RightNow Media: Largest faith-based video streaming and small group curriculum library for churches; serves the same evangelical church market with subscription-based access to Bible study and discussion content.
- Ligonier Ministries: Reformation-focused teaching ministry producing structured curricula, video series, and study guides for churches and individuals — directly comparable as a faith-based education resource targeting evangelical audiences.
Others
- Crossway: Christian publisher (ESV Bible and related study resources) that supplies books and curricula to the same evangelical church channel; adjacent ecosystem player with comparable distribution through churches and Christian retail.
Emerging players
- Bible Project: Bible Project produces free animated video resources that Starting Point already references as supplementary content; it serves overlapping audiences of faith seekers and churches needing accessible educational media.
- Churchome: Churchome (formerly Churchome, related to David and Nicole Binion) distributes digital small group content and online church experiences — comparable to Starting Point's multimedia small group format.
Broad incumbents
- Zondervan: Major evangelical publisher producing Bible studies, church curricula, and Andy Stanley titles; supplies comparable small group content to the same church distribution channels Starting Point relies on.
- Christianity Today: Evangelical media organization producing magazines, podcasts, and church leadership resources; overlaps with Starting Point in content, audience, and church-decision-maker reach.
- The Gospel Coalition: Broad evangelical network producing conferences, courses, articles, and church resources; overlaps with Starting Point on church-focused curriculum and faith-exploration content for the same denominational slice.
- Willow Creek Association: Church network and leadership organization that produces small group resources, training events, and curricula for evangelical churches; comparable buyer-side profile to churches adopting Starting Point.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Starting Point Child Care social profiles
Digital presenceStarting Point Child Care financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starting Point Child Care leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Starting Point Child Care funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starting Point Child Care M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starting Point Child Care
What does Starting Point Child Care do?
Starting Point is an 8-week small-group ministry program designed to help unchurched individuals and faith seekers explore Christianity through guided conversations rather than lectures. The program is licensed to and facilitated by partner churches using a printed participant book, weekly podcast episodes, optional videos, and leader guides. Operating under North Point Ministries, it is positioned as a safe, judgment-free on-ramp into faith and church community, with the book sold to consumers on Amazon and church implementation materials provided to ministry partners.
Is Starting Point Child Care a public or private company?
Starting Point Child Care is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Starting Point Child Care founded?
Starting Point Child Care was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Starting Point Child Care based?
Starting Point Child Care is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, United States, in the North America region.
How does Starting Point Child Care make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are church Materials Licensing.
Who are Starting Point Child Care's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Life.Church Open Network, RightNow Media and Ligonier Ministries. Crossway is listed as an others. Emerging players are Bible Project and Churchome. Broad incumbents are Zondervan, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition and Willow Creek Association.
Does Starting Point Child Care have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starting Point Child Care.
What industry is Starting Point Child Care in?
Starting Point Child Care's product category is Religious Education and Ministry Curriculum. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAD, Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAE, Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International). Its NAICS code is 8131.