St John's Episcopal Church

What St John's Episcopal Church does

St John's Episcopal Church (operating as SJC ILM) is a nonprofit Episcopal congregation in Wilmington, North Carolina, established in 1851 and affiliated with The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of East Carolina. The organization delivers a comprehensive ministry platform centered on worship, spiritual formation, and community service, serving a congregation that includes general members, seekers, children (SJC Kids, ages 0–5th grade), youth (SJC Youth/UNITED, grades 5+), preschool families, and the broader Wilmington community. Core offerings include three weekly in-person worship services (Sunday 8:30am contemplative, Sunday 10:00am modern, Wednesday 11:00am chapel), the "Online Worship XP*" streamed via YouTube and Facebook, small groups, Alpha and Foundations courses, pastoral care (SJC Cares), and community outreach partnerships with Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Eden Village Wilmington, and the Harrelson Center.

The church's revenue model is diversified across three streams: voluntary tithes and offerings (the primary funding mechanism), subscription-based preschool tuition ($335–$410 per month across 2-day, 3-day, and 5-day programs), and a two-year "Bright Tomorrow" capital campaign with a $2,000,000 goal allocated to sustaining operations ($1.3M), next-generation ministries ($300K), and worship facility enhancements ($400K). Digital giving is enabled via text and online payment. Technology infrastructure is limited and non-proprietary, relying on YouTube and Facebook for online worship distribution and standard web forms for visitor engagement; no APIs, applications, or proprietary software platforms are operated. The organization employs approximately 12 staff, led by Rector Eric Moulton (ordained 2014), and operates from a 1955 sanctuary at 1219 Forest Hills Drive designed by Barber and McMurry Architects, with the SJC Preschool added as an internal ministry in 2004.

Name

St John's Episcopal Church

Legal name

St. John's Episcopal Church

Website

https://stjohnsepiscopalchurch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1851

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

St John's Episcopal Church is a 170+ year-old Episcopal congregation in Wilmington, NC delivering worship services, children's and youth ministries, a faith-based preschool, and spiritual formation programs funded through donations, tuition, and capital campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB), Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN)

Keywords

• Episcopal worship services
• Christian faith formation
• Religious preschool education
• Youth children's ministry
• Community outreach services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions collected during worship services to support the worship, mission, and ministry of the church. Everyone is invited to participate, but no one is expected to donate.
2. Preschool Tuition: Preschool program with tuition divided into 9 payments. Options include 5-day ($410/month), 3-day ($360/month), and 2-day ($335/month) programs. Registration fee of $100 and supply fee equal to one month of tuition also collected.
3. Bright Tomorrow Campaign: Two-year fundraising initiative with a goal of $2,000,000 to strengthen St. John's financial foundation, including sustaining church operations ($1.3M), forming next generation ministries ($300K), and enhancing worship facilities ($400K).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

St. John's Episcopal Church operates a comprehensive Episcopal parish ministry providing in-person and online worship services, Christian faith formation programs, children's and youth ministries, a licensed preschool for ages 1 through PreK, small groups, pastoral care, and community service partnerships for residents of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Product overview

St. John's Episcopal Church (SJC ILM) is a faith-based organization offering a comprehensive suite of ministry programs and services centered on worship, spiritual formation, and community care. The organization operates its main church community with in-person and online worship services, supported by children's (SJC Kids), youth (SJC Youth), and preschool (SJC Preschool) ministries. Spiritual growth programs include Alpha, Foundations, Pathways, Groups, Discover, and Story Night. Care ministries under SJC Cares provide pastoral support, prayer, meals, and visits. The church also conducts a major fundraising initiative called Bright Tomorrow ($2M goal) and accepts digital giving through online and text platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SJC Kids: Children's ministry for ages 0-5th grade utilizing First Look and 252 curriculum from Orange
• SJC Youth
• SJC Preschool
• SJC Cares
• Bright Tomorrow
• Foundations
• Alpha

Products and services

• SJC ILM Worship Services In-person Sunday worship services (8:30 am contemplative organ/piano and 10:00 am energetic modern music) and Wednesday 11:00 am chapel service, open to all individuals and families in Wilmington, NC.
• Online Worship XP* Weekly online worship gathering featuring songs, prayers, scripture reading, and a message, premiering at 10:00 am EST Sundays on YouTube and Facebook and available on-demand for remote participants.
• SJC Kids Christ-centered children's ministry for ages 0 through 5th grade creating engaging environments that help children grow in faith through Orange (First Look and 252) curriculum.
• SJC Youth (UNITED) Biblically-driven, relationally-focused youth ministry for grades 5 and up meeting monthly as UNITED for food, games, lessons, and small group ministry.
• SJC Preschool Licensed, faith-based preschool program for children ages 1 through PreK, operating as a 4-hour program from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm during the school year (August/September through May), with 5-day, 3-day, and 2-day attendance options.
• Alpha Course Casual exploration of the Christian faith offered twice yearly with meals, video talks, and discussion groups, providing an opportunity to explore faith and ask questions in a low-pressure setting.
• Foundations Membership Course Two-week course exploring core beliefs, vision, and mission as a prerequisite for formal church membership through Confirmation, Reception, or Re-Affirmation.
• Small Groups Small group fellowship opportunities including Monday Co-Ed Life Group, Wednesday Women's Christian Book Study, Thursday Women's Video and Discussion Group, and Saturday Men's Bible Study.
• SJC Cares Pastoral Care Ministry Pastoral care ministry offering hospitalization support, communion delivery, prayer lists, prayer chain, prayer shawls, meals, altar flowers, and visits for members and the wider community.
• Bright Tomorrow Capital Campaign Two-year congregational pledge campaign with a $2,000,000 goal covering $1.3M for sustaining church operations, $300K for next-generation ministries, and $400K for worship facility enhancements.
• Digital Giving (Tithes and Offerings) Voluntary financial contributions accepted via mail, text (844-982-2584), and online payment systems to support worship, mission, and ministry of the church.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ young people involved in children's and family ministries beyond preschool and summer camp
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mother Hubbard's CupboardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer-run food distribution organization serving individuals facing hunger in the community. SJC volunteers prepare food boxes on Thursday mornings from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Located at 315 Red Cross St., Wilmington. Contact: Katherine at 919-353-4564.
• Eden Village Of WilmingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTiny home community for the chronically homeless in Wilmington. SJC provides teams to serve and share meals with residents on an ongoing basis.
• The Harrelson CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit support organization partnering with other nonprofits to meet community needs including housing, education, employment, healthcare, and family support. SJC is a financial partner with Help Hub providing emergency financial assistance and connection to community resources. Tours available 12-1pm first Thursday or third Tuesday of month.
• Communities In SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDropout prevention program empowering young people to stay in school and succeed. SJC participates in Stuff the Bus school supply collection (through August 17 annually), collecting backpacks, water bottles, markers, highlighters, and deodorant for local students.
• NourishNCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing healthy food to hungry children. SJC serves as a food collection site for NourishNC.
• Alpha WilmingtoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlpha course offered at SJC ILM as part of Pathways touchstone events. Alpha is a casual exploration of the Christian faith with meals, video talks, and discussion groups, offered twice a year.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Paul's Episcopal Church: St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wilmington, NC is another Episcopal parish in the Diocese of East Carolina serving the same Wilmington metro with comparable worship, formation, and community-service offerings, making it a directly comparable peer for congregational scale and ministry model.
• Holy Trinity Episcopal Church: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Wilmington, NC operates in the same Episcopal tradition and Diocese of East Carolina, providing a directly comparable parish model for benchmarking worship attendance, formation programs, and stewardship capacity.
• St. James Episcopal Parish: St. James Parish in Wilmington, NC is the founding parish from which St. John's was spun off in 1851 when its congregation outgrew capacity. It is the most directly comparable Episcopal parish in the same city, sharing denomination, diocesan affiliation, and Wilmington market context.

Broad incumbents

• First United Methodist Church of Wilmington: First United Methodist Church of Wilmington is a large mainline Protestant congregation in the same metro, offering comparable worship, children's, youth, and community-service programs. It competes for the same pool of mainline Wilmington families and is a useful scale benchmark.
• First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington: First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington is a fellow mainline Protestant congregation in the same Wilmington market. While not Episcopal, it competes for the same congregants, runs similar multi-generational programming, and provides a useful benchmark for stewardship and program scale.

Others

• The Episcopal Church (national): The national Episcopal Church is the broader denomination above the Diocese of East Carolina and St. John's. It sets the Book of Common Prayer and theological standards that define SJC's worship and formation, and is relevant context for denominational-level trends and resources.
• Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina: The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina is the parent diocesan body to which St. John's is canonically tied. It is not a peer in a competitive sense but provides denominational governance, clergy deployment, and shared resources that materially shape St. John's operations and ministry model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SJCilm/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/sjcilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/sjcilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-john's-episcopal-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 St John's Episcopal Church