The Local Church
The Local Church is a non-profit United Methodist Lighthouse Congregation in Pittsboro, North Carolina, serving Chatham County through Sunday worship, youth and children's programs, small groups, and missions. It merged with Evergreen UMC in September 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersPittsboro, NC, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Local Church does
The Local Church is a non-profit religious organization headquartered in Pittsboro, North Carolina, serving residents of Chatham County as a Lighthouse Congregation of the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church. Its founding sequence began with a 2017 launch team and culminated in a 2019 charter. The organization's core offering centers on weekly Sunday worship services delivered both in-person and online, augmented by structured programs across youth, children, adults, small groups, and missions — including a distinct Care for Kids initiative. As of the September 2025 merger with Evergreen UMC, the combined entity operates from a consolidated local footprint.
Operationally, The Local Church runs on a small staff of approximately six named employees plus interns, falling within the 11–50 employee band typical of contemporary mid-sized US congregations. Its technology stack is standard for modern church plants: Church Center for member engagement and check-in, Simplecast for podcast distribution, YouTube for video and livestream, Tithely for online giving, and Mailchimp for email communications. There is no proprietary technology, no commercial product, and no disclosed financial reporting. The organization is a 501(c)(3)-style religious entity funded through member tithes, offerings, and donations rather than earned revenue, and operating financials are not publicly disclosed.
In September 2025, The Local Church completed a merger with Evergreen UMC, combining two United Methodist congregations within the Chatham County regional ecosystem. This consolidation broadened the combined membership base, programming capacity, and operational footprint, and represents the most significant recent strategic action for the organization.
The Local Church firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Local Church
- Legal name
- The Local Church
- Website
- https://thelocalchurchpbo.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Local Church is a non-profit United Methodist Lighthouse Congregation in Pittsboro, North Carolina, serving Chatham County through Sunday worship, youth and children's programs, small groups, and missions. It merged with Evergreen UMC in September 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Local Church industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Services
- 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 Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)
Keywords
Where The Local Church is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsboro, NC
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Local Church business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tithes and Offerings: The primary revenue stream comes from voluntary tithes and offerings donated by congregation members during weekly worship services and through online giving via the Church Center platform. The church also accepts designated gifts for specific ministries like Care for Kids and Diaper Dump.
- Special Offerings and Campaigns: Periodic fundraising campaigns for specific causes such as Hurricane Ian relief, Hurricane Helene relief, Ukraine medical missions, school supply drives, and heat relief initiatives.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Local Church product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Local Church is an inclusive United Methodist congregation that provides weekly Sunday worship services (in-person and livestreamed), age-specific spiritual formation programs for children and youth, small-group community gatherings (Local Tables), and a portfolio of community-impact ministries including mental health access, food security, transportation, and a community garden. Its core activities center on faith formation, inclusive belonging, and practical service to the Chatham County, NC community, with all core services offered free of charge and funded by voluntary donations.
Product overview
The Local Church is an inclusive Methodist congregation in Chatham County, North Carolina, offering a portfolio of in-person and digital ministry programs. Core offerings include weekly Sunday worship services at Woods Charter School (with livestreaming), age-specific spiritual formation through Local Kids (nursery through 5th grade) and TLCxYTH youth ministry (grades 6-12), and small group community through Local Tables. The church provides spiritual resources including the Rhythm of Life weekly devotional and Field Notes WhatsApp group. Community impact programs include The Local Garden, Restoring Wholeness (mental health access), Re:Cycle (bicycle ministry), Care for Kids, Feed-Well Community Dinners, and the Evergreen Campus (multi-use facility from September 2025 merger). Operations and community engagement are supported through Church Center platform for giving and management, with supplementary tools including YouTube/Facebook Live streaming, Simplecast podcast hosting, and WhatsApp communication.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Evergreen Campus: A community space hosting youth group on Wednesday nights, regular community dinners, Feed-Well Fridge for neighbors in need, and a community garden. Available for meetings, gatherings, and small retreats.
- The Local Garden
- Restoring Wholeness
- Re:Cycle
- Community Dinners
Products and services
- Sunday Worship Services Weekly worship gatherings held Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Woods Charter School in Chapel Hill, featuring contemporary and traditional music, scripture readings, approximately 20-minute sermons, and Holy Communion each week; available in-person and via live stream on YouTube and Facebook Live.
- Local Kids Program Children's spiritual formation program offering three age-appropriate classrooms (toddler class for ages 3 and under, early elementary for ages 4 through first grade, and upper elementary for second through fifth graders), with children participating in family worship before transitioning to dedicated formation classes during the sermon.
- TLCxYTH Youth Ministry Youth group for students in grades 6-12 meeting Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Campus, featuring games, student-focused messages, discussion, and prayer in an inclusive environment.
- Local Tables Small-group gatherings meeting in homes around tables for authentic holy conversation, fellowship, and spiritual formation; offered with multiple schedules, locations, and topical focus (Chatham Adjacent, North Chatham, Carolina Meadows, Parents of Teens, Youth, Kids & Families).
- Rhythm of Life Weekly spiritual practices resource including The Read Along (weekly Bible reading plan), Next Step (weekly practice/question), The Praylist (weekly prayer concerns digest), ICYMI (midweek message recap), and Sabbath prayer practice; customizable via text or email.
- Restoring Wholeness Mental health care access program pairing participants with trained congregational advocates who help identify licensed counselors and navigate the counseling process, with financial assistance available for initial sessions.
- The Local Garden Community garden partnership with Chatham Pride Alliance at the Evergreen Campus, with garden workdays held Tuesdays and Saturdays (9-10:30 a.m.) and harvest distributed back to the community; operating at the Evergreen Campus for eleven seasons.
- Evergreen Campus Multi-use campus acquired through the September 2025 merger with Evergreen United Methodist Church, hosting youth group, community dinners, Feed-Well Fridge, and the community garden, with planned development for future renewal, reflection, and retreat programming.
- Feed-Well Community Dinners Monthly community dinner program in partnership with Feed-Well Fridges, creating welcoming spaces for neighbors to share meals, build relationships, and connect with local resources.
- Care for Kids Ministry supporting children and families facing hardship through partnership with local schools and community organizations, expanding in 2026 to serve in-need children across Chatham County in addition to McKinney-Vento students, including stocking school supply closets.
- Re:Cycle Ministry partnership with The Salvation Army collecting, repairing, and distributing donated bicycles to individuals and families in need, providing reliable transportation and encouragement.
- Field Notes WhatsApp-based community group for sharing prayers, pictures, reflections, questions, music, and inspirational content among church members on their faith journey.
- Safer Sanctuary Training Child and youth protection training program with slides and quiz components designed to ensure safe environments for children and youth in church programming.
- Prayer Requests Prayer request submission system allowing confidential sharing with clergy or optional sharing with the broader TLC community and weekly prayer team.
- Online Giving Digital tithing and donation platform via Church Center supporting ongoing church operations and specific ministry campaigns.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Local Church launched Pittsboro's first-ever Pride festival
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Local Church
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Local Church technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
The Local Church partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Evergreen United Methodist ChurchcoreEvergreen UMC merged with The Local Church in September 2025. The Evergreen Campus is now home to youth group, community dinners, Feed-Well Fridge, and community garden. Evergreen UMC began in 1988, purchased land in 1992, and built the campus with their own hands.
- Chatham Pride AlliancecorePartnership for The Local Garden at Evergreen Campus, creating space for neighbors to grow food, build relationships, and care for the community. The garden is a partnership between two communities who believe that planting something together is one of the most honest acts of love a neighborhood can offer.
- Chatham Pride AlliancecoreJoint partnership for The Local Garden initiative rooted in shared commitment to hospitality, healing, and local flourishing.
- North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist ChurchcoreThe Local Church is a Lighthouse Congregation of the North Carolina Conference, in partnership with The United Methodist Collective and the Office of New Faith Communities.
- Woods Charter SchoolcoreWeekly Sunday worship gatherings held at Woods Charter School, 160 Woodland Grove Ln, Chapel Hill, NC. The school provides the physical space for the congregation's primary worship services.
- Feed-Well FridgesminorPartnership for monthly Community Dinners that create welcoming spaces for neighbors to share meals, build relationships, and connect with local resources. Feed-Well Fridges organization helps address food insecurity.
- The Salvation ArmyminorRe:Cycle is a ministry partnership with The Salvation Army that helps provide reliable transportation and encouragement to individuals and families in need through donated and restored bicycles.
- Chatham County School Social WorkersminorCare for Kids program partners with Chatham County school social workers to better understand needs, respond to specific requests for students, and help stock school supply closets managed by social workers.
- Partner Churches (Care for Kids)minorCare for Kids is expanding to invite partner churches to help meet needs of in-need children across Chatham County, creating a collaborative network of congregations supporting children and families.
- CORE (Community Organizing for Racial Equity)minorCORE facilitated the Racial Equity Fundamentals Workshop hosted by The Local Church in September 2022, providing training on equity, diversity, and inclusion for community members.
- Compassion Med InternationalminorChurch members Jean Davison and Ron Herring participated in a medical mission trip to Ukraine with Compassion Med International and Baptist On Missions, providing basic medical and spiritual care for refugees.
- Duke Divinity SchoolminorThe church hosts Duke Divinity interns (such as Victoria Pannullo and Isabel Packevicz), providing practical ministry experience while bringing fresh perspectives to the congregation.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Local Church competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Interfaith America (formerly Interfaith Youth Core): A national nonprofit building interfaith cooperation; adjacent rather than competing, but relevant for benchmarking faith-based community programming, partnerships, and inclusive-mission positioning.
- Chatham Habitat for Humanity: A local Chatham County nonprofit that addresses community needs through volunteer-driven programs; comparable as a peer community-mission organization operating in the same geographic service area and donor pool.
Broad incumbents
- Foundry United Methodist Church: A progressive, affirming United Methodist congregation larger and more established than The Local Church; comparable as a UMC-affiliated church with strong social-justice programming and a similar inclusive theological position.
- Metropolitan Community Churches: A denomination whose explicit mission is LGBTQ+-affirming Christianity; serves as a broader-incumbent reference point for affirming-churches and the donor/community pipeline The Local Church draws from.
Direct peers
- New Story Church: A progressive church plant network serving deconstructed Christians with multiple community locations; comparable for new-faith-community growth strategy and inclusive theology in the U.S. market.
- Gentle Spirit Christian Church: An explicitly LGBTQ+-affirming congregation in Atlanta of comparable small-to-mid size with a similar community-impact focus; useful as a comparable for affirming-church programming and donor dynamics.
- Vita Church: A progressive, inclusive new faith community that grew out of a church-plant model similar to The Local Church's 2019 launch, with comparable multigenerational programming and small-team operations.
- Church of the Open Door UCC: An open and affirming progressive Christian community comparable to The Local Church in mission and audience, with a similar hybrid in-person/streaming model and explicit welcome to LGBTQ+ individuals.
- The Table Nashville: A progressive, new-faith community in Nashville with a similar small-plant profile, hybrid digital + physical programming, and an emphasis on inclusivity and spiritual formation for skeptics and deconstructing Christians.
- Beloved Community Church: A small progressive congregation with similar commitments to anti-racism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and community-impact programming, offering a like-for-like benchmark for size and operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Local Church social profiles
Digital presenceThe Local Church financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Local Church leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Local Church funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Local Church 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 The Local Church
What does The Local Church do?
The Local Church is an inclusive United Methodist congregation that provides weekly Sunday worship services (in-person and livestreamed), age-specific spiritual formation programs for children and youth, small-group community gatherings (Local Tables), and a portfolio of community-impact ministries including mental health access, food security, transportation, and a community garden. Its core activities center on faith formation, inclusive belonging, and practical service to the Chatham County, NC community, with all core services offered free of charge and funded by voluntary donations.
Is The Local Church a public or private company?
The Local Church is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Local Church founded?
The Local Church was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Local Church based?
The Local Church is headquartered in Pittsboro, NC, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Local Church make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tithes and Offerings are the primary driver. The others are special Offerings and Campaigns.
Who are The Local Church's main competitors?
Others on record are Interfaith America (formerly Interfaith Youth Core) and Chatham Habitat for Humanity. Broad incumbents are Foundry United Methodist Church and Metropolitan Community Churches. Direct peers are New Story Church, Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Vita Church, Church of the Open Door UCC, The Table Nashville and Beloved Community Church.
Does The Local Church have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Local Church.
What industry is The Local Church in?
The Local Church's product category is Religious Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAA, Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling). Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8600.