Washington Avenue Christian

What Washington Avenue Christian does

Washington Avenue Christian Church (WACC) is a local congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination, founded in 1880 and headquartered at 301 Washington Avenue in Elyria, Ohio. The organization provides weekly worship services in-person and online, age-based ministry programs (Adults, Children, Youth, Music, Outreach, Justice League), religious education including Children Worship & Wonder, and pastoral care to congregation members and the broader Elyria community. Its ministry emphasizes inclusive welcome, social justice engagement, and ecumenical collaboration, exemplified by its AWAB membership and partnerships with multiple local and regional nonprofits.

Name

Washington Avenue Christian

Legal name

Washington Avenue Christian Church

Website

https://waccelyria.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington Avenue Christian Church is a 145-year-old Disciples of Christ congregation in Elyria, Ohio, providing worship services, faith formation programs, and community outreach. The church serves members and the local community through donation-funded ministry, digital engagement, and ecumenical partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregational 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 industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Community outreach ministry
• Faith-based education
• Church youth programs
• Online giving stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Elyria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional church giving through weekly offerings, pledges, and direct deposit donations from congregation members during worship services
2. Online Giving: Digital giving options through the church website for one-time and recurring donations
3. Special Offerings: Twelve special offerings throughout the year designated for various mission organizations and causes including Week of Compassion, Seminary Scholarships, Cleveland Christian Home, and Camp Christian

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Washington Avenue Christian Church is a nonprofit congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Elyria, Ohio. It delivers weekly in-person and online worship services, age-based religious education (Adults, Children, Youth, Music), community outreach programs supporting local nonprofits, pastoral care, and a digital giving platform for tithes and pledges.

Product overview

Washington Avenue Christian Church offers religious and spiritual services including weekly worship (in-person and online), age-based ministry programs for Adults, Children, Youth, and Music, community outreach, and digital giving tools. The church is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination and is certified as a Green Chalice Congregation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services
• Ministry Programs
• Online Giving
• The Spire Newsletter

Quantifiable outcome

• $81,929.17 in total outreach giving in 2019
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACC is a proud member of AWAB, a partnership for inclusion, unity, and gospel witness. AWAB supports welcoming and affirming Baptist congregations in their ministry.
• Elyria Hospitality CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit supported by WACC's weekly collection of non-perishable goods and volunteer engagement. Polly Simmons, former Director along with her late husband Bud, continues to devote weekly hours to this food pantry.
• Week of CompassioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). WACC is a Circle of Compassion congregation with an endowed fund over $10,000. February special offerings support this organization.
• Cleveland Christian HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency and outreach program for abused/neglected children and families. WACC has decades-long relationship including capital campaign support in early 2000s enabling major facility upgrades. Annual golf scramble raises $70,000+ for the organization.
• Brite Divinity SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisciples-related theological seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. WACC supports seminary scholarships and has historical connections through former pastors. October special offerings support Brite Divinity School scholarships.
• Global Ministries (Division of Overseas Ministries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint mission witness of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, working with approximately 290 faith-based international partners in nearly 90 countries. WACC Vacation Bible School curriculum sourced from Global Ministries.
• Camp ChristiancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner70-year-old Camp in Ohio owned by The Christian Church in Ohio. WACC supports operating budget and capital improvements through January special offerings. Mortgage of $211,923 (as of May 2018) has been significantly reduced through fundraising efforts.
• Community of Faith and First Congregational United Church of ChristminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical partners for Vacation Bible School (Spirit Island). Ecumenical collaboration for children's ministry formation and community outreach programs.
• Second Harvest Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional food bank organization supported through WACC's outreach efforts and food collection programs.
• Salvation ArmyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charitable organization supported through WACC's outreach and mission giving.
• Elyria Arts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization supported through WACC's outreach ministry and community engagement.
• Genesis HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit organization supported through WACC's outreach ministry serving the Elyria community.
• Temple B'nai AbrahamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish synagogue in Elyria. WACC extended sympathy and solidarity after Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, attending Sabbath services and Bagel Brunch event.
• The Christian Church in Ohio (Regional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional church body of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that WACC participates in through Regional Assemblies and supports through Disciples Mission Fund (10% of non-outreach budget).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Brite Divinity School: Disciples-affiliated theological seminary in Fort Worth, Texas — WACC supports Brite scholarships through October special offerings and Senior Pastor Nathan Russell previously worked there as Admissions Associate. Functions as a denominational ecosystem partner, not a competitor.
• Cleveland Christian Home: Regional nonprofit partner for abused/neglected children and families; WACC raises $70,000+ annually for this organization via a golf scramble and provided capital campaign funding in the early 2000s. A core strategic alliance rather than a competitor.
• Elyria Hospitality Center: Local Elyria-area food pantry and hospitality nonprofit supported weekly by WACC through non-perishable collections and volunteer engagement; functions as a community ecosystem partner aligned with WACC's outreach mission.

Direct peers

• National City Christian Church: A historic Disciples of Christ congregation in Washington, D.C. with a landmark building, multi-generational history, and active worship/outreach model — directly comparable to WACC's identity as a long-standing DoC congregation in a landmark sanctuary.
• First Congregational United Church of Christ: A UCC congregation explicitly named as WACC's ecumenical Vacation Bible School partner. Operates a similar congregational model with shared Disciples-UCC mission ties (e.g., Global Ministries) and overlapping ministry programs.
• First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Indianapolis: Another Indianapolis-based Disciples of Christ congregation and one of the larger DoC churches in the denomination; directly comparable in tradition, governance (congregational polity), and ministry program structure.
• Park Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): A historic DoC congregation in New York City with a landmark building, progressive/inclusive posture, and active justice ministry — parallel to WACC's welcoming-affirming identity and social justice programming (Justice League).
• Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Indianapolis: A large Disciples of Christ congregation in the Midwest that operates as a comparable mainline Protestant local church with worship, education, and outreach programming aligned with WACC's denominational tradition and ministry mix.

Broad incumbents

• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Denomination: The national denominational body to which WACC belongs; the umbrella that provides regional assemblies, Week of Compassion, Global Ministries, and seminary ties (e.g., Brite) — directly comparable as the governing incumbent for WACC's congregational operations.

Regional players

• The Christian Church in Ohio (Regional): The regional Disciples of Christ body covering Ohio, with which WACC participates through Regional Assemblies and contributes 10% of its non-outreach budget to the Disciples Mission Fund. A natural regional peer and oversight counterpart.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waccelyria
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC97mnsvnfZ9WU1bm3MWWEsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/waccelyria
• Instagraminstagram.com/waccelyria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-avenue-christian

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Washington Avenue Christian