White Bear Lake United Methodist Church

What White Bear Lake United Methodist Church does

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church (WBLUMC) is a nonprofit Christian congregation affiliated with the United Methodist Church denomination, operating a single campus at 1851 Birch Street in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, a suburb of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. The church delivers worship services in three formats: a traditional 9:00am service ("Traditions") with choirs and organ, a contemporary 10:45am service ("New Crossings") with a band, and a consolidated summer 10:00am service, supplemented by online worship released weekly at 7:00am on YouTube with Facebook Live engagement. The church serves a horizontally segmented community: general members, families with children (ages 3 through 5th grade), youth (grades 6-12), LGBTQ+ individuals and families, and widows/widowers, with explicit inclusivity across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and life circumstances.

The church's core programmatic offerings include a Children's Ministry (nursery, Sunday School), a Youth Ministry with a three-year Confirmation program (grades 6-9), multiple musical ensembles (Chancel Choir, Jubilation Bells, Alleluia Ringers, New Crossings band, children's choirs), the Community Bread Oven outreach initiative (originated 2009, used for baking events, pizza nights, and partnerships with local schools), and the Music on the Lawn outdoor summer concert series. Technology infrastructure is built on commodity SaaS: Ekklesia 360 for the website, Realm (ACS Technologies) for membership and giving management, Constant Contact for email newsletters, and YouTube/Facebook for content distribution. Giving infrastructure includes online pledges via Realm, Text-to-Give (WBLUMC to 73256), mail, and scheduled recurring donations.

Revenue is generated exclusively through voluntary contributions: weekly tithes and offerings, annual pledge campaigns, and small-scale fundraising events (notably the Baking With a Purpose artisan bread initiative, with proceeds directed to community partners). The church operates with a small staff of approximately 7 to 10 part-time and full-time personnel including Lead Pastor Christopher (Chris) Kneen, Associate Pastor Christine Ford, Digital Minister/Handbell Director Peteria Cochran-Routt, Chancel Choir Director Gerald Gurss, Next Generation Minister Joan Hartman, Organist Doug Nelson, Communications & Office Manager Renee Friedman, Director of Operations Jim Lindner, and Music Director (New Crossings) Steven C Anderson. No financial figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church

Legal name

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church

Website

https://wblumc.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church is a single-campus nonprofit United Methodist congregation in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, offering traditional and contemporary worship services, children's and youth ministries, music ensembles, and the Community Bread Oven outreach program, serving local families, youth, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services - Church and Faith Community

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), 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 Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Children and youth ministry
• Community outreach programs
• Musical ensembles ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

White Bear Lake

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: Regular weekly donations collected during worship services and through various giving channels
2. Pledge Giving: Annual pledge campaign where members commit to financial giving throughout the year via the 2026 Online Pledge Card system through Realm
3. Baking With a Purpose: Fundraising through artisan bread sales at Fellowship Hall, with donations supporting community partners
4. Special Event Donations: Proceeds from summer concerts and other community events support various church programs and community partners

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church is a faith community that provides weekly worship services (traditional Traditions service, contemporary New Crossings service, and a combined Summer service) and an online Church Online worship experience, along with faith formation programs for all ages including nursery, Sunday School, and a three-year Confirmation program for grades 6–9. It also operates a children's and youth ministry, multiple musical ensembles (Chancel Choir, handbell choirs, contemporary band, children's choirs), a unique Community Bread Oven outreach program, and community events such as the Music on the Lawn summer concert series and small groups for connection.

Product overview

White Bear Lake United Methodist Church operates as a multi-service faith community offering in-person and online worship across three distinct service styles (Traditional/Traditions at 9am, Contemporary/New Crossings at 10:45am, and Summer Worship at 10am), along with an online worship platform releasing new services weekly on YouTube. The church runs comprehensive children and youth ministries including Sunday School, confirmation, and youth groups, supported by multiple musical ensembles (contemporary band, chancel choir, handbell choirs, and children's choirs). Community engagement programs center around the Community Bread Oven—a wood-fired brick oven used for baking events and outreach—and the Baking With a Purpose fundraising initiative. Additional services include an E-Newsletter, text-to-give mobile giving, group finder for community connection, summer outdoor concert series (Music on the Lawn), and summer camp partnerships. The church utilizes Realm for online giving and membership management, and Constant Contact for email newsletters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Traditions: Traditional worship service held at 9:00am with choirs and organ music
• New Crossings
• Community Bread Oven
• Music on the Lawn

Products and services

• Traditions Worship Service Traditional worship service held at 9:00am featuring choirs, organ music, and classic hymn-based liturgy for congregation members seeking a traditional style of worship.
• New Crossings Worship Service Contemporary worship service held at 10:45am featuring piano, contemporary band ensemble, and modern worship music, serving members preferring a contemporary worship style.
• Summer Worship Service Single consolidated in-person worship service held each Sunday at 10:00am during summer months (Memorial Day through the second weekend in September), with continued online offerings via Church Online.
• Church Online Worship Virtual worship experience releasing new services at 7:00am on YouTube and the church website, with Facebook Live chat at 10:00am during summer, and access to past services and ministry minute videos 24/7 for worshippers who cannot attend in person.
• Community Bread Oven Program Wood-fired brick oven on church grounds used for community building through baking events, pizza nights, baking classes, and partnerships with schools and organizations, serving as a centerpiece for strengthening body and soul.
• Baking With a Purpose Volunteer-driven artisan bread baking initiative where freshly baked loaves are sold by donation on Sunday mornings in Fellowship Hall, with all proceeds benefiting community partners; bread is offered first-come basis by donation.
• Kids & Students Ministry Age-based programming including nursery, summer Sunday School (June-July), fall Sunday School for ages 3 through 12th grade, Wednesday Youth Group, confirmation program, and music opportunities for children.
• Confirmation Program Three-year confirmation program for students in grades 6–9 featuring weekly Wednesday gatherings with meals, games, and discussion exploring the Bible, United Methodist beliefs, service projects, and field trips.
• Musical Ensembles Music ministry including the New Crossings contemporary ensemble, Chancel Choir, handbell ensembles (Jubilation Bells for beginners, Alleluia Ringers for advanced), and children's choirs serving various worship styles and skill levels.
• Group Finder Online small group connection tool allowing members to find groups based on topic (Environmental Stewardship, Marriage, Missions, Parenting, Reading Books, Theology), life stage (College, Men, Senior, Women, Youth), and day of week.
• Music on the Lawn Outdoor Concert Series Outdoor concert series held on four Sundays during summer on the back lawn, featuring local talent and serving as community outreach to the White Bear Lake area; nearly a decade running.
• Summer Camp Partnerships Summer camp partnerships with Good Earth Village in Spring Valley, MN for middle and high school outdoor ministry on over 500 acres, and Summer Festival Camp at Gustavus Adolphus College for high school students over four days.
• Pledge Giving and Tithing Program Annual pledge campaign where members commit to financial giving throughout the year via the Realm online platform (onrealm.org), available through the 2026 Online Pledge Card system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Music on the Lawn concert series serving the community for nearly a decade
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Good Earth VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer camping partnership for middle-school and high-school students. Located in Spring Valley, MN (near Lanesboro) on over 500 acres. Students stay in cabins, platform tents, and hammocks/tents with activities including cookouts, canoe trips, nature walks, and games. The Next Generation Minister joins kids at camp.
• Summer Festival Camp at Gustavus Adolphus CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-school level summer camp hosted on Gustavus Adolphus College campus. Students stay in dorms, eat in the college cafeteria, participate in Summer Festival Band, listen to guest speakers, and engage in indoor/outdoor activities over four days. Students from multiple churches and denominations from Minnesota and Wisconsin participate.
• Faith in ActionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides concessions at Music on the Lawn concerts. Proceeds from concessions at the Billy McLaughlin and SimpleGifts concert benefited the WBLHS Black Student Union.
• WBLHS Black Student UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner benefiting from concession proceeds at the Music on the Lawn concert series.
• TEDxMahtomediminorOthersMentioned in the history of the Community Bread Oven as external recognition/interest in the bread oven ministry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• House of Mercy Church (Roseville): Affirming Twin Cities-area congregation offering contemporary and traditional services with active youth and community outreach — closely comparable in theology, programming breadth, and demographic targeting.
• Centennial United Methodist Church: Minnesota UMC congregation with multi-service worship, music ministry, and youth/family programs — directly comparable in operating model and community-formation focus.
• Roseville United Methodist Church: Suburban Twin Cities UMC of similar scale operating traditional and contemporary services with family programming — directly comparable in geography, denomination, and congregation size.
• First Congregational Church of Minnesota: Twin Cities progressive mainline (UCC) congregation offering multiple worship styles, music ministry, and youth/family programs — directly comparable operating model and inclusive theological posture.
• Woodbury United Methodist Church: Nearby Minnesota UMC congregation of comparable size serving a Twin Cities suburb with traditional and contemporary worship plus youth programming — directly comparable denomination, scale, and metro footprint.
• Hamline Church United Methodist: Twin Cities UMC with progressive theological orientation, multiple worship styles, and active community outreach — closely aligned denomination and affirming posture.

Broad incumbents

• Unity Church-Unitarian: Twin Cities progressive mainline congregation with multi-platform worship, strong music ensembles, and active social-justice programming — comparable in theology, scale of programming, and community engagement model.
• Westminster Presbyterian Church: Large Twin Cities mainline congregation with progressive theology, multiple worship services, and strong music program — comparable affirming posture and worship-style diversification at greater scale.
• Mount Olivet Lutheran Church: Large Minneapolis mainline Lutheran congregation with traditional and contemporary services, multiple music ensembles, and broad community programming — comparable faith-based community-formation model at greater scale.

Regional players

• Edina Community Lutheran Church: Suburban Twin Cities Lutheran congregation with multi-service worship, music programs, and youth/family ministries — comparable operating model in a different but adjacent Twin Cities suburb.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wblumc
• Facebookfacebook.com/wblumcstudents
• Instagraminstagram.com/wblumcstudents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-bear-lake-united-methodist-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 White Bear Lake United Methodist Church