Cherry Hills Church

What Cherry Hills Church does

Cherry Hills Church is an independent, non-denominational evangelical Christian church headquartered at 2125 Woodside Road in Springfield, Illinois. It operates a single physical campus with two identical Sunday morning services at 9:00am and 10:30am, offered both in-person and online via YouTube live streaming. The church serves congregants across the full life-stage spectrum, with dedicated programs for early childhood (birth through age 5), elementary students (K-5th), middle school (6th-8th grade, Wednesday evenings), high school (9th-12th grade, Sunday evenings), emerging adults (18-29, including campus ministry partnerships at UIS and Lincoln Land Community College), adults (Life Groups, Essentials class, Institute discipleship school), and senior adults (50+, with Kingdom Builders Sunday School, O.K. Club, and Koinonia groups). Ministry staff of 25+ pastoral, worship, children's, student, and operations personnel are governed by a seven-person elder board led by Lead Pastor Brian Schwarberg.

The church's technology stack is composed entirely of third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Realm serves as the church management database for giving, event registration, and community connectivity; RightNow Media provides a free digital video Bible study library for members; YouTube handles live streaming and sermon archive; Spotify and Apple Podcasts distribute The Midweek podcast; and MailChimp powers email communications. The portfolio of products and services is structured around a formal discipleship pathway: Essentials (a free seven-week foundational class) feeds into baptism, then Membership Class (quarterly), Life Groups (semester-based small groups of 10-12 weeks), and ultimately Institute (a paid discipleship school at $40 per person per semester covering Emotional Health, Scripture, Church History, Theology, and Formation). Other products include Vacation Bible Blast (annual summer children's program), a paid 10-week summer internship program, and a comprehensive sermon archive dating back to 2012. The church runs a multi-tier mission partnership network with 14 local Springfield ministries, 4 regional partners, and 17 global partners across more than 12 countries including the Netherlands, Austria, Myanmar, Thailand, Ethiopia, Philippines, Belgium, Mexico, Haiti, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Cherry Hills Church's business model is that of a tax-exempt non-profit religious organization, with revenue derived almost entirely from voluntary tithes, offerings, and donations from congregants — collected through weekly worship service giving, electronic fund transfers, text-to-give, and online giving via the Realm platform. The only monetized offerings are the Institute classes ($40 per person per semester with optional $20 childcare), paid 10-week summer internships for college-age students, and nominal event-specific fees. Its go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on Life Groups, serving opportunities, Vacation Bible Blast, membership classes, and baptism celebrations to attract and integrate new members, while mission partnerships and digital content (podcast, YouTube, sermon archive) extend its reach regionally and globally without multi-site physical expansion.

Name

Cherry Hills Church

Legal name

Cherry Hills Church

Website

https://cherryhillsfamily.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cherry Hills Church is an independent evangelical Christian church in Springfield, Illinois, operating a single campus with two Sunday services and life-stage ministries from birth through senior adults, funded by congregational tithes, offerings, and nominal paid Institute classes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Christian church services
• Worship gatherings
• Discipleship programs
• Children's ministry
• Community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Members and attendees contribute financially through weekly worship service giving, monthly electronic fund transfers, text-to-give (text 'Cherry' to 217.546.4818), and online giving via the Realm platform. Year-end giving options include general operations, Building Fund, and specific purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cherry Hills Church provides weekly Christian worship gatherings on Sundays at 9:00am and 10:30am in-person and online, complemented by age-tiered ministry programs (CH Kids, CH Students, adult formation) and a structured discipleship pathway (Essentials, Institute, Life Groups, Baptism, Membership). The church distributes digital content through sermon archives, The Midweek Podcast, and RightNow Media, and operates local, regional, and global mission partnerships.

Product overview

Cherry Hills Church offers a unified portfolio of in-person and digital ministry programs. The core worship experience consists of Sunday gatherings at 9:00am and 10:30am with both in-person and online attendance. Age-specific ministries include CH Kids (birth through 5th grade), CH Students with middle school (Wednesday nights) and high school (Sunday nights) programs. Adult formation pathways include Life Groups (small group communities), Essentials (7-week foundational class), and Institute (semester-long discipleship school with classes on Emotional Health, Scripture, Church History, Theology, and Formation). Digital offerings include sermon archives, The Midweek Podcast (available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube), RightNow Media (video-based Bible study library), and Realm (church database for registration and giving). Seasonal programs include Vacation Bible Blast (VBB) for kids and a 10-week Summer Internship Program. Membership and baptism are required for formal church commitment, with membership class offered quarterly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Gatherings Weekly worship services held at 9:00am and 10:30am on Sunday mornings at 2125 Woodside Road, Springfield, IL, offering both in-person and online attendance options with worship music, biblical teaching, communion, and prayer. Approximately 70 minutes per service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two Sunday services with in-person and online attendance options
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Christian Student Fellowship (CSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry partner doing work at Lincoln Land Community College and University of Illinois Springfield. CSF is part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Church members are invited to connect with peers on campus through this ministry.
• Contact MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Springfield ministry serving those in need at 1100 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62703.
• Enos Elementary SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school partnership for community engagement and educational support at 524 W Elliott Ave, Springfield, IL 62702.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Christian athlete ministry with local presence at 5221 S. 6th St Frontage Road, Springfield.
• First Step Women's CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's ministry providing support at 215 South Grand Ave West, Springfield, IL 62704.
• InterVarsitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus ministry organization partnering with the church for college student engagement.
• Refuge RanchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian ranch ministry for youth and families at 9350 Cascade Rd, Rochester, IL 62563.
• St. John's BreadlinesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHunger ministry serving the Springfield community at 430 N 5th St, Springfield.
• The James ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry providing support at 907 Clocktower Dr Ste C, Springfield.
• Washington Street MissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric Springfield ministry at 408 N 4th St, Springfield serving community needs.
• Homeless MinistrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch-led ministry serving homeless individuals through regular outreach including summer picnics at Comer Cox Park.
• Powerlight FestsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual car show event hosted at church parking lot as community outreach and hospitality opportunity.
• Prison MinistrysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry serving incarcerated individuals and supporting families affected by incarceration.
• Revelation WellnesssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian wellness ministry combining faith and fitness for holistic health.
• TJ & Emily LemonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional missionaries focused on campus ministry. Church supports and prays for this missionary couple.
• Matt & Nadia LohsesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional missionaries serving in Indianapolis area.
• Bryan & Jonell McKenziesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional missionaries with Fellowship of Christian Athletes Football Midwest Region.
• Sovereign City ChurchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch plant in Henderson, Nevada (220 Taylor Street) supported regionally by Cherry Hills.
• Steve & Rhonda AshworthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Nate & Insa BrewercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Austria.
• John & Debbie CoatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Myanmar and Thailand.
• Scott & Tan CoatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Thailand.
• Jeff & Annie DieselbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries supported by the church.
• Craig & Allison FowlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Ethiopia.
• Bill & Sandi GrafcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in New Mexico.
• Amigos en CristocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner serving in Juarez, Mexico.
• Saleh & Melody N.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in East Africa.
• Scott & Cindy NelsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in the Philippines.
• Paul & Queenie RolletcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries supported by the church.
• Ray & Susan StensgardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Belgium.
• Greg & Vicki SyversoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Pachuca, Mexico.
• Matt & HeathercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missionaries serving in Southeast Asia.
• El Roi HaiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry serving in Haiti.
• Compassion InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild sponsorship organization enabling church members to support children globally.
• GO MinistriessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerShort-term mission trip organization and ministry partner.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fellowship Church: Ed Young Jr.'s South Carolina-based evangelical church with contemporary worship and digital media emphasis. Comparable as a contemporary single-stream evangelical church investing in digital content and life-stage ministry.
• North Point Community Church: Large single-site contemporary evangelical church led by Andy Stanley, emphasizing practical teaching and small-group community. Comparable in its focus on weekend gatherings plus structured community pathways and digital content distribution via podcast and online streaming.
• Woodmen Valley Chapel: Colorado Springs non-denominational church with intergenerational ministry, small groups, and global missions. Comparable in its mid-size single-campus structure, community-group formation model, and broad mission partnership portfolio.
• Bayside Church: Sacramento-area evangelical church with multi-generational family ministry and global missions emphasis. Comparable in its life-stage programming, mission partnership model, and contemporary worship service format.
• Watermark Church: Dallas-based non-denominational church known for community-focused discipleship, recovery ministries, and member development. Comparable in its emphasis on transforming community groups and intentional pathway for spiritual formation.
• Summit Church: J.D. Greear's Durham, NC church with strong discipleship, expository preaching, and SEND Network church-planting emphasis. Comparable in its elder governance, theological depth, and commitment to mission multiplication.
• The Village Church: Matt Chandler's Dallas-area church with strong emphasis on discipleship, theological depth, and expository teaching. Comparable in its structured member formation pathway, elder-led governance, and commitment to intergenerational community and global mission.

Broad incumbents

• Life.Church: One of the largest U.S. churches with multi-site digital strategy and pioneering online church tools (Church Online Platform, YouVersion Bible app). Comparable as a contemporary evangelical church with significant digital content distribution, though much larger and more multi-site than Cherry Hills.
• Church of the Highlands: One of the largest U.S. multi-site churches based in Birmingham, Alabama, with extensive small-group (Small Groups) and local/global mission programs. Comparable in its community-group-centric model and mission breadth, though larger in scale and multi-site.
• Saddleback Church: Rick Warren's Lake Forest, CA church known for Purpose Driven model and global PEACE Plan missions. Comparable in its emphasis on small-group community (Life Groups) and extensive local and global mission partnerships, though larger and multi-site.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmWT8iszIywpOtMbrY2EEpQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CherryHillsFamily
• Instagraminstagram.com/cherryhills_msm
• Xx.com/CherryHillsFam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cherry-hills-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Cherry Hills Church