University Reformed Church

What University Reformed Church does

University Reformed Church is a non-profit congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (Great Lakes Presbytery) located at 841 Timberlane St. in East Lansing, Michigan, directly adjacent to Michigan State University. Founded in 1966 by the Synod of the Reformed Church in America as a campus-community ministry, the church transferred denominational affiliation to the PCA in 2015 and has been led by Senior Pastor Jason Helopoulos since 2018. URC delivers Reformed, expository worship services three times each Sunday (9:00am, 10:45am, 6:00pm) alongside a comprehensive ministry portfolio including Children's Ministry, DIG Youth Ministry, Spartan Christian Fellowship (college), International Ministries, Growth Groups, Men's and Women's Ministries, Biblical Counseling, Grace and Truth (sexual brokenness support), and a Missions program. The Ministry Training Program operates three tracks (Internship, Residency, Fellowship) and has produced 30+ trainees, 20 of whom serve in pastoral ministry globally with 3 new churches planted by alumni.

The church's technology stack is built entirely on third-party platforms: SubSplash for the URC Mobile App (iOS and Android), Fellowship One for the member portal and online giving, YouTube for livestream distribution, Google Workspace for internal operations, and WordPress for the public website. The church maintains a content library of 1,659+ sermons spanning 60+ years across 166 series, distributed via podcast, mobile app, and website. Physical infrastructure includes a 600-seat sanctuary, 300-seat Fellowship Hall, 150-seat Chapel, and the adjacent Ministries House, supplemented by a campus van service for MSU students and on-campus Bible studies.

URC's revenue model is entirely donation-based, relying on voluntary tithes and offerings from members and attendees through text-to-give, online giving via Fellowship One, and mailed checks. Supplemental revenue is raised through targeted campaigns — Truth & Hope (split 60% mortgage payoff / 40% Fellowship Program) and the newly launched Building for Tomorrow campaign ($600,000 goal over July 2026 to July 2029) — plus dedicated fundraising for the Ministry Training Program's Residency and Fellowship tracks. Membership, worship services, and all standard ministry programs are free; only ancillary events such as the Detroit Tigers youth outing ($45/person) carry fees. Customer segments are diversified across age, life stage, and demographic groups, with no commercial customers or institutional donors disclosed.

Name

University Reformed Church

Legal name

University Reformed Church

Website

https://universityreformedchurch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

University Reformed Church is a non-profit PCA congregation in East Lansing, Michigan, founded in 1966, serving the Michigan State University community through Reformed worship, expository teaching, youth and international student ministries, biblical counseling, missions, and a pastoral training program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Reformed worship services
• Biblical counseling ministry
• College campus ministry
• International student outreach
• Pastoral training program

Headquarters

HQ city

East Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary contributions from church members and attendees, typically based on a biblical tithe (10% of income) principle. Members give weekly or on a recurring basis through text-to-give, online giving portal, or check by mail. The church also runs specific fundraising campaigns such as Truth & Hope (60% toward mortgage, 40% toward Fellowship Program) and Building for Tomorrow ($600,000 campaign July 2026–July 2029).
2. Ministry Training Program Support: The Ministry Training Program includes Residency (full-time salary with benefits funded through fundraising) and Fellowship (full-time salary with benefits funded primarily through URC's Pastoral Fellowship Fund with remaining funds from fundraising). Funds support pastoral training for seminary students and graduates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

University Reformed Church is a Reformed Presbyterian congregation that delivers weekly Sunday worship services (morning at 9:00 and 10:45am, evening at 6:00pm) with verse-by-verse expository preaching, complemented by age-segmented ministries for children, middle/high school youth, college students, international students, men, and women, plus biblical counseling, a Ministry Training Program (internship/residency/fellowship), and missions support. All core ministry programming is free at the point of use; the church distributes content digitally through livestream, podcast, mobile app, and online giving portals while operating from a single 600-seat Sanctuary facility adjacent to Michigan State University.

Product overview

University Reformed Church offers a comprehensive ministry portfolio centered on worship, discipleship, and mission. Core offerings include Sunday worship services (in-person and via livestream) and the sermon archive. The church provides an official mobile app for iOS and Android. Digital engagement tools include online giving via FellowshipOne and livestream services via YouTube. Ministry programs encompass Children's Ministry, DIG Youth Ministry (middle/high school), Spartan Christian Fellowship (college), International Ministries, Growth Groups, Women's Ministry, Men's Ministry, Biblical Counseling, Grace and Truth (sexual brokenness support), Missions, and the Ministry Training Program. Educational programming includes Sunday Classes and the About URC membership class. The church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Sunday worship services held at 9:00am, 10:45am (morning), and 6:00pm (evening) at the 841 Timberlane St. Sanctuary, featuring expository preaching, congregational singing in a blended historic/contemporary style, prayer, and communion; available to all community members free of charge.
• Livestream Services Live and archived video streaming of Sunday morning (10:45am) and evening (6:00pm) worship services via URC's YouTube channel, accessible globally.
• Sermon Archive & Podcast Digital library of 1,659+ verse-by-verse expository sermons available for streaming, listening, and download via the website, mobile app, and podcast (iTunes, Google Play, RSS), organized by Bible book, speaker, and topic.
• Online Giving Digital tithing and offerings platform enabling one-time and recurring contributions via text-to-give (517-200-3911), the FellowshipOne online portal, and mail-in checks; supports the Truth & Hope and Building for Tomorrow capital campaigns.
• Children's Ministry Age-appropriate biblical teaching, nursery care, Sunday school for kindergarten through 6th grade, Vacation Bible School, and childcare during services.
• DIG Youth Ministry (Middle/High School) Weekly Wednesday-evening (6:30–8:30 pm) fellowship for middle and high school students during the school year, featuring pizza, games, worship music, and Bible study, plus summer activities and service trips (e.g., Detroit Tigers game, Detroit urban service with Redeemer Presbyterian / New City Kids).
• Spartan Christian Fellowship (College Ministry) College-age ministry serving Michigan State University and Lansing Community College students through Sunday worship, Young Adult Gathering, Tuesday Night Bible Study on the MSU campus, social activities, fall retreat, and a free Sunday morning campus van pickup.
• International Ministries (Spartan Internationals) Outreach to international students and scholars at MSU including Bible studies (Wednesday/Thursday evenings on campus), English conversation classes, Spanish Fellowship, and international fellowship meetings serving thousands of non-domestic students.
• Growth Groups Bi-weekly small-group Bible studies and prayer groups meeting in homes for fellowship, prayer, and mutual ministry, open to new members and designed for multiplication.
• Women's Ministry Women's ministry programs including doctrine study, Take Heart fellowship, evening Bible study, summer book club, prayer groups, mentoring relationships, women's retreat, and Christmas tea.
• Men's Ministry Men's ministry programming supporting godly living through men's retreats, discipleship, accountability groups, and the Grace and Truth ministry for men struggling with sexual sin.
• Biblical Counseling Ministry Christ-centered, biblically-informed counseling and training addressing marital/relationship issues, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, eating disorders, OCD, grief, and spiritual struggles; includes training classes (Theology and Practice; Issues and Observations) and a counseling internship.
• Grace and Truth Ministry One-on-one and small-group discipleship for men, women, and families affected by sexual struggles and sin, in partnership with Harvest USA.
• Missions Program Sending and partnering with missionaries for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting worldwide, with annual service trips (e.g., to Christ Presbyterian Church in Malawi, July 9–21, 2026), GO/SEND monthly gatherings, and CrossCon conference promotion.
• Ministry Training Program Three-track training program (Internship, Residency, Fellowship) equipping men and women for church ministry, having trained over 30 individuals with 20 currently serving in pastoral ministry globally and 3 new churches started by alumni.
• Sunday Classes Educational programming during the school year including nursery, Bible Story Hour, International Class, Young Adult Gathering, and About URC membership class.
• Diaconate (Mercy Ministry) Deacon-led mercy ministry providing care, assistance, and support to those in need, the sick, the friendless, and those in distress, both within the congregation and in the wider community.
• URC Mobile App (SubSplash / The Church App) Official URC mobile application for Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store), built on the SubSplash platform, providing access to sermons, events, news, church information, and giving for members and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ministry Training Program: 30+ trained, 20 serving in pastoral ministry globally, 3 churches started by former trainees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Spartan InternationalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Spartan Internationals is URC's program for international students and scholars at Michigan State University. The organization operates a website (spartaninternationals.org) hosting English classes and Bible study programs. URC provides leadership (Nick Setterington as contact), facilities, and volunteers for the program. Boston Chabzola serves as MRN Resident, indicating partnership with an international mission network.
• Christ Presbyterian Church in MalawiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026URC organized a service trip (July 9–21, 2026) sending 4 adults and 8 high school/college students to serve at Christ Presbyterian Church in Malawi. This represents a mission partnership supporting a sister PCA/Presbyterian church in Africa with evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship activities.
• Petoskey Reformed Church (URC Church Plant)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Petoskey Reformed Church is URC's newest church plant. URC supports it through the Petoskey Encounter Trip (July 31–August 2, 2026) and likely through prayer, financial giving, and personnel. Pastor Ben Preiser serves as Church Plant Assistant Pastor at URC with ties to this planting effort.
• Missionary Sending Network (MRN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Boston Chabzola is listed as an MRN (Missionary Sending Network) Resident at URC. MRN is a missionary sending organization with Reformed convictions. Confex Makhalira, founder of MRN, was referenced during a pizza fellowship event. URC supports MRN missionaries through sending, prayer, and financial partnership.
• CROSS (CrossCon) ConferenceminorOthers · 1 January 2026CROSS (CrossCon) is a missions conference whose video and audio from past conferences is promoted on URC's Missions page. URC aligns its missiology with The Southgate Fellowship (TSF) affirmations and denials. The CROSS conference supports URC's mission training and awareness.
• The Southgate Fellowship (TSF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026URC states it believes the affirmations and denials developed by The Southgate Fellowship (TSF) are a careful and faithful articulation of a biblical missiology consistent with URC's Reformed heritage. TSF helps advance biblical thinking and practice in world mission, shaping URC's missions strategy and partner selection.
• Fellowship One (by Union Software)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Fellowship One is URC's church management system used for the member portal, online giving, event registration, volunteer sign-ups, and facilities requests. URC's website integrates with Fellowship One for secure member login, online tithing, and ministry management. Three ways to give are facilitated through this platform.
• SubSplash (The Church App)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026URC's mobile app is built on SubSplash (The Church App) platform, available on both Android (Google Play) and iPhone (App Store). The app provides access to sermons, events, giving, and church information. Links to download the app are prominently featured on the website and in communications.
• Harvest USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Grace and Truth is URC's ministry partner with Harvest USA, whose mission is to bring the truth and mercy of Jesus Christ to help men, women, and families affected by sexual struggles and sin and to equip churches to minister to sexually broken people. Harvest USA provides resources, training, and programmatic support for URC's Grace and Truth ministry, which offers one-on-one and small group discipleship for those struggling with sexual sin.
• Redeemer Presbyterian Church (Detroit)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018URC's DIG (youth) summer service trip partners with Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Detroit (along with New City Kids) for service activities. This cross-church partnership provides service opportunities for youth while supporting urban ministry in Detroit.
• Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)coreOthers · 1 January 2015URC transferred its denominational affiliation from the Reformed Church in America to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in Fall 2015. URC is part of the Great Lakes Presbytery. As a PCA congregation, URC's ministry is shaped by its Reformed confessional tradition, with all pastors, elders, and deacons subscribing to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
• Reformed Church in America (RCA) — Former Denominational AffiliationminorOthers · 1 January 1963Originally founded as a ministry of the Synod of the Great Lakes of the Reformed Church in America (then Synod of Michigan). The church was formally recognized as a congregation of the RCA in Spring 1968. URC maintained this affiliation until transferring to the PCA in 2015.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Park Cities Presbyterian Church: Large PCA congregation in Dallas known for expository preaching, multi-generational programming, and global missions engagement. Comparable to URC in denomination, Reformed identity, and breadth of ministries.
• Redeemer Church: PCA-affiliated Reformed church in New York City known for expository preaching, community-focused ministry, and church-planting multiplication. Directly comparable to URC as a similar-denomination, Bible-teaching congregation with an emphasis on city/campus-adjacent ministry and leadership development.
• Church of the Apostles: PCA-affiliated church in Atlanta with strong teaching ministry, church-planting partnerships, and missions focus. Similar to URC in denominational alignment and commitment to multiplying churches and pastors.
• College Church: Evangelical/Reformed congregation in Wheaton, IL adjacent to Wheaton College with a long history of expository preaching, theological education, and student ministry. Closely mirrors URC's college-town-adjacent positioning and Reformed teaching identity.
• Reformed University Fellowship (RUF): Reformed campus ministry operating at colleges and universities across the U.S., affiliated with the PCA. Directly comparable to URC's Spartan Christian Fellowship given shared denomination, Reformed convictions, and focus on reaching college students.

Broad incumbents

• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: Large established evangelical campus ministry operating at hundreds of U.S. universities. Broader and interdenominational compared to URC's MSU-focused Spartan Christian Fellowship, but competes for the same student audience and runs similar Bible-study/fellowship formats.
• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): One of the largest collegiate ministry organizations in the U.S. and globally. Overlaps with URC's campus ministry in target audience (university students) but operates at a vastly larger scale and broader evangelical rather than Reformed identity.

Others

• Harvest USA: Direct ministry partner of URC's Grace and Truth ministry; provides resources and training for churches addressing sexual brokenness. Comparable as an adjacent faith-based organization serving overlapping mission-aligned needs rather than a competitor.
• Mission to North America (PCA): Church-planting arm of the Presbyterian Church in America. Relevant as URC's Petoskey church plant and broader church-planting efforts operate within MNA's framework, making it an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.
• The Southgate Fellowship: Missiological network whose affirmations and denials URC explicitly endorses. Functions as a strategic/ideological peer in shaping URC's global missions partnerships rather than as a competing congregation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnivReformed
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UniversityReformed
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversityReformedChurch
• Instagraminstagram.com/urcdig
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-reformed-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 University Reformed Church