Bill Winston Ministries

What Bill Winston Ministries does

Bill Winston Ministries is a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit founded in 1994 by Dr. Bill Winston, headquartered in Forest Park, Illinois (mailing address Oak Park, IL), and operating under the umbrella of Living Word Christian Center. The ministry delivers Christian teaching, broadcasts, prayer support, and partner-based outreach, claiming distribution to over one billion households worldwide through television and internet channels, weekly podcasts, live streaming, and an extensive digital content library. Its core products span the annual International Faith Conference (30th edition in 2024 and continuing annually), the Business and Leadership Conference, Operation Ten City outreach, Foundations Online classes, the 21 Day Brain Change program, daily devotions, and a free resource library (Seeds & Needs).

The organization operates an unusually diversified portfolio of integrated subsidiaries for a ministry, including Joseph Business School (an accredited entrepreneurship institute founded in 1998 that reports producing over 60 millionaires), Forest Park Plaza (a 33-acre commercial property with ~400 jobs created), Washington Park Plaza (a 13-acre mall under renovation in Tuskegee, Alabama), Royal Christian Bookstores & Cafés, Living Fresh Market, Harvest 365 Restaurant, Joseph Wealth Management, Eden Career Institute, Joseph Consulting & Business Services, and Source Media Publishing. International operations include BWM Africa (Umhlanga, South Africa, since 2014) and BWM Canada (Vancouver, since 2014).

The revenue model is primarily donation-driven (voluntary tithes, offerings, and partner contributions through online portals, text-to-give, mail, and in-person collections), supplemented by conference hosting (the IFC is free and open to the public), resource sales (books, CDs, DVDs via store.billwinston.org), and commercial revenue from the real estate and retail subsidiaries. The partner program has no set monetary requirement, emphasizing accessibility and community model over rigid subscription tiers. Governance is under Illinois state law, with no public trading or stock listing.

Name

Bill Winston Ministries

Legal name

Bill Winston Ministries

Website

https://billwinston.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Bill Winston Ministries is a 501(c)(3) Christian ministry founded in 1994 by Dr. Bill Winston, delivering faith-based teaching, broadcasts, and partner outreach to over one billion households worldwide through Living Word Christian Center and an integrated ecosystem of educational, commercial, and real estate subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA), Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Christian ministry services
• Faith-based broadcasting
• Religious education programs
• Biblical entrepreneurship training
• Church conferences events

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Tithes: Primary revenue stream from voluntary donations, tithes, and financial offerings from congregation members and ministry partners through online portals, mobile giving, text-to-give, mail, and in-person during services.
2. Conference Revenue: Revenue from annual conferences including International Faith Conference and Business and Leadership Conference. Some events are free while others may have associated costs.
3. Resource Sales: Sale of books, teaching materials, CDs, DVDs, and other faith-based resources through the online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bill Winston Ministries is a global Christian ministry that delivers faith-based teaching through live broadcasts, conferences, church services, online education, and partner-supported outreach programs. It operates Living Word Christian Center (megachurch), Joseph Business School (accredited entrepreneurship institute), annual faith and leadership conferences, podcasts, daily devotionals, and personal development resources for individual believers worldwide.

Product overview

Bill Winston Ministries operates as a comprehensive faith-based ministry organization encompassing multiple integrated components. The core ministry broadcasts to over one billion households worldwide through Living Word Christian Center. Educational offerings include Joseph Business School (accredited entrepreneurship institute), Foundations Online, and Bible Training Center. The ministry operates commercial real estate through Forest Park Plaza (Illinois) and Washington Park Plaza (Alabama), alongside businesses including Royal Christian Bookstores, Living Fresh Market, Harvest 365 Restaurant, Joseph Wealth Management, Eden Career Institute, and Joseph Consulting. Major conferences include International Faith Conference (IFC) and Business and Leadership Conference (BLC), with Operation Ten City outreach program. Digital resources include 21 Day Brain Change, Seeds & Needs free teachings, podcasts, and daily devotions. Regional operations extend through BWM Africa and BWM Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• International Faith Conference (IFC): Annual six-day hybrid faith conference held in Forest Park, Illinois featuring prominent faith-based speakers. 30th annual conference held in 2024.
• Business and Leadership Conference (BLC)
• Operation Ten City
• Joseph Business School Africa (JBSA)
• Living Word Bible Training Center

Products and services

• Living Word Christian Center Multiethnic megachurch and home church of Bill Winston Ministries, offering Sunday services (7AM and 9AM), Wednesday services (6:30PM), Bible study, and spiritual development programs for Christian believers in the Forest Park, Illinois region.
• Joseph Business School (JBS) Accredited faith-based entrepreneurship and leadership institute offering a nine-month curriculum that teaches business management and entrepreneurship using biblical and Kingdom principles. Certified by the State of Illinois and has produced over 60 millionaires. Targets 100,000 entrepreneurs reaching $1 million in revenue. Available to aspiring and current business owners.
• International Faith Conference (IFC) Annual six-day hybrid conference strengthening participants' walk with God through inspiring teaching and global fellowship. Features prominent faith-based speakers with both in-person and virtual attendance options. Free and open to the public.
• Business and Leadership Conference (BLC) Conference equipping believers with practical, faith-based principles to excel in the marketplace through focused teaching and real-world insight. Targeted at business owners and leaders.
• Operation Ten City Strategic outreach program bringing the uncompromised Word of God to major cities worldwide through teaching, prayer, and community engagement.
• Foundations Online Online education platform offering Foundation Classes - an eleven-week comprehensive teaching series covering salvation, Holy Spirit, prayer, faith, covenant, healing, prosperity, righteousness, and evangelism for Christian believers.
• The Bible Training Center Practical Bible training for ministry and victorious Christian living, offered quarterly with topics including Prayer and Bible study methods.
• 21 Day Brain Change Personal development program helping users change toxic thinking habits over 21 days through self-assessment, MP3 teachings by Dr. Bill Winston, scripture meditation, and goal-setting. Addresses stress, worry, shame, anger, and fear.
• BWM Podcasts Weekly subscription service delivering Bill Winston Ministries broadcasts in MP3 audio and MPEG4 video formats through Apple iTunes for Apple devices.
• Daily Devotions Daily devotional content supporting spiritual growth and relationship with God.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 millionaires produced through Joseph Business School
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 minor and core.

• Durban Christian CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Host venue for the 2026 JBSA Business & Leadership Day during the International Kingdom Conference organized by Bill Winston Ministries Africa. Located in Durban, South Africa.
• Living Word Christian CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome church of Bill Winston Ministries. Living Word Christian Center is a multiethnic megachurch in Forest Park, Illinois where Dr. Bill Winston serves as pastor. The church and ministry share staff, facilities, and broadcast infrastructure.
• Joseph Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited entrepreneurship and leadership institute founded by Dr. Bill Winston. An affiliate ministry that teaches biblical business principles and has produced over 60 millionaires. Located at Forest Park Plaza with global campuses.
• Faith Ministries AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated ministry network providing licensing and ordination services for Faith Ministries Alliance members. Dr. Winston conducts ceremonies during conferences.
• Tuskegee Christian CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2003 by Pastor Winston as part of the Tuskegee Vision - a three-fold plan to revitalize Tuskegee through spiritual and economic development. Located at Washington Park Plaza.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Broad incumbents

• Saddleback Church (Rick Warren): A historically prominent US megachurch known for leadership and purpose-driven ministry programs. Comparable to BWM as a major congregation-based ministry with leadership training emphasis, though less direct overlap on business education and broadcasting.
• Bethel Church (Redding, CA): A large US church and ministry network with global online presence, school of ministry, and resource distribution. Comparable to BWM in combining congregation, school, and global broadcast distribution though with a distinct theological emphasis.

Direct peers

• Creflo Dollar Ministries: A faith-based teaching ministry focused on prosperity gospel with television broadcast, partner network, and World Changers Church International. Comparable to BWM in combining financial prosperity teaching, broadcasting, and partner-driven outreach.
• Elevation Church (Steven Furtick): A large US megachurch with online broadcast, conferences, and faith-based leadership content. Comparable to BWM in broadcast-driven ministry model, although BWM has substantially greater international and business-school footprint.
• Winners' Chapel International (David Oyedepo): One of the world's largest megachurches with a faith-based university, business school, broadcasting network, and global campuses especially across Africa. Highly comparable to BWM in combining megachurch, business education, and international expansion.
• T.D. Jakes Ministries: A global faith-based ministry with extensive broadcasting, conferences, and business/leadership empowerment programs. Highly comparable to BWM as both are prominent charismatic ministries combining teaching, business education, and international outreach.
• Christ Embassy (Chris Oyakhilome): A global Christian ministry with extensive international television broadcast, healing schools, and partner programs across Africa and worldwide. Comparable to BWM in international reach, broadcast scale, and faith-based empowerment teaching.
• Joyce Meyer Ministries: A major Christian teaching ministry with global television broadcast, partner support program, conferences, and resource distribution. Directly comparable to BWM in operating model, distribution scale, and donor-funded teaching ministry.
• Kenneth Copeland Ministries: A faith-based ministry centered on teaching, partner-based giving, and global television/internet broadcasting. Comparable to BWM in its prosperity-gospel orientation, partner program model, and broad broadcast distribution.
• Lakewood Church (Joel Osteen Ministries): A leading US megachurch with national television broadcast and global reach. Comparable to BWM's Living Word Christian Center in scale of congregation, broadcast operations, and event-based ministry.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DrBillWinston
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DrBillWinston
• Facebookfacebook.com/billwinstonministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/drbillwinston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bill-winston-ministries

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 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 Bill Winston Ministries