wheaton college billy graham center

What wheaton college billy graham center does

The Wheaton College Billy Graham Center is a 501(c)(3) ministry training center established in 1980 and housed within Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, under the executive leadership of Andrew Cook. It operates nine specialized institutes covering evangelism, church revitalization, missions, multiethnic ministry, leadership coaching, and chaplaincy, and has reached approximately 4,961 church locations with a stated 20-year goal of revitalizing 19,000 churches. The Center serves pastors, church leaders, missionaries, and chaplains through cohort-based training programs of one to two years, online certificate courses (notably in correctional ministries), an annual Amplify Conference, and a new Preaching Summit.

Its core products are curriculum- and community-driven rather than technology-driven: cohort programs, certificate courses priced at $249 per course, life-coach modules at $20 per course, podcasts such as Behind & Beyond the Bars, and the CMCA membership body offering tiered dues from $50 to $1,000+. The technology layer is limited to standard delivery platforms for online courses, podcasts, and event registration; no proprietary platform or significant AI/ML capability is evidenced.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of donor contributions (including a Church Evangelism Fund targeting 800 monthly partners at $50), CMCA membership dues, certificate and life-coach tuition, and conference registrations in the $99-$129 range. Distribution relies on partnerships with the Lausanne Movement, CCCU, Converge, The Alliance, and Mosaix Global Network, plus geographic expansion into Africa and global diaspora communities.

Name

wheaton college billy graham center

Legal name

Wheaton College Billy Graham Center

Website

https://wheatonbillygraham.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Wheaton College Billy Graham Center is a non-profit ministry training center operating nine institutes that equip pastors, missionaries, and church leaders through cohort programs, certificate courses, conferences, and the CMCA membership network to revitalize churches across North America, Africa, and global diaspora communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB), Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Pastoral training programs
• Church leadership development
• Evangelism education
• Ministry certification programs
• Church revitalization training

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheaton

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. Donations and Fundraising: The center relies heavily on donations through Church Evangelism Fund ($50/month partner program) and general fund contributions to support ministry operations and scholarship programs for pastors.
2. CMCA Membership Fees: Individual memberships at $50/year, Organizational Silver at $225, Organizational Gold at $450, and Cornerstone members donating $1000+ receive lifetime free membership.
3. Certificate Program Tuition: Online courses at $249 per course ($199 for CMCA members) for Certificate in Correctional Chaplaincy or Reentry Leadership, requiring 6 courses plus final course CM 401.
4. Conference Registration: Amplify Conference generates revenue through individual registration ($129), team pricing ($119/person for 4+), and online-only attendance ($99).
5. Life Coach Training: Life Coach Training Basics sold at $20 per course, with CMCA members receiving 50% discount using coupon code.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Wheaton College Billy Graham Center trains pastors, church leaders, and ministry professionals through nine specialized institutes covering church evangelism, preaching, correctional ministry, multiethnic church development, rural ministry, global diaspora, and African/African American church contexts. Core offerings include cohort-based training programs (one to two years), the Amplify Conference, certificate programs in correctional chaplaincy and reentry leadership, the CMCA membership organization, life coach training, and digital resources such as podcasts and training tools. The center relies on donations, program tuition, conference registration, and membership fees to fund operations.

Product overview

The Wheaton College Billy Graham Center operates as a platform of nine specialized institutes dedicated to research, teaching, and fostering evangelism and mission. The core institutes include the African American Church Evangelism Institute, Africa Church Evangelism Institute, Church Evangelism Institute, Correctional Ministries Institute, Global Diaspora Institute, Mosaix Multiethnic Church Institute, Preaching Institute, Research Institute, and Rural Church Institute. These institutes offer cohort-based training programs, certificate programs, events (including the Amplify Conference and Questioning Christianity Lecture Series), podcasts, and training resources. The center also operates the Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association (CMCA) membership organization and manages the Church Evangelism Fund for scholarship support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amplify Conference: Annual conference equipping church leaders to lead with gospel clarity, live authentically, and multiply faithfully
• Church Evangelism Institutes
• Correctional Ministries Institute (CMI)
• Global Diaspora Institute
• Mosaix Multiethnic Church Institute
• Preaching Institute
• Rural Church Institute
• Research Institute
• Questioning Christianity Lecture Series
• Behind & Beyond the Bars Podcast
• Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association (CMCA)

Products and services

• Cohort Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,961 locations reached through pastor cohort programs, Christian college partnerships, and events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Outreach MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutreach Magazine serves as a presenting partner for the Amplify Conference, providing editorial support and promotional reach for the annual church leadership event.
• Wheaton College Litfin Divinity SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheaton's own divinity school co-presents the Amplify Conference and provides academic credibility and faculty resources for ministry training programs.
• ConvergecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork partner for the Church Evangelism Institute, helping to recruit and support pastors in Converge-affiliated churches through cohort programs.
• AlliancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDenominational network partner for Church Evangelism Institute cohorts, extending reach to Alliance-affiliated pastors and churches.
• Christ Together Greater AustinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional network partner supporting Church Evangelism Institute outreach in the Greater Austin area.
• Correctional Ministries and Chaplains Association (CMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMCA is affiliated with the Correctional Ministries Institute, providing professional organization, membership benefits, and networking for correctional ministry workers. CMCA was founded in May 2011 through the institute.
• Lausanne MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilly Graham Center leadership co-directs Lausanne North America and staff serve as catalysts for the Lausanne Movement, contributing to global mission strategy and evangelism initiatives.
• Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheaton College Billy Graham Center leadership advises the CCCU Evangelism Commission, connecting with Christian college network for student evangelism initiatives.
• African EnterprisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmmanuel Kwizera served as national missions director for African Enterprise Rwanda and international missions director based in Nairobi since 2015, supporting Africa Church Evangelism Institute work.
• Mosaix Global NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Mark DeYmaz in 2004, Mosaix Global Network convenes a triennial national conference and supports multiethnic church development through the Mosaix Institute.
• Rural Home Missionary AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting rural church ministry, with Jason McConnell serving with the association and Mike Boyle serving as Rural Resource Developer.
• International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal fellowship of evangelical student movements; Emmanuel Kwizera served as chair of IFES Rwanda national board from 2007 to 2015.
• Langham Preaching MovementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmmanuel Kwizera served as vice chairman of Langham Preaching Movement in Rwanda, supporting preaching training across Africa.
• Barna GroupminorOthersDavid Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, is a featured speaker at Amplify Conference, providing research insights on faith and church trends.
• CruminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBill Kollar serves as Evangelistic Initiatives Director for Cru's U.S. Campus Ministry; Cru staff participate in Amplify Conference breakouts on Gen Z ministry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Barna Group: Research and consulting firm producing studies on church trends, pastor health, and generational faith. Comparable through its research-on-pastors mission and audience overlap with the Billy Graham Center's Research Institute and event programming.
• Outreach Magazine: Trade media and events platform serving US churches with resources on outreach, evangelism, and church growth. Most directly comparable through its role as presenting partner for the Amplify Conference and overlapping audience of church leaders.
• Practical Shepherding (Brandon Smith / Matt Chandler affiliated): Pastoral coaching and training network equipping pastors for ministry resilience. Comparable to the Billy Graham Center's Resilient Church Leadership initiative and cohort coaching model targeting the same pastor audience.

Direct peers

• The Gospel Coalition: Evangelical network producing theological training content, conferences (TGC), and pastoral resources for church leaders. Comparable in serving the same pastor and ministry-leader audience with conferences, courses, and curated resources.
• Global Leadership Summit (Willow Creek Association): Long-established church leadership training and annual conference platform founded by Bill Hybels. Most directly comparable to the Billy Graham Center's Amplify Conference and cohort model for equipping pastors and church leaders.
• Lausanne Movement: Global evangelical movement coordinating world evangelization through conferences, working groups, and the State of the Great Commission report. The Billy Graham Center co-directs Lausanne North America and shares the global-evangelism mission and convening function.
• Acts 29 Network: Global church planting network that provides assessment, coaching, and conferences for church planters and replanters. Closely comparable to the Billy Graham Center's Church Evangelism Institute in target audience and cohort-style planting/revitalization support.
• Exponential (Church Planting Network): Evangelical church planting and leadership training organization that runs annual conferences, cohorts, and resources for church planters and multisite leaders. Overlaps directly with the Billy Graham Center's Church Evangelism Institute in audience and cohort-based delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Major evangelical seminary offering degree and non-degree continuing education for pastors, including certificate and cohort-style programs. Comparable to the Billy Graham Center's certificate programs and pastoral training, but with a much broader degree-granting portfolio.
• Christianity Today: Flagship evangelical media and education platform producing magazines, podcasts, leadership events, and pastoral resources for the same church-leader demographic as the Billy Graham Center. Overlaps in editorial, events (Outreach Magazine is a Billy Graham Center partner), and thought leadership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WheatonBGC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLQx-pX_bs2d-2FAKrjznzg
• Facebookfacebook.com/wheatonbillygraham
• Instagraminstagram.com/wheatonbgc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wheaton-college-billy-graham-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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