Small Church Connections

What Small Church Connections does

Small Church Connections is a private Canadian ministry organization founded around 2005 by Dr. Ron Johnston and headquartered in Elmira, Ontario. It exclusively serves small evangelical churches in Canada — defined as congregations of approximately 150 people or fewer — a segment the organization identifies as often overlooked by denominations and para-church organizations. The core offering is a portfolio of community, content, and event-based programs rather than a technology platform: pastors' retreats held in three Canadian regions (Alberta, Southern Ontario, and the Maritimes), a podcast series of 90+ episodes featuring small church leaders and researchers, curated resource libraries, the published book 'Reality Check for the Church,' and the Canadian Small Church Network established in partnership with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities. The organization also co-led the Significant Church research project with 13 Canadian Christian organizations and contributed to the Women in the Canadian Evangelical Church study.

The underlying technology stack is minimal: the organization operates a content website (smallchurchconnections.com) with blog, podcast, donation, and subscription pages, and uses standard donation infrastructure including Canada Helps, e-transfer, and mailed cheques. There is no proprietary technology, no mobile app, and no disclosed AI capability. Operations are run by a two-person team consisting of the Founder/Executive Director and an Administrative Assistant, supported by an unstated board.

The business model is donation-dependent and ministry-structured rather than commercial. Revenue streams include individual donations, recurring network membership contributions at donor-determined amounts, subsidized retreat fees ($100 per person or $150 per couple, capped at approximately 100 participants per retreat), and book sales through Amazon.ca. Most resources are provided free of charge to support accessibility regardless of a small church's ability to pay, with the organization committing to raising external funds to ensure retreat affordability. The founder retains operational and strategic control with no parent company, external investors, or venture funding disclosed.

Name

Small Church Connections

Legal name

Small Church Connections

Website

https://smallchurchconnections.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Small Church Connections is a private Canadian ministry founded in 2005 by Dr. Ron Johnston that serves small evangelical churches (≤150 attendees) across Canada through pastors' retreats, a 90+ episode podcast, curated resources, and the Canadian Small Church Network, funded by donations and subsidized event fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Small church ministry
• Pastors retreats
• Church resources
• Pastoral networking
• Evangelical church research

Headquarters

HQ city

Elmira

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors provide financial support to the ministry. Donations accepted via cheque, e-transfer, and online through Canada Helps.
2. Network Membership Contributions: Members of the Canadian Small Church Network provide regular (monthly or annual) financial support at levels they determine affordable.
3. Book Sales: Dr. Ron Johnston's book 'Reality Check for the Church' is sold through Amazon.ca. The organization also curates third-party resources, some free and some paid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Small Church Connections is a Canadian ministry that supports small evangelical churches (150 people or less) through pastors' retreats held in three regions, a podcast series, curated online resources, research initiatives, and the Canadian Small Church Network membership community. Donations, network memberships, and book sales fund the organization, with the majority of educational content provided free. The organization is led by founder Dr. Ron Johnston from Elmira, Ontario.

Product overview

Small Church Connections is a ministry organization serving small churches across Canada, offering a unified portfolio of resources, programs, and community initiatives. The core offerings include podcasts (90+ episodes on small church topics), in-person retreat programs in multiple locations, and published content (books and articles by Dr. Ron Johnston). The organization also facilitates networking through the Canadian Small Church Network and conducts research through partnerships with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, including the Significant Church Research project and Women in the Canadian Evangelical Church study. Additional resources include curated Sunday service tools, resources for pastors' wives, and a platform for sharing small church stories. Revenue is generated through donations and retreat fees rather than product sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canadian Small Church Network: A network established in partnership with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Canadian Centre for Christian Charities to connect organizations serving small churches in Canada.

Products and services

• Small Church Pastors' Retreats Multi-day in-person retreat programs for small church pastors and their spouses, providing spiritual refreshment, workshops, and networking opportunities with other small church leaders. Held across three Canadian regions: Alberta, Southern Ontario, and the Maritimes. Cost covers hotel room and most meals.
• Small Church Connections Podcast A podcast series of 90+ episodes featuring interviews with small church pastors, researchers, denominational leaders, and ministry professionals on leadership, small church ministry, and pastoral topics.
• Canadian Small Church Network A membership network established in partnership with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities that connects individuals, churches, denominations, and para-church organizations wanting to support small church ministry. Members provide regular (monthly or annual) financial support at self-determined levels.
• Reality Check for the Church (Book) A book by Dr. Ron Johnston providing practical guidance for small churches, focusing on building a solid vision for the future rather than offering quick-fix solutions. Sold through Amazon.ca.
• Significant Church Research Project A four-year collaborative research project with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and ten other organizations, studying small churches in Canada; the only study of its kind. Data gathered from small church pastors across 12 denominations and organizations.
• Women in the Canadian Evangelical Church Research National research partnership investigating how Canadian women understand their role and participate in the local church, conducted as part of a broader study with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small churches across Canada receive support regardless of ability to pay - the organization commits to raising funds from external sources to ensure accessibility.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

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 core and minor.

• Evangelical Fellowship of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2023Key partner in establishing the Canadian Small Church Network. Jointly launched the Significant Church research project examining the value and needs of small evangelical churches in Canada.
• Canadian Centre for Christian CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2023Partner in establishing the Canadian Small Church Network, providing resources and support for small church financial literacy through webinars.
• Ten Other Canadian OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2023Collaborative research partnership for the Significant Church study involving 13 Canadian Christian organizations. The four-year research project gathered data from small church pastors across Canada.
• Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (Women in Church Study)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the National Study on Women in the Canadian Evangelical Church, contributing the second highest survey responses.
• International TeamsminorOthersRon Johnston served with International Teams for 12 years, including roles as Director of International Programs, Director of People Development, and Director of Pastoral Development. This missionary experience shaped his passion for small church ministry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tyndale University: Canadian evangelical seminary and undergraduate institution where SCC's founder earned his BTh. Comparable as a faith-based education and formation provider serving small-church ministry in Canada.
• Outreach Inc: Large US-based provider of church outreach resources, curriculum, and media serving tens of thousands of congregations. Comparable as a curated-resource hub for small-to-mid-size churches, though at much greater scale.
• Evangelical Fellowship of Canada: National umbrella body for Canadian evangelical Christians and a core SCC partner in the Significant Church research and Canadian Small Church Network. Operates at vastly greater scale across denominations, making it the closest broad incumbent in the same mission space.
• Canadian Bible Society: Long-established Canadian religious organization providing Scripture resources, translation, and ministry support. Comparable as a Canadian faith-based nonprofit serving churches through curated content and programming.
• Leadership Network: US-based ministry focused on church leadership development, innovation, and small-church/multi-site strategies. Comparable in mission of equipping pastors and church leaders with research, convenings, and curated resources.
• Canadian Centre for Christian Charities (CCCC): Membership association supporting Canadian Christian charities with governance, financial literacy, and HR resources. Co-launches the Canadian Small Church Network with SCC, sharing a comparable faith-based service-provider orientation.

Regional players

• Acts 29: Global church planting network with a stated focus on church revitalization, including small and replant contexts. Comparable as a network convening resources, coaching, and research for pastors of resource-constrained churches, primarily US-based.
• InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of Canada: Para-church organization operating in Canadian universities and communities with pastoral development programs. Comparable in mission-driven, donation-funded structure and Canadian geographic footprint, though focused on student ministry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Small Church Connections