Heartlight Ministries

What Heartlight Ministries does

Heartlight Ministries is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 74-2515711) founded in 1988 by Mark and Jan Gregston in Longview, Texas. It operates a residential counseling center and accredited boarding school for struggling teenagers on a 150-acre campus in the East Texas piney woods, with capacity to serve 65+ teens concurrently across log cabin residential homes and a separate academic building. The program combines a proprietary five-level biblical counseling achievement system, weekly individual and group therapy sessions led by on-site licensed counselors (including a Director of Counseling with a master's in clinical mental health counseling), and an accredited academic program (Cognia/AdvancED-certified) delivered by master's-degreed teachers through a blend of online and individualized instruction. Since 1988, the organization has housed more than 3,000 teens and has grown into a family-operated ministry with family members in key leadership roles (Executive Director Blake Nelson, Director of Admissions Melissa Nelson, plus involvement of son Adam with the Heartlight Foundation).

The organization's revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring monthly residential program tuition (pricing not publicly disclosed; $300 non-refundable application fee applied to first month's bill), tax-deductible charitable donations (with monthly giving options), and event-based fundraising (including a 2026 Texas Rangers multi-game partnership at Globe Life Field targeting $50,000 per game, the Families In Crisis Conference, and VIP supporter events). Adjacent revenue lines include the 4-week Crisis Coaching program for parents in immediate need and the Parenting Today's Teens sub-brand, which distributes a national radio program, podcast, articles, and 20+ books authored by founder Mark Gregston.

Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven: families enter through a structured admissions funnel (general inquiry, brochure download, admissions application, medical history form, admissions review), supported by a Director of Admissions and Admissions Assistant. Marketing channels include the Parenting Today's Teens radio/podcast content engine, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), the heartlightministries.org website, church and parent-alumni referral networks, and crisis-driven outreach. The operating footprint is domestic U.S. (national family reach, single East Texas campus), and the technology stack is conventional non-AI tooling (Stripe, Mailchimp, Google Analytics 4).

Name

Heartlight Ministries

Legal name

Heartlight Ministries

Website

https://heartlightministries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heartlight Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a residential counseling center and accredited boarding school for struggling teens on a 150-acre campus in East Texas, serving 65+ teens at a time through a biblical five-level counseling model and funded via tuition, donations, and event fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Residential Counseling

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Counseling Services (EDAJAIAA), School Counseling Services (Individual & Group) (EDAKAMAB)

Keywords

• Residential counseling services
• Teen behavioral counseling
• Boarding school programs
• Youth residential treatment
• Faith-based counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Hallsville

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Residential Program Tuition: Monthly tuition for residential counseling center and boarding school services for struggling teens. Application fee of $300 is non-refundable and applied to first month's tuition upon acceptance.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from supporters (EIN #74-2515711). Heartlight is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Recurring donation options available (monthly giving).
3. Event Fundraisers: VIP events including Texas Rangers games at Globe Life Field, Families in Crisis Conference, and other benefit events raising funds for the ministry with suggested donation amounts per ticket

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heartlight Ministries operates a residential counseling center and boarding school for struggling teens on a 150-acre campus in Longview, Texas, providing individualized biblical counseling, group therapy, accredited academics, and 24/7 mentoring in log cabin residential homes. The organization serves families nationwide through a structured admissions process, monthly tuition model, and supplementary offerings including a 4-week Crisis Coaching program for parents in immediate crisis and a 3-day Families In Crisis Conference.

Product overview

Heartlight Ministries operates as the country's premier residential counseling center and boarding school for struggling teens, offering a comprehensive suite of programs. The core offering is the Heartlight Residential Program, which combines a five-level achievement system with individual counseling (using a biblical model), group therapy sessions, and an accredited academic program (Cognia-certified). The residential setting provides 24/7 mentoring in log cabin homes on 150 acres in Longview, Texas. Adjacent offerings include Crisis Coaching (4-week intensive for parents), the Families In Crisis Conference (3-day skills training), VIP and Texas Rangers fundraiser events, and the Parenting Today's Teens sub-brand providing radio, podcasts, articles, and books. The admissions process includes an online application ($300 fee), medical history form, and adolescent application. Over 3,000 teens have been served since 1988, with capacity for 65+ residents at a time.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Parenting Today's Teens: A nonprofit organization founded by Mark Gregston that offers biblical insights and practical wisdom for families. Offers a National Radio Program hosted by Mark Gregston, Podcasts, Articles, Books, and More. Parent organization to Heartlight Ministries.

Products and services

• Heartlight Residential Program A residential counseling center and boarding school for struggling teens offering short-term living environments with individual counseling, group therapy, accredited academics, activities, and 24/7 mentoring on a 150-acre campus in Longview, Texas. Includes the proprietary five-level achievement system and family involvement through retreats and ongoing engagement. Tuition is monthly and quote-based.
• Crisis Coaching Program A 4-week intensive coaching program where parents meet weekly with Heartlight staff to strategize getting through an immediate crisis with their teenager. Designed as an entry point for families considering residential intervention but in need of immediate expert guidance.
• Families in Crisis Conference A 3-day conference hosted by Mark Gregston providing parents of difficult teens with practical skills and biblical insights for managing adolescent behavioral issues, held in Longview, Texas on multiple dates throughout the year.
• Parenting Today's Teens A national radio program, podcast, and resource brand hosted by Mark Gregston providing biblical insights and practical wisdom for families. Includes articles, books, and educational media for parents of teenagers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ teens transformed since 1988
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Texas Rangers Baseball ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Summer 2026 partnership hosting fundraising events at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Multiple games scheduled (June 20 vs San Diego Padres, July 11 vs Houston Astros, July 25 vs Seattle Mariners, September 19 vs Toronto Blue Jays). Events held in luxury Suite 205 with goal of $50,000 per game. Includes full dinner, drinks, and world-class MLB game experience for up to 60 guests per game.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Diamond Ranch Academy: Therapeutic boarding school in Utah serving adolescents with behavioral, emotional, and academic struggles. Operates a residential, accredited academic model with structured levels and family restoration programming analogous to Heartlight's five-level system.
• Liahona Academy: Liahona Academy is a faith-based residential counseling program and therapeutic boarding school for struggling teens in Utah. Most direct peer to Heartlight: similar size, evangelical Christian approach, accredited academics combined with residential counseling and family-involvement programming.
• Youth Care Treatment Center: Residential treatment center in Utah for adolescents aged 11-17 with emotional, behavioral, and substance issues, including accredited academics and family therapy. Closely comparable operating model and resident population to Heartlight.
• Teen Challenge USA: Largest faith-based residential addiction and behavioral program network in the U.S., including dedicated teen programs. Comparable as a faith-integrated residential youth model that combines discipleship-style mentoring with structured residential programming.
• White River Academy: Residential treatment center for adolescent boys in Utah offering individual therapy, group therapy, and accredited academics in a structured residential environment — directly comparable to Heartlight's combined counseling + boarding school delivery model.

Emerging players

• Turn-About Ranch: Faith-based residential program in Utah for struggling teens using a ranch/work-based therapeutic model combined with counseling. Comparable target family and faith-integrated approach, with a distinct outdoor/equine delivery mechanism.
• Silver State Academy: Faith-based residential program for teens in Nevada blending academics, counseling, and outdoor activities. Overlaps with Heartlight on faith integration, residential delivery, and teen/family target segment, though at a smaller footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Eckerd Connects: National nonprofit operating residential programs, juvenile justice programs, and workforce services for at-risk youth. Comparable mission and residential-service delivery model, at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: One of the largest U.S. nonprofits providing residential and community-based behavioral health services for children and adolescents. Operates at a much larger scale and broader service mix; relevant as a comparable large youth residential nonprofit.
• Boys Town: National nonprofit operating one of the largest residential youth programs in the U.S. alongside research-based in-home services. Not strictly faith-based, but the most established comparable youth residential nonprofit at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/MarkGregston
• Facebookfacebook.com/heartlightministries
• Instagraminstagram.com/heartlight.ministries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heartlight-ministries-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Heartlight Ministries