The Life Book

What The Life Book does

The Life Book is a U.S.-based nonprofit ministry that distributes free 110-page evangelistic books to teenagers through a peer-to-peer, student-missionary model. Founded in 2009 as a ministry under The Gideons International, the organization equips local churches (specifically youth pastors, senior pastors, and volunteer youth leaders) to order Life Books at no cost in quantities of 100 to 2,500 copies, and to mobilize their student members to hand-deliver these books to peers in schools, hallways, classrooms, and lunchrooms. The product portfolio consists of three editions (Gospel of Mark, Gospel of John in ESV, and Spanish), each available in both print and digital formats, with content that includes scripture, scriptural answers to teen issues, and interactive handwritten margin reactions from students across a belief spectrum.

The core technology is a digital ordering platform (thelifebook.com) that supports self-serve church requests and resource distribution; this is complemented by a small internal technology function led by a Technology Director. The Life Book itself is a physical devotional product with a defined 5" x 5" format, rather than a software product, and there are no disclosed APIs, AI capabilities, or proprietary software products beyond the ordering system. Distribution is exclusively domestic U.S., with explicit geographic restrictions excluding international churches.

The business model is non-commercial: The Life Book is wholly funded by The Gideons International, a 100-plus-year-old Christian ministry. No revenue is generated from churches, students, or end recipients; the product is provided completely free. Marketing and customer acquisition rely on word-of-mouth through church networks, pastor referrals, and student stories/testimonials published on the website. The organization has scaled to 60 million cumulative Life Books distributed by over 4.8 million student missionaries, with no disclosed external investors, M&A activity, or independent funding rounds.

Name

The Life Book

Legal name

The Life Book

Website

https://thelifebook.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Life Book is a U.S. nonprofit ministry, wholly funded by The Gideons International, that distributes free 110-page evangelistic books to U.S. churches so student missionaries can gift them to peers in schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Educational Resources

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides) (MPAJAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious Fiction & Inspirational Literature Publishing (MPAJAHAF), Children’s Religious & Values-Based Publishing (MPAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Christian book distribution
• Youth ministry resources
• Student missionary outreach
• Scripture devotional materials
• Church evangelism tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Gideons International Funding: Wholly funded by The Gideons International. Life Books are provided completely free to churches. No commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Life Book produces and freely distributes a 110-page devotional book to U.S. churches, who then mobilize student missionaries to give the books as gifts to their teenage peers in schools. Books are available in Mark, John (ESV), and Spanish editions in print and digital formats. Order volumes range from 100 to 2,500 free copies per church, fully funded by The Gideons International.

Product overview

The Life Book is a single unified product portfolio centered on a 110-page evangelistic book designed to put the Gospel in the hands of teenagers. The core product is available in three editions: Mark, John, and Spanish, each offered in both digital and print formats. All editions contain scripture (Gospel of Mark, John, or corresponding content in Spanish), scriptural answers to teen issues, and interactive handwritten margin reactions from diverse teen perspectives. Churches can request free Life Books in quantities of 100 to 2,500 per order. The ministry mobilizes student missionaries to hand out these books as gifts to their peers in schools. Funded and operated as a ministry of The Gideons International.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Life Book (English Edition) A 110-page evangelistic book available in multiple Gospel editions (Mark and John/ESV) containing a short recap of the Old Testament, the entire Gospel (Mark or John ESV), scriptural answers to issues teens face, and an opportunity to trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The margins contain handwritten teen reactions ranging from an agnostic to a strong believer. Measures 5" x 5". Available in both digital and print formats. Designed for U.S. church youth ministries to order in bulk and mobilize student missionaries to share with peers as gifts.
• The Life Book (Spanish Edition) The Spanish language edition of The Life Book, available in both digital and print formats, enabling Spanish-speaking U.S. students and churches to share the Gospel with their peers. Mirrors the English edition format with Gospel content, scriptural answers to teen issues, and interactive handwritten teen reactions in the margins.
• Free Life Books Distribution Program A free bulk distribution program for qualifying U.S. churches (Youth Pastor, Senior Pastor, Volunteer Youth Leader, or other Church Staff Member) to request 100 to 2,500 Life Books at no cost, with commitment to distribute all books requested. Wholly funded by The Gideons International, removing financial barriers to youth evangelism.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 Million Life Books distributed across the United States
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thelifebook
• Facebookfacebook.com/thelifebookofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-life-book

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Life Book