Websites using Ekklesia360

Okay, let s break down Ekklesia 360, covering its overview, revenue (with caveats), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Overview of Ekklesia 360 (now part of Faithlife)

• What it is: Ekklesia 360 was a leading provider of church website platforms and digital ministry tools. It was acquired by Faithlife Corporation (makers of Logos Bible Software and other church tech) in 2021 and is now integrated into the Faithlife ecosystem.
• Core Functionality: At its core, Ekklesia 360 provided a content management system (CMS) specifically designed for churches. This included features for:
  • Website building and design (themes, templates, drag-and-drop editors)
  • Content management (sermons, blogs, events, news, staff profiles)
  • Online giving and donations
  • Member management (directories, groups)
  • Email marketing and communication
  • Podcast hosting and distribution
  • Live streaming integration
  • Mobile app development (often as an add-on)
• Target Audience: Churches of all sizes, but particularly those looking for a robust, integrated platform with a strong focus on digital engagement.
• Key Differentiation (Historically): Ekklesia 360 stood out for its deep understanding of church needs and its commitment to providing tools that were not just functional but also visually appealing and ministry-focused. Now that it s part of Faithlife, the main differentiator is integration within the larger Faithlife ecosystem.

Revenue

• Private Company: Ekklesia 360 was a privately held company before its acquisition. Therefore, precise revenue figures are not publicly available.
• Estimates (Pre-Acquisition): Industry analysts estimated Ekklesia 360 s revenue to be in the millions of dollars annually, based on their customer base and pricing models. However, these are just estimates.
• Post-Acquisition: Now integrated into Faithlife, it s impossible to separate Ekklesia 360 s revenue from the overall Faithlife Corporation revenue. Faithlife is also private, so overall revenue figures are not public.
• How They Made Money: Ekklesia 360 primarily generated revenue through:
  • Subscription fees for their website platform and associated services.
  • Fees for add-on services like mobile app development, custom design, and advanced support.

Alternatives to Ekklesia 360 (Now Considering Faithlife as the Core)

Since Ekklesia 360 is now integrated with Faithlife, the alternatives would be alternatives to the Faithlife platform in general, or solutions that could be used alongside Faithlife s tools. Here are some key competitors:

• Squarespace or Wix: These are general-purpose website builders that many churches use. They are easy to use and offer beautiful templates, but they may lack some of the church-specific features of Faithlife.
• WordPress: A very popular and flexible option. Churches can use WordPress with church-specific themes and plugins to create powerful websites. Requires more technical expertise or hiring a developer. Options like Subsplash websites and Clover sites are also WordPress-based.
• Subsplash: A comprehensive church platform that includes website building, mobile apps, giving, media delivery, and more. A strong competitor in terms of breadth of features.
• Church Community Builder (CCB): A church management system (ChMS) that also offers website integration. Focuses more on internal church operations.
• Planning Center: Another popular ChMS with website integration. Known for its scheduling and volunteer management tools.
• Shelby Systems: Offers both ChMS and website solutions, catering to a range of church sizes.
• Breeze ChMS: A simpler, more affordable ChMS option that integrates with various website platforms.
• Tithe.ly: Known primarily for online giving, but also offers website building and other church communication tools.
• Ministry Brands: An umbrella company that owns several church tech solutions, including websites, ChMS, and giving platforms (e.g., Elexio, Realm).

When considering alternatives, think about:

• Your Church s Size and Needs: A small church might be fine with a simple website builder, while a larger church might need a more robust platform.
• Your Budget: Pricing varies significantly between platforms.
• Your Technical Expertise: Some platforms are easier to use than others.
• Integration: Does the platform integrate with other tools you use (e.g., your ChMS, giving platform)?
• Specific Features: Do you need specific features like sermon podcasting, live streaming, or a mobile app?

Pricing

• Faithlife Pricing: Faithlife uses a modular pricing approach. You pay for the features and products you need. This can make it difficult to provide a single price point. The Faithlife website has pricing information for its various products.
• Factors Affecting Price:
  • The specific modules/features you choose (website builder, giving, ChMS, etc.)
  • The size of your church (number of members) - some platforms scale pricing based on church size.

Customer Care Details (Now Faithlife Customer Support)

• Support Channels: Faithlife generally offers customer support through the following channels:
  • Online Knowledge Base/Help Center: A comprehensive collection of articles, tutorials, and FAQs. This is often the first place to look for answers.
  • Email Support: Submit a support ticket via email.
  • Phone Support: May be available, depending on your subscription level.
  • Community Forums: Faithlife has user forums where you can ask questions and get help from other users.
  • Training and Onboarding: Faithlife often provides training materials and onboarding assistance to help new users get started.
• Support Quality: Faithlife is generally known for having good customer support. Given its strong reputation in the Christian tech space, they invest in customer satisfaction.
• Accessing Support: You ll typically access Faithlife support through their website or within the Faithlife platform itself.

Important Considerations:

• Faithlife Integration: Remember that Ekklesia 360 is now part of Faithlife. When evaluating, you re really evaluating the Faithlife ecosystem and how well it meets your needs.
• Demo/Trial: Most church website platforms and ChMS offer a free demo or trial period. Take advantage of these to see if the platform is a good fit for your church.
• References: Talk to other churches that are using the platforms you re considering. Get their feedback on the platform s features, ease of use, and customer support.

In summary, Ekklesia 360 was a solid church website platform that s now part of the broader Faithlife ecosystem. Evaluate Faithlife s offerings in light of your church s specific needs, budget, and technical capabilities, and be sure to compare it to other leading church tech providers.