Shipping Distribution Cycle
When Will I get My Order?
At Lifeway, we ship your quarterly Sunday School and ministry materials through a scheduled distribution cycle. This system is designed to ensure timely and efficient delivery for all churches, ministries, and customers across the country.
We carefully organize these shipments to help us manage high demand and ensure each customer receives their resources in time for the start of the next quarter.
What do you base it on?
The timing of where you fit into the distribution cycle is based on several factors: when you place your order, inventory availability, and the delivery location. We ship quarterly orders through distribution cycles in order to evenly allocate this process in our distribution center.
What is Autoship?
We are here to help you receive your curriculum in a timely fashion, and that is why we recommend placing your order through Autoship. The quarterly Autoship option was developed to:
Ensure inventory
Offer first priority delivery
Give subscription customers a discount on each order
Learn more about Autoship here.
Quarterly Distribution Cycle FAQs
Autoship orders are placed in the first 10 weeks of the distribution cycle. Non-Autoship orders are fulfilled next with the focus of delivering prior to our suggested first use date. See map featured here.
If ordered one month before the suggested first use date, your order should arrive at least a week prior to the suggested first use date. Depending on your due date and if it is ordered on time, it could arrive 2 to 6 weeks prior to the suggested first use date.
The map featured here is the best way to understand our distribution timelines. For more information about your distribution window, contact 800.458.2772.
Many items ordered from lifeway.com ship within a few business days. However, the magnitude of millions of curriculum resources being shipped each quarter makes it necessary to ship in distribution cycles.
We are always eager to meet your church’s needs, but orders placed after the defined order due date will be prioritized after the five distribution cycles.
The sooner you place your order (and the sooner you are in our processing queue), the more favorable your delivery date.
Through Autoship! Autoship subscriptions offer first priority delivery on quarterly resources.
Still have a question? We would love to answer it. Contact our helpful customer care team at 800.458.2772.