Subscribe to RSSWhere is the Business in Ministry?
Kanakuk Kamps is well known in evangelical circles for providing and managing first class camping experiences for young campers. They have successfully created a reputation of excellence and managed their brand very well in the marketplace.
What you may not know about Kanakuk is their policy for the relationship of ministry to business.
I ran across a presentation made by Don Frank, the CFO of Kanakuk Kamps. Don refers to this relationship as the “51%/49% Model”. This means that Kanakuk is managed with the policy that it is 51% ministry, but 49% business. All decisions they face follow the “commitment” of this rule.
Further, Don said “Our ministry is fueled by our business operations; not dependent on donations.” Importantly, he also stated the critical disclaimer that while a business mindset is critical, that “business is always second to a ministry application.”
Kanakuk Kamps is an example for a growing realization among faith-based organizations that business is a partner to ministry, not a threat to ministry. My hat is off to Don and Kanakuk Kamps for their leadership role in this area.
Tags: business, capitalism, christianity, church, commerce, kanakuk kamps