John 3:16 Mission
John 3:16 Mission is a Tulsa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry providing emergency shelter, 12-month residential recovery, youth and family services, and material assistance to Tulsans experiencing hunger, homelessness, and addiction.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersTulsa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What John 3:16 Mission does
John 3:16 Mission is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry founded in 1952 that delivers a continuum of Christ-centered services to individuals and families experiencing hunger, homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Its service portfolio spans a 24/7 men's Downtown Shelter with daily meals and chapel services, two 12-month residential recovery programs at The Refuge campus (New Creation for men, Renew for women), a non-residential women's day program (Refresh), a Family & Youth Center offering after-school tutoring, summer camps, and youth leadership training, plus free grocery (Mission Market) and household goods (Mission Goods) distribution for under-resourced families. Underpinning the recovery pathway are three social enterprises — BeeLoved Trading (honey-based products), BeeLoved Industries (screen printing), and BeeLoved Baking — that provide vocational training and earned income reinvested into programs.
The organization's infrastructure footprint is material relative to its 11–50 headcount: a 150-acre Refuge campus including a 19,780 sq ft Administration and Training Building completed in 2024, a new Distribution Center opened in early 2025, a 24/7 Downtown Shelter, and a Family & Youth Center. The technology stack is minimal and third-party dependent — no proprietary platform, no app, no public API — with donor processing handled by Stripe and The Giving Block and participant services delivered in person across the four Tulsa locations.
John 3:16 Mission is funded entirely by donations from community supporters and partners, supplemented by modest social-enterprise revenue. Its go-to-market is community- and event-driven: the Restoring Hope Gala, Shootout Against Hunger, Radiothon, Thanksgiving food drives, Christmas Store, and an expanding Church Partners Network (25+ churches). The organization holds ECFA accreditation and a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, and is governed by an independent board led by Chairman Grant Cousins and CEO Steven M. Whitaker.
John 3:16 Mission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- John 3:16 Mission
- Legal name
- John 3:16 Mission, Inc.
- Website
- https://john316mission.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- John 3:16 Mission is a Tulsa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry providing emergency shelter, 12-month residential recovery, youth and family services, and material assistance to Tulsans experiencing hunger, homelessness, and addiction.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
John 3:16 Mission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Homeless Services and Social Assistance
- NAICS
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Faith-Based Humanitarian Aid & Relief Ministries (BPAGAJAF), Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB)
Keywords
Where John 3:16 Mission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tulsa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
John 3:16 Mission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The mission is funded solely by donations from supporters throughout the Tulsa community and beyond. This includes monetary gifts, non-cash assets, and planned giving.
- Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue from BeeLoved Trading (honey products, candles, lip balm), BeeLoved Industries (screen printing), and BeeLoved Baking. All revenue is reinvested into mission programs.
- Special Events: Revenue generated from events such as the Restoring Hope Gala, 19th Annual Shootout Against Hunger, and Radiothon.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free services for those in need |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Summer Kids Camp subsidized rate |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
John 3:16 Mission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
John 3:16 Mission is a Christ-centered nonprofit ministry that delivers emergency shelter, meals, free 12-month residential recovery programs for men and women, youth and family services, free groceries and household goods, and job training through social enterprises. Programs are provided free of charge to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, addiction, or poverty in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.
Product overview
John 3:16 Mission is a nonprofit Christ-centered ministry offering a portfolio of interconnected programs to address homelessness, hunger, addiction, and poverty in Tulsa. The core services include emergency shelter (Downtown Shelter for men), residential recovery programs (New Creation for men and Renew for women, both 12-month programs at the Refuge campus), and community support services (Family & Youth Center with tutoring, summer camps, and Mission Market grocery assistance). Social enterprises including BeeLoved Trading (honey products), BeeLoved Industries (screen printing), and BeeLoved Baking provide job training for recovery students. Additional services include Mission Goods free household store, Outreach/Search & Rescue, and the Refresh women's day program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Downtown Shelter 24/7 emergency overnight shelter for men providing daily meals, chapel services, and safe overnight accommodations 365 days a year in downtown Tulsa.
- The Refuge Campus John 3:16 Mission's largest campus on 150 acres northwest of downtown Tulsa, housing men's recovery (New Creation), women's recovery (Renew), the Refresh women's day program, vocational training, a working farm and ranch, warehousing, and administrative offices.
- New Creation Men's Residential Recovery Program 12-month residential men's recovery program at The Refuge campus using biblical therapeutic principles, professional counseling, and integrated vocational training. Provided free of charge to students.
- Renew Women's Residential Recovery Program 12-month residential women's recovery program at The Refuge campus offering counseling, life skills, and spiritual development. Provided free of charge to students.
- Refresh Women's Day Program Day program for women experiencing homelessness offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am to 2 pm at The Refuge, providing lunch, showers, laundry, and Bible study.
- Family & Youth Center Programs Christ-centered community programs at the Family & Youth Center for children, teens, and parents, including after-school tutoring, summer camps, youth leadership development, parenting/life skills classes, and access to the Mission Market free grocery store.
- Mission Market (Free Groceries) Free grocery store at the Family & Youth Center allowing qualifying families to shop for food once every 30 days.
- Mission Goods (Free Household Items and Furniture) Free furniture and household goods store stocked with gently used donated items for families with limited resources; appointments once per month for household/clothing and once per year for furniture.
- Job Training and Vocational Programs Vocational training integrated with recovery programs, including farm/ranch work and work with BeeLoved Trading social enterprises, housed in the new 19,780-square-foot Administration and Training Building.
- BeeLoved Trading Social Enterprise Social enterprise producing candles, bottled honey, lip balm, and beard wax from bee byproducts sourced from the Refuge farm beehives, employing women in the recovery program.
- BeeLoved Industries (Screen Printing) Screen-printing social enterprise that prints shirts and other products for individuals and organizations, providing work experience for recovery students.
- BeeLoved Baking Social Enterprise Baked goods production enterprise operated under trained chef instruction, providing job-skills training for women in the recovery program.
- Outreach Program (Search and Rescue) Weekly search-and-rescue outreach that locates homeless individuals in encampments and connects them with shelter, meals, case management, and recovery programs.
- Summer Kids Camp Annual summer literacy and activities program at the Family & Youth Center for area children, offered at a subsidized $25/student rate (max $50/family) for an 8-week June–July camp.
Quantifiable outcome
- Millions of meals and overnight stays provided since 1952
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use John 3:16 Mission
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
John 3:16 Mission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
John 3:16 Mission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Church Partners Network (25+ churches)coreAnnual Church Partners Breakfast connecting 25+ churches (including 15 new this year) to serve as resource for ministries addressing homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Churches partner in outreach efforts and collaborative support.
- Tulsa DrillersminorMinor league baseball team partnered for Christmas in July Gift Drive promotion at stadium game.
- YouthMinistry360minorYouth ministry organization hosting the Generate Conference for FYC youth students.
- Oral Roberts UniversityminorCommunity partner for the Christmas Store event, providing gifts for families in need.
- Rides for HopeminorVehicle donation partner that supports residential recovery programs; vehicles essential for students transitioning to employment. Also partnered for Christmas Store event.
- First Church of OwassominorChurch partner supporting the Christmas Store event.
- Kirk CrossingminorChurch partner supporting the Christmas Store event.
- BattleCreek ChurchminorChurch partner supporting the Christmas Store event.
- Reasor'sminorGrocery store partner hosting Thanksgiving food drives at multiple locations across Tulsa area.
- Walmart/Sam's ClubminorRetail partner hosting Thanksgiving food drives and accepting online registry orders for food donations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights4 records
John 3:16 Mission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Denver Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit in Denver providing emergency shelter, addiction recovery, and food programs with an integrated continuum of care similar to John 3:16 Mission's model.
- City Union Mission: Kansas City faith-based nonprofit offering emergency shelter, residential recovery, and community meals. Operates a comparable Christ-centered model with similar program portfolio but in a different metro.
Broad incumbents
- Union Rescue Mission: One of the largest faith-based rescue missions in the U.S., operating shelter, recovery, and outreach programs. Comparable faith-based model at significantly larger scale.
- Volunteers of America Oklahoma: National nonprofit with Oklahoma operations providing housing, recovery, and family services. Comparable service breadth but operates as a much larger multi-state incumbent.
- The Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command: National faith-based humanitarian organization providing shelter, food, and recovery services in Tulsa. Operates broader portfolio of social services and has national fundraising infrastructure that the Mission lacks.
Emerging players
- Family Promise: National nonprofit network addressing family homelessness through shelter, prevention, and stabilization programs. Overlaps with the Mission's Family & Youth Center but focused specifically on family homelessness.
Direct peers
- Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma: Regional faith-based social services agency serving eastern Oklahoma with shelter, food assistance, and family support programs. Comparable faith-rooted model with overlapping service lines in the same geography.
- Tulsa Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit operating emergency shelter, meals, and recovery programs in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Most direct same-market peer serving overlapping homeless, recovery, and food-insecure populations.
- The Bowery Mission: New York City faith-based nonprofit offering shelter, meals, residential recovery, and social enterprise job training. Comparable integrated care model with social enterprises generating earned income.
Others
- Goodwill Industries of Tulsa: Social enterprise nonprofit in Tulsa providing job training and employment services. Comparable earned-income social enterprise model though mission focus differs (workforce vs. shelter/recovery).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
John 3:16 Mission social profiles
Digital presenceJohn 3:16 Mission compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
John 3:16 Mission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
John 3:16 Mission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
John 3:16 Mission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
John 3:16 Mission M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about John 3:16 Mission
What does John 3:16 Mission do?
John 3:16 Mission is a Christ-centered nonprofit ministry that delivers emergency shelter, meals, free 12-month residential recovery programs for men and women, youth and family services, free groceries and household goods, and job training through social enterprises. Programs are provided free of charge to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, addiction, or poverty in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.
Is John 3:16 Mission a public or private company?
John 3:16 Mission is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was John 3:16 Mission founded?
John 3:16 Mission was founded in 1952. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is John 3:16 Mission based?
John 3:16 Mission is headquartered in Tulsa, United States, in the North America region.
How does John 3:16 Mission make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are social Enterprise Revenue and special Events.
Who are John 3:16 Mission's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Denver Rescue Mission and City Union Mission. Broad incumbents are Union Rescue Mission, Volunteers of America Oklahoma and The Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command. Family Promise is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa Rescue Mission and The Bowery Mission. Goodwill Industries of Tulsa is listed as an others.
Does John 3:16 Mission have an API?
No public API is recorded for John 3:16 Mission.
What industry is John 3:16 Mission in?
John 3:16 Mission's product category is Homeless Services and Social Assistance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling), with a secondary code of BPAGAAAC, Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI). Its NAICS code is 6242 and its SIC code is 8300.