Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference

What Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference does

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian retreat, conference, and family vacation ministry (EIN 38-1558540), founded in 1934 and headquartered on a single lakeside campus at 4759 Lake Harbor Road, Norton Shores, Michigan. The organization operates a dual-season model: from June through Labor Day it functions as a family vacation destination featuring preaching, worship, youth programs, sports camps, and a Saturday evening summer concert series; during the balance of the year it operates as a conference and retreat center hosting church groups and Christian organizations from small teams up to several hundred attendees, with meeting facilities, banquet services, on-site lodging, and dining. Supporting infrastructure includes the Tabernacle venue, a gymnasium, banquet spaces, the Lodge Dining Hall and Great Lakes Room, accessibility-compliant accommodations, and a beach web cam. The organization runs on a 39-employee staff and is governed as an independent nonprofit with no parent entity, PE/VC ownership, or subsidiaries.

The revenue model is a diversified mix of program fees and charitable contributions, comprising five streams: retreat and conference services (lodging, dining, meeting space, banquets), family vacation packages, ticketed event and concert packages (e.g., Rhett Walker Family Christmas at $216 single / $316 double, Valentine's Getaway with SELAH at $200/$290, Summer Concert Series), youth sports camps (football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, pickleball for ages 7-17, coached via Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and tax-deductible donations supporting the ministry mission. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the maranathamichigan.org website, a dedicated phone line (231.798.2161), and the Church Center third-party registration platform, with calendar integration to Google, Outlook, and iCalendar. Marketing combines the website, email/newsletter, event marketing, and a YouTube speaker archive. No proprietary technology systems, AI/ML capabilities, or mobile applications are present in the stack; core operational technology is limited to standard web booking, phone-based reservations, and the Church Center registration tool. Strategic partnerships span co-presentation deals with Unity Christian Events for Christmas programming, and recurring mission/ministry relationships with Crossroads Prison Ministry, Mission Eurasia, On Eagles' Wings, SonSet Solutions, Mission India, FCA, Walk Thru the Bible, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Moody Bible Institute, and The Gospel Coalition, alongside a performance partnership with Turning Pointe School of Dance.

Name

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference

Legal name

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference

Website

https://vacationwithpurpose.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian retreat, conference, and family vacation ministry operating a single lakeside campus in Norton Shores, Michigan, serving church groups, Christian families, youth, women, and seniors since 1934.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Retreat & Conference Center

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campus Spiritual & Religious Life (EDALAHAI)

Keywords

• Christian retreat center
• Bible conference services
• Family vacation resort
• Religious camp programs
• Conference facility rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Norton Shores

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Retreat and Conference Services: Group retreat bookings for churches and organizations including meeting facilities, banquet services, lodging, and dining. Serves groups from small teams to several hundred attendees.
2. Family Vacation Packages: Summer vacation accommodations and programming for families including lodging, meals, Bible teaching, youth programs, and recreational activities from June through Labor Day.
3. Event Tickets and Concert Packages: Ticketed events including summer concert series, Christmas concerts, and specialty performances with optional dinner packages. Examples include Rhett Walker Family Christmas ($84 adult, $67 child) and Valentine's Getaway with SELAH ($200 single, $290 couple).
4. Sports and Youth Camps: Sports camps including football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and pickleball for youth ages 7-17, with coaching by FCA and other organizations.
5. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry (EIN: 38-1558540), the organization accepts tax-deductible donations to support its mission of providing spiritual renewal and recreation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference operates a Christian retreat and conference center on Lake Michigan in Norton Shores, Michigan. The organization sells group retreats and conferences, family vacation packages, summer program weeks, sports camps, a summer concert series, meeting and event spaces, accommodations and lodging, dining services, special events and getaways, and a speaker archive to Christian families, churches, and community groups.

Product overview

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference operates as a unified Christian retreat center and vacation destination offering a portfolio of interconnected services. The core offerings consist of group retreats and conferences with meeting facilities, banquet services, and lodging; and family vacation packages during summer months featuring programming for all ages. Supporting programs include week-long summer speaker series, sports camps for youth, and a Saturday evening concert series featuring Christian artists. The facility provides event spaces, on-site accommodations, and dining services. Specialty programs include senior retreats, women's events, and holiday celebrations. The organization also maintains an online archive of speaker recordings. All services are delivered at their Michigan lakeside campus with accessibility accommodations available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Group Retreats & Conferences
• Family Vacation Packages
• Sports Camps
• Meeting & Event Spaces
• Accommodations & Lodging
• Dining Services
• Summer Concert Series
• Special Events & Getaways
• Speaker Archive

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unity Christian EventscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 July 2026Co-presenter of Christmas concert series including Rhett Walker Family Christmas (Dec 4) and Cochren & Co. (Dec 11). Unity Christian Events partners with Maranatha to present the annual Heart of Christmas celebration and weekend getaway packages combining lodging, dining, and concerts.
• Unity Christian EventscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Co-presenter of the 3rd Annual Heart of Christmas event (December 5-6, 2026), a free public celebration featuring live nativity, Christmas story trail, vendor market, and special concerts.
• Turning Pointe School of DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Michigan's premier pre-professional dance company creates exclusive ensemble productions for Maranatha including 'His Name is Jesus' reflecting Christ's names throughout the Bible.
• Crossroads Prison MinistryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured as 'Mission of the Week' during speaker weeks. Crossroads connects people in prisons with mentors from churches to develop Christ-centered relationships through Bible study.
• Mission EurasiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured as 'Mission of the Week.' Mission Eurasia trains, equips, and mobilizes Christian leadership throughout Eurasia and Israel for indigenous evangelism and church-planting.
• On Eagles' WingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured as 'Mission of the Week' during Ron Hutchcraft week. Ministry empowers Native American, First Nations, and Alaska Native young people including annual Warrior Leadership Summit.
• SonSet SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured as 'Mission of the Week' during Ray Pritchard and George Murray weeks. SonSet Solutions provides technology-based solutions to advance the Gospel worldwide.
• Mission IndiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured as 'Mission of the Week' during Eric Moore and Brady Nemmers weeks. Mission India equips India's Christians to plant reproducing churches.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFCA coaches lead sports camps including volleyball and basketball. FCA is the organizing body providing coaching staff for youth athletic programming.
• Walk Thru the BibleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhil Tuttle, President and CEO of Walk Thru the Bible since 2007, serves as summer speaker. Organization has served with Maranatha for over three decades.
• Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured performers and ministry partners including Huntley Brown who has partnered extensively with BGEA, and Scott Griffin who created music for Unshackled! and BGEA.
• Moody Bible InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMinistry connection through speakers and performers including Mike Fabarez who graduated from Moody, and Captivating Keyboards duo who began at Moody's Founders Week.
• The Gospel CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured speaker Melissa Kruger serves as Vice President of Discipleship Programming at TGC. Partnership brings high-profile women's ministry content to Maranatha events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forest Home Ministries: Southern California Christian retreat and conference center operating family camps, speaker weeks, and group retreats. Comparable nonprofit model, multi-generational programming, and Bible-teaching focus to Maranatha.
• Pine Cove Christian Camps: Texas-based nonprofit Christian summer camp operator running youth camps, family retreats, and programming across multiple properties. Comparable nonprofit youth/family ministry model with strong sports and recreation programming.
• The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center): Billy Graham Evangelistic Association retreat center in Asheville, NC offering conferences, retreats, and spiritual renewal programming. Comparable retreat/conference model with a parent ministry, overlapping with Maranatha's BGEA partnership and Bible-teaching mission.
• Kanuga Conference Center: Episcopal-affiliated conference and retreat center in North Carolina offering summer youth camps, family programs, and adult retreats. Same dual-purpose nonprofit retreat/camp operating model as Maranatha, with comparable lodging and meeting facilities.
• WinShape Foundation: Georgia-based Christian retreat and conference foundation operating camps, retreats, and family programming on a multi-property campus. Comparable nonprofit operating model with bundled lodging/dining/retreat offerings similar to Maranatha.
• Hume Lake Christian Camps: California-based nonprofit operating Christian summer camps, family camps, retreat/conference center, and wilderness programs. Comparable multi-generational Christian retreat and conference operating model.
• Sandy Cove Ministries: Christian retreat and conference center on the Chesapeake Bay offering family vacations, youth programs, and church retreats. Closest direct functional peer to Maranatha given combined retreat + family vacation + summer programming model.
• Mount Hermon Christian Conferences: Northern California Christian conference center running family camps, speaker/worship weeks, and church retreats with lodging and dining. Direct overlap with Maranatha's retreat-and-vacation dual model and evangelical speaker programming.

Regional players

• Silver Birch Ranch: Michigan-based Christian summer camp offering youth and family programming. Regional overlap with Maranatha for Midwest Christian families seeking summer camp and family recreation alternatives.
• Covenant Harbor / Covenant Point Bible Camps: Wisconsin-based Reformed/evangelical Christian camps and retreat centers serving families, youth, and church groups from the Midwest. Geographic and demographic overlap with Maranatha's Midwest church-and-family market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@maranathabiblemissionaryco5693/streams
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maranatha-bible-and-missionary-conference

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference