Agape Kure Beach Ministries

What Agape Kure Beach Ministries does

Agape Kure Beach Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor ministry organization operating Camp Agape, a 624-acre camp and retreat center located near Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, approximately 50 minutes from downtown Raleigh. The organization was founded in 1975 and serves youth, families, schools, church groups, and corporate clients through three primary program lines: residential and day summer camps for grades K-12, the ACE Education (Agape Center for Environmental Education) program serving more than 6,000 students annually from 22 North Carolina counties, and customized retreat services including Building Youth Groups, Mother/Daughter retreats, Labor Day Family Camp, and Lead Boldly leadership retreats. It is a formal partner ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's North Carolina Synod and an affiliate of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries.

The business model combines program fees (camp tuition of $685 per full week, retreats priced $100-$200 per person, ACE field trip and overnight fees, and a $175/month Homeschool Adventures subscription), charitable donations through the River of Hope recurring giving program, planned giving, donor-advised funds, and Thrivent Choice designations, plus special event revenue from the annual Spring Golf Outing, Race for ACE 5K, AgapeFest, and Work Days. Pricing is consistently unit-based for camps and retreats, with monthly subscription pricing on the homeschool product and annual subscription for donations. Distribution is direct: customers book through the website (CampBrain registration system), email the registrar, or arrive via ELCA church network referrals. The technology stack is standard — a content website plus third-party platforms (CampBrain, RunReg, Vanco, DonorPerfect, Printful for merchandise) — with no proprietary systems or disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

The organization runs on a small full-time leadership team of 1-10 employees supplemented by part-time staff (food services, bookkeeping, facilities) and seasonal summer counselors. Following the 2023 sale of the Faith Center at Kure Beach and a September 2025 board decision to sell the remaining Kure Beach property — driven by several years of deficit budgets — the ministry is consolidating all operations at Camp Agape. A new Executive Director (Thomas Reddinger) began March 4, 2026, concurrent with an active board strategic planning process and ongoing capital projects including Cabin Village Phase 1 (Gerhard Cabin opened July 2025), pool renovations (April 2026), and a 240-acre timber harvest with replanting (2026-2027).

Name

Agape Kure Beach Ministries

Legal name

Agape Kure Beach Ministries

Website

https://agapekurebeach.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Agape Kure Beach Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit outdoor ministry operating Camp Agape on 624 acres near Fuquay-Varina, NC, serving youth, families, schools, and church groups through summer camps, environmental education, and faith-based retreats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Outdoor Ministry & Camp Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• Faith-based summer camps
• Outdoor ministry retreats
• Environmental education programs
• Christian youth camps
• Church group retreats

Headquarters

HQ city

Fuquay Varina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp and Retreat Fees: Fees charged for summer camps, retreats, family camps, youth group events, and facility rentals. Revenue is seasonal with peak summer activity.
2. Environmental Education Programs: Fees for ACE Education field trips, overnight programs, homeschool adventures, Saturday safaris, and summer ACE programs.
3. Donations and Charitable Giving: Tax-deductible donations through various programs including River of Hope recurring giving, planned giving, estate gifts, donor-advised funds, and Thrivent Choice dollars. Also includes equipment and supply donations.
4. Special Events: Revenue from golf outings, Race for ACE 5K, AgapeFest, and other fundraising events including sponsorship revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Agape Kure Beach Ministries operates Camp Agape, a 624-acre Christian camp and retreat center near Fuquay-Varina, NC, offering residential summer camps for grades K-12, group retreats (youth, family, mother-daughter, leadership), and ACE Education hands-on environmental education field trips and overnights aligned with NC Essential Standards. The organization generates revenue through program fees, facility rentals, donations, and special fundraising events, and serves as a partner ministry of the ELCA's North Carolina Synod.

Product overview

Agape Kure Beach Ministries operates as a multi-program outdoor ministry organization with three core offerings: Summer Camp Programs (residential and day camps for grades K-12 with activities like zip-lines, Bible study, and team building), ACE Education (environmental education serving 6,000+ students annually through field trips, overnights, and educator workshops), and Retreat Programs (youth groups, family camps, leadership retreats, and custom group retreats). These are supported by facility rentals, special events (Race for ACE 5K, Agapefest), and volunteer programs. The organization is a partner ministry of the ELCA's North Carolina Synod.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Camp Agape: The primary camp and retreat facility located on 624 acres near Fuquay-Varina, NC offering summer camps, retreats, and environmental education programs
• ACE Education
• River of Hope
• REACH 100
• Lead Boldly Retreat

Products and services

• Summer Camp Programs Week-long residential and day camp programs for grades K-12 featuring activities including rockets, night hikes, zip-lines, Bible study, worship, and team building. Priced at $685 per week for full-week campers.
• ACE Education (Agape Center for Environmental Education) Hands-on environmental education program serving over 6,000 students annually from 22 North Carolina counties through field trips, overnights, homeschool programs, and educator workshops. Curriculum aligned with NC Essential Standards for Science and Social Studies and developed in partnership with Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD, and NC Catch.
• Retreat Programs Group retreat services including Building Youth Groups (BYG) for grades 3-12, Mother/Daughter retreats, Labor Day Family Camp, Lead Boldly leadership retreats for grades 9-12, and custom retreat design for corporate, education, and community groups.
• Saturday Safari Outdoor exploration experiences for youth groups, scout troops, or families (minimum 10, maximum 20 participants) at $15 per person for 3 hours, covering wildlife observation and nature hikes. 30-day advance registration required.
• Overnight Environmental Education Programs Overnight environmental education experiences for 3rd-8th grade students with accommodations in the Lodge, meals by on-site chef, and curriculum-aligned activities aligned with NC Essential Standards.
• Race for ACE! 5K Annual trail run/walk event supporting ACE Education, featuring live ($50 adults, $25 ages 12 & under) and virtual ($45 adults) participation options, with proceeds funding scientific equipment and program accessibility.
• Facility Rentals Rental of camp facilities including the Woodlands Center, Lodge, Retreat House, Gerhard Cabin (opened 2025, housing 17 people), and rustic tent camping sites for external groups including businesses, churches, and families for retreats, team building, day meetings, and celebrations.
• Summer ACE Day Camp Summer day camp program for day care centers offering environmental activities (Safari, Pond Critters, Creek Critters) for Pre-K to rising 5th graders at $16 per child, June and July, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., groups up to 40.
• Homeschool Adventures Weekly multi-curricular outdoor adventure program for ages 6-11 covering core subjects including Reading, Writing, Math, and Science at $175 per month per child, with four weekly sessions each month from September through May. Discount for multiple children from the same family.
• Adult Educator Workshops Professional development workshops including Project WET, Project Aquatic WILD, and Project Learning Tree for teachers and youth leaders seeking NC Environmental Education certification.
• ACE at Your Place Mobile environmental education program bringing hands-on activities to classrooms, aligned with NC Essential Standards for Science and Social Studies.
• Spring Golf Outing Annual fundraising golf event featuring individual entries ($100), foursomes ($380), and foursome plus team mulligans ($400). The 2026 Spring Golf Outing was held April 13, 2026 at Lochmere Golf Club, raising over $17,600 for camperships and program development with 82 golfers and 19 volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 students served annually from 22 NC counties through ACE Education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ministry with the churches of the North Carolina Synod of the ELCA. Serves as vital resource for faith development. ELCA affiliation provides access to church network and outdoor ministry community.
• Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization representing ELCA outdoor ministry network. Thomas Reddinger serves as Communications Coordinator for LOM. Connection to broader outdoor ministry community.
• Bob Barker Company, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed and supports the REACH 100 program to help send kids in financial need to camp. Company logo displayed on website in appreciation.
• Thrivent ChoiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnrolled organization eligible to receive grant dollars, fee-free donations, and support from Thrivent Action Team service projects. Members can designate Choice dollars to Agape Kure Beach Ministries.
• ELCA Foundation (Stephanie Burke)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStephanie Burke serves as Regional Gift Planner for the Carolinas with the ELCA Foundation, meeting with people to help with Estate and Legacy Plans including charitable goals for Agape Kure Beach Ministries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Montreat Conference Center: Montreat is a Presbyterian-affiliated retreat and conference center in Black Mountain, NC that hosts youth conferences, retreats, and summer programming. Compares to Camp Agape in faith-based retreat/conference positioning, regional draw, and group-event revenue model.
• Camp Ton-A-Wandah: Camp Ton-A-Wandah is a long-running summer camp near Hendersonville, NC serving similar youth and family demographics with week-long residential camp programming. Closely comparable on customer segment, geography, and program structure.
• Camp Pinnacle: Camp Pinnacle is a residential summer camp in Hendersonville, NC that targets similar youth and family segments with multi-activity outdoor programming and family camp offerings. Although non-faith-based, it competes directly for Triangle-region families seeking summer camp experiences.
• Blue Ridge Assembly: Blue Ridge Assembly is a YMCA-owned retreat and conference center in Black Mountain, NC offering camps, retreats, and conferences on a large mountain campus. Compares on facility-rental and group-retreat operations in western NC.
• Kanuga Conferences: Kanuga is an Episcopal-affiliated camp, retreat, and conference center in Hendersonville, NC. Like Camp Agape it blends faith-based summer camp with retreat, conference, and outdoor programming on a large wooded campus, making it a strong operational peer.
• The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center: The Wilds is a faith-based camp and conference center in Brevard, NC offering summer camps, retreats, and conferences in a similar southeastern U.S. setting. Comparable to Camp Agape in mission, programming mix, and facility-rental business model.
• Lutherock: Lutherock is another ELCA-affiliated camp and retreat center in North Carolina that runs summer camp programs, retreat facilities, and outdoor ministry. It is a sister organization to Camp Agape within the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries network and offers a directly comparable operating model.
• Lutheridge Ministries: Lutheridge is a long-standing ELCA outdoor ministry site in the same North Carolina Synod footprint that Camp Agape serves. Both organizations operate summer camp, retreat, and Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM) affiliated programs on similar natural campuses, making Lutheridge a directly comparable peer.

Others

• Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM): LOM is the broader ELCA-affiliated network of camps and outdoor ministries of which Camp Agape is a partner site. Functions as a coordinating/referral body rather than a direct operator; relevant as an ecosystem/peer for benchmarking programming and donor engagement.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the Triangle: YMCA of the Triangle operates day camps, resident camps, environmental education, and pool/recreation facilities across the Raleigh-Durham region. Broader incumbent that competes with Camp Agape and ACE for Triangle families, schools, and groups across a wider portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/agapekurebeach
• Instagraminstagram.com/aceed2025
• Xx.com/agapekurebeach
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agape-kure-beach-ministries-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

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 Agape Kure Beach Ministries