About Campfires
Why campfires?
Campfires are places of warmth, nourishment, storytelling, teaching, encouragement and belonging. Around a campfire, relationships deepen, wisdom is shared, and community is built.
We believe that same concept can become a powerful model for transformation around the world.
Campfire Bay Collaborations is a Christ-centered nonprofit with a vision to establish financially sustainable hospitality businesses that serve as collaborative hubs for whole-person and community transformation.
Why this?
Why create Campfires around the world?
There are so many good organizations doing good work — but oftentimes, instead of working together, multiple organizations do the same work, competing for resources because of duplicated efforts.
Rather than expecting one organization to meet every need, Campfires connect existing organizations, combining efforts and creating opportunities for comprehensive, lasting transformation.
Whole-person development
Imagine someone receiving vocational training through one nonprofit, learning financial management through another, receiving emotional support from a counselor, gaining employment experience at a resort, and connecting with a local church for discipleship and community.
We believe lasting transformation begins within individuals, strengthens families, and ultimately changes communities — especially for those who have been overlooked or underserved.
Why resorts?
Why use hospitality businesses as the foundation?
Around the world, beautiful tourism destinations frequently exist alongside communities experiencing significant poverty. Visitors spend money enjoying hospitality and recreation while many local families lack access to the opportunities that could improve their futures.
We see an opportunity to bridge those worlds.
Instead of traditional ministry centers dependent entirely on donations, we establish economically viable hospitality businesses that also serve as gathering places for community development.
1. A thriving hospitality business
Generating revenue through lodging, dining, recreation, retreats and other services — while providing meaningful employment.
2. A practical training environment
Helping people develop workplace skills, leadership abilities, financial responsibility and personal character through education and real-world experience.
3. A collaborative community hub
Providing facilities, resources and connections for nonprofits, churches and other organizations offering counseling, education, discipleship and community services.
How it works
One vision, many Campfires
Campfire Bay Collaborations provides the overarching vision, develops strategic partnerships, connects donors and impact-minded investors, coordinates resources, and helps establish new Campfires.
Each local Campfire operates as a financially accountable, locally adapted hospitality enterprise. Existing local nonprofits and ministries maintain their independence while collaborating through shared resources, referrals, facilities and complementary programming.
From employment to ownership
Whenever possible, we develop qualified local leaders who can eventually own and operate their Campfires — individually or as part of a trained ownership group.
Through education, mentorship, demonstrated competence and thoughtfully structured financing, we create pathways from employment to leadership and ultimately to ownership — building sustainable businesses and equipping local people to lead them for generations.
The WHOLE methodology
The guiding framework behind the Campfire vision
WHOLE represents more than professional advancement. People are interconnected beings whose spiritual, emotional, mental, relational, physical, financial and vocational well-being all contribute to lasting transformation. Through compassionate care, meaningful work, healthy relationships, practical education and the love of Jesus Christ, we seek to help people discover their God-given worth, purpose and potential — and become whole.
Why us?
For more than 25 years, we have carried a vision for a place where people could experience restoration in every area of their lives. We bought Campfire Bay Resort in Minnesota with that in mind, and grew it from a small seasonal property into a successful year-round hospitality business — gaining experience in financial management, staffing, construction, marketing, guest services, food service and leadership development along the way.
Our longstanding relationships in several countries and connections with global ministries and business leaders helped us see how a hospitality enterprise could serve as a practical platform for transformation in the developing world.
We don't have all the answers — our calling is to bring together those who already have the knowledge, resources and passion to help people flourish.
Why now?
In our fractured world, more than ever we need to be working together and collaborating — best modeling how God wants the Body of Christ to function.
Growing interest in business-as-mission, impact investing and sustainable community development presents a unique opportunity: rather than depending exclusively on donations, we can develop businesses that sustain the facilities and opportunities needed for transformation.
We want to build the Campfire, gather the people, and help equip them to bring light and hope to their communities.
One Campfire at a time
We envision Campfires in every region of the globe — particularly where tourism accommodations exist alongside significant poverty and limited opportunity. They may take different forms, from full-service resorts to boutique hotels or retreat centers, adapted to the needs and resources of each community.
Their success will not simply be measured in revenue, but in lives transformed, families strengthened, meaningful jobs created, and communities becoming healthier and more self-sufficient.
A single Campfire provides warmth and light to those gathered around it. Imagine what could happen if we build Campfires around the world — each supported by excellent business practices, led increasingly by local people, connected to local organizations, and dedicated to bringing hope, dignity and opportunity to those it serves.
What might you bring to the Campfire?
Some partners bring financial resources. Others bring professional expertise, ministry experience, education, counseling, business knowledge or local relationships. Each has something valuable to contribute — and together, we can build Campfires that bring light and love to communities around the world.