News About Kure Beach

In early 2025, the Board of Directors established a strategic planning team to clarify the mission and vision of Agapé † Kure Beach Ministries and set goals for the future that would help our ministry thrive. The first thing we did was listen to you. Over 120 of you completed a survey to guide our discussions. The team evaluated our mission, finances, and facilities through the lens of our mission, and explored potential partnerships with other camps. As a result, the team recommended selling our remaining Kure Beach property and directing resources toward strengthening Camp Agapé. On September 13, the Board unanimously approved this recommendation.

We recognize this decision may be surprising and disappointing. When the Faith Center was sold in 2023, the Board set aside proceeds to rebuild and continue ministry at Kure Beach. However, as we examined the realities of outdoor ministry, congregational life, and the wider church, it became clear we had to revisit that plan. Many of us—and you—hold cherished memories of Kure Beach, but your survey responses affirmed that the spirit of our mission is not tied to a facility. Instead, it is carried forward through the people, programs, and values that define our ministry.

The decision was not easy. When the vote was unanimous, silence was followed by tears and a much-needed moment of prayer. We took time to comfort one another and acknowledge the weight of the moment, even as we began to sense new hope.

Several pressing realities also shaped the Board’s decision:

• The ministry has had to operate with deficit budgets for several years, making consolidation to one site essential.
• Rebuilding at Kure Beach would exceed $3 million, with zoning restrictions limiting the type of facility possible.
• Camp Agapé requires immediate facility upgrades and capacity enhancements to meet our current ministry needs and improve the guest experience.
• The ministry continues to hold $1.1 million in mortgage debt related to the Woodlands Center.

Temporary measures have sustained operations, but permanent solutions are needed for long-term stability. Proceeds from the Kure Beach sale, combined with reserved funds, will provide an estimated $2 million for immediate and future needs at Camp Agapé, laying a foundation for the ministry’s next chapter. With this clarity, the Board has renewed its search for a new Executive Director and is developing a multi-year strategic plan that includes sustainable budgeting, targeted facility investments, and participation in a North Carolina Synod Campaign, which will invite us all to support the renewed vision of this ministry we share.

We also want to honor Kure Beach’s legacy. Stories, photographs, and memories will be collected and shared at an upcoming gathering to commemorate, remember, and celebrate the faithful ministry that took place there.

Additionally, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page has been created on our website and will be updated as new questions arise from our community.

We are committed to keeping you informed throughout this process. Camp Agapé is thriving: retreats are almost fully booked through December, and we are one permit away from breaking ground on our new pool. We are excited to communicate with you more often, informing you about this ongoing process and continuing to share the stories of real ministry happening here.

Because above all, we want you to know this: This ministry would not be what it is without you.

 In a changing church and shifting world, your faithfulness ensures Agapé remains a place where lives are transformed, faith is nurtured, and all experience the Spirit, through Christ, Creation, and Community.

If you have specific questions or would like further communication, please do not hesitate to contact Melinda Menz, our Board President, at melindamenz@gmail.com.

With hope and immense gratitude,

The Board of Directors
Agapé † Kure Beach Ministries