About KI
Thanks for your interest into KI and into learning more about our program. On this page, you will find all the history behind, the heartbeat of, and the purpose for the Kanakuk Institute. If you have any further questions that are not addressed here, please feel free to Contact Us.
The History of the Kanakuk Institute
What is the Kanakuk Institute?
Who attends?
Where is KI?
Why is this program unique?
The History of the Kanakuk Institute
Each year, Kanakuk Kamps and Kids Across America hires approximately 2000 staff from the finest, kid-loving college students across the country. Many of them were graduating from college with a passion to make a difference but lacking the Biblical and practical skills to make a significant and sustained impact. Joe White and Keith Chancey recognized this need and began praying about how to become part of the solution. They wanted to offer an opportunity where students could intensively study the Word of God in an environment that was less academic and more life-transformational. Combining his over 30 years of ministry experience with his professional training from Dallas Theological Seminary, Chancey and his team began designing a training program that provides the hands-on, applicable essentials of seminary and that challenges students to take ownership of their faith. Thus in 2002, the Kanakuk Institute was born, graduating its first class in 2003. A decade later, over 500 Alumni have pursued the marketplace, business world, local ministries, and world missions, transforming them in the Name of Christ. The Kanakuk Institute continues to welcome students to join in the legacy of passionate leaders who are equipped to live a lifetime of ministry.
What is the Kanakuk Institute?
The Kanakuk Institute was formed to be a fine-tuned, strategic program that progressively reveals and educates its students on all of the characteristics of God through the truth of the Word. The Institute ties together all parts of the Bible, constantly going deeper and deeper into Truth. Throughout the process, students own their growing faith and their understanding of the Word by teaching others, by completing assignments, and through real-life application. Different speakers teach on a weekly basis, equipping students on how to understand their faith, how to live out their faith, how to share their faith and how to defend their faith from both biblical and worldly standpoints. This program also provides external context for the Christian faith, including history, archaeology, world religions, current issues, and many other topics. The Kanakuk Institute has also partnered with John Brown University and Dallas Theological Seminary to become a strategic graduate level program to prepare students for the next step in their lives and careers all the while keeping the heartbeat of study on the Word of God.
Outside of class, through internships, campus jobs, eating meals together, structured student events, meal duties, relationships with host families, assigned small groups, and accountability groups the students learn how to model Christ in discipleship, service, stewardship, fellowship, accountability, responsibility, time-management, leadership, teamwork, and humility. The Institute is a program that is entirely open to all believers in Christ. It teaches the students how to work and live together as an active, living body of Christ—it reveals what true fellowship and passion is. It’s also extremely fun and full of great, lasting friendships! But bottom line, the Institute equips its students to better pursue the Lord and that is what the world needs and what every believer in Christ desires at the core of his or her faith. Men and women leave the program with character, integrity, a working knowledge of the Bible, a servant’s heart, a passion for the Gospel, and the ability to communicate the truth of God’s Word to the world.
Who attends?
Kanakuk Institute class size ranges from 50 to 80 students. Our students are college graduates with degrees in everything from engineering to nursing and with dreams ranging from starting a non-profit organization to running for political office. The heartbeat of the Institute is to equip leaders to transform any career field into a ministry. Students going into the business world or vocational ministry all find a home here. Our students come from all over the country to spend eight months in Branson, Missouri, studying the word of God. The average age of students varies from year to year, but the typical range is between 22 and 30 years of age. We have married students, engaged students and single students. While each student is different and brings distinct gifts and talents to the body, they all have one thing in common…a desire to be equipped with Biblical skills for a lifetime of ministry!
Where is KI?
The Kanakuk Institute is located in Branson, Missouri. Branson is known for many things: live music shows on the Highway 76 Strip, shopping at the Tanger Outlet Mall and Branson Landing, boating on Table Rock Lake, hiking at Dogwood Canyon, theme parks like Silver Dollar City, and restaurants galore. Students stay busy exploring the many tourist attractions, going to Branson High School Pirate games, and just being together on the Institute’s luxurious campus. One thing is for sure, students of the Kanakuk Institute are never without something to do!
Why is this program unique?
A student once said, “There is just something amazing about a graduate school program that not only teaches you the Bible, but also helps you immediately apply it in a local ministry. This is just one of the many things I loved about the Kanakuk Institute. The fun atmosphere, genuine leadership, and incredible teaching also attracted me. It is wonderful to be in a community where everyone has the same goal: to know Christ, His Word, and the power of the gospel.”
Use the navigation buttons on the right side of the page to continue learning about the Kanakuk Institute. Or if you have a specific question, feel free to Contact Us.
