Saving bees through the art of beekeeping; saving lives through the vocational training we provide for under-resourced men, women, and children in our community.

BeeLoved Trading is a social enterprise initiative of John 3:16 Mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Mission has many initiatives to serve our under-resourced and at-risk neighbors in Tulsa, including women’s and men’s residential recovery programs. These programs offer students extended opportunities to overcome the setbacks that create homelessness in the first place, offering life skills classes, therapy, discipleship coaching, job training, and much more. The programs are housed in our beautiful Refuge campus, located on 150 acres of open fields and forest northwest of downtown Tulsa. Our land is a working farm, ranch, and orchard that produces food for our John 3:16 Mission kitchens. It’s also home to a beekeeping operation. The growth of our hives and love for bees combined with the love for our students birthed the idea for BeeLoved Trading.

Our recovery students use the honey produced in our hives to make our products, and they work in our kitchens to produce our baked goods. Vocational instruction is an essential topic for our students trying to discover their place in this world. They learn to work together as a team, build relationships, gain knowledge, build confidence and so much more. This lived experience imitates how bees work to create honey, as a team—each with a unique role—trusting one another, which in turn mimics how the Kingdom of God works. There is a vulnerability to being alone, without mentorship or leadership. But as a group, we are able to accomplish things we never could as individuals. We are able to break down self-destructive habits and create new habits, focused on God. We believe that beekeeping and the creation of our products is life-giving, creative work, drawing the hardened former homeless and recovering addicts closer to God’s heart through His creation.

Our name, BeeLoved, is a nod to the fact that we are God’s beloved. It also highlights God’s desire that everyone “be loved” or feel loved. Our calling to love others is among our highest priorities. And of course, as it says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This resonates in our hearts and is the core of our work. We find God’s love is sweet, just like honey. At BeeLoved we get to “be loved” while taking care of God’s creation, both the richness of the land and his people—a double portion of His goodness toward us.

Beekeeping and honey are a launching point for John 3:16 Mission, as we seek new ways to make our ministries more sustainable. We hope to move into additional enterprises in the future. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see where we’re headed!