A Business doing Ministry not a Ministry doing Business!

The title of this post sums up in a nutshell the heart of Captain's Cocoa Company.  Mark Roth talked to me several years ago about his idea to start a business that would not only help fund ministry projects but benefit others in the process.  After a few years of looking into a few different things, the decision was made to start a chocolate business.

The business is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica not far from the Panama border.  What this project entails is buying organic cacao beans from the Bri Bri and Cabecar Indigenous groups, fermenting the beans, drying, roasting, and converting the beans into nibs or chocolate bars.  The nibs and chocolate will then be exported to the United States and sold.

A little information about the Indigenous.  Most of them live in recycled wood houses with dirt floors that are very small.  Most of them survive on what is harvested off of their land, which isn't much.  The Indigenous live under extreme poverty.  What Mark and I saw was that most of them have cocoa trees (chocolate trees) on their property.  These guys are literally sitting on gold mines, we thought to ourselves. The thing Mark and I couldn't figure out was why do they live in such poverty if they were "sitting" on gold mines?  After asking Francisco, a good Indigenous friend of mine, what the issue was we knew we had found the business that was a perfect two way street named Benefit Lane.

Bri Bri Indigenous from the Los Angeles community that were
present for the Captain's Cocoa Co. meeting. 

There is one company that is buying the cocoa beans from all the Indigenous.  That sounds great, but the company is exploiting the Indigenous.  They pay the Indigenous 60-70% less than market price while turning around and exporting the product to Europe and making huge profits at the expense of the blood, sweat, and tears of the Indigenous.  The Indigenous really have no other alternatives other than selling to this corporation because it enables them to buy a few staples they aren't able to produce.  

This is where Mark and I believe we can be effective in making a difference through having a business that will not only honor the Indigenous's hard work but love our brothers and sisters like Scripture commands.  In Scripture this principle is called justice and righteousness and it's something very dear to the Creator's heart.

Joel sharing with the Indigenous about Captain's Cocoa Co.
My good friend Francisco is the one standing.  

Part of our mission at Captain's Cocoa Co. is to give the Indigenous an opportunity to move out of the  poverty level into a higher social class where they can give themselves and their children a better future.  We are buying the beans from the Indigenous at a higher price than the other corporation.  This encourages the Indigenous to really work their plantations to get the maximum production so they will be able to earn more money.  Respecting and treating others fairly brings glory and honor to the Creator of the Universe and scripture encourages us to grow in those traits.  This business has allowed us to build strong relationships with the Indigenous and in some cases has opened the door to be able to share our faith.  

There is much more to this project than I have shared, but this is just the beginning of something that will not only change individuals but impact generations to come.  These are the types of projects that I want to be a part of from here on out in the ministry.  Messiah says in John 15:16 that He has chosen you and I, appointing us to GO and BEAR fruit that will remain.  This business has the potential to do just that and by His grace will do that for His glory.

Stay tuned for more information to come on Captain's Cocoa Company, as we are a few days away from getting the chocolate equipment that Mark shipped from the U.S. out of Costa Rican customs.  As soon as we get our equipment, production will begin.  Hopefully within a few short months we will be shipping our delicious Costa Rican organic bean to bar product right to your door steps.  

This endeavor truly is a business doing ministry and not a ministry doing business!!!

Young cocoa pod.