A Chamber Born from a Question
Livingston County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Michigan — and one of its most distinctly faith-rooted. With more than 73% of residents identifying as people of faith, and a GDP that crossed $6.2 billion, something was missing: a place where business owners could bring their whole selves to the table.
Not a church. Not a generic networking group. Not a chamber that checks a faith box in its logo and moves on. Something with real roots — a community where Colossians 3:23 isn’t just a tagline but an operating principle: seek the welfare of the city.
That’s the question Kingdom Gate was built to answer. What would it look like if the business community of Livingston County organized around shared values, genuine faith, and a commitment to each other’s flourishing?
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” — Colossians 3:23-24 · The Verse That Drives Everything We Do
Kingdom Gate isn’t asking you to put your faith away when you walk into a business meeting. We’re asking you to bring it with you — and to find others who are doing the same thing right here in Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville.
Year 1 is completely free. There are no gatekeepers, no application fees, no annual dues. Just a community that’s serious about building something that matters — for our families, our neighbors, and the county we call home.
From Tom
I’ll be honest with you: I almost didn’t start this.
For years, I showed up to networking events where I’d smile and hand out cards and drive home feeling strangely empty. Something was always off — and it took me a while to name it. I couldn’t talk about what actually mattered to me. My faith. My family. Whether the business I was building was something God actually wanted me to build, or just something I was ambitious enough to attempt.
I live in Livingston County. My practice is here. My kids grew up here. I’m not going anywhere. And one morning — it was a Sunday, after church — I started asking a question I couldn’t shake: What if there was a table where you didn’t have to leave that part of yourself in the parking lot?
I prayed about it. I talked to my wife about it. I almost convinced myself it was too niche, too small, too specific to matter. Then I realized: that’s exactly the wrong way to think about it. Livingston County has 197,000 people, 73% of whom identify as people of faith. There are thousands of business owners here who feel what I was feeling. They just don’t have a table yet.
That’s all Kingdom Gate is, really. A table. A biweekly Saturday morning where you can show up as a whole person — your faith, your business, your questions, your ambitions — and find other people doing the same thing right here in Howell, Brighton, and Hartland.
I don’t know exactly what this becomes. I know what it is right now: a community in its founding year, with a group of people who believe that how we do business is a testimony in itself.
If that resonates with you — I’d love to meet you Saturday morning. Coffee’s on.
— Tom
Founder, Kingdom Gate Chamber of Commerce
Five Values That Guide Us
Seek First the Kingdom
Business success is a means, not an end. We orient every decision — in our chamber and in our member businesses — around what serves God’s Kingdom and our community first.
Radical Generosity
We give freely: referrals, time, expertise, encouragement. The economy of the Kingdom is abundance, not scarcity. Kingdom Gate members are known for their open hands.
Deep Roots, Local Focus
We’re not building a national network. We’re building Livingston County. Every event, every referral, every connection is in service of the place we actually live.
Welcoming to All
Kingdom Gate is faith-rooted, not faith-exclusive. You don’t have to share our beliefs to share our table. Everyone who wants to build a better Livingston County is welcome here.
Integrity in Commerce
Our word is our bond. Kingdom Gate members are held to a higher standard — not because we’re legalistic, but because we believe how we do business is a testimony in itself.
On Our Faith Identity
Kingdom Gate is a Christian-founded, faith-rooted chamber of commerce. Our name, our verse, and our DNA come from a biblical vision of business as service — the idea that when a community thrives, everyone in it thrives together.
That said, we have never believed that faith and welcome are in tension. You will find people of every background at our table. What unites us isn’t a doctrinal statement — it’s a shared conviction that business can be a force for extraordinary good in Livingston County.
If you want to read more about our specific beliefs and commitments, visit our Faith Statement page →
The Church Needs Strong Business Leaders
Every Sunday, business owners sit in the pews — people who manage teams, negotiate contracts, solve problems under pressure, and steward resources with precision. These are some of the most capable leaders in any congregation.
But too often, there’s no bridge between their professional life and their faith community. They lead all week and sit passively on Sunday. Their business skills — the same gifts God gave them — go untapped by the church.
Kingdom Gate exists to change that. We believe the business leaders in Livingston County are called to be active builders of the Kingdom, not just attendees. Your ability to organize, lead, create jobs, and serve customers IS your ministry. Colossians 3:23 doesn’t say ‘whatever you do in church’ — it says ‘whatever you do.’
When business leaders connect through Kingdom Gate, the church gets stronger. Members find accountants, contractors, and financial advisors they can trust. Young people find mentors and jobs. Business owners find prayer partners who actually understand the pressures they face.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10
Year 1 Is Completely Free
We’re in our founding year, and we want every Kingdom-minded business owner in Livingston County to have the chance to be part of this from the beginning. No dues. No fees. Just a community worth joining.
Join Free Today → See Upcoming Events