Summary
Audio Scripture Ministries ("ASM") strives for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world via production and distribution of communications media. ASM is committed to seeing that all translated New Testaments available in print form are also recorded and made available in audio form. ASM believe that there remains a foundational, essential, unfinished task in world mission today. They believe that that task is to provide the translated Scriptures in audio form for all who cannot read and for ministries among ethnic peoples in multi-lingual settings. ASM began in 1967 as Portable Recording Ministries and changed its name to Audio Scripture Ministries in 1996, and is not affiliated in any way with Audio Scriptures International. This organization is a nonprofit, contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 760 Waverly Rd
Holland, MI
49423-9423 |
| Website: | www.ASMToday.org |
| Phone: | (616) 396-5291, (800) 333-1616 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 236296186
| CEO/President: |
Mr. Tom Dudenhofer |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
Mr. Art Brooks |
Fiscal Year End: |
September 30 |
| Board Size: |
9 |
Financial info from: |
990 |
| Founder: |
Dr. Ronald Beery |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1967 |
Member of ECFA since: |
2001 |
Audio Scripture Ministries ("ASM") strives for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world via production and distribution of communications media. ASM is committed to seeing that all translated New Testaments available in print form are also recorded and made available in audio form. ASM believe that there remains a foundational, essential, unfinished task in world mission today. They believe that that task is to provide the translated Scriptures in audio form for all who cannot read and for ministries among ethnic peoples in multi-lingual settings. ASM began in 1967 as Portable Recording Ministries and changed its name to Audio Scripture Ministries in 1996, and is not affiliated in any way with Audio Scriptures International.
This organization is a nonprofit, contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Audio Scripture Ministries expresses its mission statement as follows:
Audio Scripture Ministries is committed to providing the translated Scriptures in audio that all may hear in their own language.
Our mission directs us to:
- Produce audio recording of the Scripture in each language needed by people groups around the world.
- Make Scripture recordings available in suitable formats for distribution either directly or through various other ministries to non-Christians and Christians whether living in their homelands or elsewhere.
- Encourage the formations of an active, cooperative team effort by all possible organizations, urgently focusing on the goal of providing the Scriptures in audio form wherever needed.
- Encourage and assist overseas ministries by making equipment and technical services available.
- Cooperate with existing local church and mission organizations to encourage and assist follow-up and continued Christian growth of all who respond to God’s Word.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
Audio Scripture Ministries played significant roles in the development and production of hand-powered, solar-powered cassette players. ASM has also played a significant role in assisting missionaries and others to locate audio and other equipment suitable for various ministry locations.
Three of the four regional recording studios brought into existence by PRM (now ASM) are fully independent, and two are completely run by local, national believers. The Africa regional center is completely run by Africans, but corporately affiliated with the US headquarters in Holland, Michigan.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
Audio Scripture Ministries uses the following as their Statement of Faith:
We believe:
- In one God, in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- That all humanity has sinned and thus is separated from God.
- The Bible to be God's only written and imperative message to man: verbally inspired by God, and without error in the original writings.
- In Jesus Christ, who though God Himself, entered into human flesh: conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.
- That Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and man, died for our sins, the sinless for the sinful.
- That Christ arose bodily from the dead, conquering the power of death.
- That all who place their faith in Him are accounted to be upright before God and are born into His Spiritual family by His act of grace and mercy.
- That Christ ascended into heaven where He is our High Priest, and speaks in our defense before God.
- That The Holy Spirit lives in each believer and desires to enable each one to live a life of victory over sin and of service to Christ. That good works are the fruit resulting from, but not counting toward spiritual rebirth and salvation, and are indicative of true repentance and faith.
- In the personal return of Jesus Christ at any moment.
- In the bodily resurrection of believers to eternal life in God's presence and unbelievers to everlasting punishment and separation from God.
- In the command of God through Christ to every Christian that His Gospel must be made known to every living person by every effective means possible.
Audio Scripture Ministries began in 1967 under the direction of Dr. Ronald Beery. Dr. Beery left a teaching position as Physics Professor at Hope College in Holland, Michigan to develop a new technology at that time – cassette players. Then called Portable Recording Ministries, International (PRM), the technical missionary service organization pursued development of players that could be used in remote locations. The players were hand powered, with solar panels and battery backups available. Cooperating with other mission organizations, PRM was able to see the fulfillment of a vision with the manufacturing run of several versions of players. Thousands upon thousands of players have been distributed around the world as a result of this early emphasis. Along with the players, PRM began to enable the recording of translated scriptures by providing support and equipment and training. Regional recording studios were started by PRM in Singapore; Bangalore, India; Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Nairobi, Kenya. PRM also established village listening programs for the distribution of the recorded scriptures.
In 1996, an attempted merger with Audio Scriptures International changed the name of PRM to Audio Scripture Ministries. ASI later withdrew from the merger, but the name, Audio Scripture Ministries has remained.
ASM continues to support overseas regional recording studios. In May, 2000, the board of directors appointed Tom Dudenhofer as executive director. Dr. Beery remains as president and is currently doing research and development for a new "breed" of audio scripture players. ASM is currently seeking to partner with Bible translation efforts to provide scripture in audio for language groups not yet able to read, and to encourage literacy.
This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | |
| Financial Information: | 100 | |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 10/28/2011 11:47:30 AM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Evangelism Support Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 207 of 347 | 22 of 37 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 160 of 347 | 18 of 37 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 170 of 347 | 20 of 37 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 259 of 347 | 23 of 37 |
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2011 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list2010 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list2009 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list
Audio Scripture Ministries listed by MinistryWatch.com as a 2011 Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry.
This ministry is called a ‘Shining Light’ because it is indeed a model of letting their light shine before men, and God is to be glorified in what they are doing. Consequently, we are shining a figurative light on them so that donors may be aware of their good deeds.
Believers are recognizable by their fruit, which includes the services they perform for Him and for others. We see a glimpse of His light and glory in this ministry and if you do too, you should feel very good about giving to it; however, only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan.
Inclusion as a Shining Light does not mean it is perfect. No ministry is perfect and any that look long and hard enough may find areas for improvement; as no doubt most legitimate ministries are aware of areas to improve and have their own to-do list for improvement. As far as MinistryWatch.com’s assessment, given the criteria that we followed, this ministry rose among the top.
Identifying a diversity of the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ. MinistryWatch.com’s assessment looked at the following seven areas when considering those to make the list: (1) Transparency, (2) Truth Claims, (3) Values/ Worldview, (4) Sectors/Functions, (5) Resourcefulness, (6) Red Flag Issues, (7) Counsel with others.
A fuller explanation of our evaluation criteria is on the front page of MinistryWatch.com. As is evident, we looked at many factors and as such, a high Financial Efficiency Rating was not a requirement of inclusion on this list, although most do have good ratings. Many factors were reviewed and strengths in other areas can offset weakness in financial efficiency when determining whether a ministry should be of interest to donors seeking to be good stewards of their giving. A foundational premise was to shine a figurative light on those ministries that were "Christian" more than in name only. Ministries were chosen that were not just marketing to Christians as a market segment for "Christian donor money", but ministries that had theological underpinnings and Biblical values that determined their actions. Organizations that relied more on a secular motivation and means were excluded as well as those “ministries” that seem to view the organization as their own vehicle as a business to make money rather than a love to maximize ministry to others and to let their light shine for the glory of God.
MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. This ministry is an outstanding example when we consider it through the lens of Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.