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Bible League

Rating
Sector:

Foreign Missions

Total
Revenue:

$40,657,000

Total
Expenses:

$39,616,000

Net
Assets:

$17,746,000

Profile Changes

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Profile Contents

Research Analysis
Financial Information

Ministry Pie Chart

Database Avg This Ministry
Program 81.8% 74.6%
General & Admin 12.5% 8.1%
Fundraising 6.2% 14.8%
Savings -.5% 2.5%


Ministry Pie Chart

Ministry Pie Chart

Age Size Box:

>50
Yr(s)25-50
<25
<$1m$1m-
$5m
>$5m

Summary

Bible League's ministry goes beyond providing the Scriptures people need. They make sure those Scriptures are used for evangelism, discipleship, and church growth.

The Bible League and its partners are called by God to provide Scriptures and training worldwide, so that people prepared by the Holy Spirit will be brought into fellowship with Christ and His Church. Bible League partners currently provide Scriptures and training in more than 55 countries.

They accomplish the ministry to which God has called them by:

    1. Providing the Word of God and Bible study materials; training local Christians who use God’s Word to grow God’s family in number and in spiritual maturity.
    2. Coming alongside local churches who have a passion for the lost; equipping their leaders with Scriptures and training to establish new churches in areas where there are none.
    3. Strengthening the faith of persecuted Christians; placing God’s Word into the hands of those who often have no other source of spiritual nourishment.
    4. Introducing Christ to people unreached by the Gospel; using God’s Word in the heart languages of the unreached, churches fulfill Christ’s command to make disciples among all people.

Contributions to Bible League are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 28000 3801 Eagle Nest Drive Crete IL 60417
Chicago, IL
60628-0628
Website: www.BibleLeague.org
Phone:(866) 825-4636, (708) 367-8500
Email:You need to enable javascript to see the email

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

EIN: 362037761
CEO/President: Mr. Robert W. Cole Tax Deductible: Yes
Chairman: Mr. James K. Van Drunen Fiscal Year End: August 31
Board Size: 18 Financial info from: 990
Founder: William & Betty Chapman Member of ECFA: Yes
Year Founded: 1938 Member of ECFA since: 1980

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Bible League's ministry goes beyond providing the Scriptures people need. They make sure those Scriptures are used for evangelism, discipleship, and church growth.

The Bible League and its partners are called by God to provide Scriptures and training worldwide, so that people prepared by the Holy Spirit will be brought into fellowship with Christ and His Church. Bible League partners currently provide Scriptures and training in more than 55 countries.

They accomplish the ministry to which God has called them by:

    1. Providing the Word of God and Bible study materials; training local Christians who use God’s Word to grow God’s family in number and in spiritual maturity.
    2. Coming alongside local churches who have a passion for the lost; equipping their leaders with Scriptures and training to establish new churches in areas where there are none.
    3. Strengthening the faith of persecuted Christians; placing God’s Word into the hands of those who often have no other source of spiritual nourishment.
    4. Introducing Christ to people unreached by the Gospel; using God’s Word in the heart languages of the unreached, churches fulfill Christ’s command to make disciples among all people.

Contributions to Bible League are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

The Bible League uses the following to communicate its mission:

The Bible League is mission-minded:

We are called by God to provide Scriptures and training worldwide, so that people prepared by the Holy Spirit will be brought into fellowship with Christ and His Church.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

The Bible League communicates its accomplishments as follows:

The Bible is powerful. When trained Christians in local churches share it, God can transform lives, communities, even whole nations. Each year, as a praise report to God, Bible League ministry partners around the world make a specific count of the impact of His Word to the best of their abilities. In 2005, ministry partners in more that 55 countries submitted thousands of reports. Bible League-trained Christians raise their “Hallelujahs” with the 2005 ministry results, which reflect the impact of God’s Word on lives changed for eternity:

  • 3,354,265 Bible Study Completions (a 26 percent increase over 2004)
  • 318, 602 Bible Study Groups (a 31 percent increase over 2004)
  • 468,338 New Church Members/Baptisms (a 23 percent increase over 2004)
  • 5,521 New Churches Established (a 36 percent increase over 2004)

Because the Bible League is called by God to be a good steward of His resources, we are accountable to both God and man. The Bible League is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). The Bible League is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals, Christian Service Charities, and the Forum of Bible Agencies, among others.

The Bible League is a nonprofit organization, and contributions to it are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

The Bible League adheres to the statement of faith established by the National Association of Evangelicals:

  1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
  5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
  6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
  7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

History [ Back to top ]

An Ordinary Christian
William “Bill” Chapman, a Chicago area businessman, was seriously ill in1936. An elder of his church visited him in the hospital and prayed for God to spare Bill’s life, and to give him a new kind of life serving God’s kingdom. Bill thought deeply about the prayer. He believed in God, but wondered how an ordinary believer like him could be used by God for His kingdom.

A Mission Begins
Bill recovered, slowly. While recuperating, he went on vacation and noticed a Gideon Bible placed in the nightstand of his hotel room. It struck him that if every hotel room in America was supplied with a Bible, why shouldn’t every home in America have the same privilege? Bill took the elder’s prayer to heart, dedicating his life to God’s work.

A Bible for Every Home
Gradually, the idea that every home should have a Bible became his calling, and Bill asked his wife to join him in his crusade. Armed with a supply of 1,000 Bibles he bought with his own savings, he began his Bible placement ministry in Walkerton, Indiana in 1938. The Chapmans personally canvassed that neighborhood one afternoon and found 45 families who did not own a Bible. After eliciting a promise that the Book would in fact be read, the Chapmans joyfully gave each of these families a Bible of their very own. God’s Word in ordinary hands produced an extraordinary result.

The Bible League Today
As in Chapman’s day, the Bible League remains committed to bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ through God’s Word and through partnership with local churches. But today’s Bible League is focused on that task primarily in an international setting. Hundreds of Bible League staff provide Scriptures and discipleship training to hundreds of thousands of volunteers in local churches.

The Bible League’s unique ministry combines evangelism with discipleship. Just as a successful harvest depends on sunlight and water, reaping spiritual fruit requires both evangelism and discipleship. The Bible League provides ordinary, committed Christians around the world with the life-changing Word of God and training they need to spread the Good News effectively.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

The Bible League communicates its needs as follows:

Though the Bible League places millions of Scriptures around the world each year, there is still an overwhelming need for more Bibles. Many Christians around the world are among those who don’t have Bibles—to read themselves or to share with others. In Africa alone, an estimated 200 million Christians still don’t have God’s Word! Cults, Islamic influence, and indigenous religious practices threaten to lure Bible-less believers away.

Without Bibles, many others may never come to know Jesus. Unfortunately, the Bible League is forced to turn down almost two-thirds of all requests for Scriptures because of limited funding. Donors can place a whole Bible—including printing, shipment, training, and placement—for the average worldwide cost of $4.00. The average worldwide cost of a New Testament is $1.50.

Additional Ministry Opportunities to Meet the Needs

  • Children Caring for Children – Teaches your elementary school age kids about children in other cultures while they experience the joy of giving.
  • Recycle Your Bible – The Bible League sends your extra Bibles to English-speaking people who need them.
  • Persecuted Church Awareness Kit – Christians around the world are persecuted for their faith every day. The Bible League’s persecuted Church program increases awareness for the plight of the persecuted.
  • Monthly Partners – Share the Bible League’s vision to take God’s Word to people around the world. Pray regularly for this ministry, and support it with the financial blessings God has given you. Designate your monthly gift to wherever it’s needed most, or to a country where believers currently experience persecution. Send God’s Word in Action.
  • Ministry Volunteers – How will you serve? Prayerfully consider a variety of volunteer opportunities. Is God calling you to deliver Bibles into China . . . work in a Bible League Thrift Center . . . represent the Bible League within your church? Contact the Bible League to learn more about these and other volunteer opportunities.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

Transparency Grade of : A
Criteria categoryGradeOther Comments
Timeliness:1009/18/2006 10:11:59 AM: Organization made financial information available less than 5 ½ months after their fiscal year end.
Financial Information:1009/18/2006 10:13:48 AM: Organization provided all financial information requested. Information was clear and thorough.
Foundational Clarity:1009/18/2006 10:13:01 AM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough.
Level of Cooperation:1009/18/2006 10:13:09 AM: Answers to questions were thorough.
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking CategoryRatingOverall RankForeign Missions Sector
Overall Efficiency RatingStarStar261 of 352    45 of 54
Fund Acquisition DecisionStar332 of 352      52 of 54
Resource Allocation DecisionStarStar263 of 352      45 of 54
Asset Utilization DecisionStarStarStarStar115 of 352      24 of 54
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Ministry Statement or Response [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with an official statement or response for their profile. This area is meant as a mechanism for the profiled ministry to communicate anything they may choose. It is open ended as to the topic, issues, facts or news to address. It is not negative if there is no official statement as many don’t have anything to add than what is already on the profile. This section is not tied to transparency or to communication in general. Many very open and talkative ministries with us choose not to post an official statement. This section is just an open ended offering to the profiled ministry for anything extra to say as they may choose.

Financial Information:

Financial Ratios[ Back to top ]

Funding RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Return on FR Efforts9%18%19%17%19%0%
Fundraising Cost Ratio6%15%16%14%16%0%
Contributions Reliance83%83%82%85%83%0%
Fundraising Expense Ratio6%15%16%15%16%0%
Other Revenue Reliance17%17%18%15%17%0%
Operating RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Program Expense Ratio81%77%76%77%76%0%
Spending Ratio100%97%100%95%102%0%
Program Output Ratio82%75%76%72%77%0%
Savings Ratio0%3%0%5%-2%0%
Reserve Accumulation Rate3%6%0%15%-4%0%
General & Admin Ratio12%8%8%8%8%0%
Investing RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Total Asset Turnover2.6x2.03x2.14x2.09x2.18x0x
Degree of L-T Investment2.93x2.58x2.91x3.17x4.62x0x
Current Asset Turnover4.81x5.23x6.24x6.63x10.07x0x
Age of Assets9.7yr(s)8.3yr(s)6.2yr(s)5.2yr(s)4.7yr(s)0.0yr(s)
Liquidity RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Current Ratio121.37x5.54x5.14x6.68x4.53x0x
Current Liabilities Ratio.31x.18x.19x.15x.22x0x
Liquid Reserve Level5.76x1.88x1.55x1.54x.93x0x
Solvency RatiosDatabase Average20082007200620052004
Liabilities Ratio.23x.09x.12x.13x.17x0x
Debt Ratio.06x.02x.05x.08x.12x0x
Reserve Coverage Ratio87%43%41%39%39%0%

Financials[ Back to top ]

Balance Sheet
Assets20082007200620052004
Cash$5,745,000$4,400,000$4,652,000$1,537,000$2,010,000
Receivables, Inventories & Prepaids$1,824,000$1,875,000$1,193,000$2,081,000$1,869,000
Short-Term Investments$0$0$0$0$0
Total Current Assets$7,570,000$6,275,000$5,845,000$3,618,000$3,880,000
Long-Term Investments$752,000$214,000$244,000$258,000$244,000
Fixed Assets$11,233,000$11,783,000$12,448,000$12,833,000$13,422,000
Other Long-Term Assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total Long-Term Assets$11,986,000$11,998,000$12,693,000$13,092,000$13,667,000
TOTAL ASSETS$19,556,000$18,274,000$18,539,000$16,710,000$17,547,000
Liabilities20082007200620052004
Payables & Accrued Expenses$1,366,000$1,220,000$875,000$798,000$600,000
Other Current Liabilities$0$0$0$0$0
Total Current Liabilities$1,366,000$1,220,000$875,000$798,000$600,000
Debt$443,000$883,000$1,564,000$2,041,000$2,470,000
Other Long-Term Liabilities$0$0$0$0$0
Total Long-Term Liabilities$443,000$883,000$1,564,000$2,041,000$2,470,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES$1,809,000$2,104,000$2,439,000$2,839,000$3,071,000
Assets20082007200620052004
Unrestricted$14,832,000$13,442,000$12,933,000$11,890,000$10,278,000
Temporarily Restricted$2,913,000$2,727,000$3,166,000$1,980,000$4,198,000
Permanently Restricted$0$0$0$0$0
NET ASSETS$17,746,000$16,170,000$16,099,000$13,871,000$14,476,000
Revenue and Expenses
Revenue20082007200620052004
Total Contributions$33,714,000$32,363,000$34,706,000$29,914,000$28,345,000
Program Service Revenue$6,745,000$6,561,000$6,154,000$5,835,000$5,370,000
Membership Dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment Income$197,000$328,000$143,000$92,000$82,000
Other Revenue$0$0$0$0$0
Total Other Revenue$6,942,000$6,890,000$6,297,000$5,927,000$5,453,000
TOTAL REVENUE$40,657,000$39,253,000$41,004,000$35,842,000$33,798,000
Expenses20082007200620052004
Program Services$30,334,000$29,801,000$29,700,000$27,579,000$25,262,000
Management & General$3,226,000$3,241,000$3,189,000$3,063,000$2,835,000
Fundraising$6,055,000$6,140,000$5,886,000$5,804,000$5,665,000
TOTAL EXPENSES$39,616,000$39,182,000$38,776,000$36,447,000$33,763,000
Change in Net Assets20082007200620052004
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)$1,041,000$70,000$2,228,000($604,000)$35,000
Other Changes in Net Assets$534,000$0$0$0$0
TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS$1,576,000$70,000$2,228,000($604,000)$35,000

Functional Expenses [ Back to top ]

Funding Ratios20082007200620052004
Grants & Allocations$633,000$760,000$0$0$0
Specific Assistance to Individuals$0$0$0$0$0
Benefits Paid To or For Members$0$0$0$0$0
Compensation of Officers, Directors$727,000$670,000$631,000$503,000$477,000
Other Salaries, Wages$5,388,000$5,859,000$5,861,000$6,315,000$8,569,000
Pension Plan Contributions$508,000$517,000$509,000$505,000$500,000
Other Employee Benefits$1,049,000$1,119,000$1,201,000$921,000$913,000
Payroll Taxes$422,000$427,000$410,000$403,000$384,000
Professional Fundraising Fees$117,000$119,000$0$0$0
Accounting Fees$56,000$75,000$31,000$32,000$37,000
Legal Fees$0$0$0$0$0
Supplies$268,000$229,000$325,000$249,000$156,000
Telephone$0$134,000$140,000$0$0
Postage & Shipping$1,003,000$959,000$953,000$1,159,000$921,000
Occupancy$289,000$518,000$320,000$670,000$696,000
Equipment Rental & Maintenance$714,000$543,000$497,000$591,000$214,000
Printing & Publications$11,329,000$11,256,000$12,073,000$10,369,000$9,811,000
Travel$864,000$597,000$624,000$669,000$4,157,000
Conferences, Conventions & Meetings$0$0$0$0$574,000
Interest$0$0$0$0$85,000
Depreciation, Depletion etc.$634,000$780,000$816,000$746,000$824,000
Other Expenses$15,610,000$14,611,000$14,378,000$13,310,000$5,437,000
TOTAL NATURAL EXPENSES$39,616,000$39,182,000$38,776,000$36,447,000$33,763,000