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Herald of Truth

Rating
Sector:

Educational Media

Total
Revenue:

$2,160,624

Total
Expenses:

$1,701,321

Net
Assets:

$1,600,325
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Profile Contents

Research Analysis
Financial Information

Ministry Pie Chart

Ministry Pie Chart

Age Size Box:

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

Summary

Herald of Truth ("HOT") is a media ministry of the Highland Church of Christ. It aspires to bring the hope and promise of Jesus Christ to the world. HOT produces and distributes television programming, radio broadcasts, and printed material. It also provides local churches with printed and electronic media designed to reach local communities with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Herald of Truth’s outreaches include Hope For Life's Journey, a TV program that reaches Russia, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba. HOT also carries a family ministry that produces and distributes Christ-centered literature to help families with real life problems. Herald of Truth is overseen by the elders of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. This ministry is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Mailing Address:3444 N First Suite 400 PO Box 2439
Abilene, TX
79603-9603
Website: www.heraldoftruth.org
Phone:(325) 698-4370, (800) 234-7995
Email:You need to enable javascript to see the email

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

EIN: 752255925
CEO/President: Mr. Steve Thomas Tax Deductible: Yes
Chairman: Mr. Vince Swinney Fiscal Year End: December 31
Board Size: 7 Financial info from:
Founder: Member of ECFA: Yes
Year Founded: 1952 Member of ECFA since: 2000

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Herald of Truth ("HOT") is a media ministry of the Highland Church of Christ. It aspires to bring the hope and promise of Jesus Christ to the world. HOT produces and distributes television programming, radio broadcasts, and printed material. It also provides local churches with printed and electronic media designed to reach local communities with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Herald of Truth’s outreaches include Hope For Life's Journey, a TV program that reaches Russia, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba. HOT also carries a family ministry that produces and distributes Christ-centered literature to help families with real life problems.

Herald of Truth is overseen by the elders of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Herald of Truth describes its mission as follows:

To bring the hope and promise of Jesus Christ to the world.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Need Program Accomoplishments info

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

This profile needs a statement of faith

History [ Back to top ]

The Herald of Truth is an arm of the Highland Church of Christ, founded in 1903. The Highland Church carried on a variety of ministries during its early days, primarily focused on the local congregation.

In 1952, James Walter Nichols and James Willeford came to the elders with an idea. They envisioned a nation-wide radio program that would present the Word of God. They called their program Herald of Truth. The Highland elders were hesitant at first, but with the support of the membership and some men who personally underwrote the first expenses, Herald of Truth was born. Initially, James Walter Nichols was the featured speaker, often addressing the airways with a live telecast. The lessons were recorded on 78rpm records and sent to other radio stations for broadcasting.

During the early years, the Highland elders often came under fire by those who did not approve of cooperation between autonomous churches of Christ. These attacks precipitated the infamous Harper-Tant debates in Abilene and Lufkin, with Brother Harper, Highland's pulpit preacher, defending the Highland elders and Herald of Truth. In spite of these attacks, Herald of Truth was welcomed across the country.

Around 1971 the elders decided that the church would concentrate its mission efforts with the Herald of Truth in Spain, Portugal, and Mexico. Since the 1940s the church had supported as many as 14 different mission points around the world, mostly in Africa, the Far East, and Europe. In the United States of America, it supported rural churches in Utah and an evangelist with a mobile pulpit in New Jersey. Currently, the Herald of Truth continues to serve as an outreach through television, radio, magazines, and conferences.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

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 : B
Criteria categoryGradeOther Comments
Timeliness:7011/16/2011 8:50:58 AM: Organization made financial information available greater than 7 ½ months.
Financial Information:100
Foundational Clarity:
Level of Cooperation:
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

This ministry has not been rated

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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:

Financials[ Back to top ]

Balance Sheet
Assets20042003200220012000
Cash$906,911$512,916$336,826$371,981$376,469
Receivables, Inventories & Prepaids$9,974$91,871$34,444$50,391$234,765
Short-Term Investments$2,660,735$2,701,542$3,126,763$3,987,510$4,340,459
Other Current Assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total Current Assets$3,577,620$3,306,329$3,498,033$4,409,882$4,951,693
Long-Term Investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed Assets$67,321$295,457$345,763$407,126$466,247
Other Long-Term Assets$2,579$117,791$101,777$85,291$48,538
Total Long-Term Assets$69,900$413,248$447,540$492,417$514,785
TOTAL ASSETS$3,647,520$3,719,577$3,945,573$4,902,299$5,466,478
Liabilities20042003200220012000
Payables & Accrued Expenses$62,530$83,914$67,066$67,474$85,396
Other Current Liabilities$1,984,665$2,493,641$3,131,612$3,336,182$3,405,543
Total Current Liabilities$2,047,195$2,577,555$3,198,678$3,403,656$3,490,939
Debt$0$0$0$0$0
Due To (From) Affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other Long-Term Liabilities$0$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000
Total Long-Term Liabilities$0$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES$2,047,195$2,578,555$3,199,678$3,404,656$3,491,939
Assets20042003200220012000
Unrestricted$927,402$481,580($5,639)$684,361$1,207,628
Temporarily Restricted$570,881$557,400$649,492$711,240$766,911
Permanently Restricted$102,042$102,042$102,042$102,042$0
NET ASSETS$1,600,325$1,141,022$745,895$1,497,643$1,974,539
Revenue and Expenses
Revenue20042003200220012000
Total Contributions$1,516,319$1,634,151$1,277,613$1,881,403$1,977,902
Program Service Revenue$26,926$0$0$0$0
Membership Dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment Income$291,102$250,842($302,325)($245,953)$68,778
Other Revenue$326,277$177,393$106,602$152,737$122,194
Total Other Revenue$644,305$428,235($195,723)($93,216)$190,972
TOTAL REVENUE$2,160,624$2,062,386$1,081,890$1,788,187$2,168,874
Expenses20042003200220012000
Program Services$1,003,005$847,837$1,077,271$1,379,563$1,812,172
Management & General$348,826$412,629$413,480$429,995$592,844
Fundraising$349,490$406,794$340,485$500,618$477,029
TOTAL EXPENSES$1,701,321$1,667,260$1,831,236$2,310,176$2,882,045
Change in Net Assets20042003200220012000
SURPLUS (DEFICIT)$459,303$395,126($749,346)($521,989)($713,171)
Other Changes in Net Assets$0$0($2,402)$45,093($70,998)
TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS$459,303$395,126($751,748)($476,896)($784,169)