TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) 
The information on this page was last updated 12/26/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
TEAM is an evangelical, non-denominational, international mission whose mission is to partner with the global Church in sending disciples who make disciples and establish missional churches to the glory of God. TEAM's defining values include: God dependence (being subject to the truth of Scripture); church focus (work is focused on the church from beginning to end); vision (seeing the immediate future in the light of eternity); passionate service (lost people matter to God and to us); lifelong learners (increasing our effectiveness to become what God already knows we can be); caring community (relating to each other in community characterized by unity, trust and acceptance).
Contact information
Mailing address:
The Evangelical Alliance Mission
PO Box 969
Wheaton, IL 60187-0969
Website: www.team.org
Phone: (800) 343-3144
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 362169146
CEO/President: Dave Hall, International Director
Chairman: Janet Stump
Board size: 11
Founder: Fredrik Franson
Ruling year: 1946
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 03/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2005
Purpose
Before the Gospel could sink roots into the soil of an unreached land, someone had to go. Before a doctor could pull a boy's life from the jaws of malaria, someone had to go. Before an orphan could finally feel the warmth of a human embrace, someone had to go.
There are lots of ways to do good. We believe none are as bold and none echo as loudly as God's call on the church to go, to be physically present amid the heartbreak of our world and bring hope. We exist to help the church live out that call.
Our passion is to see God worshipped by all peoples. We partner with churches in North America and throughout the world to send out workers who will work to that end. We work holistically to see churches have a broad impact across societies and cultures, with initiatives in evangelism, education, health, anti-trafficking, community development, agriculture, disaster relief and creation care. All over the world, you will find TEAM workers serving in businesses, orphanages, tribal groups, urban jungles and dusty ranches.
Mobilizing disciples from anywhere to serve everywhere, we focus strategically and collaboratively to plant churches where the most need exists. We employ technology and other material resources to help us be the hands and feet of Christ, but we are unashamedly incarnational, because we believe there is no substitute for real hands and feet on the ground.
However the needs and the strategies change over time, one thing will not. We will go.
Mission statement
Our mission is to partner with the global Church in sending disciples who make disciples and establish missional churches to the glory of God.
Statement of faith
We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith, life and conduct.
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe Jesus Christ, without any change in His eternal deity, became man through conception by the Holy Spirit and virgin birth and that He died on the cross, a perfect and complete sacrifice, in our stead and for our sins according to the Scriptures. He rose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convict of sin and regenerate the sinner upon believing in Christ, at the time of regeneration baptizing the believer into the one body, of which Christ is the head, and to indwell, guide, instruct, fill and empower the believer for godly living and service.
We believe that man was directly created by God in His own image, but fell into sin. The entire human race is, therefore, lost and only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
We believe that the atoning death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground of justification and salvation for all who believe, and that only such as receive Jesus Christ by personal faith are born of the Holy Spirit and by Him are sealed to the day of redemption.
We believe in the personal, imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ and that the hope of His appearing has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting and conscious punishment.
We believe that the Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the head.
We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
We believe that all the saved should live in such manner as will honor and glorify and not bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord, and that it is commanded by God to remain separate from false doctrines and sinful pleasures, practices and associations.
We believe in the existence of angels who worship God and minister to believers. We also believe in the existence of Satan, the devil, a fallen angelic being who, with his demons, opposes God, His people and His work, but over whom Christians can have spiritual victory.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 820 of 1106 | 105 of 144 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 616 of 1107 | 82 of 144 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 540 of 1107 | 68 of 144 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 976 of 1106 | 124 of 144 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 101% | 90% | 86% | 85% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | -1% | 10% | 14% | 15% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 84% | 85% | 84% | 80% | 81% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 119% | 108% | 101% | 103% | 128% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 101% | 91% | 84% | 82% | 103% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | -19% | -8% | -1% | -3% | -28% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -13% | -5% | -1% | -2% | -12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 8% | 10% | 9% | 10% | 13% | 14% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.33 | 0.57 | 0.54 | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.45 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.23 | 1.54 | 1.50 | 1.52 | 1.50 | 1.47 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.02 | 0.88 | 0.80 | 0.74 | 0.71 | 0.66 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 19.87 | 13.10 | 14.50 | 18.39 | 17.59 | 17.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.62 | 12.55 | 13.88 | 15.42 | 15.85 | 17.22 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 32% | 26% | 23% | 23% | 17% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 67% | 119% | 139% | 159% | 162% | 186% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $6,200,000 | $6,217,000 | $7,506,000 | $6,051,000 | $6,769,000 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $73,000 | $32,000 | $43,000 |
| Short-term investments | $41,602,000 | $47,194,000 | $47,914,000 | $49,670,000 | $49,979,000 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $47,802,000 | $53,411,000 | $55,493,000 | $55,753,000 | $56,791,000 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $22,563,000 | $23,109,000 | $24,176,000 | $23,312,000 | $22,218,000 |
| Other long-term assets | $3,365,000 | $3,821,000 | $4,638,000 | $4,580,000 | $4,262,000 |
| Total long-term assets | $25,928,000 | $26,930,000 | $28,814,000 | $27,892,000 | $26,480,000 |
| Total assets | $73,730,000 | $80,341,000 | $84,307,000 | $83,645,000 | $83,271,000 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,956,000 | $1,812,000 | $1,042,000 | $1,106,000 | $1,182,000 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,692,000 | $1,872,000 | $1,975,000 | $2,064,000 | $2,159,000 |
| Total current liabilities | $3,648,000 | $3,684,000 | $3,017,000 | $3,170,000 | $3,341,000 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $19,709,000 | $17,106,000 | $16,223,000 | $16,081,000 | $10,698,000 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $19,709,000 | $17,106,000 | $16,223,000 | $16,081,000 | $10,698,000 |
| Total liabilities | $23,357,000 | $20,790,000 | $19,240,000 | $19,251,000 | $14,039,000 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $36,251,000 | $45,232,000 | $46,352,000 | $44,574,000 | $51,878,000 |
| With donor restrictions | $14,122,000 | $14,319,000 | $18,715,000 | $19,820,000 | $18,004,000 |
| Net assets | $50,373,000 | $59,551,000 | $65,067,000 | $64,394,000 | $69,232,000 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $36,001,000 | $36,082,000 | $34,888,000 | $32,749,000 | $28,875,000 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($527,000) | $3,870,000 | $5,551,000 | $5,998,000 | $194,000 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | ($527,000) | $3,870,000 | $5,551,000 | $5,998,000 | $194,000 |
| Total revenue | $35,474,000 | $39,952,000 | $40,439,000 | $38,747,000 | $29,069,000 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $35,671,000 | $36,420,000 | $34,118,000 | $31,964,000 | $30,079,000 |
| Management and general | $4,302,000 | $3,827,000 | $4,041,000 | $5,051,000 | $5,345,000 |
| Fundraising | $2,243,000 | $2,747,000 | $2,688,000 | $2,784,000 | $1,815,000 |
| Total expenses | $42,216,000 | $42,994,000 | $40,847,000 | $39,799,000 | $37,239,000 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($6,742,000) | ($3,042,000) | ($408,000) | ($1,052,000) | ($8,170,000) |
| Other changes in net assets | ($2,436,000) | ($2,040,000) | $1,081,000 | ($4,436,000) | ($1,048,000) |
| Total change in net assets | ($9,178,000) | ($5,082,000) | $673,000 | ($5,488,000) | ($9,218,000) |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 12/26/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
At the dawn of the 20th century, Christians in the West were awakening to the need to share the Gospel with a rapidly multiplying global population. In December 1889, renowned missionary statesman Hudson Taylor called for 1,000 missionaries to go to China and share Christ with its 250 million people.
Fredrik Franson, a respected evangelist and son of Swedish immigrants to Nebraska, felt stirred to answer that call. He had been commissioned as a missionary by D.L. Moody's church in Chicago and was serving in Europe at the time of Hudson's rallying cry. Franson committed to personally train and send 100 missionaries to China. He formed six missions agencies in Europe, all of which continue sending missionaries to this day.
Franson believed that America should become a base for sending missionaries, so he sailed for New York in September 1890. He began speaking at churches and offering classes to mobilize and train missionaries around the country. His first training class on October 14, 1890, held at the Pilgrim Church in Brooklyn, New York, was attended by 50 men and women. This is considered the "birthday" of TEAM.
TEAM began under the name Scandinavian Alliance Mission, or S.A.M. In January of 1891, the first band of 35 missionaries set sail for China. Within five years, nearly 100 S.A.M. missionaries were serving in China, Japan, North India, South Africa, East Africa, Swaziland and Mongolia.
Following Franson's death in 1908, the mission continued to expand into Latin America and thrive in Africa and Asia. The mission eventually found a new director in T.J. Bach, a pioneering missionary who had helped plant vibrant churches in Venezuela and Colombia.
Bach's leadership increased awareness of the mission among a broad and diverse network of churches across the country. Under his vision, the mission dramatically strengthened support services for its missionaries and established new headquarters in downtown Chicago, which would eventually be relocated to Carol Stream, Illinois.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the Great Depression and devastating wars across the globe tested the mission's resolve, as well as the safety of missionaries serving in hot zones in Asia. But following World War II, the ministry grew rapidly as wartime experiences fueled passions to serve overseas and provided new missionaries with the skills to do it.
By the middle of the century, new fields had opened in Europe, Africa and Asia, and Canadians established a sister ministry that would soon become TEAM Canada.
In 1949, the Scandinavian Alliance Mission changed its name to become The Evangelical Alliance Mission, or TEAM, a better reflection of its broad scope of ministries and missionaries.
"We are workers together with Him, to the uttermost part of the earth," said then director David Johnson. "In the home office, on the fields, among the churches and the individuals who support us, we are a team - and it's going to take real teamwork to get the job done."
In the decades following the name change, TEAM added hundreds of missionaries to its ranks and expanded its work to over 35 countries, giving it a presence on six continents. TEAM opened major initiatives in the Arab world and developed specialized ministries such as hospitals, Bible institutes, orphanages, publications, linguistic work and children's education to support its overall mission of church planting.
TEAM grew both organically and through mergers with other missions. By the beginning of the 21st century, it had also renewed its focus on post-Christian regions of Europe and Central America. TEAM workers celebrated as the mission's vision came full-circle when they began working for the first time in Sweden, homeland of founder Fredrik Franson.
Today, in a rapidly changing missions context both in the United States and abroad, TEAM and its network of over 2,000 churches continues to explore new fields for missionary work and innovative new ways to serve. Dave Hall serves as TEAM's international director, overseeing more than 550 missionaries, and a diverse team of staff and mobilizers located in TEAM missions hubs around the United States and Canada.