Word of Life Fellowship 
The information on this page was last updated 9/29/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Word of Life is a non-denominational Christian organization that creates faith-defining experiences that give students and families the opportunity to encounter God and grow in their spiritual walks.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Word of Life Fellowship
PO Box 600
Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Website: wol.org
Phone: 518-494-6000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 135648615
CEO/President: Donald H. Lough Jr.
Chairman: Donald H. Lough Jr.
Board size: 25
Founder: Jack Wyrtzen
Ruling year: 1945
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2012
Purpose
Every young person taking their next step with Jesus.
Mission statement
The mission of Word of Life Fellowship is the evangelization and discipleship of youth through various means consistent with the Holy Scriptures to strengthen and build up the church of Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are verbally inspired of God, and they are without error in the original writings, and they are the supreme and final authority for faith and life.
We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is eternally existent in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, His death to pay the penalty for everyone's sins, His bodily resurrection, His exaltation at God's right hand, and His personal, imminent, pretribulational and premillennial return.
We believe that all have sinned and are therefore guilty before God and are under His condemnation.
We believe that all who by faith receive Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, therefore children of God and eternally saved, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer to enlighten, guide, and enable the believer in life, testimony, and service.
We believe that God answers the prayers of His people and meets their needs according to His purpose.
We believe that God gives spiritual gifts to all believers for the building up of the body of Christ. However, the miraculous sign-gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues and healings, were limited to the early church.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved in Glory and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost in hell.
We believe that all believers are called to a life of separation from all worldly and sinful
practices and alliances.
We believe that from the beginning with Adam and Eve, God ordained marriage as only between one man and one woman. All sexual activity outside of this biblical definition of marriage, including homosexual practices, is in direct contradiction to God's Word and His intention for the institution of the home.
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 880 of 1590 | 23 of 43 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 816 of 1591 | 22 of 43 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 180 of 1591 | 10 of 43 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1549 of 1590 | 40 of 43 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $1,223,482 in government grants in 2025.
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 3% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 69% | 63% | 66% | 76% | 79% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 31% | 37% | 34% | 24% | 21% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 91% | 93% | 92% | 92% | 94% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 86% | 94% | 85% | 74% | 61% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 79% | 87% | 78% | 68% | 57% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 14% | 6% | 15% | 26% | 39% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 6% | 3% | 7% | 14% | 26% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.27 | 0.39 | 0.40 | 0.39 | 0.40 | 0.39 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.47 | 7.09 | 4.29 | 3.27 | 3.05 | 3.59 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.55 | 2.73 | 1.71 | 1.28 | 1.21 | 1.40 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.62 | 4.14 | 7.93 | 9.90 | 15.33 | 17.28 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.24 | 0.13 | 0.10 | 0.07 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.93 | 3.33 | 6.12 | 8.41 | 9.24 | 8.07 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 69% | 249% | 240% | 246% | 244% | 246% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $11,407,748 | $11,894,705 | $14,332,220 | $10,664,949 | $27,927,683 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $4,027,286 | $16,369,655 | $17,910,710 | $11,403,029 | $1,832,415 |
| Short-term investments | $7,718,065 | $7,612,874 | $13,170,690 | $22,862,326 | $3,755,416 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $23,153,099 | $35,877,234 | $45,413,620 | $44,930,304 | $33,515,514 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $140,904,628 | $117,918,618 | $103,090,914 | $92,240,996 | $86,787,716 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $55,000 | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Total long-term assets | $140,904,628 | $117,918,618 | $103,145,914 | $92,295,996 | $86,842,716 |
| Total assets | $164,057,727 | $153,795,852 | $148,559,534 | $137,226,300 | $120,358,230 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,773,328 | $2,875,835 | $3,007,390 | $1,173,967 | $429,093 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,824,374 | $1,646,931 | $1,581,345 | $1,756,600 | $1,510,405 |
| Total current liabilities | $5,597,702 | $4,522,766 | $4,588,735 | $2,930,567 | $1,939,498 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $469,083 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $617,253 | $1,655,661 | $610,001 | $927,584 | $2,330,342 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $617,253 | $1,655,661 | $610,001 | $927,584 | $2,799,425 |
| Total liabilities | $6,214,955 | $6,178,427 | $5,198,736 | $3,858,151 | $4,738,923 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $142,347,363 | $119,553,680 | $105,266,937 | $95,413,432 | $86,791,306 |
| With donor restrictions | $15,495,409 | $28,063,745 | $38,093,861 | $37,954,717 | $28,828,001 |
| Net assets | $157,842,772 | $147,617,425 | $143,360,798 | $133,368,149 | $115,619,307 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $50,942,533 | $41,605,591 | $45,132,968 | $56,136,544 | $61,111,056 |
| Program service revenue | $20,681,442 | $22,085,510 | $20,652,069 | $15,673,048 | $15,310,609 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $597,698 | $662,951 | $1,892,370 | $32,456 | $95,292 |
| Other revenue | $1,165,625 | $1,289,677 | $1,007,922 | $1,925,729 | $506,976 |
| Total other revenue | $22,444,765 | $24,038,138 | $23,552,361 | $17,631,233 | $15,912,877 |
| Total revenue | $73,387,298 | $65,643,729 | $68,685,329 | $73,767,777 | $77,023,933 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $57,789,565 | $56,848,830 | $53,592,677 | $50,298,710 | $43,995,592 |
| Management and general | $2,666,729 | $2,161,653 | $2,153,304 | $2,106,226 | $1,398,650 |
| Fundraising | $2,808,425 | $2,420,493 | $2,516,453 | $2,162,957 | $1,571,121 |
| Total expenses | $63,264,719 | $61,430,976 | $58,262,434 | $54,567,893 | $46,965,363 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $10,122,579 | $4,212,753 | $10,422,895 | $19,199,884 | $30,058,570 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $10,122,579 | $4,212,753 | $10,422,895 | $19,199,884 | $30,058,570 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Lough Jr Donald H | President/Director | $205,531 |
| Stout Kristopher | Director | $134,180 |
| Nelson B John | Director/Treasurer | $81,356 |
| Page John | Director | $78,536 |
| Reimer John | Director | $48,249 |
| Brown Bob G | Director | $25,732 |
| Moser Philip | Director | $2,200 |
| Gnanakan Dr Christopher | Director | $1,000 |
| Moore Ronald D | Director | $1,000 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2025
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 9/29/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Since day one, God has used Word of Life to bring people from all over the world to Himself. When Jack Wyrtzen and Harry Bollback began the ministry of Word of Life, they were committed to engaging their culture with the Gospel. Today, Word of Life remains committed to the purpose of reaching our generation with the Gospel creating opportunities for youth and families to experience their faith, and share the message of salvation with those who have never heard.
From the beginning, it was the vision of Word of Life's founders that we will do what it takes to reach this generation for Jesus Christ. One of those men, Jack Wyrtzen, fully believed that it was his personal responsibility to share the Gospel with the lost. As a result, Word of Life is still committed to teaching and training this generation to reach the world through camp ministry, Bible Institutes, and world wide missions opportunities.
In 1946, Jack and Harry rented a rowboat for fifty cents and rowed over to what is now Word of Life Island for the very first time. They claimed to be "just looking." Though the property itself was in shambles, the pair had a vision for that island that far exceeded anyone's expectation. Jack offered $25,000 (a fifth of the asking price) to the owner, eighty-three-year-old Miss Clark, and she accepted. Since that day, hundreds of thousands of teens have attended camp on Word of Life Island.
In 1970, the first American Bible Institute was opened, following the pattern of the original campus in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Bible Institutes are known for their structured discipleship, world class Bible teachers, and effective ministry among young students. Today, Word of Life has Bible Institutes in 14 countries around the world, each year training thousands of young people to use the Word of God for the Glory of God. God has certainly blessed Word of Life, and the Bible Institute has become a launching ground for students to take the Gospel all around the world.