Jewish Voice Ministries International 
The information on this page was last updated 5/31/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Jewish Voice Ministries International is dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) to the Jew first and also to the Nations throughout the world. The Good News is proclaimed through television, media, international festival outreaches & medical clinics/humanitarian aid. This is followed by planting new, and strengthening existing congregations, to nurture and disciple new believers. They also partner with other ministries to establish and operate Messianic Jewish Bible Institutes(MJBI) to equip leadership for Jewish ministry.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Jewish Voice Ministries International
PO Box 31998
Phoenix, AZ 85046-1998
Website: jewishvoice.org
Phone: (602) 971-8501
Email: jewishvoice.org/contact-us
Organization details
EIN: 860217838
CEO/President: Rabbi Jonathan Bernis
Chairman: James Blackburn
Board size: 7
Founder: Evangelist Louis Kaplan
Ruling year: 1969
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2001
Purpose
Jewish Voice Ministries International ("JVMI") is seizing the opportunity of openness in Russia and Eastern Europe to present the Gospel to the Jewish people there. Their primary activities are street evangelism and Messianic Outreach Festivals, where the love of God is demonstrated creatively. JVMI follows up these activities by planting congregations to nurture and disciple new believers. JVMI established a Messianic Bible School in St. Petersburg to develop Russian leadership. They also have a TV program that focuses on the roots of the New Testament Faith, Biblical Prophecy, and Israel. They also give medical aid to Jewish communities in Ethiopia and India.
Mission statement
Jewish Voice exists to transform lives and see all Israel saved.
Our mission is to:
Proclaim the Gospel to the Jew First
Grow the Messianic Jewish community
Engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people
We carry out this mission through a many-faceted ministry that includes humanitarian medical outreaches, large-scale international festivals, congregation planting and leadership training, television, print media, digital channels, and speaking engagements.
Statement of faith
The Bible
We believe the Bible, composed of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah (New Testament), is the only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:15-17, Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19-21, Hebrews 4:2, Ephesians 6:17
God Is One
We believe God is One (echad), as declared in the Shema, the core Jewish prayer drawn from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. The word echad means "a united one" or "compound unity"; this compound unity is eternally existent in three co-equal, indivisible persons - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 48:16-17, 1 John 5:7-13
Yeshua (Jesus) is God
We believe that Jesus is the Messiah (Yeshua HaMashiach), God Himself in the form of man. We believe He was miraculously born from a virgin as Scripture prophesied, and that His virgin birth was to be a sign to Israel of His Messiahship.
Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 1:22-23
Jesus' Miraculous Life
We believe Yeshua demonstrated his Messiahship through many miracles during his earthly ministry - and that He continues to do miracles for that same purpose today. We believe in His bodily resurrection, His future return for His followers, both living and dead, and the future establishment of His reign on Earth.
Isaiah 53:8-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 9:6-7, 1 Corinthians 11:26, Zechariah 12:6-10, Zechariah 14:16-21
Forgiven by God's Grace
We believe in Yeshua's sacrificial death as our atonement. We believe that the only means of being forgiven of our sin is through the mercy and unearned, undeserved favor of our loving heavenly Father. We believe that individual salvation comes solely through by faith in the shed blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of God who paid the price for our sin through His perfect life and self-giving death.
Leviticus 17:11, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 1:17, Habakkuk 2:4,John 3:3, Hebrews 11:6,Genesis 15:6
Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit)
We believe that the Ruach HaKodesh dwells within Believers, convicting, comforting, teaching and empowering Believers to live a life pleasing to God.
Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 14:15-17, Galatians 5:13-25
Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; the saved to everlasting life and the lost to eternal separation from God and a state of everlasting punishment.
Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:46, Psalm 69:28, Revelation 20:12-15
Jewish Heritage
We believe the Jews according to the flesh (descendants of Abraham through Isaac, whether through the blood line of the mother or the father) who place their faith in Israel's Messiah Yeshua have not disowned or separated themselves from their race and Judaic heritage, but remain sons and daughters of Israel. Gentiles who place their faith in Israel's Messiah Yeshua also become spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham.
Galatians 3:28-29, Romans 2:28-29, Genesis 15:6
Jewish Followers of Yeshua
We believe Jewish followers of Yeshua are called to maintain their Jewish biblical heritage and remain part of the Jewish people in addition to functioning as part of the universal body of Believers, the Church. This is part of our identity and a witness to the faithfulness of God.
Romans 3:1-4, 1 Corinthians 7:17-20, Acts 21:20-24
New Covenant Body of Believers
We believe the New Covenant body of Believers consists of both Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) as the promised Redeemer. We believe that the "middle wall of partition," which in times past separated Jews and Gentiles, has been demolished and the enmity between them is eliminated by the Messiah Yeshua.
Ephesians 2:12-14, Acts 10:34, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Hebrews 10:25, Ephesians 3:6, 10-12
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 | | 1099 of 1106 | 144 of 144 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1070 of 1107 | 137 of 144 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1059 of 1107 | 139 of 144 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 951 of 1106 | 117 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% | 20% | 23% | 20% | 19% | 17% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 19% | 21% | 18% | 16% | 15% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 92% | 90% | 92% | 85% | 92% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 23% | 23% | 18% | 18% | 17% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 15% | 8% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 64% | 65% | 71% | 71% | 71% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 80% | 91% | 101% | 89% | 90% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 51% | 59% | 71% | 63% | 64% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 20% | 9% | -1% | 11% | 10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 9% | 4% | -1% | 6% | 6% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 8% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 11% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.33 | 0.35 | 0.45 | 0.56 | 0.48 | 0.52 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.23 | 1.14 | 1.17 | 1.22 | 1.23 | 1.19 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.02 | 0.40 | 0.52 | 0.69 | 0.59 | 0.62 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 19.87 | 23.96 | 33.64 | 35.00 | 39.60 | 22.86 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.62 | 28.45 | 22.26 | 16.96 | 19.69 | 18.49 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 4% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 67% | 270% | 218% | 173% | 202% | 184% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $19,702,181 | $9,992,914 | $9,204,518 | $13,199,482 | $11,118,492 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,735,072 | $3,497,269 | $3,371,018 | $4,471,200 | $3,835,327 |
| Short-term investments | $47,043,306 | $42,375,144 | $33,291,814 | $30,247,124 | $30,623,385 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $69,480,559 | $55,865,327 | $45,867,350 | $47,917,806 | $45,577,204 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $5,368,867 | $5,900,035 | $6,478,994 | $7,036,575 | $7,349,469 |
| Other long-term assets | $4,643,699 | $3,723,540 | $3,655,292 | $3,760,447 | $1,112,759 |
| Total long-term assets | $10,012,566 | $9,623,575 | $10,134,286 | $10,797,022 | $8,462,228 |
| Total assets | $79,493,125 | $65,488,902 | $56,001,636 | $58,714,828 | $54,039,432 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $2,861,275 | $1,609,374 | $1,179,604 | $1,137,911 | $1,701,561 |
| Other current liabilities | $38,326 | $51,239 | $130,904 | $72,073 | $292,131 |
| Total current liabilities | $2,899,601 | $1,660,613 | $1,310,508 | $1,209,984 | $1,993,692 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $894,610 | $17,995 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $894,610 | $17,995 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $3,794,211 | $1,678,608 | $1,310,508 | $1,209,984 | $1,993,692 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $70,682,604 | $59,582,838 | $50,970,720 | $52,529,815 | $48,444,810 |
| With donor restrictions | $5,016,310 | $4,227,456 | $3,720,408 | $4,975,029 | $3,600,930 |
| Net assets | $75,698,914 | $63,810,294 | $54,691,128 | $57,504,844 | $52,045,740 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $32,512,525 | $28,848,125 | $28,662,897 | $27,357,677 | $28,915,204 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,929,725 | $2,021,770 | $1,345,662 | $2,870,404 | $1,529,012 |
| Other revenue | $772,813 | $1,197,827 | $1,192,189 | $1,907,285 | $1,093,797 |
| Total other revenue | $2,702,538 | $3,219,597 | $2,537,851 | $4,777,689 | $2,622,809 |
| Total revenue | $35,215,063 | $32,067,722 | $31,200,748 | $32,135,366 | $31,538,013 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $17,932,564 | $19,003,204 | $22,241,087 | $20,154,854 | $20,183,138 |
| Management and general | $3,575,668 | $3,478,025 | $3,695,325 | $3,067,677 | $3,269,227 |
| Fundraising | $6,576,438 | $6,740,305 | $5,594,337 | $5,241,896 | $4,836,730 |
| Total expenses | $28,084,670 | $29,221,534 | $31,530,749 | $28,464,427 | $28,289,095 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $7,130,393 | $2,846,188 | ($330,001) | $3,670,939 | $3,248,918 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $7,130,393 | $2,846,188 | ($330,001) | $3,670,939 | $3,248,918 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Jonathan Bernis | President and CEO | $334,168 |
| Kent Shoot | Chief Financial Officer | $146,955 |
| Michael McClellan Thru 123120 | Vice President Global Outreach (thru 12/31/20) | $144,154 |
| Ellen Nevitt | Chief People Officer | $140,773 |
| Carly Berna | Vice President of Marketing & Communications | $126,817 |
| Ezra Watnik | Vice President Global Ministry Affairs | $118,274 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2020
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 5/31/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Louis Kaplan's commitment to use his voice to declare the mighty acts of God to his generation and to the next is the foundation for the work of Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI). Kaplan, a Jewish follower of Yeshua, launched Jewish Voice Broadcasts in 1967, a weekly 15-minute radio program It was an outgrowth of his decades of work as a traveling evangelist,. The radio program and the program first aired on Christian radio in Phoenix, Arizona.
1967 was a watershed year in Jewish history. Israel reclaimed the city of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War on June 7th, 1967. This miraculous act was a fulfillment of a prophecy in Luke 21:24 that directly connects the reestablishment of Jerusalem with the times of the Gentiles being fulfilled.
Louis Kaplan believed he'd followed his Savior to the crossroads of prophetic history. He'd committed his life to Yeshua at age 19 at the height of the Great Depression after attending a revival meeting at a nearby church. He said, "After the service, I hesitantly approached the minister and asked him privately if a Jew could be saved.
"He replied: 'Salvation is of the Jews, and Peter and Paul and the prophets were all Jews.'
"I was astonished at that time to know that Christianity sprang from Judaism and that the first Christians were Jews!" After he committed his life to his Jewish Messiah, Kaplan returned to the home of his parents in New York City in order to tell them about his decision. After a bitter argument, his family asked him to leave the home never to return.
God provided for Louis' needs as an older believer opened her home to him, and spent time daily discipling him (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Kaplan began preaching in churches and revival meetings. After a return to the workforce managing a real estate office during World War II, he was convicted that he was missing the calling God had placed in his heart: to give his life over to the proclamation of the Good News to his generation and to the next. The Holocaust and the world events following, including the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, convinced Kaplan that our world was moving toward the End of Days prophesied in the Bible.
Kaplan said, "The greatest sign, warning, proof, and evidence to the world and to the Church of the end of this age is the restoration and resurrection of the House of Israel after being entombed in the graves of exile for many centuries." After traveling around the country for years proclaiming God's salvation to the Jew first, and also the Gentile (Romans 1:16), Kaplan received a call from God to begin a radio program. In January 1967, just months before the outbreak of the Six-Day War, Jewish Voice Broadcasts began airing a simple message: Yeshua heals, saves, and sets His beloved children free!
The ministry grew and flourished, touching countless lives and introducing many to Yeshua the Messiah. The baton of leadership was passed to Jonathan Bernis in 1998 when Kaplan suffered a debilitating stroke. Bernis founded Hear O' Israel Ministries, an outreach organization that produced large-scale, international Festivals of Jewish Music and Dance throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. In 1999, Louis Kaplan passed away.
Bernis quickly realized Kaplan's shoes were impossible to fill. Kaplan was beloved by the staff and volunteers, and in the early days, Bernis struggled to figure out how to lead the ministry forward. He visited Kaplan's widow, Chira, and told her dejectedly, "I can't do this anymore. I'll never be able to fill Brother Kaplan's shoes." At those words, Chira got up from the table saying, "I have something for you." She returned with three shoeboxes containing her deceased husband's shoes.
Bernis said, "Now it so happens I have a very unusual shoe size - an 8-1/2 EEE. Guess what size they were? That's right, 8-1/2 EEE." It was a transforming moment in Bernis' life. "Under my own power, and my own strength, I was inadequate. But through the Lord's power, because of His calling on my life, I could fill Brother Kaplan's shoes."
Under Bernis' leadership, the Jewish Voice Broadcasts continued to reach people, building on Kaplan's legacy. Bernis oversaw the merger of Hear O' Israel! Ministries with those of Jewish Voice in 2001, becoming Jewish Voice Ministries International (JVMI) -now a multi-faceted ministry still committed to proclaiming one unchanging message to a new generation.
Today... And Tomorrow
Our message hasn't changed. We are called to be a voice to the Jewish people. We exist in order to transform lives and see all Israel saved. Our mission-"To proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first around the world, engage the Church concerning Israel and the Jewish people, and build the Messianic Jewish Community"-has been unwavering. The strategy, the methodology, the technology, and the geographic locations of our outreaches have changed over the decades as Jewish Voice has grown and adapted with the times, but our mission will never change. We will remain diligent to this calling and mandate until the Lord returns.
JVMI produces a daily television show, Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis, to educate viewers in the U.S. and abroad on the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, Bible prophecy, and world events relating to Israel and the Middle East. JVMI also educates and shares our message through social media, seminars, webcasts, and print publications, including Jewish Voice Today magazine.
Our broadcast ministries exist in order to inspire our viewers to become a part of our mission to bring clean water, humanitarian aid, and the Good News of Yeshua to Jewish people scattered around the globe. JVMI provides practical compassionate assistance through recurring medical and dental clinics to impoverished Jewish people around the world, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, India, and Israel. The ministry also performs large-scale international festivals of Jewish music and dance in Eastern Europe and South America. These heritage events provide a unique opportunity to share our faith with attendees.
Should the Lord tarry, we will continue to build on the past in order to raise our voices to proclaim to this generation and the next that Yeshua is Lord. Won't you partner with us in this life-saving, life-changing work?