Morning Cheer Inc dba Sandy Cove Ministries

The information on this page was last updated 2/21/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Delivering remarkable hospitality on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Sandy Cove Ministries
60 Sandy Cove Rd
North East, MD 21901

Website: sandycove.org

Phone: 410-287-5433

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 230891430

CEO/President: Stephen J. Weaver

Chairman: Paul Palmer

Board size: 10

Founder: Dr. George Palmer

Ruling year: 1959

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 03/31

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 2008


Purpose

Sandy Cove Ministries delivers the message of hope that JESUS NEVER FAILS by providing opportunities for rest, refuge, retreat, renewal and recreation.


Mission statement

Sandy Cove Ministries' mission is to help people connect with God and each other in order to be transformed into the image of Christ, through His Word, His creation, and community.


Statement of faith

Sandy Cove is a non-denominational, not-for-profit organization governed by biblical principles. Though certain doctrinal distinctives are expressed below, the programs and facilities of Sandy Cove are enjoyed by a wide cross-section of denominational organizations and groups.

We subscribe to the following beliefs.

The divine inspiration and consequent authority of the whole Canonical Scriptures
The doctrine of the Trinity
The doctrine of the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory
The fall of man, his consequent moral depravity, and his need of regeneration
The atonement through the substitutionary death of Christ
The doctrine of justification by faith
The present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life
The resurrection of the body, both in the case of the just and the unjust
The eternal life of the saved and the eternal punishment of the lost

Donor confidence score

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Transparency grade

A

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Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Camps/Conference Centers

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating641 of 109128 of 36
Fund acquisition rating914 of 109430 of 37
Resource allocation rating733 of 109433 of 37
Asset utilization rating144 of 10917 of 36

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
4%10%7%31%26%22%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
2%3%5%2%2%2%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
45%33%64%8%8%8%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
3%4%5%2%2%2%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
55%67%36%92%92%92%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
81%73%64%77%82%83%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
89%90%99%101%100%102%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
68%66%63%78%82%85%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
11%10%1%-1%0%-2%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
6%19%2%-2%-1%-5%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
14%23%31%21%16%15%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.340.820.571.101.180.98
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
3.633.294.4917.0415.3314.78
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.432.712.5418.6918.0514.43
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
6.881.030.650.150.170.23
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.150.971.536.535.834.39
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
5.790.13-2.50-3.55-3.21-2.82
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20222021202020192018
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
9%51%62%57%56%52%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
1%15%21%9%10%15%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
228%59%67%40%38%49%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20222021202020192018
Cash$1,736,981$1,101,035$174,852$178,077$278,403
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$283,135$420,052$131,081$168,143$166,037
Short-term investments$107,458$108,940$105,046$106,543$104,132
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$2,127,574$1,630,027$410,979$452,763$548,572
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$4,876,919$5,100,790$5,690,557$5,589,399$7,557,325
Other long-term assets$0$591,710$900,000$900,000$0
Total long-term assets$4,876,919$5,692,500$6,590,557$6,489,399$7,557,325
Total assets$7,004,493$7,322,527$7,001,536$6,942,162$8,105,897
 
Liabilities20222021202020192018
Payables and accrued expenses$524,422$620,916$676,013$573,675$516,241
Other current liabilities$1,540,693$1,873,350$2,009,681$2,066,216$1,892,021
Total current liabilities$2,065,115$2,494,266$2,685,694$2,639,891$2,408,262
Debt$1,034,508$1,531,018$608,427$666,360$1,240,829
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$483,654$505,959$667,660$556,702$579,888
Total long-term liabilities$1,518,162$2,036,977$1,276,087$1,223,062$1,820,717
Total liabilities$3,583,277$4,531,243$3,961,781$3,862,953$4,228,979
 
Net assets20222021202020192018
Without donor restrictions$3,235,626$2,587,775$2,884,624$2,976,009$3,689,954
With donor restrictions$185,590$203,509$155,131$103,200$186,964
Net assets$3,421,216$2,791,284$3,039,755$3,079,209$3,876,918
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20222021202020192018
Total contributions$2,110,256$2,698,744$585,206$620,554$632,536
Program service revenue$4,185,900$1,450,064$6,836,757$7,291,637$6,885,825
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$19,518$7,009$6,109$31,214$5,291
Other revenue$82,076$38,012$187,241$210,296$209,615
Total other revenue$4,287,494$1,495,085$7,030,107$7,533,147$7,100,731
Total revenue$6,397,750$4,193,829$7,615,313$8,153,701$7,733,267
 
Expenses20222021202020192018
Program services$4,227,752$2,656,492$5,903,463$6,683,074$6,582,881
Management and general$1,322,213$1,301,012$1,597,669$1,328,588$1,195,660
Fundraising$212,841$190,800$180,992$162,439$139,735
Total expenses$5,762,806$4,148,304$7,682,124$8,174,101$7,918,276
 
Change in net assets20222021202020192018
Surplus (deficit)$634,944$45,525($66,811)($20,400)($185,009)
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$634,944$45,525($66,811)($20,400)($185,009)

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Stephen J WeaverPresident$135,817

Compensation data as of: 3/31/2022


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 2/21/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, God provided an unusual opportunity for Dr. George Palmer, pastor of Haddon Heights Baptist Church in Haddon Heights, NJ, to host one of the earliest Christian radio broadcasts. During this time when businesses, banks, and government were failing, the daily Morning Cheer broadcast brought good news and hope. Dr. George Palmer's biblical teaching stressed God's omniscience and control, and the show's theme song reminded all that "Jesus Never Fails."

The response was overwhelming and provided further ministry opportunity for this young visionary preacher in 1946. Property was acquired on the North East River in Cecil County, MD, for establishing a summer tent revival and camp meeting facility. Camps were built for children, numerous mission projects were accomplished around the world, and Sandy Cove Bible Conference was born.

Summer after summer, guests flocked to Sandy Cove to hear some of the most prominent speakers and preachers teach the Word of God and listened to inspiring concerts performed by top Christian musicians.

A new vision for Sandy Cove was cast with the addition of the majestic Chesapeake Lodge & Conference Center during the late 1980s which allowed for year-round ministry opportunities. This spacious facility continues to serve as a focal point of the ministry, offering comfort and hospitality to multitudes of men, women and children each year at one of many Sandy Cove programmed events or as part of a church retreat.

Throughout our history, there have been six presidents for Morning Cheer, Inc., now known as Sandy Cove Ministries: Dr. George Palmer, his son, Rev. Bob Palmer, Rev. Neil Fichthorn, Dr. Sandy Outlar, Rev. Mark P. Fisher, and Stephen J. Weaver. In those years, thousands have received Christ, grown in their spiritual life, been spurred on to full-time ministry, enjoyed meeting together, and experienced rejuvenation when vacationing with fellow Christians.

From 1950 - 2018, overnight youth camps were held on numerous properties, all dedicated to sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and to helping young people develop a relationship with their Creator.

Camp Sandy Hill for Boys, Camp Sandy Cove for Girls and Hilltop Ranch for Teenagers in Maryland near Sandy Cove Ministries

Camp Sandy Cove for Boys and Girls in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania

Camp Sandy Cove for Boys and Girls in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia

Since 2001, The Marsh Day Camp has been offering fun, challenges, excitement and opportunities for learning and spiritual growth to children in Sandy Cove Ministries' local community.


Program accomplishments


Needs