Middle East Bible Outreach 
The information on this page was last updated 7/9/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
MEBO works closely with Middle Eastern Christian leaders on a multi-track mission to strengthen the witness of the Church in the Middle East. The family of ministries are six, locally-led, faith-based ministries united under the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development including the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Dar Manhal Al Hayat publishing house, the Beirut Baptist School, SKILD Center (Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences), Baptist Children and Youth Ministry, and MERATH (Middle East Revive and Thrive).
MEBO exists to serve as the US fiscal sponsor and a bridge of support from global believers to the LSESD family of ministries serving the Middle East.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Middle East Bible Outreach
1633 Mt. Vernon Rd
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30338
Website: mebo.org
Phone: 404-395-2696
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 233067813
CEO/President: Carolyn Bishop
Chairman: Carolyn Bishop
Board size: 8
Founder:
Ruling year: 2001
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2011
Purpose
Because we follow Jesus Christ, who identified with and responded compassionately to the needs of the vulnerable and marginalized, calling us to love our neighbor and saying "blessed are the peacemakers," MEBO partners with a family of ministries that are reflecting Him in their context with intentionality and excellence.
MEBO is a non-profit organization representing thousands of individual church members who have a passion for helping Christians in Lebanon reach out with the love of Christ to their nation and other nearby countries. This effort is carried out exclusively through a partnership with the Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development, who represents multiple Christian ministries based in Lebanon and enacted through local churches. The ministries include a K-12 school, a seminary, a publishing house, refugee and humanitarian programs, a special needs entity, and a children's camp ministry.
LSESD is a Lebanese nonprofit that seeks to strengthen the witness of the Church in the Arab World through inclusive education, community development, and church discipleship. A core belief at LSESD is that proclaiming the Gospel goes hand in hand with demonstrating the Gospel. Thus, they aim to imitate His holistic ministry by caring for the whole person - mind, body, and soul.
Mission statement
We empower the church in the Middle East to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ through outreach, education and love of neighbor.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 427 of 1118 | 35 of 93 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 128 of 1119 | 14 of 93 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 386 of 1119 | 27 of 93 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 921 of 1118 | 74 of 93 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 98% | 98% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 86% | 93% | 96% | 90% | 92% | 92% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 60% | 140% | 35% | 33% | 85% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 86% | 56% | 133% | 32% | 30% | 78% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 40% | -40% | 65% | 67% | 15% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 20% | -17% | 43% | 90% | 74% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 6% | 6% | 3% | 8% | 7% | 6% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.42 | 0.31 | 0.62 | 0.23 | 0.43 | 4.35 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.24 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.01 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.89 | 0.31 | 0.62 | 0.23 | 0.43 | 4.40 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 15.83 | 1299.31 | 1098.06 | 1326.95 | 252.20 | 0.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.10 | 38.99 | 19.46 | 51.11 | 27.71 | 2.73 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 62% | 325% | 162% | 426% | 231% | 23% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $6,734,725 | $8,235,470 | $9,952,095 | $5,694,351 | $580,786 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $3,659,723 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $10,394,448 | $8,235,470 | $9,952,095 | $5,694,351 | $580,786 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $415 | $967 | $3,922 | $6,877 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $0 | $415 | $967 | $3,922 | $6,877 |
| Total assets | $10,394,448 | $8,235,885 | $9,953,062 | $5,698,273 | $587,663 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $8,000 | $7,500 | $7,500 | $22,579 | $0 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $8,000 | $7,500 | $7,500 | $22,579 | $0 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $8,000 | $7,500 | $7,500 | $22,579 | $0 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $907,020 | $762,589 | $581,761 | $350,130 | $66,809 |
| With donor restrictions | $9,479,428 | $7,465,796 | $9,363,801 | $5,325,564 | $520,854 |
| Net assets | $10,386,448 | $8,228,385 | $9,945,562 | $5,675,694 | $587,663 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $5,185,639 | $3,578,263 | $6,576,911 | $7,544,386 | $2,991,197 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $130,045 | $55,547 | $2,788 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $826 | $1,466 | $1,024 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $130,871 | $57,013 | $3,812 | $0 | $0 |
| Total revenue | $5,316,510 | $3,635,276 | $6,580,723 | $7,544,386 | $2,991,197 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $2,961,288 | $4,850,878 | $2,097,562 | $2,250,518 | $2,340,490 |
| Management and general | $178,222 | $162,965 | $178,416 | $162,202 | $156,393 |
| Fundraising | $56,828 | $60,632 | $58,918 | $43,635 | $58,437 |
| Total expenses | $3,196,338 | $5,074,475 | $2,334,896 | $2,456,355 | $2,555,320 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,120,172 | ($1,439,199) | $4,245,827 | $5,088,031 | $435,877 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,120,172 | ($1,439,199) | $4,245,827 | $5,088,031 | $435,877 |
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 7/9/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Beginning in the 1950s, the vision and efforts of American missionaries led to the creation of Beirut Baptist School (BBS), the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), and the Christian publishing house, Dar Manhal al-Hayat (DMAH). After transitioning to Lebanese leadership in the 1990s, this family of ministries has grown to six under the umbrella of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD).