Audio Scripture Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 6/19/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
ASM helps connect people to God's Word in their own heart language by recording and distributing Bible and Bible engagement resources in audio.
ASM began in 1967 as Portable Recording Ministries and changed its name to Audio Scripture Ministries in 1996, and is not affiliated in any way with Audio Scriptures International.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Audio Scripture Ministries
PO Box 1439
Holland, MI 49422
Website: audioscripture.org
Phone: (616) 396-5291
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 236296186
CEO/President: Naomi Frizzell
Chairman: Jamison Worst
Board size: 7
Founder: Dr. Ronald Beery
Ruling year: 1964
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2001
Purpose
Our commitment to the Great Commission directs us to serve others as we:
- Partner with churches, ministries, and individuals to create and distribute audio Scripture and Bible engagement resources to communicate the Good News of Jesus.
- Facilitate production of audio recordings of the Bible in each language needed by people groups around the world.
- Distribute, either directly or through other ministries, suitably formatted Scripture recordings among both non-Christians and Christians, whether living in their homelands or elsewhere.
- Encourage and assist in the development of projects for audio Scripture recording and distribution through local leaders and other ministries.
Mission statement
Audio Scripture Ministries helps connect people to God's Word in their own heart language.
Statement of faith
We believe:
In one God, in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
That all humanity has sinned and thus is separated from God.
The Bible to be God's only written and imperative message to man, verbally inspired by God, and without error in the original writings.
In Jesus Christ, who though God Himself, entered into human flesh, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and was born of the virgin Mary.
That Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and each human being, died for our sins, the sinless for the sinful.
That Christ arose bodily from the dead, conquering the power of death.
That all who place their faith in Him as Savior are accounted to be upright before God and are born into His spiritual family by His act of grace and mercy.
That Christ ascended into heaven where He is our High Priest and speaks in our defense before God.
That the Holy Spirit lives in each believer and desires to enable each one to live a life of victory over sin and of service to Christ.
That good works are the fruit resulting from, but not counting toward, spiritual rebirth and salvation and are indicative of true repentance and faith.
In the personal return of Jesus Christ at any moment.
In the bodily resurrection of believers to eternal life in God's presence and unbelievers to everlasting punishment and separation from God.
In the command of God through Christ to every Christian that His Gospel must be made known to every living person by every effective means possible.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism Support
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 895 of 1118 | 28 of 35 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 687 of 1119 | 25 of 35 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 802 of 1119 | 24 of 35 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 773 of 1118 | 25 of 35 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 8% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 7% | 6% | 8% | 9% | 11% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 95% | 60% | 100% | 99% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 9% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 5% | 40% | 0% | 1% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 78% | 77% | 79% | 75% | 79% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 82% | 54% | 82% | 100% | 115% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 64% | 42% | 65% | 75% | 91% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 18% | 46% | 18% | 0% | -15% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 5% | 12% | 49% | 21% | 0% | -18% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 15% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.23 | 0.57 | 0.59 | 0.96 | 0.98 | 1.32 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.33 | 1.01 | 1.00 | 1.34 | 1.52 | 1.52 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.70 | 0.57 | 0.59 | 1.29 | 1.48 | 2.01 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 31.37 | 307.14 | 328.79 | 225.13 | 70.29 | 25.90 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.59 | 20.84 | 20.26 | 9.24 | 7.99 | 5.74 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 78% | 175% | 169% | 104% | 101% | 74% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $1,515,828 | $489,296 | $415,495 | $573,683 | $587,255 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $78,720 | $20,158 | $41,158 | $27,960 | $20,456 |
| Short-term investments | $655,840 | $1,456,693 | $400,654 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,250,388 | $1,966,147 | $857,307 | $601,643 | $607,711 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $12,162 | $4,157 | $295,701 | $310,020 | $318,691 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $12,162 | $4,157 | $295,701 | $310,020 | $318,691 |
| Total assets | $2,262,550 | $1,970,304 | $1,153,008 | $911,663 | $926,402 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $7,327 | $5,980 | $3,808 | $8,560 | $23,461 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $7,327 | $5,980 | $3,808 | $8,560 | $23,461 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $436 | $612 | $958 | $1,304 | $1,650 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $436 | $612 | $958 | $1,304 | $1,650 |
| Total liabilities | $7,763 | $6,592 | $4,766 | $9,864 | $25,111 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,875,415 | $1,687,010 | $789,858 | $623,545 | $582,441 |
| With donor restrictions | $379,372 | $276,702 | $358,384 | $278,254 | $318,850 |
| Net assets | $2,254,787 | $1,963,712 | $1,148,242 | $901,799 | $901,291 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $1,490,566 | $1,272,813 | $1,353,121 | $884,429 | $1,042,214 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $79,294 | $859,017 | $164 | $6,973 | $13,746 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,355 |
| Total other revenue | $79,294 | $859,017 | $164 | $6,973 | $17,101 |
| Total revenue | $1,569,860 | $2,131,830 | $1,353,285 | $891,402 | $1,059,315 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $1,005,449 | $898,294 | $874,525 | $672,165 | $966,805 |
| Management and general | $170,382 | $143,547 | $131,680 | $137,539 | $142,644 |
| Fundraising | $115,940 | $119,413 | $101,940 | $81,190 | $112,378 |
| Total expenses | $1,291,771 | $1,161,254 | $1,108,145 | $890,894 | $1,221,827 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $278,089 | $970,576 | $245,140 | $508 | ($162,512) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $278,089 | $970,576 | $245,140 | $508 | ($162,512) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Naomi Frizzell | Executive Director | $112,419 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2023
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 6/19/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
While the young Ron Beery was pursuing his childhood passion for electronics in college and graduate school, he had not yet realized that God would use his passion to bring the Word to people all over the world. Ron often asked God if electronics was in His calling for him, and the Lord did use Ron's knowledge and skills as a physics professor at Hope College in Holland, MI. Ron and his wife Alice thought this might be God's plan for Ron's science training, but soon they were challenged by the world's many people who are unable to receive God's Word in their heart language because they cannot read. Ron realized that providing recorded Scripture on simple players could meet that great need. He started small, encouraged by a number of God-given partner individuals and churches, and Portable Recording Ministries was born in 1967.
In God's plan the transistor had only recently transformed and miniaturized the entire electronics field, making small, portable Scripture players possible for the first time in history. Further improvements followed, from the use of cassettes to newer recording methods, all the way down to the pocket-sized digital players used today. Portable Recording Ministries later changed its name to Audio Scripture Ministries, and God enabled the organization to grow with the need. ASM has established four overseas recording studios to record Scripture in over 250 languages, and we have distributed players to thousands of people who need to hear God's Word in their own language to receive it in their heart. God has continued to bring many partners to join ASM: other ministries, workers, prayer partners, volunteers, and contributors. Many challenges and joys have come to ASM in our 50+ years of history, and God has been abundantly faithful in His leading and provision. As ASM continues its work, now under its fourth leader, we will enable ever more people groups to hear God's Word in their own language, to the glory of God.
For a timeline, visit: audioscripture.org/history/
Program accomplishments
Audio Scripture Ministries played significant roles in the development and production of hand-powered, solar-powered cassette players. ASM has also played a significant role in assisting missionaries and others to locate audio and other equipment suitable for various ministry locations.
Three of the four regional recording studios brought into existence by PRM (now ASM) are fully independent, and two are completely run by local, national believers. The Africa regional center is completely run by Africans, but corporately affiliated with the US headquarters in Holland, Michigan.