Nora Lam Chinese Ministries International

The information on this page was last updated 6/13/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

Through our underground distribution network, we distribute Chinese Bibles throughout the countryside of China. Bible distribution is a major outreach of this ministry. An entire church in China may share only one Bible. Pages are carefully torn out of Bibles and passed around; so that they can be memorized and passed along to someone else. The power of the Bible provides the truth that sets souls free. Over 28,000 Chinese souls convert to Jesus every day in China. The crisis need for Chinese Bibles is urgent for not only the underground churches but also for the new born babes in Christ.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Nora Lam Chinese Ministries International
PO Box 24466
San Jose, CA 95154

Website: noralam.org

Phone: (408)629-5000

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 237418355

CEO/President: Joseph Lam

Chairman: Joseph Lam

Board size: 5

Founder:

Ruling year: 2019

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 03/31

Member of ECFA: No

Member of ECFA since:


Purpose

Nora Lam Worldwide Ministries International exists for the express purpose of communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout China, Asia and the world according to Mark 16:15 which says, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."


Mission statement

This mission is accomplished through publications, evangelistic outreaches, Bible distribution, humanitarian and relief operations, educational materials and any other media available to spread the message of Jesus Christ.


Statement of faith

Donor confidence score

This organization does not file a Form 990.

Show donor confidence score details

Transparency grade

F

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Foreign Missions

This ministry has not been rated.


Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median2018201720162015
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
6%8%9%13%8%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
5%8%9%13%8%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
98%100%100%100%100%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
5%8%9%14%8%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
2%0%0%0%0%
 
Operating ratiosSector median2018201720162015
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
84%88%88%83%86%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
99%99%100%99%96%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
84%87%88%81%82%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
1%1%0%1%4%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
3%-12%2%-16%-31%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
9%3%3%4%6%
 
Investing ratiosSector median2018201720162015
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.3452.6663.9142.9627.58
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.281.802.132.242.12
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
2.1294.66135.8296.3158.50
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median2018201720162015
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
18.011.170.460.390.75
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.050.852.182.581.33
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
5.350.02-0.10-0.20-0.07
 
Solvency ratiosSector median2018201720162015
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
7%532%639%505%458%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%475%528%382%390%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
68%-8%-8%-9%-13%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets2018201720162015
Cash$52,469$44,231$52,515$79,579
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$6,611$3,784$13,745$15,730
Short-term investments$23,389$15,245$12,558$13,762
Other current assets$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$82,469$63,260$78,818$109,071
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$62,379$65,991$91,898$121,650
Other long-term assets$3,377$5,202$5,976$619
Total long-term assets$65,756$71,193$97,874$122,269
Total assets$148,225$134,453$176,692$231,340
 
Liabilities2018201720162015
Payables and accrued expenses$70,249$138,022$203,581$144,528
Other current liabilities$0$0$0$0
Total current liabilities$70,249$138,022$203,581$144,528
Debt$704,563$709,564$675,771$901,855
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$13,379$11,762$12,645$13,529
Total long-term liabilities$717,942$721,326$688,416$915,384
Total liabilities$788,191$859,348$891,997$1,059,912
 
Net assets2018201720162015
Without donor restrictions($639,966)($724,895)($715,305)($828,572)
With donor restrictions$0$0$0$0
Net assets($639,966)($724,895)($715,305)($828,572)
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue2018201720162015
Total contributions$7,897,932$8,601,504$7,722,166$6,659,178
Program service revenue$0$0$0$0
Membership dues$0$0$0$0
Investment income$577$795$8,477$984
Other revenue($15,322)($22,083)($25,151)($23,332)
Total other revenue($14,745)($21,288)($16,674)($22,348)
Total revenue$7,883,187$8,580,216$7,705,492$6,636,830
 
Expenses2018201720162015
Program services$6,894,194$7,546,942$6,267,234$5,467,757
Management and general$263,204$276,942$293,373$381,867
Fundraising$648,867$768,370$1,030,218$530,568
Total expenses$7,806,265$8,592,254$7,590,825$6,380,192
 
Change in net assets2018201720162015
Surplus (deficit)$76,922($12,038)$114,667$256,638
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$76,922($12,038)$114,667$256,638

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Joseph LamPresident/CEO$247,874
Ruth KendrickChief Operating Officer$131,885
Doug KendrickCFO/Program Director$70,836

Compensation data as of: 3/31/2018


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 6/13/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

Nora Lam was born September 4, 1932 and was adopted by Dr. H.T. and Evelyn Tak-Bun (Yip) Sung, a prominent family in Shanghai. Dr. Sung's father was the Chairman of the Board of the Bank of China. When the Japanese invaded mainland China during World War II, Nora and her family were forced out of their home. They fled from the Japanese and sought refuge with a relative until they were able to achieve an escape route to Chungking. When the Japanese army surrendered and left China, Nora's family moved back to Shanghai. She then enrolled in Soochow University's law school and received her degree with honors in 1953. She later taught law and history at the university.

But before long, the rumble of communism was thundering throughout China. The reign of Communist Dictator Mao Tze Tung was in full force, and Nora Lam was singled out and interrogated because of her affluent background as the daughter of a wealthy doctor and the fact that she attended the Mary Farnham Presbyterian missionary school. When she refused to repudiate her beliefs and faith, she was imprisoned and eventually put before a firing squad. A truly astonishing miracle occurred when she survived the ordeal which remains a mystery until this day.

After imprisonment by the communists, in 1958, she managed to escape to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, she worked with the Department of Social Welfare. In 1966, Nora Lam was brought to the United States for the first time by a famed evangelist, the late Kathryn Kuhlman. Nora made her first network television appearance on Kuhlman's "I Believe In Miracles" CBS show. Kathryn Kuhlman was a mentor and sponsor of Nora Lam. Later that year, 1966, Nora and her three children emigrated to the U.S.

Throughout the 70s, Nora Lam began to present her testimony to groups across America; to supply Chinese Bibles and Christian literature, to hold large evangelistic crusades; and to give aid to orphanages in Asia. During this time, she established an office in Taiwan as her headquarters in the Far East; and she began her regular radio and TV programs there. These programs penetrated the Communist "Bamboo Curtain." She held large evangelistic crusades in Taiwan.

She was the host of the Chinese "God's Power Today" TV program for TBN and CBN. In 1972, she wrote her first book, "For Those Tears," an autobiography. In 1974, she incorporated her own organization in San Jose, California and began her annual missions tours to China and the Far East. Over 5,000 North Americans have been with Nora Lam on these short-term missionary trips in the last 18 consecutive years.

In 1974, Nora Lam became a naturalized United States citizen. She received special recognition during this period of her life, including the Korean Association of Social Work Award, a medal from the Pacific Cultural Foundation, an award from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and a special award from Sung Ro Won children's Home in Korea.

In 1979, Nora Lam returned to Communist China (People's Republic of China) itself. This trip marked the beginning of her deep involvement with the communications between Red China and the U.S. In 1987, she visited the Shanghai State Church along with a group of American tourists; and the following year she, along with several outstanding Americans from various states, ministered at the Beijing Christian Center where President George and Barbara Bush attended when he was an U.S. Envoy to China.

By the 80's, Nora Lam's work had captured the notice of heads of state, including President Ronald Reagan. She was issued a private invitation to the White House in 1980. In l980 - 81, she opened up offices in Canada and Hong Kong. In 1982, she was first listed in WHO'S WHO IN THE WORLD and WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA.

In 1988, Nora Lam began hosting a television broadcast on China's CCTV, with a potential audience of 600 million people, as part of a cultural exchange program in conjunction with the Trinity Broadcasting Network of Santa Ana, California. Additionally, Nora Lam became a featured guest of Paul Crouch on his U.S. television broadcasts. In 1989, Nora Lam was honored with the International Broadcaster Award at the National Religious Broadcasters annual convention in Washington, D.C. She has been broadcasting on Taiwan radio and television for 17 years.

Nora Lam has distributed over 1.1 million Chinese Bibles in China/Asia. Her "Bibles For China Program" is one of the most important outreaches of her ministry in conjunction with assisting and sponsoring the underground house church movement in China. Nora Lam passed away on February 2, 2004. The extraordinary life of Nora Lam is a story of overcoming seemingly hopeless obstacles, the story of her public and private belief: of revolutions, war and political tumult and the individual who, irrespective of the tides of history or circumstances, stands victorious and triumphant.


Program accomplishments

Nora Lam Worldwide Ministries International believes in the power of God's Word and has distributed over ONE MILLION BIBLES throughout China and Asia.


Needs