Pioneer Bible Translators 
The information on this page was last updated 11/22/2022. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Pioneer Bible Translators aspires to be the best problem-solving team for helping a people without God's Word impact their context with Scripture, equipping them to translate it into their language and use it to transform their community. Helping a people group go from Bibleless to Bible impact constitutes our sharp focus. Our flexible, holistic approach is a core strength. We will consider our ministry among a people group complete when a network of churches is using Scripture to grow, mature and multiply.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Pioneer Bible Translators
7255 West Camp Wisdom Rd.
Dallas, TX 75236
Website: www.pioneerbible.org
Phone: (214) 699-4300
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 237433923
CEO/President: Gregory Pruett
Chairman: David Butts
Board size: 15
Founder: Al Hamilton
Ruling year: 1975
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1989
Purpose
Vision: Transformed lives through God's Word in every language
Pioneer Bible Translators® bridges the gap between the church and the Bibleless peoples around the world. Our team is composed of Bible translators, literacy evangelists, church planters and a variety of support personnel working to see transformed lives through God's Word in every language. Pioneer Bible Translators is working in 29 countries in 115 languages that impact 188 million people.
Mission statement
Pioneer Bible Translators exists to disciple the Bibleless, mobilizing God's people to provide enduring access to God's Word.
Statement of faith
We believe in one God who created the world and exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is Savior and Lord.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers to lead and help them.
God saves people and gives them eternal life through Jesus.
God's salvation is by grace through faith.
We respond to God's gift of salvation by obeying His commands.
Baptism is the pledge of a good conscience to God that clothes us in Christ.
Each follower of Jesus should strive to live a holy, godly life.
Jesus is building the Church by assembling communities of His followers.
We accept the Bible as the Word of God, our supreme authority and the basis of all we believe and do.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Bible Translation Organizations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 780 of 1076 | 15 of 16 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 504 of 1077 | 10 of 16 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 750 of 1077 | 14 of 16 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 794 of 1076 | 10 of 16 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 97% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 10% | 10% | 9% | 9% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 78% | 77% | 78% | 78% | 76% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 89% | 85% | 82% | 83% | 94% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 73% | 67% | 63% | 65% | 73% | 72% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 11% | 15% | 18% | 17% | 6% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 13% | 13% | 16% | 18% | 7% | 7% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 12% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 15% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.03 | 0.72 | 0.72 | 0.86 | 0.99 | 0.95 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.25 | 1.27 | 1.34 | 1.48 | 1.69 | 1.81 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.68 | 0.92 | 0.97 | 1.27 | 1.67 | 1.73 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.18 | 76.99 | 84.70 | 61.83 | 33.34 | 18.61 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.05 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.11 | 12.91 | 12.18 | 9.27 | 6.97 | 6.58 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 16% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 66% | 135% | 136% | 113% | 98% | 100% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $11,525,397 | $8,817,587 | $6,461,545 | $4,996,257 | $6,833,407 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,939,091 | $1,472,923 | $1,860,601 | $256,592 | $259,225 |
| Short-term investments | $4,324,844 | $4,258,993 | $2,837,254 | $2,756,074 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $17,789,332 | $14,549,503 | $11,159,400 | $8,008,923 | $7,092,632 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $4,769,340 | $4,994,190 | $5,304,106 | $5,562,433 | $5,738,071 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,769,340 | $4,994,190 | $5,304,106 | $5,562,433 | $5,738,071 |
| Total assets | $22,558,672 | $19,543,693 | $16,463,506 | $13,571,356 | $12,830,703 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $231,075 | $171,780 | $180,474 | $240,233 | $381,122 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $231,075 | $171,780 | $180,474 | $240,233 | $381,122 |
| Debt | $265,580 | $164,460 | $191,851 | $172,737 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $210,061 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $265,580 | $164,460 | $191,851 | $172,737 | $210,061 |
| Total liabilities | $496,655 | $336,240 | $372,325 | $412,970 | $591,183 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $7,365,797 | $7,535,737 | $6,925,937 | $6,426,010 | $6,425,837 |
| With donor restrictions | $14,696,220 | $11,671,716 | $9,165,244 | $6,732,376 | $5,813,683 |
| Net assets | $22,062,017 | $19,207,453 | $16,091,181 | $13,158,386 | $12,239,520 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $18,683,526 | $17,125,112 | $16,915,338 | $14,138,761 | $13,001,880 |
| Program service revenue | $393,932 | $107,209 | $65,056 | $89,948 | $88,375 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $111,595 | $115,062 | $126,403 | $46,044 | $35,477 |
| Other revenue | ($14,951) | ($97,568) | $22,138 | $26,776 | ($60,470) |
| Total other revenue | $490,576 | $124,703 | $213,597 | $162,768 | $63,382 |
| Total revenue | $19,174,102 | $17,249,815 | $17,128,935 | $14,301,529 | $13,065,262 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $12,777,976 | $10,899,306 | $11,071,805 | $10,413,274 | $9,349,030 |
| Management and general | $1,969,300 | $1,912,467 | $1,924,199 | $1,805,242 | $1,858,459 |
| Fundraising | $1,567,950 | $1,356,951 | $1,215,491 | $1,162,855 | $1,041,550 |
| Total expenses | $16,315,226 | $14,168,724 | $14,211,495 | $13,381,371 | $12,249,039 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,858,876 | $3,081,091 | $2,917,440 | $920,158 | $816,223 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,858,876 | $3,081,091 | $2,917,440 | $920,158 | $816,223 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Jeff Wilhoit | Executive Vice President | $106,794 |
| Rich Sheeley | Mobilization & Development | $96,288 |
| Jack Straus | Chief Legal Officer | $93,420 |
| Michael Scott Graves | Personnel Officer | $85,100 |
| Clint Stringer | Chief Financial Officer | $77,500 |
| Greg Pruett | President, Board Member | $57,025 |
| Kyle VonRueden | Bd Member/Branch Rep (Part Year) | $46,581 |
| Shaun Cooper | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $38,963 |
| Janet Hayes | Secretary | $29,658 |
| Yancy Fariss | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $29,500 |
| Melinda Velasquez | Bd Member/Branch Rep (Part Year) | $25,873 |
| William Butler | Bd Member/Branch Rep (Part Year) | $20,009 |
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 11/22/2022. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
God inspired Al Hamilton in the mid-1970's with a passion and a vision to mobilize more of God's people for the task of translating Scripture into every language. He and other members of the Christian Churches began to recruit missionaries from Restoration Movement churches to translate the Bible. They decided to form a mission that would work in close cooperation with Wycliffe. But the new mission would try a new approach, combining the genius of Cameron Townsend (founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators) with that of Donald MacGavran (founder of the Church Growth movement), with an emphasis on excellence in Greek and Hebrew exegetical studies inspired by Eugene Nida (United Bible Societies). This new mission would mobilize churches to send missionaries who would use Bible translation and literacy as strategies for church planting and church growth. From this vision, Pioneer Bible Translators was born in 1976.
With our roots in the Restoration Movement, Pioneer Bible Translators is committed to practicing unity in the body of Christ with Scripture as the sole authority. We promote the restoration of the unity of the Church by mobilizing Christians to work together on the basis of obeying the clearly taught, essential elements of Scripture while allowing for a wide diversity of opinion on matters that Scripture does not make clear. Because of our history, we pay special attention to mobilizing the churches of our heritage, but we seek also to mobilize believers of every background, all who are able to unite around reading and obeying the Bible and making it accessible to people who do not have it. Today, Pioneer Bible Translators bridges the gap between the Church and Bibleless peoples, translating the Word into the heart languages of unreached people to transform lives and grow thriving New Testament churches.
Program accomplishments
Needs
We are seeking new missionaries who will step up and meet the need for incarnational ministry among Bible-less peoples. Pioneer Bible Translators currently sends missionaries from Canada and the United States. Our International Service Center, located in Dallas, TX, is crucial in attaining our global ministry goals. From here, missionaries train and prepare for cross-cultural ministry.