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

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Transparency grade

A

To understand our transparency grade, click here.


Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Bible Translation Organizations

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating780 of 107615 of 16
Fund acquisition rating504 of 107710 of 16
Resource allocation rating750 of 107714 of 16
Asset utilization rating794 of 107610 of 16

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
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 ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
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 ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
1.030.720.720.860.990.95
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.251.271.341.481.691.81
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.680.920.971.271.671.73
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
10.1876.9984.7061.8333.3418.61
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.100.010.010.020.030.05
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
5.1112.9112.189.276.976.58
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20212020201920182017
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
 
Assets20212020201920182017
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
 
Liabilities20212020201920182017
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 assets20212020201920182017
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
 
Revenue20212020201920182017
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
 
Expenses20212020201920182017
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 assets20212020201920182017
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

NameTitleCompensation
Jeff WilhoitExecutive Vice President$106,794
Rich SheeleyMobilization & Development$96,288
Jack StrausChief Legal Officer$93,420
Michael Scott GravesPersonnel Officer$85,100
Clint StringerChief Financial Officer$77,500
Greg PruettPresident, Board Member$57,025
Kyle VonRuedenBd Member/Branch Rep (Part Year)$46,581
Shaun CooperBd Member/Branch Rep$38,963
Janet HayesSecretary$29,658
Yancy FarissBd Member/Branch Rep$29,500
Melinda VelasquezBd Member/Branch Rep (Part Year)$25,873
William ButlerBd 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.