Sowers International/ Christafari 
The information on this page was last updated 6/30/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
"We are Musicianaries; musical missionaries with one primary goal: to reach as many different peoples and nations as possible with the undiluted Gospel of Jesus Christ."
Contact information
Mailing address:
Sowers International
13875 Buckskin Trail Drive
Corona, CA 92883
Website: christafari.com
Phone: 310-539-9009
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 330575561
CEO/President: Gwynn Lewis
Chairman: Juan Castro
Board size: 5
Founder: Mark Mohr
Ruling year: 1993
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
From the beginning, Christafari's driving purpose has been to share the Gospel through the universal language of music, fulfilling the Great Commission in every corner of the world. The band lives by the motto "reach the lost at any cost," embracing whatever it takes to bring the message of Christ to those in need. This ethos led Christafari to become full-time musical missionaries, willingly traveling to remote and underprivileged places and performing free outreach concerts for communities that could never afford to host a band.
Mission statement
Sowers International recruits, trains, and sends missionaries to do the work of the Christian faith, evangelizing people and planting churches.
Statement of faith
About God
- God is the eternal Creator and Ruler of the universe.
- He is the Father of Jesus Christ.
- He is our Father and will provide for all the needs of our bodies and spirits.
- He is everywhere.
About Jesus Christ
- Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and is God.
- He gave His life as the final perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world; salvation comes only
through Him.
- He arose from the dead and is alive forevermore.
- He is King of kings and is victorious over all evil.
About the Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son, three persons in the triune God.
- He is the comforter who dwells in the hearts of all who have received Jesus Christ as their
personal Savior, convincing them of the truth of Christ's teachings, and empowering
them to do right.
About the Bible
- The Bible is the complete, inerrant, inspired Word of God. It is our guide to show us what
we should believe and how we should live.
-It is for everyone to read so that all may hear God speak to their hearts and minds.
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 159 of 1435 | 12 of 126 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 123 of 1435 | 3 of 126 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 47 of 1435 | 4 of 126 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 885 of 1436 | 65 of 126 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 99% | 99% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 97% | 97% | 96% | 95% | 95% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 122% | 71% | 105% | 97% | 78% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 83% | 119% | 69% | 100% | 92% | 74% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | -22% | 29% | -5% | 3% | 22% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | -24% | 31% | -5% | 4% | 28% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.59 | 1.32 | 0.77 | 1.22 | 1.09 | 0.99 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.14 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.42 | 1.32 | 0.77 | 1.22 | 1.09 | 0.99 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 22.36 | 104.17 | 157.69 | 128.28 | 178.32 | 102.43 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.85 | 8.98 | 15.47 | 9.77 | 10.94 | 12.01 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 57% | 75% | 129% | 81% | 91% | 100% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $1,838,514 | $2,284,109 | $1,568,949 | $1,635,770 | $1,611,192 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,052 | $1,052 | $1,052 | $16,506 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $15,740 | $15,740 | $15,740 | $15,740 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,855,306 | $2,300,901 | $1,585,741 | $1,668,016 | $1,611,192 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total assets | $1,855,306 | $2,300,901 | $1,585,741 | $1,668,016 | $1,611,192 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $17,811 | $14,591 | $12,362 | $9,354 | $15,730 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $17,811 | $14,591 | $12,362 | $9,354 | $15,730 |
| 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 | $17,811 | $14,591 | $12,362 | $9,354 | $15,730 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,837,495 | $2,286,310 | $1,573,379 | $1,658,662 | $1,595,462 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $1,837,495 | $2,286,310 | $1,573,379 | $1,658,662 | $1,595,462 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $1,995,105 | $2,473,305 | $1,842,304 | $1,881,964 | $2,045,354 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $11,890 | $12,794 | $5,384 | $84 | $59 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $11,890 | $12,794 | $5,384 | $84 | $59 |
| Total revenue | $2,006,995 | $2,486,099 | $1,847,688 | $1,882,048 | $2,045,413 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $2,388,620 | $1,715,967 | $1,848,420 | $1,731,350 | $1,518,369 |
| Management and general | $67,190 | $57,201 | $84,551 | $87,498 | $75,492 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $2,455,810 | $1,773,168 | $1,932,971 | $1,818,848 | $1,593,861 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($448,815) | $712,931 | ($85,283) | $63,200 | $451,552 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($448,815) | $712,931 | ($85,283) | $63,200 | $451,552 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Gwynn Lewis | President | $62,100 |
| Jenny Zhang | Secretary | $18,000 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2025
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 6/30/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Christafari is not just a band; at its heart is a family led by founder Pastor Mark Mohr, his wife Avion, and their daughter Ziza. Along with dedicated team members who live and act like family, Christafari has been on a mission to spread the gospel through reggae music since 1989.
In the past 8.5 years, they've reached a milestone of over a million souls for Christ, a testament to their decades-long dedication to faith and music. Additionally, in the post-COVID era, they accomplished an incredible feat of performing in all 50 United States within just 11 months.
Their current mission directives include ministering in every country in the Americas-from North America through Central America and down to South America-sharing the message of hope through reggae music. They are also committed to ministering in all 26 states of Brazil, further expanding their impact in Latin America.
The band has performed live in over 90 nations worldwide, including appearances at two Olympic Games and a U.S. presidential inaugural celebration. Their music continues to top the charts and reach audiences worldwide, bringing a message of faith and transformation through the powerful medium of reggae.
Over the last 35 years, this trailblazing group has evolved beyond music into a full-fledged global outreach. They are one part Bob Marley and one part Billy Graham. More than just performers and evangelists, Christafari calls themselves "musicianaries" - musical missionaries - devoted to spreading hope and salvation worldwide through reggae. With an unwavering focus on their mission to "reach the lost at any cost."
Program accomplishments
Christafari is no stranger to chart success. Since the release of their first "Reggae Worship" album in the early 90s, most of their CDs have held high positions on both the Christian and/or Reggae Billboard charts. In 2012 Christafari made history as the first Gospel artist to hit #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts with "Reggae Worship: a Roots Revival." Each of the band's 5 subsequent studio releases has also topped the Billboard Charts. However, speaking about the band's chart successes, Mohr states, "We care a lot more about hearts than charts. Our passion is for souls, not sales, and we only do concerts as a way to make converts and fulfill the great commission."