Truth For Life

The information on this page was last updated 4/24/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]


Summary

The biblical, expositional teaching of Alistair Begg is internationally known as an inspiring source for clear, relevant instruction rooted firmly in Scripture. Studying God's Word each day, verse by verse, is the hallmark of Truth For Life's ministry.


Contact information

Mailing address:
Truth for Life
P.O. Box 398000
Cleveland, OH 44139

Website: truthforlife.org

Phone: (888) 588-7884

Email: [email protected]


Organization details

EIN: 341787585

CEO/President: Rev. Alistair Begg

Chairman: Mr. John Rothenbuhler

Board size: 7

Founder: Rev. Alistair Begg

Ruling year: 1994

Tax deductible: Yes

Fiscal year end: 12/31

Member of ECFA: Yes

Member of ECFA since: 2005


Purpose

Driven by the desire to share the Gospel without the barrier of cost, Truth For Life ensures that messages in Alistair Begg's entire teaching library can be heard, watched, or shared for free. Additionally, books and other materials that teach more about God's Word can be purchased from Truth For Life at cost and mailed to any US location without any additional charge for shipping.


Mission statement

Truth For Life uses the following to communicates its mission:

We are committed to teaching the Bible with clarity and relevance so that:

Unbelievers will be converted,

Believers will be established,

Local churches will be strengthened.


Statement of faith

Truth For Life uses the following to express its statement of faith:

We accept the scriptures as our only authority in matters of faith and practice and our interpretation of Bible Doctrine leads us inexorably to believe:

(1) The scriptures of the Old and New Testament as being verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.

(2) In one God eternally existing in one essence, yet co-equal persons, the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(3) That Jesus Christ was begotten by God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary.

(4) In the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the life of the believer and He empowers the preaching and teaching of the Gospel.

(5) That mankind was created in the image of God, sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death, which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.

(6) That the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood.

(7) In the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven and His present life there as High priest and Advocate for us.

(8) In the blessed hope, which is the personal, visible and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

(9) That all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God and heirs of eternal life.

(10) In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in hell and the fellowship of the saved in heaven.

(11) In the existence of a personal devil, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of men and that he and all his angels and all who do not receive Christ as their personal Savior will eternally perish in the lake of fire.

(12) In the Church, whose mission it is to preach the Scriptures to all the world, all of its endeavors being guided by multiple leadership and supported by the wise stewardship of God's people.

(13) That the ordinances of the Church, given by the Lord, are Baptism and the Lord's Table (Communion).

Donor confidence score

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Transparency grade

A

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Financial efficiency ratings

Sector: Educational Media

CategoryRatingOverall rankSector rank
Overall efficiency rating302 of 107716 of 47
Fund acquisition rating237 of 107812 of 47
Resource allocation rating334 of 107814 of 47
Asset utilization rating657 of 107733 of 47

Financial ratios

Funding ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts =
Fundraising expense /
Total contributions
8%4%4%5%6%5%
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total revenue
7%4%4%5%6%5%
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance =
Total contributions /
Total revenue
94%99%99%100%100%100%
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio =
Fundraising expense /
Total expenses
7%5%5%5%7%6%
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance =
Total other revenue /
Total revenue
6%1%1%0%0%0%
 
Operating ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio =
Program services /
Total expenses
82%85%85%86%84%86%
Spending ratio Spending ratio =
Total expenses /
Total revenue
87%78%88%94%85%78%
Program output ratio Program output ratio =
Program services /
Total revenue
69%66%74%81%72%66%
Savings ratio Savings ratio =
Surplus (deficit) /
Total revenue
13%22%12%6%15%22%
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate =
Surplus (deficit) /
Net assets
21%18%10%5%11%19%
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio =
Management and general expense /
Total expenses
12%10%10%8%9%8%
 
Investing ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total assets
0.790.620.650.660.610.53
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment =
Total assets /
Total current assets
1.651.922.312.653.073.01
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover =
Total expenses /
Total current assets
1.341.191.521.741.871.58
 
Liquidity ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Current ratio Current ratio =
Total current assets /
Total current liabilities
13.4715.747.256.815.811.78
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio =
Total current liabilities /
Total current assets
0.070.060.140.150.170.56
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level =
(Total current assets -
Total current liabilities) /
(Total expenses / 12)
7.329.476.835.885.323.34
 
Solvency ratiosSector median20202019201820172016
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio =
Total liabilities /
Total assets
12%4%7%6%6%19%
Debt ratio Debt ratio =
Debt /
Total assets
0%0%0%0%0%0%
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio =
Net assets /
Total expenses
104%156%143%143%154%155%

Financials

Balance sheet
 
Assets20202019201820172016
Cash$3,621,889$2,335,073$2,381,952$3,786,488$4,112,137
Receivables, inventories, prepaids$671,927$649,220$458,624$255,653$307,620
Short-term investments$7,531,811$5,359,352$3,720,675$1,362,614$1,220,494
Other current assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total current assets$11,825,627$8,343,645$6,561,251$5,404,755$5,640,251
Long-term investments$0$0$0$0$0
Fixed assets$10,909,433$10,966,788$10,831,147$11,161,334$11,330,817
Other long-term assets$0$0$0$2,080$7,101
Total long-term assets$10,909,433$10,966,788$10,831,147$11,163,414$11,337,918
Total assets$22,735,060$19,310,433$17,392,398$16,568,169$16,978,169
 
Liabilities20202019201820172016
Payables and accrued expenses$751,151$1,150,089$963,692$930,762$3,160,718
Other current liabilities$0$0$0$0$0
Total current liabilities$751,151$1,150,089$963,692$930,762$3,160,718
Debt$0$0$0$0$0
Due to (from) affiliates$0$0$0$0$0
Other long-term liabilities$69,942$118,783$141,982$141,405$38,706
Total long-term liabilities$69,942$118,783$141,982$141,405$38,706
Total liabilities$821,093$1,268,872$1,105,674$1,072,167$3,199,424
 
Net assets20202019201820172016
Without donor restrictions$21,863,967$17,976,561$16,286,724$15,496,002$13,778,745
With donor restrictions$50,000$65,000$0$0$0
Net assets$21,913,967$18,041,561$16,286,724$15,496,002$13,778,745
 
Revenues and expenses
 
Revenue20202019201820172016
Total contributions$17,825,944$14,308,372$12,135,983$11,864,208$11,470,758
Program service revenue$0$0$0$0$0
Membership dues$0$0$0$0$0
Investment income$47,874$104,144$42,789($43,522)($1,951)
Other revenue$44,051($22,257)$17,040($10,862)$3,375
Total other revenue$91,925$81,887$59,829($54,384)$1,424
Total revenue$17,917,869$14,390,259$12,195,812$11,809,824$11,472,182
 
Expenses20202019201820172016
Program services$11,861,888$10,716,756$9,852,827$8,479,463$7,622,940
Management and general$1,438,693$1,317,794$942,518$899,169$757,644
Fundraising$732,835$611,560$618,984$713,935$534,098
Total expenses$14,033,416$12,646,110$11,414,329$10,092,567$8,914,682
 
Change in net assets20202019201820172016
Surplus (deficit)$3,884,453$1,744,149$781,483$1,717,257$2,557,500
Other changes in net assets$0$0$0$0$0
Total change in net assets$3,884,453$1,744,149$781,483$1,717,257$2,557,500

Compensation

NameTitleCompensation
Alistair BeggPresident$354,146
Robert ButtsChief Operating Officer$219,384
Jonathan LinczakIT Manager$142,099
John SchwartzDigital Manager$141,462
Michael CostlowOperations Manager$128,057

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 4/24/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]


History

On February 27, 1995, Truth For Life began airing a 25-minute daily Bible teaching program on seven radio stations. Today the program, featuring Bible teacher Alistair Begg, can be heard in every major market across the US, and also in several countries outside the US, on over 2,000 radio stations. Truth For Life can also be heard daily on YouTube, through the Truth For Life website and mobile app, on streaming TV, as a podcast, on Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices, and through a number of other listening channels.


Program accomplishments


Needs

How can I support Truth For Life?

Our ministry is dependent on the prayer and financial support of our listeners. Here are some ways that you can financially support the ministry:

  1. Pray for the ministry of Truth For Life.
  2. Introduce new people to Truth For Life.
  3. Become a Truth Partner and support TFL's ministry with a monthly gift.
  4. Give online or via PayPal, contact TFL's customer service department at (888) 588-7884.
Each gift is greatly appreciated and goes directly toward sharing the teaching of the Gospel. Contributions to Truth For Life are tax deductible. We are committed to the highest standards of stewardship.