Truth For Life 
The information on this page was last updated 2/10/2025. 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
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Educational Media
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 331 of 1123 | 13 of 45 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 247 of 1124 | 10 of 45 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 314 of 1124 | 10 of 45 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 742 of 1123 | 29 of 45 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 98% | 103% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 2% | -3% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 86% | 84% | 84% | 85% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 88% | 83% | 74% | 78% | 88% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 76% | 69% | 62% | 66% | 74% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 12% | 17% | 26% | 22% | 12% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 8% | 11% | 20% | 18% | 10% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 9% | 11% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.78 | 0.61 | 0.52 | 0.54 | 0.62 | 0.65 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.48 | 1.38 | 1.48 | 1.59 | 1.92 | 2.31 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.47 | 0.84 | 0.77 | 0.86 | 1.19 | 1.52 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.32 | 19.68 | 17.56 | 13.98 | 15.74 | 7.25 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 0.14 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.92 | 13.52 | 14.63 | 13.02 | 9.47 | 6.83 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 98% | 158% | 184% | 177% | 156% | 143% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $3,515,377 | $3,803,497 | $2,855,767 | $3,621,889 | $2,335,073 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,842,099 | $2,499,610 | $755,686 | $671,927 | $649,220 |
| Short-term investments | $19,738,211 | $14,841,245 | $14,334,740 | $7,531,811 | $5,359,352 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $25,095,687 | $21,144,352 | $17,946,193 | $11,825,627 | $8,343,645 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $9,619,911 | $10,174,907 | $10,619,628 | $10,909,433 | $10,966,788 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $9,619,911 | $10,174,907 | $10,619,628 | $10,909,433 | $10,966,788 |
| Total assets | $34,715,598 | $31,319,259 | $28,565,821 | $22,735,060 | $19,310,433 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,275,342 | $1,204,074 | $1,283,342 | $751,151 | $1,150,089 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,275,342 | $1,204,074 | $1,283,342 | $751,151 | $1,150,089 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $18,538 | $34,583 | $56,692 | $69,942 | $118,783 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $18,538 | $34,583 | $56,692 | $69,942 | $118,783 |
| Total liabilities | $1,293,880 | $1,238,657 | $1,340,034 | $821,093 | $1,268,872 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $33,371,718 | $30,035,602 | $27,225,787 | $21,863,967 | $17,976,561 |
| With donor restrictions | $50,000 | $45,000 | $0 | $50,000 | $65,000 |
| Net assets | $33,421,718 | $30,080,602 | $27,225,787 | $21,913,967 | $18,041,561 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $23,475,517 | $20,346,245 | $20,682,426 | $17,825,944 | $14,308,372 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $771,045 | ($314,341) | $157,019 | $47,874 | $104,144 |
| Other revenue | ($275,887) | ($321,637) | ($25,189) | $44,051 | ($22,257) |
| Total other revenue | $495,158 | ($635,978) | $131,830 | $91,925 | $81,887 |
| Total revenue | $23,970,675 | $19,710,267 | $20,814,256 | $17,917,869 | $14,390,259 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $18,275,967 | $13,666,764 | $12,953,269 | $11,861,888 | $10,716,756 |
| Management and general | $1,897,722 | $1,736,607 | $1,571,390 | $1,438,693 | $1,317,794 |
| Fundraising | $962,303 | $952,035 | $836,894 | $732,835 | $611,560 |
| Total expenses | $21,135,992 | $16,355,406 | $15,361,553 | $14,033,416 | $12,646,110 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,834,683 | $3,354,861 | $5,452,703 | $3,884,453 | $1,744,149 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,834,683 | $3,354,861 | $5,452,703 | $3,884,453 | $1,744,149 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Alistair Begg | President/CEO | $378,645 |
| Robert Butts | Chief Operating Officer | $258,446 |
| Michael Costlow | Director of Operations | $159,066 |
| Rick Lane | Director of IT | $142,196 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2023
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 2/10/2025. 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:
- Pray for the ministry of Truth For Life.
- Introduce new people to Truth For Life.
- Become a Truth Partner and support TFL's ministry with a monthly gift.
- Give online or via PayPal, contact TFL's customer service department at (888) 588-7884.