Bible League International 
The information on this page was last updated 9/17/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Serving the under-resourced church globally through the provision of Bibles and training to transform lives worldwide through God's Word.
Bible League International's priority is to help people meet and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ as they study and come to understand God's Word, the Bible. As we guide people through the Word of God, their lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and they become actively involved in faithaffirming Christian communities. Bible League does this primarily by offering practical training to local churches around the world in relational evangelism, discipleship, Biblebased Literacy, and church planting. We also prepare easy-to-understand translations of God's Word.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Bible League International
1 Bible League Plaza
Crete, IL 60417
Website: www.BibleLeague.org
Phone: (866) 825-4636
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 362037761
CEO/President: Jos Snoep
Chairman: Daniel A. Chapman
Board size: 13
Founder: William & Betty Chapman
Ruling year: 1973
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1980
Purpose
We desire to see thriving local churches around the world offering salvation, life change, and hope through biblically-based training and resources that meet the spiritual, moral, and social needs of their communities.
Mission statement
Serving the under-resourced church globally through the provision of Bibles and training to transform lives worldwide through God's Word.
Statement of faith
Bible League International offices and staff worldwide adhere to this statement of faith, established by the National Association of Evangelicals.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Donor confidence score
This organization does not file a Form 990.
Show donor confidence score detailsTransparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1049 of 1102 | 44 of 48 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1030 of 1103 | 47 of 48 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 940 of 1103 | 41 of 48 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 825 of 1102 | 29 of 48 |
Click here to read Bible League International's response to our ratings
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 19% | 21% | 21% | 17% | 25% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 18% | 21% | 20% | 16% | 23% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 97% | 99% | 99% | 98% | 95% | 93% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 17% | 17% | 21% | 21% | 23% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 5% | 7% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 73% | 74% | 72% | 71% | 73% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 110% | 121% | 98% | 75% | 101% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 80% | 89% | 71% | 53% | 74% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -10% | -21% | 2% | 25% | -1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -8% | -16% | 1% | 22% | -1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 10% | 9% | 7% | 8% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.07 | 0.73 | 0.75 | 0.61 | 0.57 | 0.72 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.47 | 1.35 | 1.36 | 1.33 | 1.35 | 1.62 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.42 | 0.99 | 1.02 | 0.82 | 0.77 | 1.17 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 11.21 | 19.39 | 14.74 | 24.57 | 23.52 | 14.46 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.07 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.62 | 11.48 | 10.94 | 14.10 | 14.94 | 9.57 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 19% | 16% | 13% | 14% | 16% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 79% | 110% | 112% | 142% | 151% | 116% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $5,969,701 | $4,089,295 | $11,597,727 | $6,801,508 | $6,546,455 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,338,764 | $2,046,877 | $2,018,482 | $6,700,175 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $16,069,143 | $18,125,684 | $13,816,824 | $13,360,889 | $13,091,803 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $208,520 | $302,520 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $24,377,608 | $24,261,856 | $27,641,553 | $27,165,092 | $19,638,258 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $8,179,604 | $8,452,475 | $9,202,440 | $9,585,086 | $9,769,103 |
| Other long-term assets | $355,138 | $208,597 | $0 | $0 | $2,401,008 |
| Total long-term assets | $8,534,742 | $8,661,072 | $9,202,440 | $9,585,086 | $12,170,111 |
| Total assets | $32,912,350 | $32,922,928 | $36,843,993 | $36,750,178 | $31,808,369 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,257,361 | $1,645,595 | $1,124,871 | $1,155,161 | $1,357,976 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,257,361 | $1,645,595 | $1,124,871 | $1,155,161 | $1,357,976 |
| Debt | $1,652,160 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $3,370,801 | $3,610,695 | $3,718,575 | $3,953,450 | $3,840,332 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $5,022,961 | $3,610,695 | $3,718,575 | $3,953,450 | $3,840,332 |
| Total liabilities | $6,280,322 | $5,256,290 | $4,843,446 | $5,108,611 | $5,198,308 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $25,270,077 | $26,195,720 | $29,324,773 | $21,970,238 | $23,025,526 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,361,951 | $1,470,918 | $2,675,774 | $9,671,329 | $3,584,535 |
| Net assets | $26,632,028 | $27,666,638 | $32,000,547 | $31,641,567 | $26,610,061 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $21,729,335 | $20,226,612 | $22,419,731 | $26,520,160 | $20,955,891 |
| Program service revenue | $186,631 | $178,391 | $140,721 | $280,178 | $522,266 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $499,935 | $459,976 | $1,508,595 | $1,347,369 |
| Other revenue | $83,806 | ($438,771) | ($92,697) | ($430,974) | ($184,786) |
| Total other revenue | $270,437 | $239,555 | $508,000 | $1,357,799 | $1,684,849 |
| Total revenue | $21,999,772 | $20,466,167 | $22,927,731 | $27,877,959 | $22,640,740 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $17,639,943 | $18,245,090 | $16,346,325 | $14,799,807 | $16,643,812 |
| Management and general | $2,505,033 | $2,235,640 | $1,566,774 | $1,602,913 | $1,060,322 |
| Fundraising | $4,023,724 | $4,319,346 | $4,655,652 | $4,491,733 | $5,217,238 |
| Total expenses | $24,168,700 | $24,800,076 | $22,568,751 | $20,894,453 | $22,921,372 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($2,168,928) | ($4,333,909) | $358,980 | $6,983,506 | ($280,632) |
| Other changes in net assets | $1,134,318 | $0 | $0 | ($1,952,000) | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,034,610) | ($4,333,909) | $358,980 | $5,031,506 | ($280,632) |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
The Form 990 is an excellent source of financial data, but Bible League's main focus is on faithfully stewarding the gifts God provides to fulfill the call He has given us. We fulfill that calling with a relatively small but highly effective staff-just 140 people-of administrative, finance, and fundraising professionals and program leaders. This small staff supports the more than 150,000 trained Christian volunteers around the world who tirelessly serve the Lord as they carry out Bible League's global ministry.
Bible League's fundraising efforts are critical to ensuring that these dedicated volunteers-Bible study leaders, church planters, and literacy instructors-have what they need to help people study God's Word and learn about Jesus. Volunteers reached more than 2.7 million people last year thanks to the organization's efficient and effective fundraising efforts.
For 85 years, Bible League has provided Bibles and training to help people understand God's Word so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will find new life in Jesus Christ. The organization equips local churches and local Christians around the world to lead Bible studies, to use Bible-based Literacy to share God's Word in areas opposed to the Gospel, to grow existing churches, and to establish new churches in areas where none exist.
By God's grace, Bible League effectively uses God's Word each year to transform lives worldwide. Our annual ministry results reflect the impact donors make through their financial donations and are a powerful supplement to our Pro-Forma Form 990.
Bible League's annual ministry results give donors the confidence that their gifts are accomplishing great things for God's kingdom. In 2022, donor gifts helped provide 6,309,058 Bibles and biblical resources worldwide and accomplished these results:
2,756,845 people reached with God's Word
2,685,594 Bible study graduates
1,622 churches planted
To request a copy of our 2022 Ministry Results, please call us toll free at 866-825-4636 or email us at [email protected].
Bible League International's address is 1 Bible League Plaza, Crete, IL 60417.
To learn more about this global ministry, go to BibleLeague.org.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 9/17/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
William Chapman was hospitalized with a heart attack in 1936. An elder from his church came to pray with him, asking God to spare Bill's life so that he could "be directed into the service of Christ."
Bill's service to Christ began two years later on Good Friday, April 15, 1938. On that day, Bill and his wife Betty visited 245 homes in Walkerton, Indiana, and gave 46 Bibles they had purchased to families who promised to read them. Scriptureengagement was at the forefront from the very start of the ministry. Churches across the nation soon joined the effort to see the Bible being read in every U.S. home.
In 1950, Bible League's international outreach began in response to General Douglas MacArthur's appeal for Bibles to be placed in homes across Japan.
In 1972, the organization launched its evangelistic and discipleship Bible study program, known as Project Philip. Like in the Acts 8 story of Philip and the Ethiopian, Bible Leaguetrained believers help people to understand God's Word so that they will come to faith in Jesus Christ.
In addition to offering the Project Philip evangelistic and discipleship Bible study program, Bible League provides Church Planter Training and Biblebased Literacy. As we equip churches with the Bibles and training they need to share the Gospel through these three ministry programs, many people find new life in Jesus Christ.
A 2011 merger with World Bible Translation Center was another step in helping people to understand God's Word by providing easytoread translations of the Bible.
This year, we will train believers in more than 50 countries to help people to understand God's Word.
Program accomplishments
Since 1938:
Nearly 950 million Bibles and biblical resources provided
More than 70 million people reached with God's Word*
More than 4.4 million believers trained to share God's Word*
More than 76,000 churches planted*
*Ministry impact since 1989, when Bible League began systematically tracking and reporting results.
Needs
Bible League's strategic initiatives guide and focus our work. Our investments in programs and supporting activities fall within these strategies to live out our calling.
Church Growth
Evangelism and discipleship are key to church growth around the world. Church growth is the natural outcome of Scripture engagement. As we provide Project Philip Bible studies and Church Planter Training to churches, they grow in spiritual maturity and in numbers. Existing churches increase their membership and new churches are established in unreached communities.
Children and Youth
Currently, those individuals 24 years old and younger account for 41 percent of people in the world today; 25 percent are under the age of 15. God's Word tells us to "start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6). We are committed to engaging children and youth in God's Word so that they will follow Jesus Christ all through their lives. Our focus is on reaching those from primary school through college by utilizing Project Philip Bible studies in schools, churches, summer camps, and more.
Prison Ministry
By the power of the Holy Spirit working through God's Word, prison inmates are finding true freedom in Jesus Christ. Bible League International is expanding its efforts worldwide to engage inmates in the Gospel's redeeming message. As inmates encounter the love and grace of the Savior, God's Word transforms lives behind bars.
In partnership with Prison Fellowship International (PFI), Bible League's Prison Project Philip discipleship Bible study is being added to PFI's evangelistic study, The Prisoner's Journey. Every inmate who completes the evangelistic study receives a copy of Bible League's easytoread Prison Bible. Other Bible League ministry partners continue to implement our Project Philip evangelism and discipleship Bible studies in prisons worldwide.