Bibles for the World 
The information on this page was last updated 6/7/2022. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
While the Bible remains the most popular, most read book across the globe, more than 2 billion people have never had a chance to read God's Word. That's why BFTW works to provide Scriptures in regions where there is little or no access to the Bible.
Since 1973, when the Partnership Mission Society became Bibles For The World, friends and partners like you have helped provide God's Word to people in 123 Nations in a variety of forms - New Testaments, Gospels, and full Bibles. You can have a dramatic impact by helping place Scriptures in hands that are eager to read the life-transforming message of God's love and forgiveness!
Contact information
Mailing address:
Bibles for the World
PO Box 49759
Colorado Springs, CO 80949
Website: biblesfortheworld.org
Phone: (888) 382-4253
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 362434228
CEO/President: John Pudaite
Chairman: Louis Pope
Board size: 12
Founder: Dr. Rochunga and Mawii Pudaite
Ruling year: 1959
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1980
Purpose
Bibles For The World works in areas where there is restricted access to God's Word, where copies are scarce or among peoples where Christianity is beginning to take root - such as Nepal, Cambodia, areas of India and other Asian and SE Asian nations.
"Placing God's Word in the hands of people where Bibles are scarce or completely unavailable is the challenge we face. Completing the Great Commission is dependent upon people having access to the Gospel"
John L. Pudaite - President & CEO, Bibles For The World
Mission statement
The mission of Bibles For The World is to be a catalyst for individual and cultural change through Christ and the power of His Word! This means sharing the Good News of God's love in Christ Jesus by ministering to unreached peoples, to the Church and to Christian leaders in developing nations, with a strong emphasis on India.
Statement of faith
- We believe the Bible, as contained in the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and infallible Word of God, being given by the Holy Spirit of God to holy men of old. It is, therefore, the only and final authority in all matters of faith and practice.
- We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His works of miracles, in His vicarious and redeeming death, in His cleansing blood shed on Calvary, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of God the Father and in His personal and visible return in power and glory.
- We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who by means of the Word of God, is the Author of the new birth, the Comforter, and the Sanctifier; and He indwells the believer.
- We believe that humans were created in the image of God, that they fell into sin, and thereby incurred not only physical death, but spiritual death which is separation from God; that all human beings, in consequence of the Fall, are born with sinful nature.
- We believe in the necessity of the new birth by the Holy Spirit in order that people may have peace with God, and this new birth cannot be received by being born into a Christian home or by association with believers. Rather, it is attained by putting one's entire confidence in the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and in the power of His resurrection.
- We believe in the resurrection of the body, both of the just and the unjust, the eternal blessedness of the redeemed in Christ, and the eternal punishment of those who have rejected the offer of Salvation.
- We believe that the commission of Christ to be witnesses of His life, death and resurrection and eternal life through His name is the task of every born-again Christian.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1006 of 1022 | 70 of 70 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1020 of 1025 | 70 of 70 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 854 of 1025 | 57 of 70 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 916 of 1022 | 62 of 70 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 31% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 23% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 85% | 73% | 73% | 73% | 74% | 80% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 22% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 15% | 27% | 27% | 27% | 26% | 20% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 72% | 82% | 82% | 81% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 105% | 95% | 94% | 90% | 92% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 74% | 75% | 79% | 77% | 74% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | -5% | 5% | 6% | 10% | 8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 8% | -2% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 8% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.88 | 0.48 | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.39 | 0.43 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.41 | 3.01 | 2.49 | 2.41 | 2.21 | 2.15 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.50 | 1.45 | 1.02 | 0.98 | 0.87 | 0.91 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 14.19 | 61.37 | 46.24 | 22.94 | 28.77 | 27.55 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.33 | 8.13 | 11.48 | 11.74 | 13.33 | 12.66 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 7% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 91% | 198% | 230% | 231% | 238% | 219% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $857,171 | $790,508 | $956,679 | $920,833 | $1,608,539 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $177,442 | $277,512 | $73,288 | $283,928 | $212,598 |
| Short-term investments | $1,360,402 | $2,071,259 | $2,168,998 | $2,187,188 | $1,532,686 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,395,015 | $3,139,279 | $3,198,965 | $3,391,949 | $3,353,823 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $4,619,330 | $4,449,951 | $4,238,543 | $4,014,993 | $3,785,892 |
| Other long-term assets | $204,407 | $213,656 | $284,586 | $72,613 | $61,870 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,823,737 | $4,663,607 | $4,523,129 | $4,087,606 | $3,847,762 |
| Total assets | $7,218,752 | $7,802,886 | $7,722,094 | $7,479,555 | $7,201,585 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $26,290 | $55,159 | $53,805 | $28,991 | $36,866 |
| Other current liabilities | $12,737 | $12,736 | $85,637 | $88,898 | $84,868 |
| Total current liabilities | $39,027 | $67,895 | $139,442 | $117,889 | $121,734 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $291,470 | $346,376 | $350,775 | $332,990 | $362,127 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $291,470 | $346,376 | $350,775 | $332,990 | $362,127 |
| Total liabilities | $330,497 | $414,271 | $490,217 | $450,879 | $483,861 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $5,493,964 | $5,964,526 | $5,793,608 | $5,528,939 | $5,042,247 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,394,291 | $1,424,089 | $1,438,269 | $1,499,737 | $1,675,477 |
| Net assets | $6,888,255 | $7,388,615 | $7,231,877 | $7,028,676 | $6,717,724 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $2,410,765 | $2,451,269 | $2,430,319 | $2,412,641 | $2,654,343 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $39,472 | $156,635 | $88,432 | $269,831 | ($9,732) |
| Other revenue | $864,756 | $760,103 | $812,411 | $576,262 | $675,966 |
| Total other revenue | $904,228 | $916,738 | $900,843 | $846,093 | $666,234 |
| Total revenue | $3,314,993 | $3,368,007 | $3,331,162 | $3,258,734 | $3,320,577 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $2,489,851 | $2,645,154 | $2,580,221 | $2,398,950 | $2,538,245 |
| Management and general | $226,596 | $187,817 | $191,607 | $226,280 | $233,808 |
| Fundraising | $758,906 | $378,298 | $356,133 | $322,552 | $290,646 |
| Total expenses | $3,475,353 | $3,211,269 | $3,127,961 | $2,947,782 | $3,062,699 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($160,360) | $156,738 | $203,201 | $310,952 | $257,878 |
| Other changes in net assets | ($340,000) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($500,360) | $156,738 | $203,201 | $310,952 | $257,878 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| John L Pudaite | President | $95,860 |
| Mawii Pudaite | Co-Founder and Director | $56,900 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2020
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 6/7/2022. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
When the Gospel first came to the Hmar tribe in 1910, one of the first converts was a young man by the name of Chawnga (See Headhunters to Hearthunters). As more and more of the tribal people became Christians, he saw the need for the Scriptures in their native language. Chawnga prayed that someday he would have a son who would learn to read and write so that he could translate the Bible into the Hmar language.
Chawnga had four sons. One was named Rochunga. As Ro grew older, he knew that God wanted him to go to school. At ten years old, despite teasing from his friends, Ro became the first boy from his village to go to school. It was a long, dangerous trip. Ninety-six mile through a jungle of tigers, elephants, bears, and man-eating python snakes.
Six days later, Ro arrived safely in the village of Churachandpur and started school. He later went continued his schooling in England, and then did his graduate work at Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois.
During his time in school, Ro worked hard on translating the Bible into his native language. Finally the job was done. He wrapped up the precious manuscript, mailed it to the printer, and at long last, the Bible arrived in Northeast India. There was much joy and excitement as Chawnga and others dedicated the book that had changed their people from Headhunters to Hearthunters!
During his years in college, Ro had met and was communicating with a young lady back in Northeast India. Her name was Lalrimawii, which means the name of the Lord is a beautiful sound. When his work in translating the Bible was finished, Ro went back to India and asked Mawii to be his wife.
After all the work in translating the Bible, Ro and his new wife, Mawii, thought that the work God had for them was finished. Little did they know that it had just begun. Ro was asked to head the Indo-Burma Pioneer Mission, which was later incorporated as the Partnership Mission Society in 1958 for the purpose of spreading God's love throughout India.
Even though the Hmar people now had the Bible in their own language, many of them could not read. Ro and Mawii started many village schools, high school, a college, and even a seminary for their people. Today the original school and now the largest of all the schools, located in Churachandpur, has over 1,800 students. Perhaps most amazingly of all, the Hmar people now have one of the highest literacy rates of any people group in all of India!
God also led Ro and Mawii to start churches throughout Northeast India. Over three hundred churches are now a part of the Evangelical Free Church of India, the denomination that they founded.
After seeing the tremendous impact the Word of God had on their tribe, Ro and Mawii shared a vision to provide God's Word throughout the world through phone books and the postal system. Partnership Mission Society became Bibles For The World in 1971. Through Bibles For The World, millions of Bibles were mailed to over one hundred countries.
Dr. Ro and Mawii's story has been chronicled in a major motion picture called Beyond The Next Mountain and in Dr. Ro's biography, Fire On The Hills. Both are available through Bibles For The World.
Due to rising costs, the model for distribution of God's Word had to change. Today Bibles For The World is involved in many Scripture distribution projects around the world, mostly in collaboration with other ministries that provide the distribution channels where Bibles are scarce or unavailable. These projects range in size from a few hundred copies of Scriptures to hundreds of thousands that reach significant numbers of people within a very short time period.
Program accomplishments
BFTW has provided scriptures in people's native languages in 123 nations.