Ethnos360 
The information on this page was last updated 4/26/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Ethnos360 ministers among people groups isolated from the gospel. Working within the context of the ethnic cultures and languages, missionaries establish churches with indigenous leaders who have been equipped with a Bible translated into their own language and trained to disciple their own people and reach out to neighboring villages and people groups.
Our Methodology:
We minister among unreached people groups: In more than 6,000 people groups around the world, there is no church, nor is there any work being done to establish a church. These are the people among whom Ethnos360 works.
We work in the culture and language of the people: These people groups' cultures and languages have isolated them from the gospel. Missionaries learn their culture and language in order to understand and to be understood within the context of that culture, to clearly present the gospel and to effectively plant a church.
We translate the Scripture: For believers to grow to maturity, they must have God's Word to study. Translating the Scriptures into the people group's heart language is essential, as are literacy classes in situations where learning to read has not been an option for the people. Investment is made in Scripture translation along with foundational chronological teaching.
We present foundational Bible teaching: Unreached people groups have no concept of the God of the Bible. This means that Bible teaching must start at the same place God began - at the beginning. Chronological Bible teaching presents a foundation for understanding God's character and the plan of redemption.
We establish mature churches: Evangelism is but the beginning. Ethnos360 and the Global Partner network are committed to seeing mature churches established. In this context of a mature church, we are speaking of a church where the disciples are becoming the disciplers, where indigenous church leadership is solidly in place and where the church is reproducing itself.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Ethnos360
312 W First St
Sanford, FL 32771
Website: ethnos360.org
Phone: 407-323-3430
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 396024926
CEO/President: Steve Sanford
Chairman: Larry Brown
Board size: 10
Founder: Paul Fleming
Ruling year: 1946
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2018
Purpose
Ethnos360 helps local churches train, coordinate and send missionaries to people groups whose cultures and languages have isolated them from the gospel. Their efforts are directed to where little or no witness of the gospel has yet reached. Ethnos360 puts a high priority on effectively preparing missionaries to establish mature churches by clearly communicating biblical truths in peoples' mother tongues.
Missionaries learn the ethnic language and study the culture so they can present the message of the gospel in the language and manner the people will understand. They translate God's Word, teach people how to read and write in their own language, and teach through the Bible chronologically. Once the gospel has been presented, missionaries begin discipling believers with the goal of equipping them to lead their churches and to reach out to neighboring villages and ethnic groups.
Mission statement
Motivated by the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Ethnos360 exists to assist the ministry of the local church through the mobilizing, equipping and coordinating of believers to evangelize unreached people groups, translate the Scriptures and see indigenous churches established that glorify God.
Statement of faith
We believe:
In the word-by-word inspiration, inerrancy, and final authority of the Holy Scriptures.
In one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
In the Lord Jesus Christ as true God and true man; His virgin birth, sinless humanity, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, present advocacy, and His bodily return.
In the fall of man, resulting in his complete and universal separation from God and his need of salvation.
That the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood and died as a sacrifice for the sins of every person in the whole world.
That salvation is a free and everlasting gift of God, entirely apart from works, received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
That the Holy Spirit regenerates with divine life and personally indwells the believer upon faith in Christ for salvation.
In the bodily resurrection and unending life of the saved with the Lord and the bodily resurrection and unending punishment of the unsaved.
The church, beginning at Pentecost, is the body of Christ comprised of those who have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior.
It is the church's responsibility to glorify Christ by preaching the gospel to the world and making disciples of all nations.
We hold and teach the following positions:
The pretribulational rapture of the church and Christ's premillennial return to the earth.
The historical-grammatical interpretation of the Bible.
That a soul once saved can never be lost.
The practice of believer's baptism by immersion.
That we do not practice what are commonly known as the "sign gifts."
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: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 757 of 1118 | 91 of 141 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 112 of 1119 | 13 of 141 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1023 of 1119 | 129 of 141 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 856 of 1118 | 100 of 141 |
Click here to read Ethnos360'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 | 6% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 92% | 89% | 90% | 89% | 87% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 8% | 11% | 10% | 11% | 13% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 72% | 72% | 71% | 71% | 75% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 99% | 95% | 96% | 100% | 92% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 84% | 72% | 69% | 68% | 71% | 69% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 1% | 5% | 4% | 0% | 8% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 2% | 6% | 6% | 0% | 13% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 27% | 27% | 28% | 28% | 25% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.34 | 1.08 | 1.09 | 1.14 | 1.17 | 1.30 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.27 | 1.87 | 1.97 | 2.00 | 2.06 | 2.07 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.17 | 2.02 | 2.15 | 2.28 | 2.40 | 2.69 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 17.40 | 16.23 | 11.50 | 5.76 | 5.50 | 5.76 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.17 | 0.18 | 0.17 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.10 | 5.58 | 5.10 | 4.35 | 4.08 | 3.69 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 16% | 14% | 15% | 15% | 14% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 68% | 77% | 79% | 75% | 73% | 67% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $15,207,983 | $14,621,539 | $14,616,778 | $13,029,710 | $11,939,955 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,202,112 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $9,277,863 | $9,413,800 | $8,111,688 | $7,007,846 | $6,548,433 |
| Other current assets | $6,190,792 | $5,537,243 | $4,864,426 | $5,526,117 | $4,856,110 |
| Total current assets | $32,878,750 | $29,572,582 | $27,592,892 | $25,563,673 | $23,344,498 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $28,599,265 | $26,892,905 | $25,730,809 | $25,288,899 | $23,460,486 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $1,837,492 | $1,950,633 | $1,703,362 | $1,481,711 |
| Total long-term assets | $28,599,265 | $28,730,397 | $27,681,442 | $26,992,261 | $24,942,197 |
| Total assets | $61,478,015 | $58,302,979 | $55,274,334 | $52,555,934 | $48,286,695 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $295,070 | $516,146 | $3,101,850 | $2,475,813 | $2,477,935 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,731,010 | $2,055,147 | $1,687,477 | $2,173,127 | $1,576,595 |
| Total current liabilities | $2,026,080 | $2,571,293 | $4,789,327 | $4,648,940 | $4,054,530 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,050,000 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $7,598,130 | $5,013,968 | $2,617,518 | $1,551,245 | $1,870,331 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $476,945 | $446,945 | $613,631 | $643,506 | $643,377 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $8,075,075 | $5,460,913 | $3,231,149 | $3,244,751 | $2,513,708 |
| Total liabilities | $10,101,155 | $8,032,206 | $8,020,476 | $7,893,691 | $6,568,238 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $49,120,399 | $47,717,465 | $42,927,939 | $40,830,430 | $37,517,042 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,256,461 | $2,553,308 | $4,325,919 | $3,831,813 | $4,201,415 |
| Net assets | $51,376,860 | $50,270,773 | $47,253,858 | $44,662,243 | $41,718,457 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $61,673,240 | $59,051,112 | $59,114,651 | $55,137,024 | $59,389,924 |
| Program service revenue | $4,167,632 | $5,056,207 | $5,396,408 | $5,278,894 | $5,025,849 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $732,761 | $1,414,152 | ($51,522) | $758,254 | $3,367,688 |
| Other revenue | $613,934 | $1,059,008 | $1,157,210 | $484,262 | $421,055 |
| Total other revenue | $5,514,327 | $7,529,367 | $6,502,096 | $6,521,410 | $8,814,592 |
| Total revenue | $67,187,567 | $66,580,479 | $65,616,747 | $61,658,434 | $68,204,516 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $48,110,535 | $45,744,127 | $44,645,556 | $43,922,228 | $46,880,806 |
| Management and general | $18,009,439 | $17,438,300 | $17,870,490 | $17,204,230 | $15,539,634 |
| Fundraising | $259,431 | $354,470 | $352,722 | $315,383 | $262,323 |
| Total expenses | $66,379,405 | $63,536,897 | $62,868,768 | $61,441,841 | $62,682,763 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $808,162 | $3,043,582 | $2,747,979 | $216,593 | $5,521,753 |
| Other changes in net assets | $297,925 | ($26,667) | ($156,364) | $2,727,193 | ($449,232) |
| Total change in net assets | $1,106,087 | $3,016,915 | $2,591,615 | $2,943,786 | $5,072,521 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
Ethnos360 ministers among unreached people groups:
In more than 6,000 people groups around the world, there is no church, nor is there any work being done to establish a church. These are the people among whom Ethnos360 works.
We work in the context of the ethnic culture and language
These ethnic groups' cultures and languages have isolated them from the gospel. Missionaries must learn their languages and understand their cultures in order to clearly present the gospel and effectively plant churches.
We provide practical training and follow-up support to our missionaries
Physical, cultural and language challenges create extra barriers to effective cross-cultural church planting among ethnic groups. These barriers can be overcome, and Ethnos360's specialized training helps speed the process. Consultant teams provide additional follow-up support as missionaries enter the different phases of their ministry... getting established, language learning, cultural comprehension, evangelism, Bible translation, church planting, and discipleship.
We present foundational Bible teaching
Unreached people groups have no concept of the God of the Bible. So Bible teaching begins at the same place God began: at the beginning. Chronological Bible teaching presents a foundation for understanding Jesus' death and resurrection.
We establish churches led by ethnic believers
Following the pattern seen in Acts as God's people carried out the Great Commission, missionaries seek to establish churches that can take their rightful place as agents of change in their own communities and partners in the Great Commission.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/26/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Ethnos360 is steadfast in its goal of reaching people who have no access to the gospel. That was the vision for our ministry when we were founded in 1942 as New Tribes Mission, and it is our vision today.
Paul Fleming and five others had no funds or organization behind them when they dared to trust God to establish NTM.
"It seemed that the Lord had pushed us into something, and we were confident that no man started New Tribes Mission; the Lord brought it into existence in spite of us," Paul wrote.
Ethnos360 continues to trust God, and God continues to be glorified. Today more than 3,000 missionaries with Global Partners serve throughout the world, and training programs in 11 countries prepare missionaries for service among the thousands of tribes who have yet to hear.
We thank God for the rich heritage passed on to us by a small group of people who decided, in Paul Fleming's words, "New Tribes Mission's efforts shall be directed ... where no witness of the gospel has yet reached."
Program accomplishments
Ethnos360:
- has planted churches among ethnic groups in Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
- has developed the chronological method of communicating the gospel and shared it with other mission agencies and churches. Over 100,000 copies of the English version have been printed. The book has also been translated into over 300 minority languages and 50 major languages including Mandarin Chinese, Russian, French, Spanish and Farsi.
- has completed translation of the New Testament into 94 ethnic languages.
- has continued the process of translating the New Testament into 126 additional languages.
- has worked with international partners to provide missionary training centers in 11 countries.
- has developed and maintained a missionary flight program.
- has provided short-term, medium-term and career missionary service opportunities.
- has expanded its missions exposure opportunities through its "Interface" program in Papua New Guinea, its "Wayumi" program in Pennsylvania and its "Encounter" trips to different locations.