World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) 
The information on this page was last updated 11/15/2022. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
May God be glorified and may all people participate in his Kingdom. This is our aim. The World Mission Prayer League exists to see that populations with limited or no access to the Gospel experience the love of Christ and that believers and communities of believers in the Americas and elsewhere engage in active and collaborative participation in living out their roles in the great commission.
Contact information
Mailing address:
World Mission Prayer League
232 Clifton Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Website: wmpl.org
Phone: (612) 871-6843
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 410786986
CEO/President: Paul Gossman
Chairman: Drew Bayless
Board size: 10
Founder: Lutheran Church Members
Ruling year: 1952
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1987
Purpose
The love of God enables our service. Simply, we serve because of Jesus! The world is badly in need. So, just as Jesus came to set this world right, we respond to the commands of the Word of God and go to do likewise. Compassion demands our radical action.
With faith in God's promises, we envision a time when God is glorified and all people participate in his Kingdom.
The aims of the World Mission Prayer League:
that believers and communities of believers in the Americas and elsewhere live out their roles in the great commission. We strive to inspire and help believers in the Americas and elsewhere to live a commissioned life, to participate in God's global mission, and to pray for the advance of the Kingdom and the sending of harvest workers.
that populations with limited or no access to the gospel experience the love of Christ. We are eager that people with limited access to the gospel experience the love of Christ. They are to be prayed for. They are to be blessed with loving and caring relationships with followers of Jesus. We want them to hear God's law and gospel, which alone have the power to lead them to salvation and bring them together in disciple-making communities of faith.
that majority world partner churches and ministries are equal and respected collaborators in mission. We want our partner churches elsewhere in the world to be equal and respected collaborators in God's mission, praying for the Kingdom's advance, sharing the Good News within their cultures and beyond, serving their communities, and establishing their own leadership.
Mission statement
We are a Lutheran community committed to know Christ, pray for the advance of his kingdom, share the gospel and ourselves with those who do not know him; and encourage Christians everywhere in this global task.
Statement of faith
WE BELIEVE IN ...
The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - full of love and glory.
The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible, our infallible guide and inerrant norm for doctrine and living.
The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of their sin and guilt, justly subject to God's wrath and unable to save themselves.
Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.
The means of grace - principally the Bible and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper - by which God shares with us the good news of the wonderful salvation that can be ours in Jesus Christ.
Justification by God's grace - complete access to God's every gift and benefit - for all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and the spiritual gifts necessary for a calling to obedient service.
The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshipping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.
The future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
WE FURTHER BELIEVE THAT ...
The historic creeds of the church - the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian - and the historic confessions of the Lutheran Church - particularly the Small Catechism and the Unaltered Augsburg Confession - describe the Christian faith accurately and well.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 496 of 1074 | 51 of 139 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 100 of 1075 | 12 of 139 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 453 of 1075 | 44 of 139 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 995 of 1074 | 130 of 139 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 97% | 92% | 102% | 96% | 95% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 3% | 8% | -2% | 4% | 5% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 87% | 85% | 87% | 87% | 88% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 89% | 106% | 86% | 86% | 113% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 91% | 73% | 75% | 98% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 11% | -6% | 14% | 14% | -13% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 14% | -3% | 7% | 8% | -8% | 2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 13% | 14% | 12% | 12% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.16 | 0.47 | 0.42 | 0.47 | 0.64 | 0.59 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.19 | 2.34 | 2.30 | 2.57 | 2.86 | 2.69 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.64 | 1.09 | 0.97 | 1.21 | 1.83 | 1.60 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 23.29 | 71.45 | 63.97 | 56.54 | 6.77 | 38.65 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.15 | 0.03 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.64 | 10.82 | 12.19 | 9.78 | 5.59 | 7.30 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 6% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 9% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 82% | 207% | 228% | 205% | 142% | 160% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $1,443,327 | $605,293 | $1,114,599 | $664,928 | $812,695 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $63,722 | $81,169 | $72,980 | $66,062 | $48,284 |
| Short-term investments | $1,287,773 | $2,244,356 | $1,243,072 | $1,401,506 | $1,471,482 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,794,822 | $2,930,818 | $2,430,651 | $2,132,496 | $2,332,461 |
| Long-term investments | $248,406 | $250,564 | $211,541 | $225,893 | $208,981 |
| Fixed assets | $3,023,363 | $3,068,347 | $3,133,029 | $3,217,830 | $3,230,808 |
| Other long-term assets | $485,554 | $484,177 | $478,119 | $530,817 | $510,889 |
| Total long-term assets | $3,757,323 | $3,803,088 | $3,822,689 | $3,974,540 | $3,950,678 |
| Total assets | $6,552,145 | $6,733,906 | $6,253,340 | $6,107,036 | $6,283,139 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $20,621 | $20,572 | $18,281 | $287,972 | $33,775 |
| Other current liabilities | $18,497 | $25,243 | $24,706 | $26,904 | $26,571 |
| Total current liabilities | $39,118 | $45,815 | $42,987 | $314,876 | $60,346 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,930 | $2,065 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $185,811 | $205,190 | $206,196 | $242,335 | $235,116 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $185,811 | $205,190 | $206,196 | $245,265 | $237,181 |
| Total liabilities | $224,929 | $251,005 | $249,183 | $560,141 | $297,527 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $6,237,066 | $6,398,002 | $5,925,521 | $5,456,458 | $5,902,626 |
| With donor restrictions | $90,150 | $84,899 | $78,636 | $90,437 | $82,986 |
| Net assets | $6,327,216 | $6,482,901 | $6,004,157 | $5,546,895 | $5,985,612 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $2,820,969 | $3,054,285 | $3,460,621 | $3,316,148 | $3,637,786 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $59,262 | $219,943 | ($56,522) | $138,504 | $167,176 |
| Other revenue | $14,908 | $37,941 | ($5,409) | $2,723 | $29,973 |
| Total other revenue | $74,170 | $257,884 | ($61,931) | $141,227 | $197,149 |
| Total revenue | $2,895,139 | $3,312,169 | $3,398,690 | $3,457,375 | $3,834,935 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $2,647,398 | $2,415,178 | $2,558,907 | $3,400,953 | $3,279,153 |
| Management and general | $392,913 | $406,654 | $359,196 | $482,090 | $428,541 |
| Fundraising | $15,774 | $17,856 | $11,524 | $20,500 | $27,180 |
| Total expenses | $3,056,085 | $2,839,688 | $2,929,627 | $3,903,543 | $3,734,874 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($160,946) | $472,481 | $469,063 | ($446,168) | $100,061 |
| Other changes in net assets | $5,251 | $6,263 | ($11,801) | $7,451 | $20,619 |
| Total change in net assets | ($155,695) | $478,744 | $457,262 | ($438,717) | $120,680 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 11/15/2022. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The World Mission Prayer League grew out of a God-given burden to pray for the unreached interiors of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. By the mid-1930's, a band of students, pastors and friends in the Minneapolis area joined together in prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into his harvest (Luke 10:2). Soon some of them felt called to join the harvest themselves.
They organized themselves along simple lines to accept volunteers and send them into areas of special concern by founding the South American Mission Prayer League in Minneapolis on May 25, 1937. They were committed to finding a way to send and go in mission, without the constraint of budgetary limitations; to providing a way for lay participation in mission, without the requirement of ordination; and to complement the regular work of the Lutheran synods, without diverting means or personnel from their programs. Within a year its first global workers were sent out: John Carlsen and Ernest Weinhardt were on their way to Bolivia. Soon other volunteers were sent to Central Asia, and eventually to Africa and Eastern Europe.
A sister organization emerged from this same sending fellowship. The Lutheran World Crusade functioned alongside the Prayer League for a few years in the 1940's. These two communities were formally merged and, in 1945, as a reflection of growing involvements around the world, they were incorporated in the State of Minnesota as the World Mission Prayer League.
In 1969 a sister organization, the World Mission Prayer League Canada, adopted its Constitution and incorporated in Edmonton, Alberta. Read more in WMPL Canada History 1944 - 1995.
In 1972 the American Board of the Santal Mission merged with the World Mission Prayer League. The American Board sent its first global workers from Minneapolis in 1904, to join a Scandinavian work already in progress among the Santal people in northern India. From these early beginnings, the World Mission Prayer League has inherited a particular concern for the Santal people of India and Bangladesh.
Together with the Church and its partners in mission, the World Mission Prayer League seeks to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's fresh initiative in our world today. Prayer League members continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth workers, and that the Lord himself would sustain and uphold them.
For more on the history of our fellowship, read the Mission Handbook, The Spirit of God Was Moving and Food from Ravens.