International Messengers 
The information on this page was last updated 2/20/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We are committed to making disciples of all nations through partnering with local churches to renew, train and mobilize believers in reaching the world for Christ.
Train - We train career and short-term staff before sending them out.
Send - We send and support staff in the work they do around the world.
Partner - We partner with both staff and local ministries, to have maximum impact in communities we reach.
Contact information
Mailing address:
International Messengers
110 Orchard Ct.
PO Box 618
Clear Lake, IA 50428
Website: internationalmessengers.org
Phone: (641) 357-6700
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 411652782
CEO/President: Darwin Anderson
Chairman: Tim Sizer
Board size: 17
Founder: Mr. Robert Rasmusson
Ruling year: 1994
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1992
Purpose
We believe that the spiritual revival of the Church is a primary key to effectively reaching this world with the love of Christ. We are partners with the local church to equip and send people into the world with the truth of The Gospel.
Mission statement
International Messengers is an evangelical interdenominational missions organization comprised of an international staff team. We are committed to making disciples of all nations through partnering with local churches to renew, train and mobilize believers for active involvement in reaching the world for Christ.
Statement of faith
WE BELIEVE the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writing, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men and the Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life.
WE BELIEVE in One God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, having precisely the same nature and worthy of equal worship and obedience.
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is true God and true man. Having been conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as a substitutional sacrifice for our sins. He arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where He continues His High Priestly ministry at the right hand of the throne of God.
WE BELIEVE that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.
WE BELIEVE that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin through Adam and is therefore totally depraved, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
WE BELIEVE that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God.
WE BELIEVE that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
WE BELIEVE that the true Church is composed of all who through personal faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together as the body of Christ of which He is the Head.
WE BELIEVE in the personal and premillennial imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and that this Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
We believe the destiny for the believer is to be present with the Lord and for the unbeliever is to be separated from the presence of the Lord in everlasting punishment.
WE BELIEVE the great evangelistic and missionary commission given by Jesus Christ to the disciples and to the continuing church is that of making Christ known throughout the world by word and example and bringing to maturity those who believe in Him through instruction from the Word.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 489 of 1076 | 55 of 141 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 257 of 1077 | 42 of 141 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 484 of 1077 | 49 of 141 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 807 of 1076 | 103 of 141 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 87% | 86% | 87% | 86% | 88% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 89% | 89% | 93% | 97% | 98% | 100% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 77% | 80% | 85% | 85% | 88% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 11% | 11% | 7% | 3% | 2% | 0% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 15% | 12% | 9% | 4% | 3% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 9% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.18 | 0.96 | 1.10 | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.24 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.24 | 2.21 | 1.74 | 1.84 | 2.03 | 2.01 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.64 | 2.12 | 1.91 | 2.18 | 2.39 | 2.49 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 22.35 | 9.12 | 9.28 | 9.39 | 10.28 | 9.21 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.04 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.11 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.64 | 5.03 | 5.60 | 4.92 | 4.54 | 4.29 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 6% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 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% | 99% | 85% | 80% | 81% | 76% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $2,184,459 | $2,432,855 | $2,040,196 | $1,783,339 | $1,807,367 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $107,863 | $162,053 | $165,235 | $122,810 | $77,033 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,292,322 | $2,594,908 | $2,205,431 | $1,906,149 | $1,884,400 |
| Long-term investments | $805,610 | $84,515 | $188,560 | $188,127 | $187,630 |
| Fixed assets | $270,803 | $203,873 | $241,052 | $273,914 | $299,283 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,708,259 | $1,619,969 | $1,424,282 | $1,502,106 | $1,418,218 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,784,672 | $1,908,357 | $1,853,894 | $1,964,147 | $1,905,131 |
| Total assets | $5,076,994 | $4,503,265 | $4,059,325 | $3,870,296 | $3,789,531 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $251,478 | $279,500 | $234,941 | $185,464 | $204,584 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $251,478 | $279,500 | $234,941 | $185,464 | $204,584 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $251,478 | $279,500 | $234,941 | $185,464 | $204,584 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,435,755 | $2,165,847 | $1,988,580 | $1,707,076 | $1,755,474 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,389,761 | $2,057,918 | $1,835,804 | $1,977,756 | $1,829,473 |
| Net assets | $4,825,516 | $4,223,765 | $3,824,384 | $3,684,832 | $3,584,947 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $5,461,182 | $5,352,675 | $4,946,204 | $4,643,613 | $4,690,633 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $7,962 | $10,700 | $3,312 | $6,888 | $6,745 |
| Other revenue | $0 | ($4,260) | ($1,477) | ($1,455) | ($175) |
| Total other revenue | $7,962 | $6,440 | $1,835 | $5,433 | $6,570 |
| Total revenue | $5,469,144 | $5,359,115 | $4,948,039 | $4,649,046 | $4,697,203 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $4,215,571 | $4,275,252 | $4,203,841 | $3,931,442 | $4,141,836 |
| Management and general | $505,069 | $491,186 | $459,426 | $463,794 | $436,487 |
| Fundraising | $146,753 | $193,296 | $145,220 | $153,925 | $116,234 |
| Total expenses | $4,867,393 | $4,959,734 | $4,808,487 | $4,549,161 | $4,694,557 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $601,751 | $399,381 | $139,552 | $99,885 | $2,646 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $601,751 | $399,381 | $139,552 | $99,885 | $2,646 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Brent Howland | Member/Staff | $87,060 |
| Ed Kleiman | Member/Staff | $62,370 |
| Darwin Anderson | Member/CEO | $52,435 |
| J Paul Schmidt | Treasurer | $50,400 |
| Steve Sharp | Member/Staff | $15,600 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2020
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 2/20/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The concept of International Messengers (IM) actually took place in the mind and heart of Robert Rasmusson in 1980. IM became an independent, nonprofit mission organization in 1989. The offices were moved to Clear Lake, Iowa, in 1992.
IM set out to provide effective cross-cultural, short-term missions experiences for college-age students and adults. This pursuit led to a new and innovative ministry concept called Evangelistic English Language Camps (EELC), born in 1985 with a camp in Austria. The camps were expanded to Communist Poland the following year and then began in Hong Kong and other Eastern European countries from 1987 - 1992.
In 1990 IM started offering 2-1/2 week opportunities aimed at involving adult lay people and impacting the local church. Winter camps began in 1991 for the same purpose. At about the same time, IM started to focus on recruiting church teams, where all the team members were from one church. The number of people involved in these English camp teams has grown annually from 15 in the beginning to over 200 at present. In the late 90's the concept continued to expand into medical, nursing, educational and professional English camps which have had an effect on the adult population of Central & Eastern Europe.
The ministries of our cross-cultural staff include Bible study and discipleship, children-at-risk ministry, cooking class outreach, evangelism through English teaching, jail ministry, marriage and parenting outreach, medical ministry, men's accountability ministry, ministry to people with HIV, ministry to the elderly, ministry to the homeless/addicts, ministry through business, motorcycle ministry, Native American and First Nations ministry, outreach to businessmen, outreach to sex-trafficked girls and women, planting and pastoring churches, refugee ministry, Roma ministry through adult education, therapy using dogs and horses, translation of discipleship material, university student outreach, women and children-at-risk ministry, and youth ministry.
We anxiously wait to see God's plans unfold for IM in the coming years.
Program accomplishments
250 Worldwide Staff
54% National Missionaries, reaching 28 countries.