Christian Worship Hour 
The information on this page was last updated 3/13/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The Christian Worship Hour is a TV church service ministry with great gospel songs, Bible study lessons and online worship services. Dr. Harold E. Salem teaches Christians about God and Jesus Christ through the Bible and weekly online worship and sermons.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Christian Worship Hour
P.O. Box 2002
Aberdeen, SD 57402
Website: christianworshiphour.com
Phone: 605-725-2770
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 460349721
CEO/President: William Bill Edwards
Chairman: Bill Edwards
Board size: 11
Founder: Dr. Harold E. Salem
Ruling year: 1979
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2012
Purpose
Our purpose will always be to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ so that all may come to everlasting life through faith in Him, bringing glory to God the Father Almighty. Amen.
The vision of the CWH is to offer TV church services and worship services to those who are housebound. The telecast was never meant to be a substitute for worshipping in your own church.
Mission statement
The Christian Worship Hour's mission is to tell the world of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and to encourage believers in their faith.
Statement of faith
The following core beliefs make up the foundation upon which all our ministry endeavors are based. The Christian Worship Hour believes:
- The Word of God: We believe the Bible to be the infallible Word of God; that it is His holy and inspired Word, and that it is of supreme and final authority. (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16).
- The Trinity: We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19).
- God the Father: We believe in God the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers, and that He saves from sin and eternal death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (I Timothy 1:17; John 14:6).
- God the Son: We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe that He led a sinless life, took on Himself all our sins, died and rose again, and that He is seated at the right hand of the Father as our mediator and advocate. (John 1: 1-3).
- God the Holy Spirit: We believe in the Holy Spirit, who being God, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8); and regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
- Regeneration: We believe that all men everywhere are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore under condemnation and face the judgment of God. We believe men are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and saved by God's grace through a personal faith in Jesus Christ and that we must dedicate ourselves anew to the service of our Lord and to His authority over our lives. (John 3:3; Titus 3:5).
- Resurrection: We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost: they who are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation. (Romans 8:11).
- The Body of Christ: We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ, and in holy Christian living, and that we must have concern for the hurts and social needs of our fellowmen.(Ephesians 4: 11, 12).
- The Church: We believe that the church is the body of Christ on earth and in heaven (Ephesians 3:15), the redeemed fellowship of believers, crossing denominational, cultural, national and racial lines, and is God's institution for bringing redemption and sanctification to individuals and families, and for evangelizing the nations.
- Global Ministry: We believe in using every modern means of communication available to us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. (Matthew 28:18-20).
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Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Radio/ TV Stations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 94 of 1420 | 4 of 32 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 366 of 1420 | 6 of 32 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 105 of 1420 | 5 of 32 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 284 of 1421 | 9 of 33 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 77% | 98% | 98% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 23% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 79% | 89% | 89% | 88% | 89% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 93% | 92% | 132% | 100% | 94% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 71% | 83% | 82% | 116% | 89% | 84% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 7% | 8% | -32% | 0% | 6% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 8% | 11% | -50% | -1% | 8% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 16% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.37 | 1.01 | 1.15 | 1.66 | 1.21 | 1.17 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.16 | 1.03 | 1.04 | 1.05 | 1.04 | 1.03 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 0.90 | 1.04 | 1.19 | 1.75 | 1.26 | 1.20 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 17.46 | 14.41 | 19.06 | 4.88 | 19.15 | 10.90 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.05 | 0.21 | 0.05 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 12.44 | 10.74 | 9.54 | 5.45 | 9.06 | 9.05 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 7% | 5% | 19% | 5% | 9% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 202% | 92% | 83% | 48% | 79% | 78% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $609,646 | $636,095 | $477,919 | $699,653 | $1,882,277 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $282,494 | $211,972 | $237,732 | $420,888 | $182,933 |
| Short-term investments | $2,019,248 | $1,765,093 | $1,727,362 | $2,127,927 | $1,309,649 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,911,388 | $2,613,160 | $2,443,013 | $3,248,468 | $3,374,859 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $89,502 | $98,077 | $127,077 | $126,011 | $41,933 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $50,601 |
| Total long-term assets | $89,502 | $98,077 | $127,077 | $126,011 | $92,534 |
| Total assets | $3,000,890 | $2,711,237 | $2,570,090 | $3,374,479 | $3,467,393 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $201,990 | $137,077 | $500,908 | $169,616 | $309,500 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $201,990 | $137,077 | $500,908 | $169,616 | $309,500 |
| 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 | $201,990 | $137,077 | $500,908 | $169,616 | $309,500 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,798,900 | $2,570,410 | $2,057,432 | $3,142,943 | $3,083,023 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $3,750 | $11,750 | $61,920 | $74,870 |
| Net assets | $2,798,900 | $2,574,160 | $2,069,182 | $3,204,863 | $3,157,893 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $3,182,183 | $3,340,981 | $3,231,767 | $4,055,148 | $4,311,877 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $68,846 | $52,417 | $2,508 | $5,755 | $12,504 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $68,846 | $52,417 | $2,508 | $5,755 | $12,504 |
| Total revenue | $3,251,029 | $3,393,398 | $3,234,275 | $4,060,903 | $4,324,381 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $2,685,082 | $2,776,212 | $3,760,994 | $3,620,022 | $3,633,771 |
| Management and general | $230,105 | $249,765 | $338,053 | $302,526 | $229,980 |
| Fundraising | $111,102 | $89,742 | $173,351 | $155,290 | $199,200 |
| Total expenses | $3,026,289 | $3,115,719 | $4,272,398 | $4,077,838 | $4,062,951 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $224,740 | $277,679 | ($1,038,123) | ($16,935) | $261,430 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $224,740 | $277,679 | ($1,038,123) | ($16,935) | $261,430 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Stacy Bauer | Secretary | $89,014 |
| Kent Cutler | Treasurer | $52,854 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
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 3/13/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
The first live telecast of the Christian Worship Hour began in 1979 on KABY TV in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Since then, over 82 TV stations have been added, along with numerous satellite networks and, recently, one worldwide network. The vision of the CWH is to offer a worship service to those who are housebound. The telecast was never meant to be a substitute for worshipping in your own church. The broadcast airs on more than 82 stations and 5 networks domestically and around the world.
Program accomplishments
*44 years broadcasting the Christian Worship Hour.
*Listener/Viewer supported for 44 years.
*Entered digital platforms. Available on our website, our you tube channel, our facebook page and podcasts.
Needs
*Prayer Support - we would be most grateful for your prayers.
*Financial Support - If God leads, your financial support is appreciated as we continue proclaiming the gospel through the Christian Worship Hour.