Ambassadors For Christ, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 1/23/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Ambassadors For Christ, Inc. (AFC) is an outreach ministry to Chinese students and professionals for Christ. AFC includes literature distribution, book publication, discipleship training, conferences, a collegiate faculty network, and the triennial Chinese Mission Convention. Through these ministries AFC uses every available resource to mobilize Chinese believers to be a vital force for God's kingdom.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Ambassadors For Christ, Inc.
21 Ambassador Drive
Paradise, PA 17562
Website: www.afcinc.org
Phone: (717) 687-8564
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 520798499
CEO/President: David Chow
Chairman: Kong Yi
Board size: 15
Founder: Rev. Moses Chow and Rev. Ted and Mrs. Choy
Ruling year: 1964
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1986
Purpose
Win this generation of Chinese intellectuals for Christ!
Mission statement
The Christian Messenger Association is called by God to coordinate and cooperate with all churches to lead Chinese students and professionals in the United States and around the world to the Lord, equip them to be disciples of the Lord, encourage them to integrate their faith into culture, and then serve Christ and become the kingdom of God new force.
Statement of faith
We believe that God is a Trinity, manifesting His own God through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three persons, but one eternal and existing God.
We believe that the Bible is completely inspired by God, is completely trustworthy, is the most original and infallible, and is the highest standard of our belief and life.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, holy and sinless, and who gave his blood and blood to atone for the sins of the world; who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, and will return in his power and glory according to his promise.
We believe that all human beings have fallen into sinners and are in need of God's salvation. Be born again and be saved by trusting in Jesus Christ alone.
We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to justify and sanctify all who believe and to live holy lives by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the church is a holy church, belonging to the body of Christ, made up of all true believers, with a mission to bear witness to Christ as head and to preach the good news of the Gospel to the world.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Fellowship Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 754 of 1031 | 26 of 32 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 491 of 1032 | 17 of 32 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 564 of 1032 | 21 of 32 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 909 of 1031 | 26 of 32 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 89% | 66% | 66% | 60% | 66% | 68% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 11% | 34% | 34% | 40% | 34% | 32% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 78% | 78% | 81% | 79% | 79% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 88% | 98% | 87% | 100% | 88% | 81% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 69% | 76% | 68% | 81% | 69% | 64% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 12% | 2% | 13% | 0% | 12% | 19% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 15% | 1% | 7% | 0% | 7% | 12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 18% | 22% | 19% | 21% | 21% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.04 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.52 | 0.44 | 0.50 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.42 | 2.36 | 6.03 | 8.71 | 2.78 | 2.06 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.44 | 1.10 | 2.86 | 4.51 | 1.22 | 1.03 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.81 | 21.24 | 7.55 | 4.43 | 12.37 | 10.75 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.13 | 0.23 | 0.08 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.32 | 10.39 | 3.64 | 2.06 | 9.05 | 10.59 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 5% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 4% | 0% | 1% | 5% | 1% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 82% | 202% | 206% | 185% | 209% | 191% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $1,031,702 | $564,468 | $530,889 | $196,282 | $963,682 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,022,772 | $1,192,982 | $627,424 | $1,088,556 | $1,301,443 |
| Short-term investments | $2,674,797 | $0 | $0 | $2,500,055 | $2,272,829 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,729,271 | $1,757,450 | $1,158,313 | $3,784,893 | $4,537,954 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $2,573,409 | $2,416,425 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $6,207,285 | $6,264,138 | $6,508,536 | $6,722,298 | $4,262,347 |
| Other long-term assets | $213,375 | $10,818 | $0 | $0 | $568,636 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,420,660 | $8,848,365 | $8,924,961 | $6,722,298 | $4,830,983 |
| Total assets | $11,149,931 | $10,605,815 | $10,083,274 | $10,507,191 | $9,368,937 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $222,699 | $191,159 | $250,846 | $269,217 | $393,839 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $41,698 | $10,502 | $36,814 | $28,340 |
| Total current liabilities | $222,699 | $232,857 | $261,348 | $306,031 | $422,179 |
| Debt | $404,600 | $0 | $150,000 | $541,830 | $52,030 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $404,600 | $0 | $150,000 | $541,830 | $52,030 |
| Total liabilities | $627,299 | $232,857 | $411,348 | $847,861 | $474,209 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $7,950,519 | $8,100,429 | $8,133,090 | $8,378,267 | $5,724,563 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,572,113 | $2,272,529 | $1,538,836 | $1,281,063 | $3,170,165 |
| Net assets | $10,522,632 | $10,372,958 | $9,671,926 | $9,659,330 | $8,894,728 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $3,527,252 | $3,800,391 | $3,131,245 | $3,456,202 | $3,910,659 |
| Program service revenue | $1,663,473 | $1,734,736 | $1,906,307 | $1,675,473 | $1,713,449 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $104,300 | $183,958 | $175,659 | $32,468 | $70,131 |
| Other revenue | $28,942 | $34,387 | $32,562 | $79,536 | $61,014 |
| Total other revenue | $1,796,715 | $1,953,081 | $2,114,528 | $1,787,477 | $1,844,594 |
| Total revenue | $5,323,967 | $5,753,472 | $5,245,773 | $5,243,679 | $5,755,253 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $4,058,972 | $3,908,178 | $4,235,365 | $3,637,221 | $3,687,631 |
| Management and general | $917,673 | $1,115,133 | $988,119 | $978,056 | $976,231 |
| Fundraising | $230,320 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $5,206,965 | $5,023,311 | $5,223,484 | $4,615,277 | $4,663,862 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $117,002 | $730,161 | $22,289 | $628,402 | $1,091,391 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $117,002 | $730,161 | $22,289 | $628,402 | $1,091,391 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| David Chow | President | $113,889 |
| Paul Schultz | Controller | $60,047 |
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 1/23/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Like many evangelistic ministries, the Messenger of Christ Association began as a group of brothers and sisters who were burdened with expanding the kingdom of God. In 1956, Pastor Zhou Zhupei, Brother Cai Xihui, and Ms. Cai Silian met with Ms. Cai Sujuan, the "behind the darkroom", in Paradise Town, Pennsylvania. Brother Tsai and his wife were serving in the International Student Association at the time. They invited Pastor Zhou to attend a Chinese Bible study class. Since then, many activities and ministries have emerged, including the Messenger Magazine, which was launched in October 1957. The need for Chinese student ministry became more and more urgent. After a lot of prayers and God's guidance, Pastor Zhou and Brother Cai and his wife established the Christ Messengers Association on May 6, 1963.
In 1969, Pastor Zhou Zhupei served as the Director General of the Christ Messengers Association. Under his leadership, the Messenger of Christ Association continued to preach the gospel to students and set up a Chinese Bible study class. In addition, through the dedication of brothers and sisters and short-term mission teams, the ministry expanded to Europe and Asia. On June 15, 1974, the Headquarters of the Apostle of Christ moved from Washington, D.C. to Paradise, Pennsylvania. This land was donated by Ms. Sujuan Cai and Ms. Mary Leaman by faith to the Christ Messengers Association in 1966. Over the years, the messenger has been able to expand the mainland Chinese language ministry and the messenger's study. In addition, the farm-style messenger "Cai Sujuan Retreat Center" (or the messenger farm) has also been renovated and renovated several times, making it the best venue for small seminars and retreats.
For the next ten years, the grace of God continued to bless the ministry of the Association of Christ Messengers. The Emissary Magazine has switched to bimonthly due to the need for more frequent distribution. In 1977, during Pastor Zhou Zhupei's mission in Southeast Asia, Pastor Hoy Him Chan became the Director General of Christ Messengers Association. Under the leadership of Pastor Chen, the first North American Chinese Church, Bible Study and Institution Directory was published in 1980. At the same time, the messenger study was also established.
In 1983, Pastor David Zhou served as the Director General. In December of the same year, the first Chinese Mission Conference was held in Washington, DC. The conference has been held every three years since then. The Mainland Chinese Language Ministry was also established in 1985 under the leadership of Pastor David Zhou.
Over the next few years, the Christ Apostle Association focused its ministry on campus ministry, which spread across the country, including Dallas, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. The "Chinese Christian Faculty Network" also establishes a network of contacts and coordination for the faculty and staff on various campuses, so that the campus gospel ministry can have a deeper and wider influence and effect.
In recent years, the Apostle of Christ Association has extended and developed training, discipleship, European mission, and mission conferences in the West Coast of the United States and the South of the United States due to the needs of the ministry.
In the future, more resources will be invested in the ministry in Europe, and the impact on campus ministry across the United States will be strengthened. Please join us in prayer as we seek God's plan for our next steps to win this generation for Christ. According to the power at work in our hearts, God can do more abundantly than we ask or imagine. May he be glorified in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)