InterFACE Ministries, Inc./ IFACE 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/26/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
InterFACE Ministries ("InterFACE") is a nonprofit organization, that networks international students and scholars with culturally sensitive Americans who enjoy cross-cultural friendships and the open exchange of ideas. "Just as computers need to interface in order to communicate, we from around the world should be encouraged to connect with one another to learn more about our world and our Creator," says InterFACE. As a Christian organization, InterFACE advocates purity of motives, clarity in purpose, and honesty in intention. InterFACE's philosophy is to encourage mutual dialogue, as summed up in the words from the Bible, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." All InterFACE activities are open to international students, scholars, and their families regardless of race, nationality, or religious preference. Since 1983, InterFACE has been taking international students all over America on its sleeper buses. InterFACE also host conferences when school is out for the holidays. InterFACE stands for International Friendship Activities and Cultural Exchange.
Contact information
Mailing address:
InterFACE Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 450816
Atlanta, GA 31145-0816
Website: www.iface.org
Phone: (770) 934-7797
Email: bob@iface.org
Organization details
EIN: 581970866
CEO/President: Mr. James Paternoster
Chairman: Wesley Willis
Board size: 7
Founder: Dr. Robert Culver
Ruling year: 1991
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 10/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
Mission statement
Mission Statement:
As a tool for church extension, InterFACE Ministries is committed to serve "the foreigner in our midst" through local churches so that each might fulfill their calling in God's "House of Prayer for Every Nation". "Never let the foreigner say, 'God has excluded me from His people'... For My house is a House Of Prayer for Every nation (Is 56:3,7 & Mk 11:17)."
InterFACE Ministries communicates its core values as follows:
Any ministry operates consciously or unconsciously under a set of core values. These core values identify who we are and what we do. Ministry values are extremely important because a successful partnership depends on understanding the intentions of our colleagues, churches, and volunteers we seek to work with.
1. Student & Scholar Focused Ministry
We believe that returning international students and scholars will someday be in positions of influence to shape the course of tomorrow's world. The majority of InterFACE's ministry programs are designed to respond to the real and felt physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of international students, scholars, and their families. If it is God's desire for us to reach out to the stranger in our midst, we must do so in unconditional friendship, loving them as Christ loved us. Our ministry focus may also include internationals temporarily residing in the US for political, business or diplomatic purposes as well.
2. Local Outreach--Global Outcome
InterFACE is committed to our international friends in the totality of their spiritual journey. We desire to minister to internationals so that they may move from a false or inadequate knowledge of God to salvation in Christ, teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded and encouraging them to teach others. We should contextualize our ministry to meet each international at his or her point of spiritual need, and to provide adequate preparation for living the Christian life when they return home. This kind of culture-specific outreach requires an innovative and empathetic spirit, ministering in humility and self-sacrifice.
3. Church Dependent
InterFACE as a mission of the Church is unequivocally committed to accomplishing our ministry objectives through mobilizing the people of God. Scripture teaches the central role of the Church in God's plan for reaching the lost. Parachurch organizations may complement the ministry of the Church from time to time, but should not become a substitute for it. Our ministry will reflect the necessity for building up the local church's ministry to internationals as a tangible expression of Jesus' mandate to "make disciples of all nations."
4. Ministry Ethics
InterFACE staff will apply biblical principles, standards, and practices as the basis for all relationships. Staff will be expected to maintain the highest level of integrity in all aspects of ministry, and maintain a local level of accountability through the establishment of a Local Advisory Committee.
5. National Networking
InterFACE seeks to connect with other international student ministries across the country through periodic cooperative ministry projects, and encourage staff from various organizations to jointly develop innovative ministry programs and materials for the benefit of all.
6. Spiritual Resources
InterFACE recognizes that Christian ministry must flow out of a humbled heart that is yielded to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. By God's grace, InterFACE staff and volunteers seek to grow in faith and rely on the continuing guidance of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life and ministry.
7. Citywide Networking
InterFACE is committed to linking local churches with international students, cooperating with other international student ministries in the area, maintaining open lines of communication with the foreign student advisor's office on campus, and providing a citywide perspective to the ministry.
8. Strategic Planning
InterFACE's activities and allocation of resources flow from a ministry strategy that is specific to each ministry location. Local flexibility and innovation are highly encouraged.
9. Student Leadership Development
InterFACE seeks to identify Christian international students for leadership training opportunities that will equip them for a life of effective service for God, both here and at home.
10. Volunteer Training & Involvement
In order that we may reach a larger portion of the international population in our communities, InterFACE staff continue to trust the Lord for the development of a genuine "people movement" in ministry to internationals. Our priorities for training and equipping volunteers for such a task include the following:
**Participation
Volunteers today want to do ministry rather than support it at a distance. We encourage the development of fully functioning ministry teams working in partnership with InterFACE staff. In a local church context, this means giving churches "ownership" of the ministry vision so international ministry will be an integral part of their overall outreach strategy.
**Responsibility
Being entrusted with the work of ministry, each volunteer should be encouraged to recognize the contribution they are making to the Kingdom of God, and the high calling they fulfill in reaching the nations for Christ.
**Community
Volunteers need to tie into God's vision for reaching "every tribe, language, people, and nation", and tie into each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We should encourage the development of caring relationships among volunteers, and encourage unity within the Body of Christ as each participating congregation ministers to internationals in their community.
11. Returnee Services
InterFACE is committed to providing support services for international students returning to their home countries. International believers need ongoing fellowship and encouragement, and networks of other Christians to whom they can be accountable. Those students who have not yet trusted Christ can benefit from our continued friendship and, when possible, provided with Christian contacts from their own country. InterFACE also networks with other international student ministries in sharing contacts and resources for returning internationals.
Statement of faith
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 | | 125 of 1022 | 5 of 30 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 107 of 1024 | 3 of 30 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 229 of 1024 | 9 of 30 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 439 of 1022 | 14 of 30 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 89% | 99% | 99% | 95% | 96% | 89% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 11% | 1% | 1% | 5% | 4% | 11% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 83% | 85% | 86% | 87% | 88% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 103% | 97% | 91% | 102% | 97% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 73% | 86% | 82% | 78% | 89% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | -3% | 3% | 9% | -2% | 3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 9% | -4% | 4% | 13% | -3% | 5% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 16% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.26 | 1.30 | 1.36 | 1.35 | 1.58 | 1.55 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.53 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.04 | 1.08 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.03 | 1.30 | 1.36 | 1.37 | 1.64 | 1.67 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.49 | 34.59 | 29.51 | 96.35 | 52.87 | 0.00 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.12 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.00 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.22 | 8.94 | 8.51 | 8.70 | 7.16 | 7.21 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 0% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 67% | 75% | 71% | 73% | 62% | 65% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $331,420 | $381,332 | $327,367 | $484,720 | $495,512 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $582,794 | $537,644 | $556,101 | $269,668 | $240,770 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $914,214 | $918,976 | $883,468 | $754,388 | $736,282 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $4,337 | $4,572 | $8,320 | $30,341 | $55,814 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,337 | $4,572 | $8,320 | $30,341 | $55,814 |
| Total assets | $918,551 | $923,548 | $891,788 | $784,729 | $792,096 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $26,429 | $31,140 | $9,169 | $14,270 | $0 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $26,429 | $31,140 | $9,169 | $14,270 | $0 |
| 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 | $26,429 | $31,140 | $9,169 | $14,270 | $0 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $892,122 | $892,408 | $882,619 | $770,459 | $792,096 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $892,122 | $892,408 | $882,619 | $770,459 | $792,096 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $1,140,422 | $1,281,738 | $1,255,287 | $1,175,758 | $1,125,440 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $17,599 | $29,214 | $131,027 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $10,111 | $6,480 | $36,249 | $12,002 | $8,798 |
| Other revenue | $1,300 | $0 | $9,593 | $1,698 | $249 |
| Total other revenue | $11,411 | $6,480 | $63,441 | $42,914 | $140,074 |
| Total revenue | $1,151,833 | $1,288,218 | $1,318,728 | $1,218,672 | $1,265,514 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $987,161 | $1,062,316 | $1,032,382 | $1,081,544 | $1,082,380 |
| Management and general | $187,064 | $172,342 | $156,633 | $139,909 | $128,558 |
| Fundraising | $17,700 | $17,777 | $17,553 | $18,856 | $15,139 |
| Total expenses | $1,191,925 | $1,252,435 | $1,206,568 | $1,240,309 | $1,226,077 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($40,092) | $35,783 | $112,160 | ($21,637) | $39,437 |
| Other changes in net assets | $39,759 | ($25,994) | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($333) | $9,789 | $112,160 | ($21,637) | $39,437 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr Robert Culver | Past President | $50,955 |
| Lynn G Culver | Director | $30,476 |
Compensation data as of: 10/31/2019
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 10/26/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
iFace began in 1983 and incorporated in 1991. Starting as an innovative cross-country trip ministry that included conversations about Christianity, it grew through outreach to athletes at the Atlanta Olympics, student conferences that also introduced American Christians to internationals in their midst, and ongoing faithful service to students in cooperation with international student offices at colleges and universities.
Today, many more students come from many more countries to study in institutions large and small. At the same time, many immigrants come more or less permanently. Our mission to the nations continues to shape our response to these changes in who comes and for how long.
Today: Twenty-five years later, iFace is in fourteen states and has welcomed students from over 150 countries. Our staff adapt to new situations in creative ways to engage with our international neighbors. Furniture drives meet an immediate need and open the door to further interaction. English language classes accelerate and smooth the transition to life in the US and lead to deeper conversations. Friendship Families provide students with a home for holidays, and a network of support during their time here. The goal: meet people where they are (even at the airport), listen to their stories of the past and aspirations for the future, and share with them life, community, and hope.