Faith Broadcasting, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 4/28/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Faith Radio offers Christ-centered broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - all without commercials. "We Live By Faith" (WLBF) and are supported by the financial gifts of our listeners! Our focus is on the ever-relevant Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16 tells us "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to reach is what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."
Listen to the difference you hear on Faith Radio! Tune in and invite God's presence into your life. We are here to help you develop, strengthen and share your faith.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Faith Radio
PO Box 210789
Montgomery, AL 36121-0789
Website: faithradio.org
Phone: (334) 271-8900
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 630818257
CEO/President: Russell Dean
Chairman: Mr. Mark Williams
Board size: 8
Founder: Larry Wilkins
Ruling year: 1981
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1986
Purpose
Faith Broadcasting Inc. (dba WLBF/WSTF/WDYF) is a listener supported radio broadcasting ministry, incorporated in 1981, with a vision to reach unbelievers and nourish believers through Christian broadcasting. It is an independent, non-commercial network of four FM radio stations serving Central and Southern Alabama listeners with information and inspiration from a Judeo-Christian world view.
Mission statement
Faith Radio's Mission is to serve the Christian Community and strengthen the local church and family unit as we provide spiritual encouragement and a personal challenge with a Christ centered focus, through Biblical teaching, relevant information and uplifting music to the Glory of God.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
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 | | 248 of 1104 | 7 of 28 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 222 of 1105 | 6 of 28 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 570 of 1105 | 17 of 28 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 334 of 1104 | 10 of 28 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 86% | 94% | 93% | 94% | 91% | 93% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 14% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 7% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 78% | 76% | 76% | 83% | 82% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 80% | 76% | 80% | 103% | 91% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 70% | 61% | 57% | 66% | 84% | 75% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 20% | 24% | 20% | -3% | 9% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 16% | 24% | 23% | -3% | 11% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 16% | 20% | 20% | 13% | 14% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.36 | 0.57 | 0.73 | 0.89 | 1.14 | 1.08 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.93 | 1.45 | 1.28 | 1.27 | 1.32 | 1.35 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 0.85 | 0.83 | 0.94 | 1.13 | 1.50 | 1.46 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 15.81 | 18.94 | 47.96 | 33.29 | 25.02 | 29.07 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.03 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 13.76 | 13.64 | 12.51 | 10.28 | 7.68 | 7.96 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 14% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 225% | 150% | 134% | 110% | 85% | 90% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $923,589 | $721,545 | $487,672 | $301,165 | $312,220 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $8,653 | $7,532 | $12,699 | $13,045 | $15,115 |
| Short-term investments | $276,353 | $300,631 | $297,803 | $274,987 | $254,154 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,208,595 | $1,029,708 | $798,174 | $589,197 | $581,489 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $367,446 | $288,314 | $216,233 | $188,459 | $200,749 |
| Other long-term assets | $175,744 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $543,190 | $288,314 | $216,233 | $188,459 | $200,749 |
| Total assets | $1,751,785 | $1,318,022 | $1,014,407 | $777,656 | $782,238 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $63,808 | $21,469 | $23,977 | $23,546 | $20,000 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $63,808 | $21,469 | $23,977 | $23,546 | $20,000 |
| Debt | $175,744 | $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 | $175,744 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $239,552 | $21,469 | $23,977 | $23,546 | $20,000 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $1,509,617 | $1,219,934 | $913,151 | $674,387 | $688,401 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,616 | $76,619 | $77,279 | $79,723 | $73,837 |
| Net assets | $1,512,233 | $1,296,553 | $990,430 | $754,110 | $762,238 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $1,176,920 | $1,184,655 | $1,063,254 | $786,307 | $864,336 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $6,960 | $15,031 | $7,252 | $8,576 | $5,126 |
| Other revenue | $69,891 | $79,953 | $61,018 | $67,057 | $63,269 |
| Total other revenue | $76,851 | $94,984 | $68,270 | $75,633 | $68,395 |
| Total revenue | $1,253,771 | $1,279,639 | $1,131,524 | $861,940 | $932,731 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $767,276 | $735,028 | $746,335 | $725,803 | $701,514 |
| Management and general | $203,479 | $196,821 | $121,688 | $121,606 | $111,230 |
| Fundraising | $36,455 | $35,238 | $35,749 | $36,646 | $33,758 |
| Total expenses | $1,007,210 | $967,087 | $903,772 | $884,055 | $846,502 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $246,561 | $312,552 | $227,752 | ($22,115) | $86,229 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $246,561 | $312,552 | $227,752 | ($22,115) | $86,229 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| William Irvin | Director of Ministry Relat | $140,032 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2022
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 4/28/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
1980 Larry Wilkins (WLBF's longtime contract engineer) and his employer were listening to a Christian FM station while in Pensacola, Florida, on business and felt a need for programming such as this in Montgomery.
1981 The non-profit corporation, Montgomery Educational Radio, Inc. was registered with the state of Alabama. Original board members were Charlotte Brown, D.G. Markwell, Greg McKinnon, and Larry Wilkins.
1983 After overcoming numerous obstacles on the path to approval, God worked a miracle and the Federal Communications Commission granted approval for a non-commercial radio license. The call letters, WLBF, were chosen, standing for "We Live By Faith".
1984 WLBF signed on the air at 89.1FM, after an extensive fund-raising effort for start-up expenses. The station operated from trailer space donated by Frazer United Methodist Church on its property, using an automation system donated by a local broadcast company, which also provided free tower space.
1988 WLBF moved in to its current office and studio space on Mendel Parkway. Due to God's provision, the new building and grounds were completely paid for before the ribbon cutting ceremony was held!
1989 Power was increased to 100,000 watts at an increased tower height of 600 feet, to cover a more significant potion of South Central Alabama.
1991 WLBF launched its first daily live, locally-produced program, "Morning Praise".
1994 At the request of a number of Christians in the Andalusia area, Faith Radio's first translator was placed on the air at 91.5FM.
1994 To reflect the regional nature of the ministry that God had established, WLBF "Faith 89" began to use the name, Faith Radio.
1996 WSTF signed on the air in Andalusia, boosting our coverage to the surrounding areas of South Alabama with a power of 5000 watts.
2002 WDYF went on the air, serving Dothan and surrounding areas with 9200 watts, enabling Faith Radio to be heard in Southeast Alabama, parts of Northwest Florida, and Southwest Georgia.
2007 Faith Radio expanded its reach to include current translators in Thorsby/Jemison (96.9FM), Sylacauga (94.1FM), and Alexander City (94.1).
2011 As the result of our "PowerUp 4X" campaign, WSTF was able to increase its power to 20,500 watts.
2013 Through our ministry partnership with Radios of Faith, radios tuned in to Faith Radio were made available in selected area prisons and jails.
2015 Faith Radio expanded again in a number of ways:
- Faith Radio was pleased to celebrate the relationship with our ministry partners, 4VEH, the Evangelistic Voice of Haiti and invested in delivery technology for our signal. Faith Radio is heard on 94.7FM, originating from Cap-Haitien, Haiti.
- Faith Radio, in association with Baptist Health, began to be heard on channel 104 in Baptist Health hospitals in Montgomery and Prattville.
- We rolled out our Faith Radio app, available for download on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
2016 - Faith Radio expanded with another broadcast translator - this time to serve the Brewton area with a translator at 92.1FM.