Literacy & Evangelism International 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/28/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Literacy is the ability to read and write. Illiteracy is the inability to read and write. According to UNESCO, there are nearly 1 billion adults around the world who cannot read and write. In the United States alone it is estimated that there are more than 30 million adults who cannot read and write well enough to function daily. Illiteracy is a problem in developing and developed countries. Those who cannot read and write are more likely to live in poverty and are more susceptible to sickness and disease. Literacy & Evangelism International exists to help those who cannot read and write by sharing the gift of reading.
Evangelism is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe the strongest witness to the Gospel of Jesus is how we live our lives daily. An important part of our daily life is reading God's Word, the Bible, and understanding how God relates to humankind and how we should live our lives. If adults cannot read for themselves, how can they know what God has said in the Bible? Evangelism is an integral part of our mission as we develop Bible-content literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) materials. As adults learn to read and write or learn to speak English, they do so while reading the Bible and hearing for themselves what God has revealed to us through His Word.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Literacy & Evangelism International
1800 S Jackson Ave
Tulsa, OK 74107-1857
Website: www.LiteracyEvangelism.org
Phone: (918) 585-3826
Email: info@literacyinternational.net
Organization details
EIN: 736111804
CEO/President: Rev. Sid Rice
Chairman: Rev. Sid Rice
Board size: 6
Founder: Rev. Robert F. Rice
Ruling year: 1967
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1992
Purpose
Literacy & Evangelism International exists to equip the Church to share the message of Jesus Christ through the gift of reading. This calling leads us around the world to develop Bible-content basic literacy materials (called primers) and Bible-content English as a Second Language (ESL) materials. In addition to developing materials LEI provides training in teaching as well as developing literacy or English language ministry (ELM).
Mission statement
Literacy & Evangelism International (LEI) equips the Church to share the message of Jesus Christ through the gift of reading. We develop Bible-content materials to teach basic reading in local languages and conversational English. We train church leaders and missionaries to use LEI materials for evangelism, discipleship and church planting.
Statement of faith
Literacy & Evangelism International uses the following to express its statement of faith:
Authority:
the Bible as God's inspired, infallible and completed Word for all people everywhere, to show them the Way the Truth and the Life and to be their final authority.
God:
one God, sovereign and unchangeable Creator and Sustainer of all, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, being infinite yet personal, just yet merciful, and perfect in holiness, truth & love.
People:
the essential dignity and value of all people everywhere, created as God's image bearers, yet estranged from God because of Adam's fall and personal sin, being totally incapable of a right relationship to God apart from grace.
Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ, who by virtue of His deity, virgin birth, sinless humanity, substitutionary death, atoning blood, bodily resurrection and ascension to heaven as King and Priest, is the only one capable of redeeming people.
Salvation:
salvation by God's grace alone whereby the Holy Spirit regenerates, the Son justifies, and the Father adopts those who personally repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone as Savior and Lord.
Holy Spirit:
the Holy Spirit's deity and work of convicting, regenerating, illuminating, indwelling and manifesting His fruit and gifts in believers for the unity, edification and mission of the Church in the world, to the glory of God.
The Church:
the priesthood of all believers who together form the universal Church, Christ's Bride or Body of which He is Head and has commissioned to advance the light of the Gospel in this dark world.
The Future:
the extension of the Gospel to all people groups, Christ's personal, visible and bodily return, and the resurrection and judgement of all mankind -- the lost to eternal damnation and the saved to life with God forever.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism Support
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 245 of 1022 | 11 of 51 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 276 of 1024 | 14 of 51 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 201 of 1024 | 6 of 51 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 614 of 1022 | 29 of 51 |
Click here to read Literacy & Evangelism International's response to our ratings
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 96% | 92% | 90% | 94% | 94% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 3% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 4% | 8% | 10% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 91% | 92% | 92% | 91% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 96% | 102% | 105% | 97% | 102% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 88% | 93% | 97% | 89% | 93% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 4% | -2% | -5% | 3% | -2% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 4% | -3% | -6% | 3% | -2% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.24 | 1.18 | 1.48 | 1.32 | 1.22 | 1.19 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.28 | 2.09 | 2.18 | 2.06 | 2.04 | 2.24 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.78 | 2.48 | 3.24 | 2.71 | 2.48 | 2.67 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 27.36 | 172.57 | 87.34 | 102.03 | 29.71 | 40.70 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.53 | 4.82 | 3.66 | 4.39 | 4.68 | 4.39 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 3% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 76% | 84% | 67% | 76% | 81% | 83% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $327,080 | $296,379 | $324,334 | $351,318 | $304,273 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $14,960 | $14,388 | $15,826 | $16,361 | $17,000 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $342,040 | $310,767 | $340,160 | $367,679 | $321,273 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $299,949 | $302,746 | $292,668 | $319,264 | $337,624 |
| Other long-term assets | $74,192 | $65,275 | $67,426 | $61,872 | $59,726 |
| Total long-term assets | $374,141 | $368,021 | $360,094 | $381,136 | $397,350 |
| Total assets | $716,181 | $678,788 | $700,254 | $748,815 | $718,623 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,982 | $3,558 | $3,334 | $12,377 | $7,894 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,982 | $3,558 | $3,334 | $12,377 | $7,894 |
| 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 | $1,982 | $3,558 | $3,334 | $12,377 | $7,894 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $459,031 | $415,624 | $434,588 | $458,626 | $486,996 |
| With donor restrictions | $255,168 | $259,606 | $262,332 | $277,812 | $223,733 |
| Net assets | $714,199 | $675,230 | $696,920 | $736,438 | $710,729 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $808,857 | $890,357 | $826,667 | $874,356 | $788,131 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $5,536 | $5,185 | $967 | $2,482 | $3,307 |
| Other revenue | $64,622 | $93,081 | $49,899 | $57,879 | $49,015 |
| Total other revenue | $70,158 | $98,266 | $50,866 | $60,361 | $52,322 |
| Total revenue | $879,015 | $988,623 | $877,533 | $934,717 | $840,453 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $772,938 | $923,592 | $848,262 | $831,050 | $782,622 |
| Management and general | $51,628 | $59,433 | $53,122 | $57,297 | $52,318 |
| Fundraising | $22,883 | $22,978 | $19,454 | $21,944 | $22,372 |
| Total expenses | $847,449 | $1,006,003 | $920,838 | $910,291 | $857,312 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $31,566 | ($17,380) | ($43,305) | $24,426 | ($16,859) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $31,566 | ($17,380) | ($43,305) | $24,426 | ($16,859) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr Sid Rice | CEO/Vice Chair | $84,927 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
Response from ministry
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your statistical analysis of our ministry's financial performance. Rod Pitzer's letter, dated April 27, 2001, was addressed to our Exec. Director, Rev. John Taylor. John is in Malaysia, so in order not to be late in sending this, I have been asked to reply.
I was pleased with our four star rating in the first area of financial efficiency, Fund Acquisition, as we have always sought to keep our fundraising expenses to a minimum, with much of the work being performed by volunteers.
In the area of Resource Allocation, the numbers--and the resulting one star rating--can be explained as follows:
1. The Spending Ratio in excess of 1.07 (wherein we spent more than we received in revenue) is not really a negative factor. We seek to budget for a zero balance each year, spending all of the income which we expect to receive. We believe that to do any less we would be withholding from the Lord's work assets which have been entrusted to us for ministry. But like all faith ministries, we are subject to the whims and vagaries of our supporters. Our policy has been to maintain a cash balance which permits such fluctuations within a reasonable and prudent range. We have never had to borrow money as a result. Our trustees provide guidance and oversight in such matters. As your figures indicate, we had a significant positive balance in 1997, and the same is true in our latest fiscal year--2000.
2. The Program Output Ratio figure, which was below the population average, is the result of deficiencies in our cost accounting system which we recognized over a year ago, and which we have been working to correct. Many labor costs have been charged as administrative expenses when, in fact, they should have been identified as program costs. A good example is the information technology labor involved in converting a handwritten draft of a new language primer to camera-ready copy on the computer. It is clearly a major element in the publication of a primer, yet in the past it has been charged as an administrative expense. This should be corrected in 2001.
Regarding the Asset Utilization Area, LEI's primary assets are two buildings: Our world headquarters and a facility for housing/feeding students and teachers and conducting various training events. Both buildings are debt-free, but subject to depreciation, which affects their book value. They are adequate for the foreseeable future, and no
expansion is planned. We decided a few years ago to take some of our training programs to other countries rather than bring students to Tulsa.
I hope the above information is what you are looking for, and supplements your statistical analysis to the extent of adding a degree of confidence in the fiscal integrity and stability to our ministry. We have been serving our Lord for 34 years, and plan to continue to do so until people everywhere have the opportunity to read God's written Word, in order that they might know His living Word--Jesus Christ.
In His Service,
Ralph Hord
Special Assistant to the Exec. Director
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/28/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
- Literacy & Evangelism International was founded in 1967 by Dr. Robert F. Rice, a former missionary to South Korea. His experience and research prove that more than half the world's adults cannot read, so they are unable to unlock the truths of God's Word.
- In 50 years of outreach, Literacy & Evangelism International has constructed primers in 265 languages in 68 countries. Primers are nondenominational in Bible content.
- The Tulsa Literacy Center and English Language Ministry serve as models for beginning a literacy or English program in the local community, in prisons, in other states, and around the world.
- Light of the World, Passport to the World of English, and Using Everyday English are faith-based multi-media curriculum used in the United States and around the world to teach those who need to learn English.
Program accomplishments
LEI has assisted approximately 300 Christian groups in more than 68 countries, working in more than 270 languages. LEI has trained hundreds of missionaries for its own and other ministries in its International Literacy Training and ESL Institutes.
Accomplishments in 2020:
We trained 9,090 literacy teachers and 41 ESL teachers. We graduated 54,521 new readers. We developed Bible-content adult literacy materials in Bono and Konkomba in Ghana, Dendi in Benin, A. language in Africa, Y. language in Brazil, Ebembe in D.R. Congo, Workbooks in several languages, and we revised/updated several language materials adding more Bible stories.
Accomplishments in 2018-2019:
We trained 6,872 literacy teachers and 80 ESL teachers. We graduated 10,777 new readers. We developed Bible-content adult literacy materials in Asante Twi, Esahie, Mfantse in Ghana; Epie and Tangale in Nigeria; Fon in Benin; Fula in Guinea Bissau; Kagulu in Tanzania; Lusamia in Uganda; Samburu in Kenya; Magahi in India; Greek in Greece; Ukrainian in Ukraine, Macedonian in N. Macedonia; and revised/updated several language materials.
Needs
Scholarships for trainees from overseas attending the International Literacy Training Institute online and/or at headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Project support for expenses in developing and printing Bible-content adult literacy materials in overseas countries and English as a Second Language materials.
Support for indigenous missionaries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe.