East-West Ministries International 
The information on this page was last updated 5/23/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We train and send believers from various backgrounds across cultures to start church planting movements among the unreached. Using simple, Biblical, and reproducible tools, our missionaries and national partners invite the lost into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We empower local believers with simple tools to share the gospel, disciple new believers, and plant churches in their own contexts.
Contact information
Mailing address:
East-West Ministries International
2001 West Plano Parkway
Suite 3000
Plano, TX 75075
Website: eastwest.org
Phone: 972-941-4500
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 752486132
CEO/President: Dr. Kurt Nelson
Chairman: Scott Luttrell
Board size: 15
Founder: John Maisel and Bud Toole
Ruling year: 1993
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1999
Purpose
The vision of East-West is to glorify God by multiplying followers of Jesus in the spiritually darkest areas of the world.
Mission statement
East-West exists to mobilize the Body of Christ to evangelize the lost and equip local believers to multiply disciples and healthy churches among unreached peoples and/or in restricted access communities.
Statement of faith
We believe the Bible to be the fully inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. Rom. 15:4; Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: 1 Thess. 1:3-6; 1 Peter 1:1-3; John 14:7-11; Heb. 1:1-3; Matt. 28:19; John 1:1-5; 14-17
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ: John 8:58; John 10:30
We believe that salvation is totally dependent on God and His grace: Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6:23; Acts 16:30,31
We believe that the new birth of the believer comes through faith in Christ alone: John 1:12; 3:16, 18; 5:24; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom. 1:16-17; 3:22, 26; Gal. 3:22; Eph. 2:8,9; John 14:6
We believe that repentance* is a vital part of saving faith in Jesus Christ and not a separate work. We do not believe that any actions-such as baptism, prayer, a reformed lifestyle, or faithful service-can be added to repentant faith as a condition for eternal salvation: Acts 20:21; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 3:9
*Repentance (Greek "metanoia), as used in New Testament theology, means to change your mind at a heart level (mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation) about God, Jesus, sin, and dead works.
We believe it is the privilege of all who are born again by the Spirit, through faith in Christ, to be assured of their salvation from the very day they take Him to be their Savior as revealed in Scripture: Luke 10:20; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6-8; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 John 5:13; John 5:24
We believe that all true believers everywhere, once saved, shall be kept saved forever: John 5:24; Eph. 1:3-14; John 10:29
We believe that Christians are free from law and that the Christian life is to be lived by God's grace through the Holy Spirit's power: Rom. 6:14; John 1:17; John 14:16-17; 2 Cor. 3:8; Gal. 5:24-25
We believe, however, that God is a holy and righteous Father and cannot overlook the sin of His children. When they persistently sin, He will chasten them and correct them in His infinite love: Prov. 3:11-12; Isaiah 6:1-5; Rom. 3:25-26; Heb. 12:9-11; 1 John 2:1-2; Rev. 3:19
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit-who indwells and enables every Christian to live a godly life and minister to others in divine power: John 14:16-17; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 12:4-7; Gal. 5:22-25
We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of all men. Believers will be resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God, and unbelievers will be resurrected to suffer eternal judgment and separation from God: Luke 16:19-26; Luke 23:39-43; Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Jude 6-7; Rev. 20:11-15
We believe all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of Christ's invisible and universal church: Matt.16:16-18; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 1:19b-23; 2:19-21, 4:3-6; Col. 3:14-15
We believe that the local expressions of the church, as the Body of Christ, are essential in the plan and purpose of God: Acts 14:23; Eph. 2:15b-16; Eph. 4:15-16; Col. 1:6; 1 Tim. 3:14-15; 1 Pet.2:5
We believe the primary responsibility of all who are saved is to work toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission. All worldly and personal ambitions should be lower in priority than the supreme command of making disciples: Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 17:18, 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-20
We believe that human betterment and social justice are essential products of the gospel: Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8; Gal. 6:10; Heb. 13:3; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17-18
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 725 of 1104 | 96 of 143 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 843 of 1105 | 109 of 143 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 812 of 1105 | 111 of 143 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 290 of 1104 | 36 of 143 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 99% | 100% | 103% | 101% | 99% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 9% | 8% | 10% | 8% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 1% | 0% | -3% | -1% | 1% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 79% | 78% | 78% | 80% | 80% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 98% | 99% | 98% | 94% | 110% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 77% | 78% | 77% | 75% | 88% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 6% | -10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 6% | 2% | 4% | 15% | -19% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 8% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 12% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.35 | 2.29 | 2.28 | 2.18 | 2.09 | 2.17 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.22 | 1.03 | 1.04 | 1.06 | 1.15 | 1.19 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.02 | 2.37 | 2.37 | 2.32 | 2.41 | 2.58 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 19.08 | 1006.94 | 83.95 | 251.58 | 24.86 | 55.91 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.58 | 5.07 | 5.00 | 5.16 | 4.78 | 4.56 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 7% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 2% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 68% | 44% | 43% | 46% | 46% | 45% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Cash | $7,518,397 | $2,482,244 | $3,782,221 | $2,406,208 | $554,661 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $406,254 | $456,152 | $291,705 | $276,214 | $409,489 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $4,566,915 | $3,064,315 | $3,765,256 | $4,276,023 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $7,924,651 | $7,505,311 | $7,138,241 | $6,447,678 | $5,240,173 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $101,591 | $139,735 | $223,377 | $791,061 | $784,425 |
| Other long-term assets | $158,400 | $158,400 | $228,400 | $205,680 | $205,680 |
| Total long-term assets | $259,991 | $298,135 | $451,777 | $996,741 | $990,105 |
| Total assets | $8,184,642 | $7,803,446 | $7,590,018 | $7,444,419 | $6,230,278 |
| Liabilities | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $7,870 | $89,401 | $28,374 | $259,317 | $93,719 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $7,870 | $89,401 | $28,374 | $259,317 | $93,719 |
| 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 | $7,870 | $89,401 | $28,374 | $259,317 | $93,719 |
| Net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,300,749 | $2,504,438 | $2,714,240 | $3,229,982 | $2,690,813 |
| With donor restrictions | $5,876,023 | $5,209,607 | $4,847,404 | $3,955,120 | $3,445,746 |
| Net assets | $8,176,772 | $7,714,045 | $7,561,644 | $7,185,102 | $6,136,559 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Total contributions | $18,948,063 | $17,962,032 | $17,261,258 | $16,768,272 | $12,261,810 |
| Program service revenue | $26,849 | $33,949 | $85,760 | $10,237 | $12,528 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $11,630 | $27,466 | ($359,883) | $23,463 | $53,535 |
| Other revenue | $218,016 | ($64,235) | ($159,543) | ($207,646) | $27,645 |
| Total other revenue | $256,495 | ($2,820) | ($433,666) | ($173,946) | $93,708 |
| Total revenue | $19,204,558 | $17,959,212 | $16,827,592 | $16,594,326 | $12,355,518 |
| Expenses | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Program services | $14,838,562 | $13,920,798 | $12,906,299 | $12,485,280 | $10,888,862 |
| Management and general | $2,168,184 | $2,383,011 | $2,021,415 | $1,827,564 | $1,630,656 |
| Fundraising | $1,735,085 | $1,503,002 | $1,598,402 | $1,232,939 | $1,011,053 |
| Total expenses | $18,741,831 | $17,806,811 | $16,526,116 | $15,545,783 | $13,530,571 |
| Change in net assets | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $462,727 | $152,401 | $301,476 | $1,048,543 | ($1,175,053) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $462,727 | $152,401 | $301,476 | $1,048,543 | ($1,175,053) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Kurt Nelson | CEO | $306,635 |
| John Maisel | Chairman Emeritus/Founder | $201,067 |
| Seth Kolb | Exec. VP of Operations | $140,904 |
| Robert West | VP of Evangelism | $129,583 |
| Mario Zandstra | President | $104,973 |
| Kathryn Berney | Secretary/Exec Assitant to | $69,927 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2017
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 5/23/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
East-West began because two men saw a need for the gospel in unreached and restricted access areas of the world.
In an act of bold obedience to Christ's command to go and make disciples of all nations, East-West was launched in 1993 by John Maisel and Bud Toole. What informally started behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s became a missions organization with a zeal for empowering national pastors and local believers to transform their communities by making disciples and multiplying churches.
Our passion for Jesus, grace, spiritually dark places, and bold action is the heartbeat that continues to sustain our ministry as we rely on God to use us to reach the unreached. Today, our organization is made up of thousands of believers from around the world who are committed to starting church planting movements in more than 60 spiritually dark nations.
1985 - John Maisel travels behind the Iron Curtain for the first time
1993 - East-West Ministries International is founded
1995 - East-West expands ministry beyond Russia
1997 - East-West creates a plan to mobilize believers to put their faith in action
2003 - East-West begins ministry vision to share the gospel with 50 million people in 10 years
2007 - East-West launches church planting movement strategies on the mission field
2010 - Kurt Nelson becomes Chief Executive Officer and President
2012 - East-West narrows its ministry focus to disciple making strategies
2013 - East-West begins a vision to multiply 1 million disciples in 5 years
2017 - East-West church plants surpass 171,000 during its 25-year history
2018 - East-West celebrates 25 years of ministry and begins a vision to multiply one million disciples in 3 years
Program accomplishments
216 million reached with the gospel
2.23 million disciples made
1.51 million leaders trained
231,733 churches planted