Africans Reaching Africa 
The information on this page was last updated 11/25/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Ambassadors of Christ to the Unreached
Contact information
Mailing address:
Africans Reaching Africa
6910 N Main St. Unit 16
Granger, IN 46530-9681
Website: www.aramissions.org
Phone: 574-217-4448
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 824229023
CEO/President: William Nelson
Chairman: William Nelson
Board size: 8
Founder: William Nelson
Ruling year: 2019
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
ARA's vision is to evangelize, disciple, and plant churches among unreached people groups across Northern and Western Africa by mobilizing, equipping, and supporting African believers.
Mission statement
ARA's mission is to mobilize African believers to go as missionaries to unreached people groups in Africa in obedience to the Great Commission.
Statement of faith
The Word of God - We believe that the Bible, all 66 books of both the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Nothing should be added or taken away to it. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
The Trinity - We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons in unity, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption. (John 17:3, Matthew 28:19-20, John 1: 1-4, Acts 5: 3-4)
God the Father - We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that God concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Revelation 4: 11, Colossians 1: 17, Hebrews 1: 3)
Jesus Christ - We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and his coming personal visible return to earth. (John 1:1, 14, John 14: 8-9, 1 Timothy 3: 16)
The Holy Spirit - We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world (nations) of sin, righteousness, and judgement, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. (Titus 3: 5, Romans 8: 9-17, Hebrews 2: 1-4)
Regeneration - We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 1:18-32, 3: 23, 6:23, II Corinthians 5: 21, Ephesians 2: 8-9)
The Church - We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible confession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. (Ephesians 1: 22-23, 4:16, Acts 2: 42-46, I Corinthians 14: 26, Matthew 28: 18-20)
Christian Conduct - We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ. (Galatians 5: 22-23, Colossians 3: 1-17)
The Ordinances - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church; baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for communication of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 2: 41, Romans 6: 3-6, I Corinthians 11: 20-29)
Prayer - We believe that Christians should communicate and glorify God through fervent prayers and trust in God by faith for the answers of their prayers offered to God. We believe that through prayers, Christians can determine the will of God for His children. We believe that prayers are offered to the triune God (God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit) where in all benefits (provisions, protection, healing, deliverance, success, determining of one's gifts or calling, power, etc.) of prayers are received. (Romans 8: 26, I Thessalonians 5: 18, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 4: 16)
The Last Things - We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked. (I Thessalonians 4: 13-18, Hebrews 7: 25-26, Revelation 22: 20)
Articles
| 1/9/2026 | Asheville Christian Academy, International Cooperating Ministries Drop Into Bottom 20% for Financial Efficiency |
Donor confidence score
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Transparency grade
D
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 374 of 1420 | 31 of 126 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 217 of 1420 | 26 of 126 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 254 of 1420 | 23 of 126 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 1117 of 1421 | 88 of 126 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 94% | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 6% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 93% | 93% | 93% | 86% | 100% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 82% | 67% | 54% | 49% | 56% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 83% | 77% | 62% | 50% | 42% | 56% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 18% | 33% | 46% | 51% | 44% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 12% | 23% | 39% | 54% | 52% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 6% | 6% | 5% | 11% | 0% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.52 | 0.55 | 0.47 | 0.46 | 0.52 | 0.55 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.14 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.30 | 0.55 | 0.47 | 0.46 | 0.52 | 0.55 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 23.45 | 153528.60 | -455.17 | 589.20 | 98.09 | 6.17 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.16 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.02 | 21.64 | 25.38 | 25.98 | 22.78 | 18.13 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 16% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 60% | 180% | 211% | 218% | 190% | 151% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $1,535,286 | $1,348,661 | $1,031,697 | $634,938 | $345,573 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,535,286 | $1,348,661 | $1,031,697 | $634,938 | $345,573 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $5,528 | $0 | $1 |
| Total long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $5,528 | $0 | $1 |
| Total assets | $1,535,286 | $1,348,661 | $1,037,225 | $634,938 | $345,574 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $10 | ($2,963) | $1,751 | $6,473 | $55,988 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $10 | ($2,963) | $1,751 | $6,473 | $55,988 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $10 | ($2,963) | $1,751 | $6,474 | $55,988 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $289,586 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $1,535,276 | $1,351,624 | $1,035,474 | $628,464 | $289,586 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $974,707 | $910,294 | $882,801 | $669,897 | $342,943 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $60,495 | $45,012 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $60,495 | $45,012 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total revenue | $1,035,202 | $955,306 | $882,801 | $669,897 | $342,943 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $794,324 | $594,578 | $441,248 | $284,465 | $191,628 |
| Management and general | $48,443 | $36,601 | $21,530 | $37,701 | $0 |
| Fundraising | $8,783 | $7,977 | $13,013 | $8,853 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $851,550 | $639,156 | $475,791 | $331,019 | $191,628 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $183,652 | $316,150 | $407,010 | $338,878 | $151,315 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $183,652 | $316,150 | $407,010 | $338,878 | $151,315 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| William Nelson | President | $70,000 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2024
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 11/25/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Billy and Jen founded ARA in early 2018. At the time, they were full time missionaries serving at a hospital in West Africa. While living there, they met many African brothers and sisters with hearts for evangelism, a desire to share the Gospel, an ear for languages, and a passion for service. After much prayer, the Lord led them to start this mission organization to mobilize, equip, and support African believers to take the Gospel to the unreached and unengaged people groups within Africa. Since ARA was founded in 2018, they have continued to oversee the ministry and work of the African missionaries that ARA supports. They love interacting with ARA's African missionaries whether it's eating food together, playing with their children, strategizing, or worshiping and praying together. They also enjoy leading U.S. partners on trips to Africa to facilitate training/conferences for the missionaries. They count it a privilege and joy to serve the Lord alongside courageous brothers and sisters from different cultures and backgrounds as they unite together to reach Africa with the Gospel and hope of Jesus Christ!