Luke Society, Inc., The 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 10/29/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
The Luke Society is an interdenominational organization of Christian health and business professionals dedicated to the field of missions. The Luke Society works with indigenous Christian health professionals who have a vision to reach their own people. The organization's focus is on community health--teaching people how to prevent disease through education, immunization, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and equipping people to care for themselves, their families and their communities. Besides teaching prevention, The Luke Society provides medical care for the sick and comfort for the dying. When appropriate, the organization also helps initiate economic development projects in conjunction with its medical ministries to assist people in providing for their families. Most important, The Luke Society is a Christ-centered ministry of evangelism and discipleship, reconciling man to God, and man to man through the truth of the gospel. The Society has approximately 20 ministries on four continents at the present time.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Luke Society, Inc.
3409 Gateway Blvd.
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Website: www.lukesociety.org
Phone: (605) 373-9686
Email: office@lukesociety.org
Organization details
EIN: 840563440
CEO/President: Brent Van Andel, M.D.
Chairman: Stewart Odell, M.D.
Board size: 11
Founder: Dr. Peter Boelens
Ruling year: 1964
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1987
Purpose
Vision: To participate in God's plan of redemption by following Jesus' example of teaching, preaching, and healing.
The Luke Society is an interdenominational Christian ministry that works internationally with indigenous medical professionals to bring healing and hope through Jesus Christ. We support and empower nationals as they serve the Lord among their own people within their own language and culture.
The Luke Society comes alongside Christian medical professionals in their own countries by offering encouragement, prayers, mentoring and financial support. These visionaries have a passion to better the physical, social and spiritual health of their communities.
We do not send doctors, missionaries or work groups from the United States to our international locations to conduct projects or provide medical care. We empower and encourage citizens in their own countries, which promotes human dignity, local skills and sustainable infrastructure.
The Luke Society is rooted in a steadfast philosophy that in order to transform lives we must first equip visionaries who have God-given passions and desires to improve their own communities. We do not do the work for them nor do we seek to direct their passions or visions. We come alongside ministries as a family, developing long-term relationships of mentoring, networking and encouragement.
Mission statement
The Luke Society comes alongside indigenous health professionals who are called to serve their own people. Our primary purpose is to empower them to provide quality medical care and health education as they share the Gospel of Jesus. We equip these Christian visionaries through encouragement, prayer support, mentoring and financial assistance. Ours is a Christ-centered ministry of evangelism and discipleship, transforming communities by reconciling man to man and man to God through the truth of the Gospel.
Statement of faith
The Luke Society's Statement of Faith is:
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His present rule as Head of the Church and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the barrenness of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across racial, gender, and class differences.
(Adopted from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.)
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 492 of 1022 | 43 of 85 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 174 of 1024 | 17 of 85 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 361 of 1024 | 36 of 85 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 989 of 1022 | 82 of 85 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 88% | 89% | 104% | 92% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 12% | 11% | -4% | 8% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 85% | 89% | 90% | 90% | 88% | 88% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 65% | 78% | 89% | 87% | 74% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 58% | 71% | 80% | 77% | 65% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 35% | 22% | 11% | 13% | 26% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 12% | 21% | 16% | 8% | 10% | 25% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 7% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 10% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.62 | 0.38 | 0.56 | 0.57 | 0.66 | 0.71 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.25 | 4.64 | 4.92 | 3.64 | 3.86 | 3.65 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.36 | 1.77 | 2.73 | 2.08 | 2.57 | 2.60 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.90 | 55.12 | 39.71 | 38.91 | 45.02 | 47.45 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.15 | 6.64 | 4.28 | 5.61 | 4.57 | 4.52 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 51% | 261% | 179% | 173% | 149% | 139% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $1,666,759 | $1,248,076 | $1,468,694 | $1,272,191 | $1,206,912 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $88,976 | $70,453 | $41,394 | $42,539 | $43,553 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,755,735 | $1,318,529 | $1,510,088 | $1,314,730 | $1,250,465 |
| Long-term investments | $5,567,143 | $4,376,644 | $3,168,979 | $2,976,561 | $2,600,085 |
| Fixed assets | $704,549 | $649,289 | $663,320 | $676,640 | $691,658 |
| Other long-term assets | $126,833 | $145,253 | $150,340 | $107,000 | $16,000 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,398,525 | $5,171,186 | $3,982,639 | $3,760,201 | $3,307,743 |
| Total assets | $8,154,260 | $6,489,715 | $5,492,727 | $5,074,931 | $4,558,208 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $29,374 | $30,722 | $36,329 | $26,723 | $23,874 |
| Other current liabilities | $2,478 | $2,478 | $2,478 | $2,478 | $2,478 |
| Total current liabilities | $31,852 | $33,200 | $38,807 | $29,201 | $26,352 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $8,753 | $9,724 | $10,229 | $10,738 | $11,251 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $8,753 | $9,724 | $10,229 | $10,738 | $11,251 |
| Total liabilities | $40,605 | $42,924 | $49,036 | $39,939 | $37,603 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $6,441,959 | $4,941,742 | $3,976,183 | $3,636,413 | $3,112,389 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,671,696 | $1,505,049 | $1,467,508 | $1,398,579 | $1,408,216 |
| Net assets | $8,113,655 | $6,446,791 | $5,443,691 | $5,034,992 | $4,520,605 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $4,211,285 | $4,087,890 | $3,713,594 | $3,578,303 | $4,322,742 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $570,298 | $520,964 | ($157,210) | $311,313 | $71,652 |
| Other revenue | ($1,042) | $364 | $713 | ($1,205) | ($2,426) |
| Total other revenue | $569,256 | $521,328 | ($156,497) | $310,108 | $69,226 |
| Total revenue | $4,780,541 | $4,609,218 | $3,557,097 | $3,888,411 | $4,391,968 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $2,768,104 | $3,249,884 | $2,834,415 | $2,985,444 | $2,849,209 |
| Management and general | $281,249 | $278,323 | $254,655 | $325,140 | $333,035 |
| Fundraising | $64,324 | $77,911 | $59,328 | $63,440 | $69,427 |
| Total expenses | $3,113,677 | $3,606,118 | $3,148,398 | $3,374,024 | $3,251,671 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,666,864 | $1,003,100 | $408,699 | $514,387 | $1,140,297 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,666,864 | $1,003,100 | $408,699 | $514,387 | $1,140,297 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Wrede Vogel Md | Executive Di | $189,570 |
| Greg Kuiper Md | Dir Ministry | $173,120 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2020
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 10/29/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
1964: A group of physicians and dentists from the Christian Reformed Church in North America reach out to save the Rehoboth Mission Hospital in Gallup, N.M., building a new hospital and providing services and community outreach. The group organizes as the Luke Society.
1969: Dr. Marvin Vanden Bosch becomes medical director of the new Rehoboth hospital which is dedicated the same year.
1971: Dr. Peter Boelens opens the Cary Christian Health Center in Cary, Miss., where he serves as doctor alongside three nurses. The health center operates out of at 12-by-60-foot trailer. The Luke Society undertakes sponsorship of the ministry.
1978: Dr. Boelens is appointed executive secretary of the Luke Society. The groundwork is established for the Luke Society to partner internationally with indigenous medical professionals.
1981: The first Luke Society international ministries are formed in the Philippines. By 1982, nine ministries are established on two islands in the Philippines.
1986: A new ministry outreach opens in Dermott, Ark., where Dr. Wrede Vogel sets up a medical practice.
1990: The concept of Partnership Ministry Teams is formed to provide outside support and encouragement for the indigenous ministries; Luke Society hosts its first international conference.
1991: The Luke Society has established an international footprint in seven countries: India, Honduras, Peru, Ghana, Romania, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines.
1996: New regional coordinator roles are established. Dr. Apolos Landa of Peru oversees Latin America and Dr. John Oduro-Boateng of Ghana serves in Africa.
1999: Dr. Boelens steps down as executive director of the Luke Society and is replaced by Dr. Vogel, who had moved into a private practice in Luverne, Minn.; The Luke Society central office moves from Vicksburg, Miss., to Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dr. Augustin Batis of Romania becomes regional coordinator for Eastern Europe.
2005: Luke Society central office move across town in Sioux Falls, S.D., from Minnesota Avenue to its present location at 3409 S. Gateway Blvd.; Dr. Pal Oroszi of Ukraine replaces Dr. Batis as regional coordinator for Eastern Europe.
2006: The Luke Society splits its Latin America presence into two regions. Dr. Jose Luis Guerrero of Mexico becomes regional coordinator for Central America and Dr. Landa begins working exclusively with the South American ministries; seventeen international ministry sites are formed from 1999-2006.
2007: Dr. Julius Surjadi of Indonesia becomes regional coordinator for Asia.
2012: Fourteen new ministries are formed from 2007-12.
2013: A ministry begins in Lugansk, Ukraine and becomes the 40th active Luke Society-supported ministry.
2014: Luke Society celebrates its 50th anniversary in ministry.
2018: Dr. Apolos Landa retires as regional coordinator for South America. Dr. Jose Luis Guerrero becomes regional coordinator for all of Latin America; Luke Society supports 41 active ministry partners in 33 different countries.
2021: Dr. Wrede Vogel retires as executive director. The board of directors appoints Dr. Brent Van Andel of New Mexico as the new executive director. He becomes the fourth chief administrator of the Luke Society, beginning his role on Aug. 1.
Program accomplishments
The Luke Society currently supports more than 20 ministries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and North, Central and South America and are continuing to add new ones. Each ministry varies in its scope, and might include medial clinics, community health outreach, water and sanitation projects, economic development, Christian education, church planting and Bible study.
Needs
The Luke Society has a variety of ways you can be an encouragement to our ministry. Whether offering financial support, volunteer service or becoming a prayer warrior, we appreciate all those who are helping us to further the ministry of Christ's Kingdom.