Victory Ministries of Alaska 
The information on this page was last updated 12/3/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
From the VBC campus in Sutton to Camp Li-Wa in Fairbanks, Victory Ministries of Alaska has something for everyone year round! Our waterfront and horseback riding are popular warm weather activities but ice skating and snow tubing are just as fun in the winter. From children through adults all will find a unique adventure that creates lasting memories! If hosting a retreat of your own fits your needs, join the many churches, youth groups and other organizations that use our facilities to enhance their program and provide a get-away experience for their guests.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Victory Ministries of Alaska
PO Box 875392
Wasilla, AK 99687-5392
Website: victorymin.org
Phone: 907-745-4203
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 920143034
CEO/President: Ward Hurlburt IV
Chairman: Ben Gerwig
Board size: 7
Founder:
Ruling year: 1993
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2020
Purpose
Victory in Christ through Christian camping in Alaska.
Mission statement
Victory Ministries exists to evangelize and disciple children, youth and adults in Alaska for Jesus Christ through Christian camping.
Statement of faith
We believe that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word, revelation of God, inerrant, infallible, and God-breathed. It shall be our guide in all matters of faith and conduct.
(Ps. 19:7-11, I Tim 1:16-17, I Peter 1:19-21, Matt. 5:18)
We believe in the triune Godhead, composed of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, coexistent, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.
(Deut. 6:4, I Peter 1:2, John 1:1, Acts 5:34)
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth and sinless life, that He is the incarnation of the Father, very God of very God, and whom and by whom all things were created, and that He is the head of His body, the true church.
(John 1:1-14, I Cor. 5:21, Col. 1:18)
We believe that man was created in the image of God. Man chose to sin and thus became totally lost and absolutely incapable of saving himself by his own works. Therefore, apart from Jesus Christ all human beings incur physical, spiritual, and everlasting death.
(Gen. 1:26, Gen. 3, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 5:12,19, Eph. 2:1;8-9, Romans 6:23)
We believe that because of the very nature of the gift of eternal life, because of the present intercessory ministry of Jesus Christ, and because of the sealing of the Holy Spirit, all true believers once saved, will be kept saved by the power of God forever.
(John 5:24, 10:28, Romans 8:29, Eph. 4:30, Heb. 7:25, Jude 24)
We believe that the true Church is one body composed of all believers with Jesus Christ as the Head. We further believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are scriptural ordinances and are to be observed by the Church today.
(Eph. 5:23, Acts 2:41, Matt. 28:19;26-29, I Cor. 11:17-34)
We believe in the personality and reality of Satan as well as his present and ultimate judgment.
(Rev 12:9, Rev 20:10, Matt. 4:2-11, Isaiah 14:12-17, John 8:44 & 16:11)
We believe that all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have eternal life and are expected to maintain good works. This involves separation from the sinful pleasures of the world system
(John 2:15-17, Titus 2:1-15, John 10:27-29, Romans 5:10, John 3:16)
We believe in the great Evangelistic Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost."
(Matt. 28:16-20, Acts 1:8)
We believe in the personal, premillenial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for His saints and with His saints to reign a thousand years over this earth. We believe in the bodily resurrection of believers and unbelievers. Those who accepted Christ as Savior and Lord will be with Him in Heaven forever and those who have rejected him will be separated from Him in the lake of fire forever.
(I Thess. 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:50-59, Rev. 19:19-20 & 20:1-6, Matt. 25:41)
We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, and was fully God and fully man. We believe in His sinless life, His miracles, His death for sin, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His ministry on the behalf of true believers, and in His personal return in power and glory.
(Matt. 1:18, Luke 1:27, Phil. 2:5-7, Heb. 4:15, John 19:30, Matt 28:6, Luke 24:6, Col. 3:1, Heb 7:25, I Thess. 4:16 & 17, Rev 19:11-16)
We believe that Christ died for our sins as a substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who receive Him as personal Savior and Lord are declared righteous by faith on the basis of His shed blood.
(Isaiah 53:6, Heb 10:14, Eph. 5:2, John 1:12, Romans 5:1;18;19, Eph 1:7)
We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to give unbelievers a new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ and permanently indwells them at the time of salvation. The filling of the Spirit enables believers to live a godly life and empowers them for service.
(Titus 3:5-6, I Cor 12:13; 6:19-20, Eph 5:18)
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Camps/Conference Centers
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 188 of 1435 | 2 of 37 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 44 of 1435 | 2 of 37 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 462 of 1435 | 6 of 37 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 644 of 1436 | 19 of 37 |
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 | 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 30% | 52% | 55% | 49% | 56% | 59% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 70% | 48% | 45% | 51% | 44% | 41% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 88% | 88% | 90% | 82% | 88% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 87% | 78% | 93% | 86% | 103% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 76% | 69% | 83% | 70% | 91% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 13% | 22% | 7% | 14% | -3% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 6% | 10% | 3% | 6% | -1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 15% | 12% | 12% | 10% | 18% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.33 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.70 | 2.84 | 3.06 | 3.38 | 3.78 | 6.11 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.56 | 1.09 | 1.03 | 1.14 | 1.31 | 1.99 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 5.45 | 22.64 | 12.54 | 8.14 | 8.91 | 5.44 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.18 | 0.04 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.18 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.37 | 10.53 | 10.70 | 9.21 | 8.13 | 4.92 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 8% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 256% | 256% | 289% | 285% | 280% | 298% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Cash | $2,173,309 | $1,890,894 | $1,564,071 | $1,329,664 | $752,846 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $105,809 | $113,108 | $94,832 | $104,415 | $49,647 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,279,118 | $2,004,002 | $1,658,903 | $1,434,079 | $802,493 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $4,189,734 | $4,136,281 | $3,951,476 | $3,987,002 | $4,097,061 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,189,734 | $4,136,281 | $3,951,476 | $3,987,002 | $4,097,061 |
| Total assets | $6,468,852 | $6,140,283 | $5,610,379 | $5,421,081 | $4,899,554 |
| Liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $100,646 | $159,845 | $203,820 | $160,976 | $143,692 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,784 |
| Total current liabilities | $100,646 | $159,845 | $203,820 | $160,976 | $147,476 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $14,800 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $14,800 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $115,446 | $159,845 | $203,820 | $160,976 | $147,476 |
| Net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Without donor restrictions | $5,199,971 | $4,909,298 | $4,700,966 | $4,705,264 | $4,381,453 |
| With donor restrictions | $1,153,435 | $1,071,140 | $705,593 | $554,841 | $370,625 |
| Net assets | $6,353,406 | $5,980,438 | $5,406,559 | $5,260,105 | $4,752,078 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Total contributions | $1,484,452 | $1,447,437 | $994,509 | $1,219,356 | $926,232 |
| Program service revenue | $1,317,308 | $1,130,391 | $1,039,289 | $897,777 | $603,990 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $33,598 | $24,023 | ($30,595) | $23,934 | $3,509 |
| Other revenue | $21,377 | $40,568 | $39,165 | $49,913 | $23,684 |
| Total other revenue | $1,372,283 | $1,194,982 | $1,047,859 | $971,624 | $631,183 |
| Total revenue | $2,856,735 | $2,642,419 | $2,042,368 | $2,190,980 | $1,557,415 |
| Expenses | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Program services | $2,182,337 | $1,823,549 | $1,701,350 | $1,533,069 | $1,409,577 |
| Management and general | $301,430 | $244,990 | $194,564 | $346,096 | $187,214 |
| Fundraising | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total expenses | $2,483,767 | $2,068,539 | $1,895,914 | $1,879,165 | $1,596,791 |
| Change in net assets | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $372,968 | $573,880 | $146,454 | $311,815 | ($39,376) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $372,968 | $573,880 | $146,454 | $311,815 | ($39,376) |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 12/3/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Victory Ministries of Alaska is the largest Christian camp and conference ministry in the State of Alaska, with the mission to "evangelize and disciple children and youth in Alaska for Jesus Christ through Christian camping." Victory Ministries consists of two campuses: Victory Bible Camps, located 95 miles northeast of Anchorage, and Camp Li-Wa, located 5 miles northeast of Fairbanks. Both campuses offer camping programs year-round which include: family camps, missionary conferences, weekend retreats, educational programs and summer camps for all ages.
Victory Ministries of Alaska, as an organization, was officially founded until 1992. Prior to that time, Victory Bible Camp and Camp Li-Wa were both part of the international mission organization, InterAct Ministries.
Victory Bible Camp was started in 1947 by John and Nadine Gillespie. It began with just 40 acres, granted by the US Congress before Alaska was even a state. The beautiful campus, which is near the Matanuska Glacier, now includes over 400 acres and is able to host groups of 300 people.
Camp Li-Wa was started in 1959 and was operated by Denali Bible Chapel for 25 years. It came under InterAct Ministries in 1985. It was founded as a summer camp, but now has a year-round ministry. Camp Li-Wa's facilities include one of the Alaska's largest heated indoor riding arenas and building is currently underway on a dining and retreat center.