Far East Broadcasting Company, Inc. 
The information on this page was last updated 3/15/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
FEBC is an interdenominational ministry whose sole purpose is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world through radio, the Internet, and emerging technologies.
One of our key focus areas in the world is between the lines of latitude 40 degrees and 10 degrees north of the equator. This portion of planet contains 4.65 billion people, 69 nations, and the greatest amount of the world's most unreached people.
Since some of these areas are hostile to the Gospel or difficult to reach, we embrace the unique media technologies that work for a particular region and use those technologies to proclaim the Good News into each country. This varies from shortwave radio, which has been around since we began 75 years ago, to the distribution of new cell phone SD cards containing the Gospel message.
Whatever technology is needed, however, it is used to proclaim the Gospel boldly - even in the face of persecution. And, praise God, the message of Jesus Christ is reaching hearts who otherwise would have had no way to hear the message.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Far East Broadcasting Company, Inc
PO Box 1
La Mirada, CA 90637-0001
Website: www.febc.org
Phone: 800-523-3480
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 951461574
CEO/President: Edward Cannon
Chairman: Laurie Kattner
Board size: 9
Founder: Bob Bowman and John Broger
Ruling year: 1946
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1979
Purpose
Until every man, woman, and child have heard the Gospel of Christ, we use media to communicate the Good News among the nations.
Jesus commissioned all Christian believers to devote themselves to the same mission until he returns: sharing the Good News and making new disciples.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." -Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And the vision of the Apostle John in Revelation 7:9-10 is the future reality we are striving for.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" -Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)
Mission statement
We communicate the Good News among the nations by media to inspire people to follow Jesus Christ.
Statement of faith
We believe:
The Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
In the deity 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, and that He will personally return in power and glory.
That for the salvation of lost and sinful men and women, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved into the resurrection of life, and they that are lost into the resurrection of damnation.
In the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Foreign Missions
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1008 of 1077 | 126 of 140 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1001 of 1078 | 130 of 140 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 824 of 1078 | 106 of 140 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 798 of 1077 | 96 of 140 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 5% | 14% | 11% | 11% | 9% | 17% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 4% | 12% | 10% | 9% | 8% | 15% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 86% | 88% | 87% | 83% | 86% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 14% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 13% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 14% | 12% | 13% | 17% | 14% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 79% | 82% | 83% | 82% | 77% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 89% | 88% | 97% | 95% | 77% | 113% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 69% | 80% | 79% | 63% | 88% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 11% | 12% | 3% | 5% | 23% | -13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 15% | 14% | 2% | 5% | 28% | -15% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 8% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.15 | 0.79 | 0.71 | 0.72 | 0.71 | 0.91 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.18 | 1.34 | 1.10 | 1.24 | 1.19 | 1.29 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.64 | 1.05 | 0.78 | 0.89 | 0.84 | 1.17 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 23.96 | 17.37 | 24.79 | 21.06 | 19.57 | 15.88 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.68 | 10.72 | 14.82 | 12.81 | 13.51 | 9.65 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 6% | 21% | 21% | 19% | 23% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 3% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 82% | 100% | 112% | 113% | 109% | 80% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cash | $980,038 | $2,794,761 | $1,656,572 | $1,440,696 | $2,984,022 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $179,347 | $315,203 | $408,263 | $348,869 | $273,914 |
| Short-term investments | $12,853,479 | $12,026,113 | $10,851,597 | $11,543,075 | $5,954,956 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $14,012,864 | $15,136,077 | $12,916,432 | $13,332,640 | $9,212,892 |
| Long-term investments | $3,588,236 | $810,316 | $1,176,801 | $1,554,180 | $1,542,945 |
| Fixed assets | $73,845 | $551,342 | $629,914 | $680,673 | $715,756 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,054,612 | $103,985 | $1,265,981 | $267,576 | $386,347 |
| Total long-term assets | $4,716,693 | $1,465,643 | $3,072,696 | $2,502,429 | $2,645,048 |
| Total assets | $18,729,557 | $16,601,720 | $15,989,128 | $15,835,069 | $11,857,940 |
| Liabilities | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $806,623 | $610,565 | $613,261 | $681,436 | $580,030 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $806,623 | $610,565 | $613,261 | $681,436 | $580,030 |
| Debt | $514,269 | $514,269 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $2,668,426 | $2,357,786 | $2,379,584 | $2,939,818 | $2,647,398 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,182,695 | $2,872,055 | $2,379,584 | $2,939,818 | $2,647,398 |
| Total liabilities | $3,989,318 | $3,482,620 | $2,992,845 | $3,621,254 | $3,227,428 |
| Net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Without donor restrictions | $7,315,637 | $6,954,687 | $6,912,601 | $6,243,954 | $6,313,559 |
| With donor restrictions | $7,424,602 | $6,164,413 | $6,083,682 | $5,969,861 | $2,316,953 |
| Net assets | $14,740,239 | $13,119,100 | $12,996,283 | $12,213,815 | $8,630,512 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Total contributions | $14,547,943 | $10,651,360 | $10,613,034 | $12,178,786 | $8,145,492 |
| Program service revenue | $2,105,582 | $1,131,648 | $1,142,435 | $1,196,137 | $1,200,022 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $230,306 | $288,943 | $382,065 | $1,261,119 | $126,970 |
| Other revenue | $1,674 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ($8,033) |
| Total other revenue | $2,337,562 | $1,420,591 | $1,524,500 | $2,457,256 | $1,318,959 |
| Total revenue | $16,885,505 | $12,071,951 | $12,137,534 | $14,636,042 | $9,464,451 |
| Expenses | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Program services | $11,686,714 | $9,602,248 | $9,600,969 | $9,177,684 | $8,288,890 |
| Management and general | $997,321 | $945,206 | $798,190 | $918,991 | $1,060,303 |
| Fundraising | $2,099,236 | $1,217,998 | $1,124,664 | $1,139,770 | $1,385,123 |
| Total expenses | $14,783,271 | $11,765,452 | $11,523,823 | $11,236,445 | $10,734,316 |
| Change in net assets | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,102,234 | $306,499 | $613,711 | $3,399,597 | ($1,269,865) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,102,234 | $306,499 | $613,711 | $3,399,597 | ($1,269,865) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Edward Cannon | President and CEO | $281,837 |
| Mary K Park Executive | Director, Korean Ministries | $165,960 |
| Scott Hassel | Treasurer and CFO | $149,836 |
| Sandy Wilson | Director of Development | $121,483 |
| Cheri Carpenter | Corporate Secretary | $98,184 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2020
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 3/15/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
While attending Southern California Bible College, God planted in the hearts of two young men named Bob Bowman and John Broger a vision for missionary radio that would one day become Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC). They shared this vision with Reverend William Roberts, the pastor of a church that Bowman's parents attended, who enthusiastically supported their plan; Roberts and his church were the first to assist FEBC through prayer and funding.
In 1945, FEBC was officially incorporated by Bob Bowman, John Broger and William Roberts and established with one goal in mind: broadcasting Christ to the world. They had no supportive board at the time, and were not affiliated with a specific church denomination. Instead, they followed God's lead to launch a ministry that focused on sharing Christ with the people of Asia. With nothing more than a heart to reach the lost and an understanding of radio's ability to reach far and wide, they leaned on this promise from God: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye" (Psalm 32:8).
With one country in particular on their hearts-China-they aired their very first broadcast from Shanghai. But by 1948 all mission work in China was shut down due to communism; an alternative had to be found.
First Radio Station
Ideally located in the South China Sea, the Philippines had much to offer, and the newly established nation was more than willing for FEBC to establish their operations there. The first broadcasts, over local station KZAS (as it was known), went on the air in Manila on June 4, 1948. International broadcasts to China started the following year and have since expanded to cover most of Southeast Asia, as well as Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Mongolia and India. FEBC's sister organization, Feba, broadcasts programs in Africa and the Middle East.
Circling the Globe
FEBC's programs are now heard on AM and FM stations worldwide, as well as by satellite, the Internet, and on SD cards through our Gospel Speaker Box. We also broadcast by shortwave through our transmitter sites in the Philippines, sharing Christ with hard-to-reach minority ethnic groups. We are now broadcasting 1,571 hours each day in 141 languages worldwide. Four billion people live within range of our transmitters. But the only figure we're truly interested in is the number of people whose lives have been changed by Jesus Christ.
Last year, we received 148 million listener responses, many attesting to transformed lives. This is why FEBC was launched...and this is why we continue...to share Jesus Christ with the world. UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD.
Program accomplishments
Last year we received 148 million listener engagements to the Gospel. FEBC broadcasts are heard in 145 languages and in 50 countries around the world aired from 149 stations and transmitters, totaling 1,571 hours of programming a day/365 days a year.