Lutheran Bible Translators 
The information on this page was last updated 1/26/2024. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Lutheran Bible Translators provides translation and literacy partnership to language communities around the world.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Lutheran Bible Translators
PO Box 789
Concordia, MO 64020
Website: LBT.org
Phone: 660-225-0810
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 952630437
CEO/President: Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske
Chairman: Marlis Norton
Board size: 9
Founder: Rev. Morris Watkins
Ruling year: 1969
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1980
Purpose
Vision: God is transforming the lives of people around the world as they read and use His Word in their heart language.
Bible Translation: Why translate Scripture for every language? Because when we hear God's Word through our own language - not the language of foreigners, colonizers, or overlords - then we understand how much God loves and desires us. Over 1 billion people worldwide do not have the full Bible in a language that touches them deeply. An estimated 165 million do not have a single verse of Scripture.
Deeper Engagement: Why don't we just translate, publish and move on as quickly as possible? Because our goal is impact, not production. We work with either pre-literate or semi-literate peoples. Printed books are not a part of their life. It takes creative and intentional effort to help individuals, families, and even congregations read, hear and interact with Scripture within their daily activities. The Bible has no impact unless the Word engages deeply within.
Greater Capacity: Why invest in the emerging non-Western Christian church and Bible agencies? Because the future of the global Church depends on it. Locally driven outreach is far more effective than expatriate missionary work alone. Building local expertise and appropriate infrastructure empowers the local church to more sustainably engage in mission.
Mission statement
Lutheran Bible Translators makes God's Word accessible to those who do not yet have it in the language of their hearts.
Statement of faith
Lutheran Bible Translators accepts without reservation:
The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice.
All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, to wit: The Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.
Note that the "Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church... to wit:..." is the Book of Concord.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Bible Translation Organizations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 468 of 1118 | 4 of 17 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 336 of 1119 | 3 of 17 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 241 of 1119 | 5 of 17 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 929 of 1118 | 10 of 17 |
Click here to read Lutheran Bible Translators' response to our ratings
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 85% | 89% | 96% | 97% | 97% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 10% | 10% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 15% | 11% | 4% | 3% | 3% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 86% | 83% | 83% | 79% | 80% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 90% | 81% | 76% | 97% | 66% | 77% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 72% | 70% | 64% | 80% | 52% | 61% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 10% | 19% | 24% | 3% | 34% | 23% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 11% | 11% | 13% | 2% | 19% | 12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 11% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.06 | 0.48 | 0.42 | 0.45 | 0.37 | 0.41 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.23 | 1.15 | 1.12 | 1.14 | 1.17 | 1.25 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.14 | 0.56 | 0.47 | 0.52 | 0.43 | 0.51 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 9.04 | 48.51 | 116.36 | 105.15 | 62.82 | 172.22 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.84 | 21.11 | 25.21 | 23.07 | 27.63 | 23.31 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 14% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 75% | 204% | 235% | 220% | 270% | 244% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $2,788,330 | $3,626,869 | $3,452,926 | $4,682,843 | $3,748,712 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $2,634,402 | $1,446,664 | $1,537,770 | $108,045 | $887,125 |
| Short-term investments | $8,420,351 | $9,157,682 | $7,254,771 | $6,327,764 | $3,342,426 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $13,843,083 | $14,231,215 | $12,245,467 | $11,118,652 | $7,978,263 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $169,217 | $179,200 | $211,330 | $266,777 | $326,024 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,966,576 | $1,494,498 | $1,510,230 | $1,628,642 | $1,702,146 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,135,793 | $1,673,698 | $1,721,560 | $1,895,419 | $2,028,170 |
| Total assets | $15,978,876 | $15,904,913 | $13,967,027 | $13,014,071 | $10,006,433 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $285,352 | $122,301 | $116,455 | $176,999 | $46,325 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $285,352 | $122,301 | $116,455 | $176,999 | $46,325 |
| 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 | $285,352 | $122,301 | $116,455 | $176,999 | $46,325 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $11,700,543 | $11,604,416 | $9,438,407 | $9,040,424 | $7,423,704 |
| With donor restrictions | $3,992,981 | $4,178,196 | $4,412,165 | $3,796,648 | $2,536,404 |
| Net assets | $15,693,524 | $15,782,612 | $13,850,572 | $12,837,072 | $9,960,108 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $8,101,118 | $7,860,901 | $6,276,632 | $7,022,134 | $5,140,355 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,382,727 | $879,746 | $243,595 | $190,714 | $147,827 |
| Other revenue | $7,529 | $53,099 | $9,150 | $13,355 | $8,430 |
| Total other revenue | $1,390,256 | $932,845 | $252,745 | $204,069 | $156,257 |
| Total revenue | $9,491,374 | $8,793,746 | $6,529,377 | $7,226,203 | $5,296,612 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $6,607,254 | $5,596,620 | $5,239,457 | $3,743,173 | $3,250,089 |
| Management and general | $686,915 | $642,191 | $638,229 | $537,779 | $444,760 |
| Fundraising | $414,277 | $477,225 | $431,726 | $470,858 | $388,797 |
| Total expenses | $7,708,446 | $6,716,036 | $6,309,412 | $4,751,810 | $4,083,646 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,782,928 | $2,077,710 | $219,965 | $2,474,393 | $1,212,966 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,782,928 | $2,077,710 | $219,965 | $2,474,393 | $1,212,966 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Michael Rodewald Resigned 123122 | Executive Di | $143,843 |
| Richard Rudowske | CFO | $101,484 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2022
Response from ministry
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on the rating system as well as the rating received by Lutheran Bible Translators.
Since our rating is in an "acceptable" range, I trust that the following comments will not be construed as merely sour grapes. Rather, they reflect some concerns about procedure and methodology.
The Summary Overview lists four basic principles.
#1-The system rates financial efficiency not programmatic efficiency.
However, the summary statement clearly places a programmatic value on
financial efficiency ("the most mission-related activity for the least
amount of financial resources"). It is probably impossible to avoid, but
the
rating system clearly implies programmatic judgements without programmatic
review.
#2- The system claims objectivity. That may be accurate for organizations
that file IRS Form 990 if Wall Watchers consistently uses that information
to calculate ratios. If, however, some organizational ratios are calculated
from the audited financial statements, there may be a lack of consistency
which results in a lack of objectivity. While auditors follow certain broad
principles of consistency, there are allowable exceptions. Does Wall
Watchers reclassify audit lines so that organizations will be treated
consistently and, therefore, objectively? Or is the audit accepted "as is"
resulting in some inconsistencies and, therefore some lack of objectivity?
#3 - The ratings are relative. That may be an accurate statement, but is it
desirable? Very large organizations with a larger revenue and asset base
are
compared with smaller organizations. Economies of scale may adversely
effect the smaller organization suggesting diminished efficiency. In fact,
the smaller organization may be far more efficient because they are forced
to "count their pennies" more aggressively. The ratios, however, may still
appear to project lesser efficiency.
#4 - The ratio categories seem appropriate. There is a question about the
Risk/Return motif. While business ratios use this language, does it really
apply to nonprofit ministry organizations? The Contributions Reliance Ratio
is "higher is better" if there is greater reliance on contributions. That
means organizations with active endowments would rate lower because
endowment return is not a contribution. That conclusion would seem to be a
value judgement not an objective ratio analysis.
Calculating the Rating
On a methodology level, I have some concerns about the whole issue of
averaging ratios. Tyran, in "The Vest-Pocket Guide to Business Ratios",
speaks
about the "deviation method" for determining the Mean of a distribution.
Interestingly, his example is the calculation of the arithmetic mean for a
distribution of Current Ratios. In his algebraic mean calculation, however,
he does not illustrate with averaging a distribution of ratios. While Tyran
is not the only resource, calculating the average of a distribution of
ratios poses some problems. While it is "technically" possible, does it
result in logical or useful product? Is it possible that such a
calculation creates the illusion of meaning without actually producing a
meaningful answer?
Step 4 is based on subtracting the risk score from the return score (based,
I assume, on the fact that the Return ratio should be larger than the Risk
ratio). My concern, however, is that steps three and four are based on
averaging and dividing ratios of individual organizations from averaged
ratios based on a distribution of ratios. Is it possible that this rather
convoluted process gives the illusion of precision while actually yielding
little valuable information? The average donor may well be persuaded to a
conclusion without actually understanding the process involved.
Step 6 presents an interesting distribution of Stars. Given the calculation
process based on individual organizations compared to the distribution, I
would assume that there are very few 5 Stars and that the end result was
heavily loaded to 3 Star.
The final computation is based on an average of percentile ranks. Again, we
question the mathematical validity of averaging percentiles. The result
"looks like a number" but is the number meaningful from a mathematical
standpoint?
Assume for a moment that 3 Stars is just average - a "C" on the Ministry
Watch Efficiency scale. I'm not a mathematician, but my strong impression
is that the system tends to force a mid-range result. The repeated
averaging of ratios and percentiles tends to force the end product of the
calculation to the middle, creating the impression that the organization is
inefficient and, by extrapolation, ineffective.
While our overall rating was above average by the ranking methodology and
more-or-less average by the rating methodology, my concerns remain. It
appears that Wall Watchers has an admirable motivation but a system with
significant methodological flaws. In addition, the focus on financial
efficiency will not be clear to most donors who will read the numbers and
make some assumptions about the organization that Wall Watchers did not
intend but which are reinforced by the methodology.
Sincerely,
Marshall R. Gillam
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/26/2024. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Lutheran Bible Translators was founded in 1964 by Rev. Morris Watkins. LBT is an independent mission group, founded in 1964, and is the only Lutheran organization totally devoted to this specialized ministry.
Program accomplishments
Over 20 million impacted
Partnerships with over 100 language communities
55 active missionaries
45 publications
Member of Illuminations - A Collective Impact Alliance for Bible Translation.
Needs
Because the ministry of Lutheran Bible Translators is supported by the prayers and contributions of fellow Christians, LBT is always in need of both prayers and financial contributions. In addition, missionaries are needed to fill the open translation, literacy, and vernacular media positions around the world.