Cornerstone Televison Network, Inc. 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/18/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Cornerstone TeleVision Network, Inc. ("CTVN") broadcasts 24 hours a day, airing more than 80 different programs weekly. Their award-winning viewer supported network includes two full-powered and three low-powered television stations as well as affiliated stations across the United States.
Twelve original programs are produced by the network, including the flagship program, Real Life.
Cornerstone also has a sub-channel, Pittsburgh Faith & Family Channel, on which it broadcasts worship services of over 50 different churches in the greater Pittsburgh area. This partnership spans across churches of many denominations in hopes of bringing unity among believers and helping the local church grow.
In addition to its broadcast outreach, Cornerstone launched "Cornerstone Cares," a global ministry partnership program whereby Cornerstone links arms and resources with ministries throughout the U.S. and around the world. This includes food for starving children and families, clothing and shelter for orphans, and much more. Also, Prayer Partners are available around the clock to provide one-on-one ministry for those in need. More than 2 million viewers have called the Cornerstone prayer line requesting someone to pray with them.
Cornerstone Television Network is a nonprofit organization. Contributions to this ministry are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and is recognized by Guidestar as a Gold Member.
Contact information
Mailing address:
1 Signal Hill Drive
Wall, PA 15148-1499
Website: www.ctvn.org
Phone: (412) 824-3930
Email: info@ctvn.org
Organization details
EIN: 237112560
CEO/President: Steve Johnson
Chairman: Rev Gary Mitrik
Board size: 5
Founder: Rev. Russell Bixler
Year founded: 1971
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
CTVN Program Mission: Creating and presenting video programs that:
- Inspire and inform
- Engage, equip and entertain
- Honor integrity and witness truth
- Express a Biblical worldview
- Demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit
- Reflect technical and creative excellence
Mission statement
CTVN uses the following to communicate its mission:
To share the Good News of Jesus with as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, as effectively as possible - in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God.
Statement of faith
Cornerstone Television expresses its statement of faith as follows:
Statement of Biblical Unity
Because Biblical unity and harmony among Christians will bring glory to God and help advance the Gospel, Cornerstone Television Network seeks to promote unity and harmony among the various Christian communities using as its basis for coming together in agreement the belief that the scriptures - both the Old and New Testaments - are verbally inspired of God in the original writing and are God's special revelation of Himself and His creation.
(Ephesians 4:1-16)
Essentials To Biblical Unity
I. The Bible
The 66 books of the Bible are God's inspired, infallible, and inerrant word for all men everywhere for all time.
(II Tim. 3:15-17; Matt. 5:18; II Peter 1:20,21)
II. God
A. There is one God eternally existent in 3 distinct persons; the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.
(I Jn. 5:7; Matt. 28:19; Lk. 3:21,22.)
B. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God:
Born of a virgin (Is. 7:14; Matt. 1;21-23; Lk. 1:31 & 35)
Lived a sinless life (I Peter 2:21 & 22; Heb. 4:15; I Jn 3:5)
Died on the Cross to save sinners (Is. 53:5 & 6; I Cor. 15:3 & 4; II Cor. 5:21)
Rose bodily from the dead (Lk. 24:39; I Cor. 15:3-8; Acts 2:22-23)
Ascended to the right hand of the Father (Lk. 24:50- 52; Acts 1:9; Heb. 1:3)
Will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 19:11-16; Matt. 24:27-30 & 36)
III. Man
God created man in His own image, and man by his own will chose to believe the lie of Satan to disobey God. As a result of sin, mankind was separated from God by spiritual and physical death. (Gen. 1:26 & 27; 2:17; 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19) Man's only hope of reconciliation with God is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (I Tim. 2:5; John 14:6)
A. Salvation: (Acts 4:12)
Repent of sin - the works of the world, the flesh and the devil. (Eph. 2:1-3; Lk. 13:2-5; II Peter 3:9; Acts 2:38; 17:29 & 30; Lev. 16:21)
Faith through grace ... not of works. (Eph. 2:8 & 9; Lk. 7:47-50; Rom. 4:3-5, 20-5:1; 9:30-32)
Receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - becoming a member of the body of Christ, which transcends denominational barriers. (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20; Acts 15:14-17; Rom. 11:7-25)
Confess Christ. (Rom. 10:8-10; I Jn. 4:15; Matt. 10: 32 & 33)
Judgment: (Jn. 5:22, 27-29; 12:48)
All will be judged according to what they did with Jesus Christ as well as to their works done while here on earth. (Jn. 3:36; I Jn. 5:11 & 12; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20: 11 & 12)
The believer will rule and reign with Jesus forever. (I Cor. 3:10-15; Rev. 3:21)
The unbeliever will be condemned to a conscious existence in eternal damnation with Satan. (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10-15)
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Radio/ TV Stations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 790 of 819 | 24 of 26 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 804 of 819 | 26 of 26 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 779 of 819 | 23 of 26 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 534 of 819 | 17 of 26 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 40% | 38% | 37% | 34% | 34% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 19% | 19% | 22% | 21% | 22% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 90% | 47% | 50% | 59% | 64% | 64% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 19% | 23% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 10% | 53% | 50% | 41% | 36% | 36% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 79% | 66% | 62% | 63% | 59% | 59% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 120% | 127% | 144% | 111% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 79% | 78% | 91% | 65% | 56% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | -20% | -27% | -44% | -11% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 5% | -9% | -11% | -15% | -15% | 4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 19% | 23% | 22% | 22% | 19% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.47 | 1.05 | 0.86 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.07 | 2.39 | 1.75 | 1.46 | 5.72 | 6.12 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.48 | 1.16 | 0.85 | 0.69 | 5.98 | 5.28 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 21.45 | 6.13 | 17.01 | 25.58 | 1.08 | 1.45 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 0.93 | 0.69 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.73 | 8.63 | 13.23 | 16.72 | 0.15 | 0.71 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 3% | 7% | 3% | 3% | 28% | 22% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 12% | 11% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 173% | 191% | 197% | 206% | 68% | 90% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $490,734 | $1,332,087 | $3,239,487 | $301,968 | $652,931 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $450,338 | $354,278 | $451,989 | $641,004 | $413,962 |
| Short-term investments | $3,569,333 | $4,896,883 | $5,004,298 | $12,518 | $11,497 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,510,405 | $6,583,248 | $8,695,774 | $955,490 | $1,078,390 |
| Long-term investments | $1,500,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $4,711,714 | $3,698,390 | $4,010,999 | $4,508,424 | $5,520,628 |
| Other long-term assets | $59,771 | $1,215,298 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,271,485 | $4,913,688 | $4,010,999 | $4,508,424 | $5,520,628 |
| Total assets | $10,781,890 | $11,496,936 | $12,706,773 | $5,463,914 | $6,599,018 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $717,604 | $352,818 | $300,369 | $758,352 | $607,660 |
| Other current liabilities | $18,612 | $34,100 | $39,510 | $126,001 | $135,386 |
| Total current liabilities | $736,216 | $386,918 | $339,879 | $884,353 | $743,046 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $653,007 | $727,452 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $12,439 | $12,646 | $12,853 | $13,164 | $13,267 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $12,439 | $12,646 | $12,853 | $666,171 | $740,719 |
| Total liabilities | $748,655 | $399,564 | $352,732 | $1,550,524 | $1,483,765 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $9,835,024 | $11,042,799 | $12,295,066 | $3,855,230 | $5,052,786 |
| Temporarily restricted | $198,211 | $54,573 | $58,975 | $58,160 | $62,467 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $10,033,235 | $11,097,372 | $12,354,041 | $3,913,390 | $5,115,253 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $2,039,989 | $2,221,600 | $2,432,926 | $3,268,310 | $3,820,436 |
| Program service revenue | $1,715,080 | $1,430,744 | $1,680,833 | $1,848,296 | $2,001,749 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $623,392 | $786,778 | $38,672 | $23,010 | $104,284 |
| Total other revenue | $2,338,472 | $2,217,522 | $1,719,505 | $1,871,306 | $2,106,033 |
| Total revenue | $4,378,461 | $4,439,122 | $4,152,431 | $5,139,616 | $5,926,469 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $3,437,618 | $3,462,801 | $3,777,975 | $3,365,568 | $3,344,927 |
| Management and general | $984,100 | $1,312,218 | $1,307,501 | $1,249,956 | $1,056,506 |
| Fundraising | $823,438 | $846,297 | $911,385 | $1,099,382 | $1,296,149 |
| Total expenses | $5,245,156 | $5,621,316 | $5,996,861 | $5,714,906 | $5,697,582 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($866,695) | ($1,182,194) | ($1,844,430) | ($575,290) | $228,887 |
| Other changes in net assets | ($197,442) | ($74,475) | $10,285,081 | ($626,573) | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,064,137) | ($1,256,669) | $8,440,651 | ($1,201,863) | $228,887 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Steve Johnson | CEO | $95,744 |
| Paul Bixler | Director | $72,836 |
| Rev Gary Mitrik | Chairman | $26,900 |
| Donald Black | President/Ceo (to 1/6/19) | $16,009 |
| Mr Craig Sherwood | Director | $4,875 |
| Mr Richard Scholton | Treasurer | $900 |
| Ms Michelle Agatston | Vice Chariman | $900 |
| Mr Leon Haynes III | Director | $750 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
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 2/18/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Cornerstone Television Network is a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, which was organized under Pennsylvania law on January 6, 1971. In prior years (1971-84), CTVN was known as the Western Pennsylvania Christian Broadcasting Company. During 1985 the corporation processed a change of name request with both state and federal agencies renaming the company Cornerstone Television Network, Inc.
It began nearly 30 years ago as Norma Bixler during a visit to the Christian Broadcasting Network. In the lobby of that still-fledgling network, she heard a clear call that God wanted her and her husband, Russ, to build a Christian television station back home in Pittsburgh. Their prospective station faced many hurdles - financial, legal, personal, logistical... However, one by one, over the next ten years, with God's grace they overcame each obstacle to realize their calling.
Along the way, they were guided and helped through the inspiring leadership of men like Pat Robertson, Loren Cunningham, and Jim Bakker...
...through the remarkable talents of dedicated professionals like Bill Freeman, Oleen Eagle, Stan Scott, and Eleanor Clarke...
...and through the faithful gifts and generous support of countless caring Christians who volunteered their time, their talents, their prayers, and even their life savings to make the vision of Christian television a reality.
Again and again, the words of Isaiah 49:22 echoed in the Bixler's hearts:
"Thus says the Lord God:
'Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations,
and raise My Signal to the peoples.'"
This signal was first broadcast on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1979 -- and in the three decades since Cornerstone television has been used to bring His Word to people all over America and beyond through preaching, music, drama, and a variety of other programs.
Program accomplishments
CTVN's accomplishments and programs include some of the following:
- Cornerstone Television contributes over $500,000 annually to various ministries worldwide. Special emphasis is given to rescuing and caring for children worldwide.
- Over the last 30 years, more than 26,000 viewers have called to say they came to Christ as a direct result of our daily programs.
- More than 2 million viewers have called the Cornerstone Prayer Line requesting someone to pray with them.
- Current original programming includes Real Life, Sister 2 Sister, and the Living Room Concert Series, among others.
- Multiple awards for excellence in Media Broadcasting.
Needs
Cornerstone TeleVision Network, Inc. expresses the most specific need is:
Prayer Partners. For more information one can contact Cornerstone TeleVision or go to their website www.ctvn.org.