Pioneer Bible Translators 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/6/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Pioneer Bible Translators' desire is to work with Jesus Christ in discipling the nations. They believe that enabling people to hear and read God's Word in their own language is an essential part of discipleship. To this end they work to translate the Bible into languages into which it has not yet been translated.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact information
Mailing address:
7500 West Camp Wisdom Rd.
Dallas, TX 75236-5236
Website: www.pioneerbible.org
Phone: (214) 699-4300
Email: pbt@pbti.org
Organization details
EIN: 237433923
CEO/President: Mr. Gregory Pruett
Chairman: Mr. David Butts
Board size: 13
Founder: Mr. Al Hamilton
Year founded: 1976
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1989
Purpose
Pioneer Bible Translators bridges the gap between the church and the Bible-less peoples around the world. Our team is composed of Bible translators, literacy evangelists, church planters and a variety of support personnel transforming lives through God's Word in every language. We are serving 26 million people in 62 language projects in 14 countries. God is calling us to expand. With His help we will strive to start 37 new projects by the end of 2018.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
Pioneer Bible Translators' Mission Statement is:
Pioneer Bible Translators exists to disciple the Bible-less, mobilizing God's people to provide enduring access to God's Word.
Statement of faith
Pioneer Bible Translators' Statement of Faith is:
Pioneer Bible Translators accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He is the only begotten Son of God who died on the cross for the salvation of all mankind. God raised Him from the dead and this is our assurance of salvation.
All that Pioneer Bible Translators does is done under the sovereign Lordship of Christ and with the intention of making Him Savior and Lord over all the world.
God has offered to every person everywhere the forgiveness of sins, the Spirit of God, and the inheritance yet to come on the basis of what Christ has done to save us.
In order to receive this gift of grace, God summons everyone to faith in Christ, repentance from sin, confession of Jesus as Lord, and on that basis, immersion into Christ.
We accept the Bible as being the Word of God. We regard the Bible as our authority in matters of religion and as the basis of all our faith and practice. True knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ comes to us through the Word of God.
Pioneer Bible Translators recognizes that Jesus Christ created the Church, and that it is made up of all those who have obeyed the Gospel and belong to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.
The nature of the Church as a people of God is determined by the Holy Spirit, whose presence within it gives the Church it's life and power.
The mission of the Church is to bring the message of salvation through Christ to all mankind, and summon them to obedience to Him as Savior and Lord.
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 | | 572 of 913 | 8 of 15 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 364 of 915 | 6 of 15 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 637 of 915 | 10 of 15 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 554 of 913 | 7 of 15 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 5% | 8% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 98% | 98% | 98% | 98% | 98% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 9% | 9% | 9% | 9% | 6% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 78% | 78% | 76% | 79% | 76% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 83% | 94% | 94% | 87% | 90% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 65% | 73% | 72% | 69% | 68% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 17% | 6% | 6% | 13% | 10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 11% | 18% | 7% | 7% | 15% | 12% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.86 | 0.88 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.93 | 1.04 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.46 | 1.54 | 1.69 | 1.81 | 1.40 | 1.36 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.76 | 1.35 | 1.69 | 1.75 | 1.30 | 1.41 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.70 | 28.67 | 19.39 | 12.00 | 14.24 | 16.53 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.03 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 0.06 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.06 | 8.57 | 6.75 | 6.30 | 8.55 | 7.99 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 14% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 85% | 112% | 97% | 99% | 102% | 92% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $6,461,545 | $4,996,256 | $5,575,166 | $7,087,764 | $5,974,331 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,157,572 | $0 | $134,399 | $119,668 | $45,469 |
| Short-term investments | $2,837,254 | $2,756,074 | $1,258,241 | $1,274,588 | $1,298,975 |
| Other current assets | $219,791 | $256,592 | $124,826 | $119,799 | $124,492 |
| Total current assets | $10,676,162 | $8,008,922 | $7,092,632 | $8,601,819 | $7,443,267 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $5,304,106 | $5,562,434 | $5,738,071 | $3,424,073 | $2,689,602 |
| Other long-term assets | $483,238 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $5,787,344 | $5,562,434 | $5,738,071 | $3,424,073 | $2,689,602 |
| Total assets | $16,463,506 | $13,571,356 | $12,830,703 | $12,025,892 | $10,132,869 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $372,325 | $412,970 | $498,782 | $388,826 | $204,107 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $92,401 | $215,284 | $246,285 |
| Total current liabilities | $372,325 | $412,970 | $591,183 | $604,110 | $450,392 |
| 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 | $372,325 | $412,970 | $591,183 | $604,110 | $450,392 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $6,925,937 | $6,426,010 | $6,425,837 | $5,310,778 | $3,583,104 |
| With donor restrictions | $9,165,244 | $6,732,376 | $5,813,683 | $6,111,004 | $6,099,373 |
| Net assets | $16,091,181 | $13,158,386 | $12,239,520 | $11,421,782 | $9,682,477 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $16,990,913 | $14,161,682 | $13,001,880 | $12,733,337 | $11,475,395 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $103,617 | $38,480 | $20,286 | $13,181 | $16,393 |
| Other revenue | $267,305 | $216,972 | $189,036 | $215,651 | $220,166 |
| Total other revenue | $370,922 | $255,452 | $209,322 | $228,832 | $236,559 |
| Total revenue | $17,361,835 | $14,417,134 | $13,211,202 | $12,962,169 | $11,711,954 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $11,240,683 | $10,514,437 | $9,460,556 | $8,914,167 | $8,001,909 |
| Management and general | $1,924,236 | $1,805,238 | $1,858,460 | $1,633,675 | $1,598,790 |
| Fundraising | $1,264,121 | $1,178,593 | $1,074,448 | $675,022 | $902,100 |
| Total expenses | $14,429,040 | $13,498,268 | $12,393,464 | $11,222,864 | $10,502,799 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,932,795 | $918,866 | $817,738 | $1,739,305 | $1,209,155 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,932,795 | $918,866 | $817,738 | $1,739,305 | $1,209,155 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Jeff Wilhoit | Executive Vice President | $112,895 |
| Rich Sheeley | Mobilization & Development | $93,392 |
| Jack Straus | Chief Legal Officer | $90,608 |
| Clint Stringer | Chief Financial Officer | $76,500 |
| Michael Scott Graves | Personnel Officer | $71,965 |
| Michael Barton | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $66,212 |
| Greg Pruett | President, Board Member | $56,915 |
| Bryan Harrison | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $56,354 |
| Kyle VonRueden | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $39,376 |
| Yancy Fariss | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $36,100 |
| Eunice Herchenroeder | Bd Member/Branch Rep | $29,950 |
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 3/6/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Pioneer Bible Translators was founded by Al Hamilton in 1976. He served as its first President. The first Pioneer Mission Institute was held on the Campus of Lincoln Christian College in 1976. In 1977 the first missionaries were sent out to Papua New Guinea. In 1980 PBT's sent its first missionary family to Zaire. In subsequent years missions have been opened in Guinea, West Africa, in Equatorial Guinea, Canada, Tanzania, and the Ukraine. PBT participation in the translation of the Bible into the local languages has serve to facilitate the spread of the Gospel in these areas.
Program accomplishments
Pioneer Bible Translators is now translating the Bible for 26 million people speaking 62 languages in 14 countries. Between July 2013 and June 2014, we have completed nine New Testaments and one full Bible and started translation in four new languages. In the coming months, we hope to complete several more New Testaments and a full Bible.
Details for July 2013-June 2014:
East Africa
- 6 New Testaments are in typesetting to be printed this year
- 4 New Testaments are in final stages of prepublication to be sent to the typesetter this year
- Helped partners produce revision of New Testament with Psalms, Genesis, and Exodus 1-20 in one language
- First scripture portion (Mark) printed for one language
- Genesis - Job printed and distributed in one language, rest of Bible to be published soon
- Genesis - 2 Samuel printed and distributed in one language
- Dramatized Audio New Testament produced and distributed in one language
- First scripture portions printed for 2 languages
- New Testament in Tay language printed and distributed, audio recording begun
- 1 New Testament in final stages of prepublication
- Started 1 new translation
- 1 New Testament printed and distributed
- Started 1 new translation
- Started 1 new translation
- Produced the Jesus film in one language
- Started 1 new translation
- 1 full Bible is in the final stages of checking
Needs
We are seeking new missionaries who will step up and meet the need for incarnational ministry among Bible-less peoples. Pioneer Bible Translators currently sends missionaries from Canada and the United States. Our International Service Center, located in Dallas, TX, is crucial in attaining our global ministry goals. From here, missionaries train and prepare for cross-cultural ministry.