Freedom in Christ Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 5/2/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
At Freedom in Christ, we understand that real growth and change can feel like hard work. So much of Christian discipleship sounds like "trying harder." We get it because we've been there. In fact, that's why Freedom in Christ was founded! Since our ministry began over 30 years ago, we've equipped millions of Christians and Church Leaders worldwide to cultivate a lifestyle of unstoppable spiritual growth and maturity.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Freedom in Christ Ministries
9051 Executive Park Drive
Suite 503
Knoxville, TN 37923
Website: ficm.org
Phone: (865) 342-4000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 330361836
CEO/President: Dan Studt
Chairman: Dr. John Fugate
Board size: 9
Founder: Dr. Neil T. Anderson
Ruling year: 2011
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1998
Purpose
We offer a unique approach to discipleship based on these 3 principles: Truth, Turning and Transformation. It's holistic, transferable, and completely based on Biblical truth that anyone, anywhere, anytime can use. Our discipleship resources provide a clear pathway for every Christian to embrace who they are in Christ and deal with whatever is holding them back from experiencing the abundant life in Jesus Christ.
Mission statement
The mission of FICM-USA is to help people realize their new identity and freedom in Christ.
Statement of faith
The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and only authoritative word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16,17; John 17:17; Matthew 5:18)
There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of Deity and the characteristics of personality. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Peter 1:4; John 10:27-30; Acts 5:3,4)
Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is perfect Deity and true humanity united in one person forever.(John 1:1-4; Matthew 1:21-23; Philippians 2:5-11)
He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 Peter 2:24,25; Acts 4:12; John 3:16-18)
He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. (1 Corinthians 15:1-6; Luke 24:36-43
He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. (Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Hebrews 7:25)
Each human being is wonderfully and immutably created by God as either genetically male or genetically female. These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the image of God. (Genesis 1:26,27)
All human life is sacred and of inestimable value. That includes the pre-born, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, as well as every other stage or condition of humanity from conception through natural death. (Psalm 139)
The original man sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historical fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. (Genesis 3:8-12; Romans 5:12-14; Romans 6:23)
Man's nature from Adam is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:12; Titus 1:15,16; Romans 8:7,8; Hebrews 11:6; John 3:5,6; Titus 3:3-7)
The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 11:5,6; Galatians 2:15,16; Romans 3:21-26)
All true believers in Christ are children of God, new creations in Christ, saints who are free to walk in newness of life in Him though never achieving sinless perfection in this life. (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 6:4-7; 1 John 1:8)
It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment in which they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written Word. (Romans 8:15,16; 1 John 5:11-13; John 5:24)
The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth, and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power, and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith. (John 15:26; John 16:7-11; John 3:5,6; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20; Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 5:18-21)
Every believer is called to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit so that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, but will bear fruit to the glory of God. (Galatians 5:16-23; 2 Corinthians 3:17,18)
God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive union between one genetic male and one genetic female.(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6)
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His Body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. (Ephesians 1:23,24; Colossians 1:18-20)
God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures, and for mutual encouragement. (Hebrews 10:24,25; 1 Corinthians 11:22-26; Matthew 28:19; Colossians 3:16)
At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing. (2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of his body to judgment and everlasting condemnation. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 20:11-15)
Jesus Christ will come again to the earth-personally, visibly, and bodily-to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. (Philippians 3:20,21; Ephesians 1:9,10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-29; Revelation 1:4-8; Revelation 22:20,21)
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of that Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to "Him who loved us and gave Himself for us." (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:27-29; Revelation 5:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:11-16; Galatians 2:20)
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism Support
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 373 of 1104 | 15 of 35 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 586 of 1105 | 22 of 35 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 405 of 1105 | 9 of 35 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 361 of 1104 | 14 of 35 |
Click here to read Freedom in Christ Ministries' 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 | 6% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 5% | 6% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 99% | 87% | 91% | 87% | 88% | 87% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 1% | 13% | 9% | 13% | 12% | 13% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 90% | 88% | 88% | 90% | 90% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 97% | 94% | 87% | 98% | 88% | 96% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 83% | 85% | 76% | 86% | 79% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 3% | 6% | 13% | 2% | 12% | 4% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 12% | 30% | 4% | 35% | 15% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.17 | 1.55 | 1.73 | 1.75 | 2.18 | 2.99 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.33 | 1.09 | 1.02 | 1.01 | 1.00 | 1.02 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.69 | 1.69 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 2.19 | 3.04 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 39.03 | 5.97 | 6.86 | 3.82 | 5.83 | 4.64 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.03 | 0.17 | 0.15 | 0.26 | 0.17 | 0.22 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.59 | 5.91 | 5.83 | 5.03 | 4.53 | 3.10 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 6% | 20% | 14% | 29% | 17% | 21% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 5% | 0% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 79% | 51% | 50% | 40% | 38% | 26% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $1,138,831 | $997,687 | $840,409 | $664,487 | $445,904 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $46,485 | $46,569 | $57,839 | $68,200 | $49,400 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,185,316 | $1,044,256 | $898,248 | $732,687 | $495,304 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $6,862 | $18,348 | $6,513 | $3,046 | $8,284 |
| Other long-term assets | $98,126 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $104,988 | $18,348 | $6,513 | $3,046 | $8,284 |
| Total assets | $1,290,304 | $1,062,604 | $904,761 | $735,733 | $503,588 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $198,458 | $152,309 | $234,969 | $125,611 | $106,849 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $198,458 | $152,309 | $234,969 | $125,611 | $106,849 |
| Debt | $62,913 | $0 | $31,652 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $62,913 | $0 | $31,652 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $261,371 | $152,309 | $266,621 | $125,611 | $106,849 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $460,601 | $477,310 | $369,202 | $290,959 | $295,043 |
| With donor restrictions | $568,332 | $432,985 | $268,938 | $319,163 | $101,696 |
| Net assets | $1,028,933 | $910,295 | $638,140 | $610,122 | $396,739 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $1,854,308 | $1,909,003 | $1,393,477 | $1,602,954 | $1,355,165 |
| Program service revenue | $237,880 | $172,470 | $194,897 | $167,261 | $175,358 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other revenue | $31,032 | $26,194 | $21,636 | $50,148 | $33,486 |
| Total other revenue | $268,912 | $198,664 | $216,533 | $217,409 | $208,844 |
| Total revenue | $2,123,220 | $2,107,667 | $1,610,010 | $1,820,363 | $1,564,009 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $1,801,718 | $1,611,198 | $1,388,027 | $1,439,110 | $1,350,766 |
| Management and general | $75,875 | $93,650 | $88,812 | $84,672 | $76,048 |
| Fundraising | $126,989 | $130,664 | $105,153 | $83,198 | $79,232 |
| Total expenses | $2,004,582 | $1,835,512 | $1,581,992 | $1,606,980 | $1,506,046 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $118,638 | $272,155 | $28,018 | $213,383 | $57,963 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $118,638 | $272,155 | $28,018 | $213,383 | $57,963 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dan Studt | CEO | $121,098 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2022
Response from ministry
We believe that the Lord is preparing His Church for the final days leading up to His return. Times will get tough and persecution of Christians and churches will increase dramatically. Every believer will be affected. For God's people to not only survive but thrive, we are going to need to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10). In order to be "strong in the Lord" we need to know who we are in the Lord. If we are basing our acceptance, significance, security and life on anything but who Christ is in us and who we are in Him, we will be crushed. And we need to be strong in the strength of His might. Dependence on the flesh has never worked in Christ's kingdom and even the best ideas and plans and problem solving skills of natural man will not enable God's people to make it through the tough days ahead. Many churches will have to shut their doors and will be driven underground. In addition, believers in Christ will be forced to move from a theoretical belief and understanding of spiritual warfare to a profoundly functional one. The activity of the evil one will become more brazenly apparent as our society's morals decline. We remain ignorant of his schemes at our own peril. We have the encouraging news, however, that "thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14). Christ is Victor! Jesus has won the war so that we can win the battles until He returns. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! (2 Corinthians 3:17). Let's be faithful to walk by the Spirit until the day Jesus brings us home.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/2/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Freedom in Christ Ministries (FICM) was founded by Dr. Neil T. Anderson in 1989 while he was professor of practical theology at Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, CA. Dr. Anderson observed that Christian students did not know who they were in Christ and were not connecting with God in that intimate "Abba! Father!" relationship. As the result, he began teaching a course at the graduate level entitled "Resolving Personal and Spiritual Conflicts." The response was overwhelming and soon Dr. Anderson began teaching this message of our identity, position, authority and victory in Christ in churches across the nation and around the world.
Out of this growing ministry, two best-selling books: Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker were published in 1990 and updated in 2000. In addition, a practical, transferable tool, The Steps to Freedom in Christ, was developed and has been used globally as a thorough moral and spiritual inventory, inviting God's people to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7). The "Steps" is a guideline for repentance, providing opportunity for followers of Christ to walk in freedom so that they can grow and become fruitful disciples of Jesus. Since that time scores of other freedom resources have been written, published, translated and used around the world.
Originally, the headquarters of FICM-USA was located in La Habra, CA but is now in Knoxville, TN. FICM is now an international ministry with offices in the UK, India, Switzerland and Canada and has many representatives throughout the rest of the world. FICM-USA is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).