Back to God Ministries International 
Summary
Back to God Ministries International formerly The Back to God Hour is the broadcast agency (radio and television) of the Christian Reformed Church. It produces radio programs in nine major world languages and television in four languages. Back to God Hour programs are evangelistic, and present the claims of the historic Christian faith as understood by the Reformed branch of Protestantism. Each minister uses his native tongue in the broadcast. No solicitation of funds is made on the air. Listeners and viewers are offered free printed material dealing with various aspects of the Christian faith. Tapes are available at a nominal cost. Back to God Hour works in conjunction with churches within its denomination and also other Christian churches in North America and abroad. Back to God Hour publishes a daily devotional bimonthly called "Today, The Family Altar." Back to God Hour broadcasts in a number of different languages and mission fields, including: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian.
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:
6555 West College Dr.
Palos Heights, IL 60463-1770
Website: www.backtogod.net
Phone: (708) 371-8700
Email: btgh@crcna.org
Organization details
EIN: 362284261
CEO/President: Mr. Robert Heerspink
Chairman:
Board size:
Founder:
Year founded: 1939
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1989
Purpose
The Back to God Ministries International previously known as "Back to God Hour" is the broadcast agency (radio and television) of the Christian Reformed Church. It produces radio programs in nine major world languages and television in four languages. Back to God Hour programs are evangelistic, and present the claims of the historic Christian faith as understood by the Reformed branch of Protestantism. The weekly half-hour radio program, The Back to God Hour, has carried a message of redemption in Christ for almost 60 years. Each minister uses his native tongue in the broadcast. No solicitation of funds is made on the air. Listeners and viewers are offered free printed material dealing with various aspects of the Christian faith. Tapes are available at a nominal cost. Back to God Hour works in conjunction with churches within its denomination and also other Christian churches in North America and abroad. Back to God Hour publishes a daily devotional bimonthly called "Today, The Family Altar." Back to God Hour broadcasts in a number of different languages and mission fields, including: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian.
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
Statement of faith
The Christian Reformed Church subscribes to the following confessions:
The Belgic Confession
The Canons of Dordt
The Heidelberg Catechism
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Educational Media
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 410 of 442 | 46 of 51 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 417 of 442 | 46 of 51 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 395 of 442 | 45 of 51 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 238 of 442 | 23 of 51 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 20% | 18% | 21% | 20% | 21% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 19% | 18% | 20% | 19% | 20% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 95% | 94% | 98% | 97% | 93% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 18% | 19% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 5% | 6% | 2% | 3% | 7% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 69% | 69% | 72% | 73% | 73% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 99% | 96% | 90% | 106% | 101% | 105% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 66% | 63% | 76% | 73% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 1% | 4% | 10% | -6% | -1% | -5% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 6% | 16% | -11% | -2% | -8% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 10% | 12% | 11% | 9% | 9% | 8% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.27 | 1.16 | 1.28 | 1.53 | 1.40 | 1.40 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.53 | 1.39 | 1.40 | 1.46 | 1.42 | 1.39 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.45 | 1.61 | 1.78 | 2.24 | 1.99 | 1.95 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.97 | 5.37 | 4.32 | 3.40 | 3.49 | 3.51 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.19 | 0.23 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 0.28 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.09 | 6.07 | 5.17 | 3.79 | 4.31 | 4.41 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 14% | 17% | 20% | 21% | 22% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 63% | 74% | 65% | 52% | 56% | 56% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Cash | $1,922,249 | $1,658,888 | $1,266,863 | $1,563,960 | $1,392,510 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $42,974 | $387,184 | $74,773 | $133,538 | $243,745 |
| Short-term investments | $2,936,324 | $2,688,310 | $2,659,000 | $3,103,808 | $3,423,100 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $4,901,547 | $4,734,382 | $4,000,636 | $4,801,306 | $5,059,355 |
| Long-term investments | $100,024 | $190,656 | $143,377 | $695,559 | $667,921 |
| Fixed assets | $360,334 | $394,066 | $460,639 | $515,391 | $583,938 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,429,279 | $1,303,636 | $1,234,722 | $820,967 | $722,790 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,889,637 | $1,888,358 | $1,838,738 | $2,031,917 | $1,974,649 |
| Total assets | $6,791,184 | $6,622,740 | $5,839,374 | $6,833,223 | $7,034,004 |
| Liabilities | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $339,995 | $410,585 | $362,794 | $491,608 | $492,176 |
| Other current liabilities | $572,180 | $685,014 | $812,902 | $883,250 | $947,614 |
| Total current liabilities | $912,175 | $1,095,599 | $1,175,696 | $1,374,858 | $1,439,790 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $25,483 | $0 | $0 | $93,109 | $124,739 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $25,483 | $0 | $0 | $93,109 | $124,739 |
| Total liabilities | $937,658 | $1,095,599 | $1,175,696 | $1,467,967 | $1,564,529 |
| Net assets | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Unrestricted | $4,626,176 | $4,351,206 | $3,509,664 | $4,157,794 | $4,356,032 |
| Temporarily restricted | $1,127,581 | $1,076,166 | $1,054,245 | $1,107,693 | $1,013,674 |
| Permanently restricted | $99,769 | $99,769 | $99,769 | $99,769 | $99,769 |
| Net assets | $5,853,526 | $5,527,141 | $4,663,678 | $5,365,256 | $5,469,475 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Total contributions | $7,699,095 | $9,154,918 | $8,173,582 | $8,820,727 | $8,829,876 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $474,294 | $80,951 | $142,931 | $546,108 | $476,047 |
| Other revenue | $55,408 | $106,910 | $129,489 | $95,279 | $118,657 |
| Total other revenue | $529,702 | $187,861 | $272,420 | $641,387 | $594,704 |
| Total revenue | $8,228,797 | $9,342,779 | $8,446,002 | $9,462,114 | $9,424,580 |
| Expenses | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Program services | $5,413,674 | $5,856,050 | $6,440,399 | $6,941,009 | $7,178,632 |
| Management and general | $931,082 | $929,010 | $799,095 | $848,144 | $826,205 |
| Fundraising | $1,546,887 | $1,662,926 | $1,715,675 | $1,755,791 | $1,847,364 |
| Total expenses | $7,891,643 | $8,447,986 | $8,955,169 | $9,544,944 | $9,852,201 |
| Change in net assets | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $337,154 | $894,793 | ($509,167) | ($82,830) | ($427,621) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $337,154 | $894,793 | ($509,167) | ($82,830) | ($427,621) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
The Christian Reformed Church was founded in 1857 and is a Protestant church in the Calvinist tradition. It is biblically based, worships the triune God and teaches a worldview centered on faith, action and the family. The Christian Reformed Church is committed to Christian education and is active in media, missions, publishing, relief and development, pastoral care and youth ministry.
The weekly half-hour radio program, The Back to God Hour, has carried a message of redemption in Christ for almost 60 years. The Spanish language ministry of The Back to God Hour began in 1965, launched by pioneer radio minister Juan Boonstra, who directed its growth until his retirement in 1992. This ministry now beams its message over more than 400 radio stations, as well as on dozens of television stations, which air its popular thematic specials.
In 1958, the Back to God Hour and Rev. Bassam Madany pioneered a radio ministry to people in the Arabic-speaking world. The Back to God Hour's 15 minute program, Window to Tomorrow, is beamed each weekday evening to all of Japan. Morning Word, a five-minute program is also heard each day in the greater Tokyo area. Rev. Paul M'Pindi, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo(formerly Zaire), began preparing messages for the French broadcast ministry of the Back to God Hour in 1998, while completing his doctoral studies at Calvin Seminary. Many Reformed-confessing churches have sprung up in French-speaking Africa as a result of the French language radio and literature ministry of the Back to God Hour. The broadcast also reaches French-speaking people in the Caribbean. For the past 25 years, The Back to God Hour has blanketed Indonesia with a variety of programming formats designed to reach this youthful audience. More than 1,000 Bible study groups, each comprised of 10-15 listener participants meet regularly to study Back to God Hour-prepared correspondence courses and help each other grow in faith.
Program accomplishments
- Through their radio program they have the potential to reach 270 million people in 22 Arab countries.
- Over 5,000 Japanese have visited The Back to God Hour's websites where visitors can hear sermons, meet fellow seekers and believers in chatrooms, order Bible correspondence courses and CDs, and sign up for an online magazine.
- The Back to God Hour is celebrating the fortieth anniversary of its Spanish ministry. Nearly 450 stations carry their radio programs, and their television program La Vida Ahora is aired on nearly 100 stations.
- Over 200 Russian language Bibles are distributed each month by The Back to God Hour.
- Global Impact:
- BTGH airs programs on 200 television stations around the world.
- BTGH has radio broadcasts on 1,125 different radio stations, plus shortwave radio.
- There are 1,000 listeners per year who request Bible Correspondence courses.
- BTGH has internet ministries in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.