ReFrame Ministries pka Back to God Ministries International 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/8/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
ReFrame Ministries is the new name of Back to God Ministries International. We are the worldwide media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Our vision is that the lives and worldviews of all people around the globe will be transformed by God's gospel message. Relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we create contextual media resources that proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and strengthen the church throughout the world.
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:
1700 28th St, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Website: www.reframeministries.org
Phone: 616-942-9383
Email: info@reframeministries.org
Organization details
EIN: 362284261
CEO/President: Kurt Selles
Chairman:
Board size: 0
Founder:
Year founded: 1939
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1989
Purpose
ReFrame Ministries is the new name of Back to God Ministries International. We are the worldwide media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Our vision is that the lives and worldviews of all people around the globe will be transformed by God's gospel message. Relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we create contextual media resources that proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and strengthen the church throughout the world.
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
Relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we create contextual media resources that proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and strengthen the church throughout the world.
. . . our vision:
Our vision is that the lives and worldviews of all people around the globe will be transformed by God's gospel message.
Core values:
Humble: We are unconcerned with ego and seek to, above all, serve God, the church, our colleagues, and our audiences.
Diligent: We are willing to roll up our sleeves and do the hard, and often unglamorous, work needed to achieve excellence.
Redemptive: We believe that through the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ is redeeming all of creation, and so we speak with a healing and hopeful voice in all of our programming.
Strategic anchors:
Church rooted - We believe the Holy Spirit works through the church, so we partner with churches to build and strengthen the body of Christ.
Major languages - We strive to reach the widest possible audience, so we create content in the world's most-spoken languages.
Context driven - We work with local partners who faithfully contextualize the gospel message and use the most effective media for connecting with diverse audiences.
Relationship focused - Following the example of Christ, we seek to build long-term, discipling relationships with individual members of our mass audiences.
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 | | 777 of 817 | 47 of 52 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 759 of 817 | 48 of 52 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 739 of 817 | 45 of 52 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 550 of 817 | 32 of 52 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 21% | 18% | 18% | 20% | 18% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 19% | 18% | 16% | 19% | 18% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 91% | 96% | 88% | 94% | 98% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 20% | 21% | 19% | 20% | 20% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 9% | 4% | 12% | 6% | 2% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 68% | 67% | 69% | 69% | 69% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 101% | 93% | 82% | 83% | 96% | 90% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 82% | 63% | 55% | 58% | 66% | 63% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | -1% | 7% | 18% | 17% | 4% | 10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | -2% | 6% | 19% | 22% | 6% | 16% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 12% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.96 | 0.69 | 0.78 | 0.96 | 1.16 | 1.28 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.48 | 1.19 | 1.09 | 1.09 | 1.39 | 1.40 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.02 | 0.82 | 0.85 | 1.05 | 1.61 | 1.78 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 6.05 | 6.05 | 16.84 | 12.80 | 5.37 | 4.32 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.15 | 0.17 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.19 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.59 | 12.17 | 13.21 | 10.57 | 6.07 | 5.17 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 18% | 9% | 12% | 14% | 17% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 69% | 119% | 116% | 92% | 74% | 65% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $2,371,779 | $3,180,523 | $3,584,628 | $1,922,249 | $1,658,888 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,484,127 | $1,808,816 | $1,083,585 | $42,974 | $387,184 |
| Short-term investments | $6,085,768 | $4,296,539 | $3,118,912 | $2,936,324 | $2,688,310 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $9,941,674 | $9,285,878 | $7,787,125 | $4,901,547 | $4,734,382 |
| Long-term investments | $55,592 | $80,063 | $87,243 | $100,024 | $190,656 |
| Fixed assets | $307,623 | $222,240 | $107,557 | $360,334 | $394,066 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,574,811 | $533,012 | $509,238 | $1,429,279 | $1,303,636 |
| Total long-term assets | $1,938,026 | $835,315 | $704,038 | $1,889,637 | $1,888,358 |
| Total assets | $11,879,700 | $10,121,193 | $8,491,163 | $6,791,184 | $6,622,740 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $366,936 | $282,965 | $325,106 | $339,995 | $410,585 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,275,623 | $268,374 | $283,361 | $572,180 | $685,014 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,642,559 | $551,339 | $608,467 | $912,175 | $1,095,599 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $77,002 | $141,287 | $25,483 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $460,459 | $263,212 | $274,243 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $460,459 | $340,214 | $415,530 | $25,483 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $2,103,018 | $891,553 | $1,023,997 | $937,658 | $1,095,599 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Unrestricted | $8,313,054 | $7,975,487 | $6,244,645 | $4,626,176 | $4,351,206 |
| Temporarily restricted | $1,463,628 | $1,254,153 | $1,222,521 | $1,127,581 | $1,076,166 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $99,769 | $99,769 |
| Net assets | $9,776,682 | $9,229,640 | $7,467,166 | $5,853,526 | $5,527,141 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $8,011,234 | $9,334,198 | $8,646,686 | $7,699,095 | $9,154,918 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $258,377 | $260,500 | $253,878 | $474,294 | $80,951 |
| Other revenue | $491,774 | $96,853 | $879,381 | $55,408 | $106,910 |
| Total other revenue | $750,151 | $357,353 | $1,133,259 | $529,702 | $187,861 |
| Total revenue | $8,761,385 | $9,691,551 | $9,779,945 | $8,228,797 | $9,342,779 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $5,530,307 | $5,350,579 | $5,648,294 | $5,413,674 | $5,856,050 |
| Management and general | $990,200 | $880,147 | $940,138 | $931,082 | $929,010 |
| Fundraising | $1,664,325 | $1,702,691 | $1,563,145 | $1,546,887 | $1,662,926 |
| Total expenses | $8,184,832 | $7,933,417 | $8,151,577 | $7,891,643 | $8,447,986 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $576,553 | $1,758,134 | $1,628,368 | $337,154 | $894,793 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $576,553 | $1,758,134 | $1,628,368 | $337,154 | $894,793 |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
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 2/8/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
1939
After the Great Depression halted radio production, the Christian Reformed Church Synod appointed a Radio Committee to begin a media ministry. In 1939, The Back to God Hour broadcast its first radio message in Chicago, Illinois.
1946
Dr. Peter Eldersveld was appointed as the first full-time radio pastor to broadcast The Back to God Hour. By the late 1940s, more than 250 stations had picked up the program.
1950
The first printed devotional, The Family Altar, was published. Within the first few months more than 40,000 people subscribed. In 1976 the publication changed its name to Today.
1958
Our Arabic outreach, led by Rev. Bassam Madany, broadcast its first program to the Arab world.
1965
Rev. Juan Boonstra began Spanish language programming.
1966
Dr. Nederhood was appointed as Dr. Eldersveld's successor as the voice of The Back to God Hour.
1969-1980
Language outreach expanded to include French, Indonesian, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese. By 1979, our ministry had eight language ministries reaching 100 countries. In 1980, the ninth language, Russian, was added.
2000
Kids Corner, a children's radio program, debuted on more than 160 radio stations. The Ark Clubhouse, a children's television program, was produced and broadcast in Spanish and Portuguese
2008
The organization's name, The Back to God Hour, was officially changed to Back to God Ministries International to reflect the growing scope of our mission.
2009
The tenth major language ministry, Hindi, was added. The English language family of programs was named ReFrame Media.
2020
Our organization changed names from Back to God Ministries International to ReFrame Ministries. This simplified the way we communicate about our English programs (known as ReFrame Media from 2009-2020) and their relationship with our wider international ministries.
Program accomplishments
- Reaching 55 countries through radio, TV, and print.
- 502,511 people reached through online video monthly
- 7,000 Prayer warriors
- 50 Audio Programs
- 8,126 Donors and 304 volunteers
- 36 Video programs
- 233,000 Devotional emails sent daily
- 28 Ministry websites
- 67 Social media pages
Needs
The only reason ReFrame Ministries can continue sharing the Gospel is because of the support of people like you. We need your unique gifting and skills to keep this work going. If you're ready to join us, here are the best ways to get involved:
Prayer
Without your prayers, this ministry would not happen. See this month's requests or sign up for our email list to receive monthly prayer emails.
Donate Online
Your gift of any amount will help proclaim the Gospel and disciple believers around the world. You can make a one time gift or become a monthly partner.
Spread the Word
All of our programs offer great opportunities to share God's Word with your loved ones. find all of our English programs here, or explore programs from all 10 languages.
Amazon Smile
If you shop on Amazon, .5% of every purchase can go toward ReFrame Ministries when you make us your preferred charity.