Total Living Network 
The information on this page was last updated 9/28/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Total Living Network is a Christian broadcaster focused on spreading the gospel message through media. Our programming line-up includes award-winning original programs, sought-after talk and teaching programming, local and national, faith-based movies and entertainment, kids programming, and much more.
Total Living Network has a heart for the Greater Chicagoland area. As a broadcaster in the market since 1976, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of our audience. Our goal is to communicate the need for a TOTAL relationship with God; body, mind, and spirit. We believe each person was created by God, needs God and through God can live a vibrant, healthy and wholesome life that is a blessing to themselves and a positive spiritual influence on others. We consider media to be a strategic tool for communicating these truths.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Total Living Network
PO Box 908
Plainfield, IL 60544
Website: www.tln.com, www.tlnwest.tv and www.mytln.tv
Phone: (630) 801-3838
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 362785784
CEO/President: Debra Fraser
Chairman: Jerry Rose
Board size: 5
Founder: Owen Carr
Ruling year: 1974
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1980
Purpose
Total Living Network (TLN), communicates the need for a total relationship with Christ through all aspects of our lives: SPIRIT, MIND and BODY. We believe each person was created by God, needs God and through God can live a vibrant, healthy, and wholesome life while becoming a positive spiritual influence on others. Through its own created programming and relationships with local, national, and international program and ministry partners, TLN shares the Gospel message and promotes salvation, health and healing through broadcast, cable, streaming, and other network media outlets.
Mission statement
Our mission has remained consistent for over 40 years now: Direct people to Christ and address life's concerns through media. We want to provide hope and encouragement for faith and be a safe place for families to be entertained; and we want our programming to impact those seeking Christ and a new way of life.
Statement of faith
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired by God and inherent in the original writings and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.
We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned in the fall and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. And that, as a result, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and upon reaching the age of moral responsibility are held accountable to God as sinners in thought, word and deed.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of His shed blood.
We believe in "that blessed hope", the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We believe that all that receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust: the just to everlasting life in heaven, and the unjust to an eternity in hell.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Radio/ TV Stations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 784 of 1106 | 22 of 29 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1083 of 1107 | 29 of 29 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 948 of 1107 | 25 of 29 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 21 of 1106 | 1 of 29 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 306% | 70% | 59% | 54% | 128% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 17% | 16% | 12% | 10% | 9% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 84% | 5% | 23% | 21% | 18% | 7% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 15% | 11% | 5% | 6% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 16% | 95% | 77% | 79% | 82% | 93% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 78% | 68% | 70% | 78% | 69% | 74% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 111% | 145% | 224% | 151% | 131% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 69% | 76% | 101% | 174% | 105% | 98% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | -11% | -45% | -124% | -51% | -31% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | -116% | -377% | -1414% | -79% | -55% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 15% | 17% | 19% | 17% | 24% | 19% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.35 | 5.82 | 5.87 | 8.94 | 1.90 | 1.88 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.86 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.01 | 1.01 | 1.03 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 0.83 | 5.82 | 5.88 | 9.00 | 1.91 | 1.94 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 16.52 | 2.12 | 1.99 | 1.63 | 5.80 | 5.36 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.61 | 0.17 | 0.19 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 13.88 | 1.09 | 1.02 | 0.51 | 5.20 | 5.03 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 11% | 50% | 52% | 65% | 18% | 19% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 228% | 9% | 8% | 4% | 43% | 43% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $84,027 | $79,166 | $86,841 | $72,454 | $75,990 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $158,496 | $204,578 | $233,637 | $1,187,762 | $1,252,433 |
| Short-term investments | $34,144 | $38,369 | $33,290 | $34,407 | $30,768 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $276,667 | $322,113 | $353,768 | $1,294,623 | $1,359,191 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $0 | $828 | $2,249 | $8,820 | $44,862 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $0 | $828 | $2,249 | $8,820 | $44,862 |
| Total assets | $276,667 | $322,941 | $356,017 | $1,303,443 | $1,404,053 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $130,589 | $161,508 | $217,256 | $223,193 | $253,441 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $130,589 | $161,508 | $217,256 | $223,193 | $253,441 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $6,479 | $6,541 | $14,220 | $14,220 | $14,220 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $6,479 | $6,541 | $14,220 | $14,220 | $14,220 |
| Total liabilities | $137,068 | $168,049 | $231,476 | $237,413 | $267,661 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $139,599 | $154,892 | $124,541 | $1,066,030 | $1,136,392 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $139,599 | $154,892 | $124,541 | $1,066,030 | $1,136,392 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $78,565 | $295,565 | $293,571 | $290,340 | $135,844 |
| Program service revenue | $1,370,061 | $1,014,613 | $1,127,301 | $1,340,845 | $1,872,371 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $54 | $3 | $7 | $3,584 | $68 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $33 | $63 | $48 |
| Total other revenue | $1,370,115 | $1,014,616 | $1,127,341 | $1,344,492 | $1,872,487 |
| Total revenue | $1,448,680 | $1,310,181 | $1,420,912 | $1,634,832 | $2,008,331 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $1,101,929 | $1,320,701 | $2,478,757 | $1,716,644 | $1,959,158 |
| Management and general | $268,317 | $366,527 | $529,708 | $600,360 | $504,315 |
| Fundraising | $240,055 | $207,004 | $173,801 | $156,429 | $173,835 |
| Total expenses | $1,610,301 | $1,894,232 | $3,182,266 | $2,473,433 | $2,637,308 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($161,621) | ($584,051) | ($1,761,354) | ($838,601) | ($628,977) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($161,621) | ($584,051) | ($1,761,354) | ($838,601) | ($628,977) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Debra Fraser | President/Chief Executive Officer | $149,929 |
| Kim Laube | Chief Financial Officer | $124,841 |
| Jerry K Rose | Chairman of the Board | $26,954 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2022
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 9/28/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
For over forty years, the Total Living Network, formerly known as WCFC-TV38, has been faithfully spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through media in the Greater Chicagoland Area. For the last eighteen of those years, through the acquisition of TLNWest, we have also expanded our outreach to include the San Francisco Bay Area as a full-power broadcaster.
As a Christian broadcaster, TLN has recognized its responsibility to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through multiple electronic means. For TLN/TLNWest that has included over the air as a broadcaster; through cable via Comcast, AT&T, Astound, Google, Inc. and ON DEMAND; through satellite via Dish and Direct TV; through online streaming platforms such as Roku, AndroidTV, Amazon Fire TV; and via live streaming on our websites TLN.com and TLNWest.tv; through direct products via MP3s, CDs, videos and DVDs; through radio and through films.
As a broadcast television station - WCFC's call letters proclaimed its mission - "Winning Chicagoland For Christ." Since signing on the air in 1976 as Chicago's first Christian television station, TLN has provided airtime to a wide variety of bible teachers looking to reach people for Christ outside the doors of their churches or ministries. But we did more than that. TLN/WCFC led the way by being content providers as well, producing thousands of hours of original content in the form of news programs, talk shows, children's programming, prayer specials, women's shows, ministry/counseling programs, health programs, music/variety/inspirational programming, documentaries and specials to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of our audience: thus the name change to the Total Living Network - programming designed for body, mind and spirit. In the early 2000's, TLN expanded its reach further by producing several Christian-themed films, and in partnership with Grizzly Adams Productions produced a national television series and specials for the Pax Television Network. Our original teaching program Journey was also distributed on Grace Radio. On a national level, TLN's original programming is seen on the NRB Network and has reached international markets through partnerships with Alpha Omega television in Romania and SAT 7 in the Middle East. As a consultant to the International Correspondence Institute in Brussels Belgium, TLN former President Jerry Rose wrote and narrated three teaching series in development of International Christian Education programming. TLN is committed to excellence and has won numerous local and national awards, including over 30 Emmy awards.
TLN also serves ministries in the major markets we reach in order to build up the Body of Christ and further kingdom work for the glory of God collectively. For the last several years, TLN has identified and come alongside specific ministries and helped them begin television programming of their own. The homeless shelter Pacific Garden Mission is one such example. Serving Chicago's homeless for over 135 years, PGM has been spreading the gospel through their radio broadcast "UNSHACKLED," for over 60 years, but they'd never considered using television as another outlet to expand their reach until TLN produced a TV pilot for them, pro bono. We then walked them step-by-step through every phase of TV production until they were fully able to produce a weekly, hour long program. TLN's goal was to see an effective ministry expand the gospel and their outreach further through television. This goal was reached beyond all expectations. In conjunction with other marketing efforts, through the addition of the television program, Pacific Garden Mission has seen their donations triple. Further, the gospel is proclaimed creatively through a quality television program aired on TLN. TLN is currently partnering with Heart for the City, an urban ministry alliance aimed to petition God to move on behalf of the violence in Chicago's inner city. Other ministries TLN has recently partnered with to spread the gospel through quality electronic communications via television and video programming include Moody Bible Institute's Founder's week, Illinois Family Institute and Hashtag Productions for the Fate of Our Nations series and other video packages, Project HOOD with Pastor Corey Brooks for the Presidential Series on Urban Issues, and The Orchard Church with Pastor Colin Smith. TLN will continue to reach into the communities it serves as partners, servants and leaders to creatively use every electronic tool available to fulfill the Great Commission.
Program accomplishments
Total Living Network communicates the following program accomplishments:
TLN productions include a weekly program hosted by President Jerry Rose, "Significant Insights," touching on a broad-range of compelling, Christian topics, including interviews with extraordinary people of the faith; a weekly, interactive series "Marriage, For Better For Worse" dedicated to helping people restore and refresh their marriage hosted by Pastor Bob Moeller who has a heart for couples to enrich and refresh their marriage relationship; "Aspiring Women," an Emmy award winning program that features captivating stories, honest talk and practical insights on the common, challenging issues women face; a teaching series featuring theologically sound, biblically based messages that offer profound insights into achieving victory in daily life called "Journey;" and more. TLN also showcases relevant, inspirational programming such as "Building a Difference," a documentary series featuring people, organizations and charities that are truly building a difference in the lives of those in desperate need; "Pure Passion" teaching people how to heal sexual brokenness; "Hannah, Help Me!" the first-ever reality makeover show just for moms, "7th Street Theater," a half-hour dramatic series about five Christian actors who perform a weekly stage show with a Christian message; "Your Health" with Dr. Richard and Cindy Becker providing the latest in preventative health news, healthy cooking, and supplies information with advice from a Christian perspective; and more. TLN's schedule includes national ministry programming such as "Joyce Meyer- Enjoying Everyday Life," "Life Today with James Robison," "Joni & Friends," "The 700 Club," "The Way of the Master" with Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort, "In Touch with Charles Stanley," Zola Levitt Presents," "Worship for Shut-Ins" and many more - as well as local ministries from both its Chicago and San Francisco markets. Saturday mornings include outdoor programs such as "Lindner's Angling Edge," Midwest Outdoors" and others, as well as children's faith-based programs such as "Good Time Kids" and "Nanna's Cottage." More information can be found at www.tln.com.
Needs
TLN is a donor-based ministry, utilizing electronic communications media dedicated to broadcasting the Gospel message of hope, love and forgiveness through Christ. Donations to TLN are used to produce biblically-based programming relevant to our current culture; to develop outreach content that impacts our communities and help meet those needs; to acquire inspirational programs from trusted sources; to provide a prayer and encouragement ministry to viewers, callers and email participants; and to maintain high-quality technical systems and practices.