Life Action Ministries 
The information on this page was last updated 5/12/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We aim to invite multitudes of people to say YES to God, jump-starting a fresh movement among believers toward mission, justice, and revival, while inviting many others to authentically engage with Jesus for the first time.
This surrendered and enthusiastic YES changes everything about a person's soul, family, work, dreams, and community. It begins with a small step of humility, listening and learning from Jesus, repenting and renewing (or beginning) a walk with God. It's a simple awakening to what really matters, leading to revived life.
At Life Action, we're praying fervently toward the day when this "yes" attitude is the rule rather than the exception; when millions of people, astonished and excited by the work of God in their lives, are living on bold mission for Christ. Only then will we see the shattering of divisions, injustice, and lostness around us, and only then can we forge into a new future for the church defined by the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
It can begin in the smallest places-in honest, intimate moments with Jesus; in surrendered wills and in daily decisions. It can begin with your next yes to God.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Life Action Ministries
PO Box 31
Buchanan, MI 49107
Website: lifeaction.org
Phone: 269-697-8600
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 382157686
CEO/President: Donny Vanker
Chairman: Mr. Chad Williams
Board size: 11
Founder: Mr. Del Fehsenfeld, Jr.
Ruling year: 1977
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 05/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1989
Purpose
We dream of millions of God-astonished lives, in action with Him, shattering divisions, injustice, and lostness. We help people thrive by inspiring them toward a lifestyle of saying YES to God. We do this through relationships, church experiences, camps, retreats, and resources.
Mission statement
Our mission is to inspire your next yes to God.
Statement of faith
Life Action Ministries uses the following to communicate its faith:
We believe in one God, Creator and Lord of the universe, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is God's authoritative, inspired Word. It is without error in all its teachings, including creation, history, its own origins and salvation. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters of belief and conduct.
We believe that Jesus Christ, God's Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died a substitutionary atoning death on the Cross, rose bodily from the dead and ascended to heaven, where as truly God and truly man, He is the only mediator between God and man.
We believe in the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit for the individual's new birth and growth to maturity and for the Church's constant renewal in truth, wisdom, faith, holiness, love, power, and mission. Every believer is called to live and walk in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit so that he will bear fruit to the glory of God and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
We believe that all people are lost sinners and cannot see the Kingdom of God, except through the new birth which takes place through repentance of sin and faith toward God. Justification is by grace through faith in Christ alone.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church which is made up of all believers everywhere in the world, and locally the church is a group of baptized believers who are organized to do God's will. Its calling is to worship God, and witness concerning its Head, Jesus Christ, preaching the Gospel among all nations and demonstrating its commitment by compassionate service to the needs of human beings and by promoting righteousness and justice.
We believe that Jesus Christ will personally and visibly return in glory to raise the dead and bring salvation and judgment to completion. God will fully manifest His Kingdom when He establishes a new heaven and new earth, in which He will be glorified forever and exclude all evil, suffering, and death.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Christian Growth
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 321 of 1106 | 16 of 60 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 343 of 1107 | 16 of 60 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 647 of 1107 | 29 of 60 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 280 of 1106 | 19 of 60 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 81% | 89% | 93% | 84% | 80% | 85% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 19% | 11% | 7% | 16% | 20% | 15% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 82% | 81% | 81% | 81% | 82% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 86% | 100% | 103% | 100% | 101% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 71% | 82% | 83% | 81% | 83% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 14% | 0% | -3% | 0% | -1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 25% | -1% | -5% | 0% | -1% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.02 | 1.30 | 1.25 | 1.37 | 1.43 | 1.27 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.40 | 1.84 | 2.14 | 2.18 | 2.39 | 2.32 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.44 | 2.40 | 2.68 | 2.99 | 3.42 | 2.95 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.90 | 3.57 | 3.76 | 4.46 | 2.95 | 2.53 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.28 | 0.27 | 0.22 | 0.34 | 0.40 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.11 | 3.60 | 3.28 | 3.11 | 2.32 | 2.46 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 12% | 15% | 26% | 24% | 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 | 82% | 65% | 59% | 56% | 60% | 65% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Cash | $3,317,014 | $3,173,343 | $2,795,217 | $3,450,017 | $2,787,347 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $591,295 | $398,210 | $668,844 | $744,088 | $756,916 |
| Short-term investments | $3,555,446 | $2,000,411 | $1,885,601 | $359,432 | $1,274,564 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $7,463,755 | $5,571,964 | $5,349,662 | $4,553,537 | $4,818,827 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $6,297,711 | $6,354,014 | $6,313,312 | $6,323,738 | $6,371,345 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $6,297,711 | $6,354,014 | $6,313,312 | $6,323,738 | $6,371,345 |
| Total assets | $13,761,466 | $11,925,978 | $11,662,974 | $10,877,275 | $11,190,172 |
| Liabilities | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $893,062 | $804,469 | $692,633 | $676,049 | $600,690 |
| Other current liabilities | $1,194,722 | $675,705 | $506,115 | $867,080 | $1,307,334 |
| Total current liabilities | $2,087,784 | $1,480,174 | $1,198,748 | $1,543,129 | $1,908,024 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $1,565,717 | $1,565,717 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $1,565,717 | $1,565,717 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $2,087,784 | $3,045,891 | $2,764,465 | $1,543,129 | $1,908,024 |
| Net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Without donor restrictions | $11,175,614 | $8,666,636 | $8,386,515 | $8,762,282 | $8,807,058 |
| With donor restrictions | $498,068 | $213,451 | $511,994 | $571,864 | $475,090 |
| Net assets | $11,673,682 | $8,880,087 | $8,898,509 | $9,334,146 | $9,282,148 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Total contributions | $18,627,250 | $13,926,318 | $13,078,341 | $12,543,729 | $11,978,549 |
| Program service revenue | $1,572,001 | $342,385 | $1,767,008 | $1,945,846 | $1,405,908 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $53,152 | $14,710 | $73,984 | $142,273 | $48,746 |
| Other revenue | $608,255 | $612,094 | $682,927 | $973,181 | $654,391 |
| Total other revenue | $2,233,408 | $969,189 | $2,523,919 | $3,061,300 | $2,109,045 |
| Total revenue | $20,860,658 | $14,895,507 | $15,602,260 | $15,605,029 | $14,087,594 |
| Expenses | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Program services | $14,749,190 | $12,169,161 | $12,937,824 | $12,677,835 | $11,657,286 |
| Management and general | $2,384,101 | $2,053,250 | $2,167,905 | $2,014,188 | $1,752,380 |
| Fundraising | $807,455 | $730,894 | $899,966 | $880,279 | $795,270 |
| Total expenses | $17,940,746 | $14,953,305 | $16,005,695 | $15,572,302 | $14,204,936 |
| Change in net assets | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,919,912 | ($57,798) | ($403,435) | $32,727 | ($117,342) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,919,912 | ($57,798) | ($403,435) | $32,727 | ($117,342) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Donnell Vanker | President/CEO | $164,005 |
| Martin Jones | Secretary/Treasurer | $129,660 |
| Janine Nelson | Roh Director of Marketing | $127,783 |
| Nancy Wolgemuth | Roh Division President | $124,129 |
| Delbert Fehsenfeld III | Chief Pastoral Officer | $106,012 |
| Byron Paulus | Board Member/President Onecry | $81,843 |
| Charles Hoge | CFO - Part Year | $33,000 |
Compensation data as of: 5/31/2022
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 5/12/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
In 1971, God placed on the heart of a youth director and his wife a vision for spiritual awakening in North America. Life Action Ministries was birthed as a result of the faith and obedience of that young couple, Del and Judy Fehsenfeld.
Del went home to be with the Lord in 1989. To the end of his life, he was fervent in praying and believing God to reveal His glory in our land.
In the years since Del's homegoing, God has sustained and expanded the outreach of the ministry founded by this faithful servant. Today some 150 Life Action staff members are continuing to proclaim the message of revival through local church crusades, musical/media productions, retreats and conferences, and revival-oriented publications.