Ambassadors For Christ, Inc. 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 6/9/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Ambassadors For Christ, Inc. (AFC) is an outreach ministry to Chinese students and professionals for Christ. AFC includes literature distribution, book publication, discipleship training, conferences, a collegiate faculty network, and the triennial Chinese Mission Convention. Through these ministries AFC uses every available resource to mobilize Chinese believers to be a vital force for God's kingdom.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Ambassadors For Christ, Inc.
21 Ambassador Drive
Paradise, PA 17562-7562
Website: www.afcinc.org
Phone: 717-687-8564
Email: afc@afcinc.org
Organization details
EIN: 520798499
CEO/President: Rev. David Zhou
Chairman: Kong Yi
Board size: 14
Founder: Rev. Moses Chow and Rev. Ted and Mrs. Choy
Year founded: 1964
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1986
Purpose
Reaching Chinese intellectuals for Christ in this generation.
Mission statement
AFC is called by God, in cooperation with local churches, to evangelize and disciple Chinese students and professionals in the United States and other parts of the world, to motivate and equip them to impact the culture for the Lord, and to mobilize and channel them into the service of Christ as a vital force for God's Kingdom.
Statement of faith
Ambassadors for Christ, Inc uses the following to express its Statement of Faith:
1. We believe that God is a person who has revealed Himself as a Trinity in unity; Father, son, and Holy Spirit; three Persons and yet but one God, eternally existent.
2. We believe in the divine inspiration and entire trustworthiness of the Bible, as originally given, and in its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious and atoning death, bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe in the universal sinfulness and lost condition of all men, and in their need of redemption through regeneration by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone.
5. We believe in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration and in His present ministry by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the one holy universal Church which is the Body of Christ and to which all true believers belong and in its mission to witness concerning its Head, Jesus Christ, preaching the gospel to all nations.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Fellowship Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 692 of 913 | 20 of 27 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 370 of 915 | 10 of 27 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 510 of 915 | 16 of 27 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 876 of 913 | 27 of 27 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 7% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 86% | 66% | 59% | 64% | 68% | 51% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 7% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 14% | 34% | 41% | 36% | 32% | 49% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 78% | 81% | 79% | 79% | 73% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 88% | 100% | 86% | 81% | 82% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 68% | 81% | 68% | 64% | 60% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 12% | 0% | 14% | 19% | 18% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | 7% | 0% | 8% | 12% | 11% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 18% | 22% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.58 | 0.47 | 0.52 | 0.44 | 0.50 | 0.47 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.74 | 6.03 | 8.71 | 8.18 | 4.14 | 5.30 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.86 | 2.86 | 4.51 | 3.59 | 2.06 | 2.51 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.48 | 7.55 | 2.82 | 3.99 | 5.17 | 4.37 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.36 | 0.25 | 0.19 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.34 | 3.64 | 1.72 | 2.50 | 4.70 | 3.69 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 13% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 5% | 7% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 5% | 0% | 3% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 56% | 206% | 185% | 209% | 191% | 196% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $564,468 | $530,889 | $196,282 | $963,682 | $632,960 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,192,982 | $627,424 | $1,088,556 | $1,301,443 | $955,778 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,757,450 | $1,158,313 | $1,284,838 | $2,265,125 | $1,588,738 |
| Long-term investments | $2,573,409 | $2,416,425 | $2,500,055 | $2,272,829 | $2,338,769 |
| Fixed assets | $6,274,956 | $6,508,536 | $6,722,298 | $4,830,983 | $4,485,845 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $8,848,365 | $8,924,961 | $9,222,353 | $7,103,812 | $6,824,614 |
| Total assets | $10,605,815 | $10,083,274 | $10,507,191 | $9,368,937 | $8,413,352 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $191,159 | $250,846 | $269,217 | $422,179 | $351,904 |
| Other current liabilities | $41,698 | $160,502 | $53,065 | $15,771 | $12,040 |
| Total current liabilities | $232,857 | $411,348 | $322,282 | $437,950 | $363,944 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $525,579 | $36,259 | $234,183 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $525,579 | $36,259 | $234,183 |
| Total liabilities | $232,857 | $411,348 | $847,861 | $474,209 | $598,127 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $8,100,429 | $8,133,090 | $8,378,267 | $5,724,563 | $5,945,015 |
| With donor restrictions | $2,272,529 | $1,538,836 | $1,281,063 | $3,170,165 | $1,870,210 |
| Net assets | $10,372,958 | $9,671,926 | $9,659,330 | $8,894,728 | $7,815,225 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $3,772,341 | $3,095,222 | $3,441,615 | $3,891,504 | $2,495,359 |
| Program service revenue | $1,582,299 | $1,887,662 | $1,653,848 | $1,673,417 | $1,605,090 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $158,299 | $165,876 | $203,255 | $62,143 | $106,178 |
| Other revenue | $211,404 | $87,319 | $81,161 | $116,301 | $677,518 |
| Total other revenue | $1,952,002 | $2,140,857 | $1,938,264 | $1,851,861 | $2,388,786 |
| Total revenue | $5,724,343 | $5,236,079 | $5,379,879 | $5,743,365 | $4,884,145 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $3,908,178 | $4,235,366 | $3,637,221 | $3,687,631 | $2,913,352 |
| Management and general | $861,315 | $840,685 | $840,217 | $830,112 | $865,834 |
| Fundraising | $253,818 | $147,433 | $137,839 | $146,119 | $208,829 |
| Total expenses | $5,023,311 | $5,223,484 | $4,615,277 | $4,663,862 | $3,988,015 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $701,032 | $12,595 | $764,602 | $1,079,503 | $896,130 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $701,032 | $12,595 | $764,602 | $1,079,503 | $896,130 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| David Chow | President | $113,889 |
| Paul Schultz | Controller | $60,047 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2020
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 6/9/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Like so many powerful Christian ministries, Ambassadors for Christ began as a meeting of concerned people. In 1956 Rev. Moses Chow and Ted and Leona Choy met with Christiana Tsai, the "Queen of the Dark Chamber" in Paradise, PA. The Choys, who worked at that time with International Students Inc. invited Rev. Chow to participate in an upcoming Chinese Bible Study. The event gave birth to ongoing activities including the initial publication of Ambassadors Magazine in the initial publication of Ambassadors Magazine in October 1957. Chinese student ministries gained in urgency and after much prayer for guidance from the LORD, Rev. Chow and the Choys founded Ambassadors for Christ on May 6, 1963.
In 1969 Rev. Moses Chow became Executive Director of Ambassadors for Christ. Under his leadership AFC continued outreach to students and Chinese Bible Study Groups. In addition outreach was launched directly into Europe and Asia via funding and short term mission projects. On June 15, 1974 AFC Headquarters relocated from Washington DC to Paradise, PA, the property having been donated to AFC as a faith step by Christiana Tsai and Mary Leaman in 1966. Over the years, the facility has expanded to accommodate the growing Mainland Chinese Literature and AFC Bookstore operations. In addition the Christiana Tsai Retreat Center, located in the farmhouse at the same location has been continuously updated to house seminars, workshops and retreats.
The following decade saw God's continued blessings on AFC's ministries. Ambassadors Magazine began more frequent bi-monthly publication. In 1977 Rev. Hoy Him Chan, became Executive Director when Rev. Moses Chow pursued missionary work in Southeast Asia. Under Rev. Chan's leadership the first Directory of Chinese churches, Bible Study Groups and Organizations in North America was published in 1980. Also, during this period the Ambassadors for Christ Bookstore was established.
In 1983 Rev. David Chow was affirmed as Executive Director. That December, Chinese Mission '83, the first triennial Chinese Mission Convention, was held in Washington DC. Under Rev. David Chow's leadership, the Mainland Chinese Ministry Department was established in 1985.
During the next years, AFC focused on establishing campus ministries all across the U.S. in cities such as Dallas, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. In addition, the Chinese Christian Faculty Network is establishing relationships between College and University professors for the purpose of coordinating outreach ministries to students in a much wider sphere of influence.
Recently, Ambassadors for Christ has launched into such forward reaching ministries as the development of a training and discipleship ministry, ministry in Europe, and a Chinese Mission Convention on the US West Coast, and in the South (Houston, TX).
In years to come, focus is sharpening upon ministry opportunities based in Europe and increasing influence in university campuses around the US. Please pray with us as we seek the next steps that God has planned, in order to reach this generation for Christ.