Bible Broadcasting Network / BBN/ Lowell Davey 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 7/5/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
The Bible Broadcasting Network ("BBN") is a radio broadcasting network concerning things of the Bible, God and Christians. This ministry has chosen not to be open and transparent with MinistryWatch.com. As such it is difficult to understand all aspects of its ministry.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Bible Broadcasting Network
P.O. Box 7300
Charlotte, NC 28241-7300
Website: www.bbnradio.org
Phone: (800) 888-7077
Organization details
EIN: 540888863
CEO/President: Barbara Redemann
Chairman:
Board size: 0
Founder: Lowell Davey
Year founded: 1971
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Simply stated, our purpose is to get God's word into the hearts and minds of people using the most efficient means at our disposal. Radio and the internet remain the most cost-effective tools for reaching people with the Gospel and teaching them 24 hours a day.
We fulfill our purpose using the unique tools of technology along with a unique blend of ministry-focused programming. The truth of the Gospel has not lost its power, but has often lost its audience because of poor or inadequate presentation. We may only have one chance to share the Gospel message with a person. Our message must always be right and honoring to the Lord and be presented in a way that doesn't take away from its importance.
For us, radio is not a business. It is a ministry. We believe the programming must be warm, friendly and informative and must present the Truth. The microphones of the Bible Broadcasting Network are as sacred as any pulpit in the world so we broadcast daily prayer times, children's programs, Bible teaching, teen programs and family guidance programs. We also provide a toll-free number for personal guidance (1-800-888-7077). Through these avenues, we are able to share the Gospel, often leading people to Jesus Christ.
Mission statement
Statement of faith
BBN uses the following to express its Doctrinal Statement:
We believe in the Bible, which is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit in the original manuscripts and is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. It is the sole authority for the Christian faith and conduct.
We believe in the Triune Godhead in Three Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the personality of Satan, called the Devil, and his present control over unregenerate mankind.
We believe in the fall and lost estate of man, whose total depravity makes necessary the new birth.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, death, bodily resurrection, present exaltation at God's right hand, and personal, imminent, and pre-millennial return.
We believe in the atonement by the substitutionary death and shed blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
We believe in the resurrection of the saved unto everlasting life and blessedness in heaven, in the Church, the Body or Bride of Christ, consisting only of those who are born again, for whom He now makes intercession in heaven and for whom He shall come again.
We believe in the resurrection of the unsaved unto everlasting punishment in hell.
We believe in Christ's great commission to the Church to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing and teaching those who believe.
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We believe that the term "marriage" has only one, legitimate meaning, and that is marriage sanctioned by God, which joins one man and one woman in a single, covenantal union, as delineated by Scripture. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, transgenderism and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps 139.)
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Radio/ TV Stations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 507 of 940 | 19 of 30 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 286 of 942 | 12 of 30 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 400 of 942 | 13 of 30 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 789 of 940 | 26 of 30 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 91% | 93% | 94% | 95% | 93% | 94% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 9% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 7% | 6% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 81% | 82% | 82% | 83% | 81% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 92% | 77% | 80% | 84% | 88% | 83% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 73% | 63% | 66% | 69% | 73% | 68% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 8% | 23% | 20% | 16% | 12% | 17% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 9% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 14% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 15% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.50 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.16 | 0.16 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.95 | 2.13 | 2.25 | 2.03 | 2.01 | 2.10 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.28 | 0.29 | 0.33 | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.33 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 13.73 | 11.52 | 10.45 | 11.09 | 11.55 | 11.67 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.06 | 0.09 | 0.10 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 8.75 | 37.65 | 33.07 | 35.05 | 34.77 | 33.22 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 163% | 700% | 656% | 623% | 609% | 608% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $30,699,161 | $28,101,848 | $30,520,002 | $30,008,198 | $28,362,025 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $169,665 | $124,539 | $148,397 | $321,881 | $83,842 |
| Short-term investments | $7,772,722 | $6,508,713 | $6,779,865 | $6,193,851 | $5,597,689 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $38,641,548 | $34,735,100 | $37,448,264 | $36,523,930 | $34,043,556 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $6,457,146 | $6,689,641 | $6,975,405 | $7,068,642 | $7,507,122 |
| Other long-term assets | $37,053,525 | $36,735,050 | $31,672,275 | $29,818,275 | $29,773,541 |
| Total long-term assets | $43,510,671 | $43,424,691 | $38,647,680 | $36,886,917 | $37,280,663 |
| Total assets | $82,152,219 | $78,159,791 | $76,095,944 | $73,410,847 | $71,324,219 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,355,218 | $3,324,210 | $3,375,497 | $3,163,014 | $2,915,962 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $3,355,218 | $3,324,210 | $3,375,497 | $3,163,014 | $2,915,962 |
| Debt | $70,562 | $70,562 | $70,562 | $70,562 | $70,562 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $70,562 | $70,562 | $70,562 | $70,562 | $70,562 |
| Total liabilities | $3,425,780 | $3,394,772 | $3,446,059 | $3,233,576 | $2,986,524 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $78,726,439 | $74,765,019 | $72,649,885 | $70,177,271 | $68,337,695 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $13,520,538 | $13,289,371 | $13,195,809 | $12,180,522 | $12,689,318 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $628,123 | $555,521 | $409,201 | $473,064 | $478,018 |
| Other revenue | $380,833 | $349,091 | $353,209 | $417,988 | $335,728 |
| Total other revenue | $1,008,956 | $904,612 | $762,410 | $891,052 | $813,746 |
| Total revenue | $14,529,494 | $14,193,983 | $13,958,219 | $13,071,574 | $13,503,064 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $9,150,392 | $9,330,438 | $9,607,505 | $9,499,820 | $9,150,013 |
| Management and general | $1,532,497 | $1,448,962 | $1,656,932 | $1,564,689 | $1,636,601 |
| Fundraising | $563,334 | $618,324 | $399,840 | $450,298 | $457,170 |
| Total expenses | $11,246,223 | $11,397,724 | $11,664,277 | $11,514,807 | $11,243,784 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $3,283,271 | $2,796,259 | $2,293,942 | $1,556,767 | $2,259,280 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $3,283,271 | $2,796,259 | $2,293,942 | $1,556,767 | $2,259,280 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Carl Redemann | Executive Director | $131,190 |
| Jason Padgett | Secretary-Treasurer | $121,828 |
| Barbara Redemann | President | $50,490 |
| Thurlow A Smith | Vice President | $3,900 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2019
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 7/5/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
On May 28, l968, Lowell Davey, President of the Bible Broadcasting Network, made an offer to purchase a radio station in Norfolk, Virginia. As he stated in that letter, "We sense the need of a quality station that is Christian oriented and has quality music, both classical and Christian. We are, therefore, in the process of looking for the availability of such a station."
That was the beginning of the Bible Broadcasting Network. Lowell Davey was not able to purchase that station but the idea of BBN was underway. Official incorporation took place about a year later on March 28, 1969, when God led BBN to purchase a radio station that had gone bankrupt and was off the air.
Through several miracles, God began BBN with that radio station in Norfolk, VA. WYFI signed on October 2, 1971 at 5:00 in the evening.
Since that beginning so many years ago, we have played our theme song every morning at 5:57 AM - "To God Be The Glory. Great Things He Has Done." We give God the glory for moving and opening doors to reach the hearts of people everywhere using the tool of radio.