Living Free, Inc. 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/28/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Living Free, formerly Turning Point Ministries, is a non-profit Christian ministry that provides churches and ministries with small group training and discipleship curriculums that focus on helping people prevent and overcome life-controlling issues. The materials are biblically-based, Christ-centered, and designed to benefit all church members-challenging them to examine their own lives and equipping them to reach their communities by addressing the heart-felt needs of people.
Living Free is largely dependent on the faithful support and contributions from churches, individuals, businesses and foundations. A small percentage of our revenue comes from curriculum sales. We are a member of the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability).
Contact information
Mailing address:
Living Free
PO Box 22127
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2127
Website: www.livingfree.org
Phone: (423) 899-5714
Email: info@livingfree.org
Organization details
EIN: 581881966
CEO/President: Dan Strickland
Chairman: Dr. Ruth Liu
Board size: 13
Founder: Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee
Year founded: 1990
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1992
Purpose
Living Free is an equipping ministry whose goal is to assist local churches in mobilizing itself to help people within its sphere of influence to overcome life-controlling problems. The Living Free team is committed to an interdenominational and intercultural ministry through the media of seminars and curriculum.
Mission statement
Living Free exists to help individuals, families, and communities dealing with life-challenging and life-controlling problems find wholeness in Christ. "If you abide in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:31 NIV
Statement of faith
Living Free uses the following to communicate its values:
(1) We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
(2) We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(3) We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
(4) We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
(5) We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
(6) We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
(7) We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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 | | 853 of 913 | 61 of 65 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 784 of 915 | 49 of 65 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 827 of 915 | 60 of 65 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 598 of 913 | 39 of 65 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 13% | 26% | 20% | 17% | 19% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 8% | 11% | 11% | 10% | 11% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 86% | 63% | 42% | 53% | 59% | 58% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 11% | 10% | 11% | 10% | 9% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 14% | 37% | 58% | 47% | 41% | 42% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 80% | 63% | 64% | 63% | 62% | 64% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 95% | 75% | 107% | 100% | 105% | 119% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 48% | 69% | 63% | 65% | 77% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 5% | 25% | -7% | 0% | -5% | -19% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 7% | 41% | -15% | 1% | -10% | -32% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 26% | 25% | 26% | 29% | 27% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.07 | 1.03 | 1.68 | 1.42 | 1.51 | 1.43 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.29 | 1.86 | 3.97 | 3.09 | 3.32 | 3.13 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.73 | 1.90 | 6.66 | 4.38 | 5.01 | 4.47 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.32 | 10.30 | 5.61 | 6.31 | 4.72 | 9.94 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.10 | 0.18 | 0.16 | 0.21 | 0.10 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 6.79 | 5.69 | 1.48 | 2.30 | 1.89 | 2.41 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 19% | 28% | 28% | 31% | 28% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 14% | 23% | 23% | 24% | 25% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 79% | 79% | 43% | 51% | 46% | 50% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $234,461 | $31,884 | $74,623 | $35,033 | $55,124 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $43,558 | $53,174 | $52,318 | $64,797 | $58,845 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $1,041 | $1,006 | $608 | $22,907 | $24,208 |
| Total current assets | $279,060 | $86,064 | $127,549 | $122,737 | $138,177 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $239,271 | $255,984 | $266,826 | $284,625 | $294,409 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $239,271 | $255,984 | $266,826 | $284,625 | $294,409 |
| Total assets | $518,331 | $342,048 | $394,375 | $407,362 | $432,586 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $2,060 | $5,984 | $11,219 | $17,354 | $5,586 |
| Other current liabilities | $25,040 | $9,361 | $8,999 | $8,652 | $8,317 |
| Total current liabilities | $27,100 | $15,345 | $20,218 | $26,006 | $13,903 |
| Debt | $70,758 | $80,094 | $89,435 | $98,409 | $107,006 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $70,758 | $80,094 | $89,435 | $98,409 | $107,006 |
| Total liabilities | $97,858 | $95,439 | $109,653 | $124,415 | $120,909 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $317,073 | $241,682 | $284,379 | $282,064 | $262,665 |
| With donor restrictions | $103,400 | $4,927 | $343 | $883 | $49,012 |
| Net assets | $420,473 | $246,609 | $284,722 | $282,947 | $311,677 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $445,967 | $227,448 | $294,615 | $345,703 | $301,328 |
| Program service revenue | $259,215 | $307,723 | $266,193 | $240,247 | $216,060 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $33 | $48 | $41 | $58 | $58 |
| Other revenue | $66 | $0 | $0 | $290 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $259,314 | $307,771 | $266,234 | $240,595 | $216,118 |
| Total revenue | $705,281 | $535,219 | $560,849 | $586,298 | $517,446 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $336,319 | $368,685 | $351,440 | $378,583 | $395,988 |
| Management and general | $137,410 | $144,768 | $147,250 | $177,287 | $164,592 |
| Fundraising | $57,688 | $59,879 | $60,384 | $59,158 | $57,549 |
| Total expenses | $531,417 | $573,332 | $559,074 | $615,028 | $618,129 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $173,864 | ($38,113) | $1,775 | ($28,730) | ($100,683) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $173,864 | ($38,113) | $1,775 | ($28,730) | ($100,683) |
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 4/28/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Since its inception in 1988, we estimate that over two million people have participated in Living Free support groups and most have been in an Insight Group. As I reflect back I am once again reminded how God's hand was on this ministry from the beginning...
It was May 1987 and I was on my way to visit David Wilkerson, founder of Teen Challenge. I had developed a school ministry for drug prevention-Project 714-and it was doing well. Although I was happy doing that ministry, at times I felt a bit restless because my heart was for the local church, but no doors had opened for such a ministry. I was meeting with David to discuss Project 714.
As soon as David and I had exchanged greeting, he began telling me that God was calling me to minister in the local church to those with life challenges and life-controlling problems. I was astounded at the things he said. After delivering his message to me, David said, "Jimmy, you must weigh what I have said."
David's words had a significant impact on me. Even though the ministry he described touched the very core of my heart's desire to minister to the local church, I knew God was in the Project 714 ministry as well. Frank Reynolds, the National Teen Challenge Director, had accompanied me on the visit to David. Later he said, "Jimmy, just follow the Lord, and He will guide you." I knew that was what I needed to do. I watched... I prayed... and I waited.
Four months later, I began to see David's words to me being confirmed. An elder at an evangelical church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, asked to have breakfast with me to discuss starting a ministry at his church for people struggling with life-controlling problems. After this meeting, I taught four Wednesday evenings at his church about ministering to people struggling with life challenges. Little did I know then that God was birthing the ministry of Living Free, formerly known as Turning Point Ministries.
After the four Wednesday evenings of training, it was suggested that we start a small group as a follow-up. Ten participants from various walks of life (doctors, professors, lawyers, teachers, and others) signed up for the group. As we shared, God taught me another lesson-everybody needs to understand how to deal with and overcome life-controlling problems-not just the down and outers who obviously need help. We all have problems and challenges-some of us are just better than others at covering our struggles with our Sunday smiles.
Each week before the group meeting, I prepared the lesson-always based on God's Word. Then during the meetings we witnessed the evidence of God's transforming power. From this small group, the Insight Group was born.
The purpose of the Insight Group is to help each participant "walk in the way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:6) as it relates to an individual with life challenges or life-controlling problems. Participants discover how life-controlling problems develop. They learn how to identify the spiritual and emotional conditions that contribute to a problem taking root and growing in their life or in the life of someone they know.
The Insight Group is based on 2 Peter 1:3-11, which gets right to the heart of our struggles with problems that can master us. The passage reveals eight qualities or objectives that God wants to build into our lives: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Participants learn how these objectives build on one another to develop Christian character in us. We call this the Upward Path to Developing Christian Character. Participants learn how to apply these traits to their lives in practical ways to meet and overcome life's problems and challenges-God's way. They learn that "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).
Now, some years since Insight Group began in a Chattanooga church with those ten people, participants are meeting in groups around the world. Only God can do that. We estimate nearly two million people have participated in a Living Free Group, and we have received countless testimonies about how God has worked through the groups to transform lives.
Program accomplishments
89% positive outcomes
$650K annual budget
114 countries served annually
1,250 staff and volunteers worldwide
68,000+ annual participants worldwide
Founded in 1988 Living Free is now represented in more than 112 countries and nearly two million people around the world have participated in Living Free small groups.The curriculum has been or is in the process of being translated into 35+ foreign languages.