Touching Lives/ James Merritt 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 5/27/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
Touching Lives, Inc. ("Touching Lives") is a Christian television broadcast ministry hosted by Dr. James Merritt. This thirty-minute television program can be seen in over 90% of the households across the United States and 44 countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Touching Lives current family of broadcast stations includes: Trinity Broadcasting Network, TBN Africa, Good New TV in India, KingdomSAT in the Middle East and WUPA in Atlanta. Touching Lives is produced at Cross Pointe: The Church at Gwinnett Center, in Duluth, GA.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Touching Lives, Inc.
1800 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30097
Website: www.touchinglives.org
Phone: 770-982-0168
Email: info@touchinglives.org
Organization details
EIN: 582181292
CEO/President: Dr. James Merritt
Chairman: Dr. James Merritt
Board size: 10
Founder: Dr. James Merritt
Year founded: 1992
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 09/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2001
Purpose
Mission statement
To touch the lives of the lost and enrich the faith of the found.
Statement of faith
Touching Lives uses the following to express its Statement of Faith:
The Bible. We believe the Bible is God's Holy Word. We believe that all sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments were divinely inspired by God. Even though given human personalities, the Bible was the perfect treasure of God. We believe the scriptures are inerrant and infallible in their original manuscript. The Bible is our full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. The Bible has God as its author, salvation for its end and truth, without any mixture of error, for its subject matter.
God. We believe there is only one true and living God. He is Creator, Redeemer and Comforter. God is Holy and in Him there is no sin. God is sovereign and is constantly working out His plan in history. God reveals Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God the Father. God the Father providentially cares for this universe. He is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-present. God is Father and Truth to all who are His children through faith in Jesus Christ.
God the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the human form of God who came as a gift to mankind. We believe that Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin. He lived a life that was perfect and without sin. Through His death on the cross, He served as the atonement for our sins. He was our substitute: The One Who satisfied justice and salvation. Jesus Christ as raised bodily from the dead. He ascended personally and visibly to be with His Father. He is presently serving as our Mediator with God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can one receive God's salvation. Jesus Christ will, one day, return to this earth to bring human history to an end and fully complete God's purpose for redemption.
God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God. The Holy Spirit breathed the Holy Scripture to holy men of God. The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus Christ. He convicts persons of sin, righteousness and judgment. He is the only One Who conforms the believers into the likeness of Jesus Christ. He empowers the believer to live the Christ-life, to worship God, to evangelize the world and to serve others. The Holy Spirit makes this possible by indwelling the believer permanently at the point of salvation.
Salvation. The central purpose of God is to bring sinful persons into fellowship with Him. The only way this can be accomplished is through repentance and faith. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to Jesus Christ. Faith is trusting Jesus Christ, and Him alone, for salvation. Salvation is a personal experience with Jesus Christ. Once a person has trusted Christ, the Lord continually works out His salvation in Him by making him more like Himself. Salvation will, one day, be culminated when we are in Heaven with Christ.
Our Faith and Practice. The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We realize we cannot bind the individual in areas where scripture is silent. We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches us. All should take seriously this Statement of Faith and refrain from any advocacy of doctrine that does not include this faith.
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Educational Media
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 137 of 940 | 9 of 51 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 218 of 942 | 15 of 51 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 439 of 942 | 25 of 51 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 144 of 940 | 7 of 51 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 8% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 98% | 94% | 95% | 96% | 92% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 2% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 8% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 82% | 82% | 81% | 81% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 88% | 95% | 108% | 108% | 110% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 72% | 78% | 87% | 87% | 86% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 12% | 5% | -8% | -8% | -10% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 3% | 44% | 34% | -75% | -38% | -37% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 13% | 13% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.92 | 2.59 | 5.20 | 7.40 | 3.20 | 3.02 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.38 | 1.04 | 1.14 | 1.29 | 1.20 | 1.63 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.74 | 2.70 | 5.95 | 9.54 | 3.83 | 4.93 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.16 | 4.80 | 5.23 | 2.71 | 2.07 | 2.25 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.21 | 0.19 | 0.37 | 0.48 | 0.44 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.69 | 3.52 | 1.63 | 0.79 | 1.62 | 1.36 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 14% | 20% | 17% | 29% | 40% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 85% | 31% | 16% | 10% | 19% | 24% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cash | $662,734 | $249,063 | $195,917 | $471,989 | $348,875 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $109,150 | $129,851 | $64,192 | $117,180 | $46,220 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $94,499 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $771,884 | $378,914 | $260,109 | $589,169 | $489,594 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $34,084 | $54,042 | $75,340 | $115,717 | $307,867 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $34,084 | $54,042 | $75,340 | $115,717 | $307,867 |
| Total assets | $805,968 | $432,956 | $335,449 | $704,886 | $797,461 |
| Liabilities | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $140,199 | $72,489 | $95,891 | $242,526 | $183,988 |
| Other current liabilities | $20,445 | $0 | $0 | $42,063 | $33,166 |
| Total current liabilities | $160,644 | $72,489 | $95,891 | $284,589 | $217,154 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $160,644 | $72,489 | $95,891 | $284,589 | $217,154 |
| Net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Without donor restrictions | $645,324 | $360,467 | $239,558 | $420,297 | $578,868 |
| With donor restrictions | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,439 |
| Net assets | $645,324 | $360,467 | $239,558 | $420,297 | $580,307 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Total contributions | $2,331,184 | $2,238,352 | $2,176,268 | $2,008,174 | $2,023,164 |
| Program service revenue | $37,404 | $135,246 | $115,482 | $79,572 | $164,555 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $0 | $964 | $155 | $2,864 | $6,243 |
| Other revenue | ($217) | ($992) | $10,033 | $7,273 | $4,868 |
| Total other revenue | $37,187 | $135,218 | $125,670 | $89,709 | $175,666 |
| Total revenue | $2,368,371 | $2,373,570 | $2,301,938 | $2,097,883 | $2,198,830 |
| Expenses | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Program services | $1,715,728 | $1,847,252 | $2,003,491 | $1,820,302 | $1,880,608 |
| Management and general | $273,862 | $297,887 | $366,447 | $339,610 | $373,231 |
| Fundraising | $93,924 | $107,522 | $112,739 | $97,981 | $158,349 |
| Total expenses | $2,083,514 | $2,252,661 | $2,482,677 | $2,257,893 | $2,412,188 |
| Change in net assets | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $284,857 | $120,909 | ($180,739) | ($160,010) | ($213,358) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $284,857 | $120,909 | ($180,739) | ($160,010) | ($213,358) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr James Merritt | CEO | $84,915 |
| Mitchell Crowe | Treasurer & | $60,101 |
| Bradley Brown | COO | $60,011 |
Compensation data as of: 9/30/2020
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 5/27/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Program accomplishments
Since its inception, Touching Lives has been committed to sharing the hope and encouragement of Jesus Christ with a world that desperately needs to hear it. We have used every available technology to promote and distribute our ministry materials including radio, television, print, web and social media. Touching Lives currently airs on the three largest Christian broadcasting networks (TBN, Daystar and The Church Channel.) Our greatly expanded website garners world-wide interactivity and resource distribution. We have placed all broadcasts on our individual YouTube and Vimeo channels, as well as securing our own channel on Roku and Apple TV. Our greatly expanded social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) now reach millions yearly with inspirational and programming content. Each broadcast has now been formatted to be seen on virtually any personal mobile device anywhere in the world with our expanded iPhone and Android apps.
Needs
Touching Lives is totally dependent on the prayers and faithful financial support of those who believe in this ministry.