Ankerberg Theological Research Institute 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 6/16/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
The John Ankerberg Show is an apologetics and evangelical media ministry committed to defending the Christian faith, encouraging the believer, and making God's Word heard around the world. For over 40 years The John Ankerberg Show has offered Real Answers to Real Questions and presented and defended the Christian faith.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Ankerberg Theological Research Institute
PO Box 8977
Chattanooga, TN 37414
Website: jashow.org
Phone: (423) 892-7722
Email: jasfbook@johnankerberg.org
Organization details
EIN: 621138444
CEO/President: Dr. John Ankerberg
Chairman: Don Ebner
Board size: 6
Founder: Dr. John Ankerberg
Year founded: 1983
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1993
Purpose
The John Ankerberg Show's outreach extends far beyond the borders of America and is not limited to the weekly television program. The combination of our broadcast and online presence has allowed us to reach more people with the Gospel and much needed discipleship materials in exciting new ways. Some of our greatest recent impact has taken place in India, where we broadcast in English, Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil to over 80% of all television homes. Combined with online and mobile initiatives, we are seeing many people around the world come to faith in Christ and grow in Him.
Mission statement
The John Ankerberg Show is a weekly half-hour internationally syndicated television program whose purpose is to demonstrate that Christianity is true so that our viewers will embrace it for themselves and learn to share it effectively with others. The formats of choice for this apologetics ministry are informal debates between representatives of differing belief systems, and documentary-styled presentations on major issues in society to which the historic Christian faith has something of consequence to say. The programs are designed to reach and appeal to a thinking audience of Christians and non-Christians alike.
Statement of faith
ONE GOD - We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
SON OF GOD - We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true man.
THE HUMAN CONDITION - We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word and deed.
FORGIVENESS THROUGH JESUS - We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.
BECOMING A CHILD OF GOD - We believe that all who receive by repentance and faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and become children of God.
EVERLASTING LIFE - We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
RESURRECTION - We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, His ascension into heaven and His present life there for us as a High Priest and Advocate.
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 | | 498 of 913 | 24 of 50 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 316 of 915 | 18 of 50 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 664 of 915 | 34 of 50 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 450 of 913 | 24 of 50 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 7% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 7% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 11% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 76% | 81% | 79% | 73% | 82% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 100% | 84% | 83% | 82% | 99% | 109% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 65% | 67% | 65% | 72% | 90% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 0% | 16% | 17% | 18% | 1% | -9% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 0% | 27% | 41% | 69% | 6% | -63% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 12% | 17% | 13% | 15% | 16% | 12% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.95 | 1.11 | 1.38 | 1.74 | 2.53 | 2.28 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.47 | 2.67 | 1.85 | 2.71 | 6.17 | 4.40 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.76 | 2.96 | 2.54 | 4.71 | 15.59 | 10.06 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 6.64 | 5.57 | 7.14 | 3.18 | 0.47 | 0.58 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.14 | 0.31 | 2.14 | 1.72 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.38 | 3.32 | 4.05 | 1.75 | -0.88 | -0.86 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 15% | 24% | 31% | 44% | 65% | 69% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 17% | 23% | 32% | 30% | 30% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 77% | 68% | 50% | 32% | 14% | 14% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $1,472,439 | $1,707,467 | $895,403 | $154,143 | $252,026 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $244,724 | $261,276 | $78,988 | $68,403 | $76,981 |
| Short-term investments | $5,991 | $17,991 | $16,366 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,723,154 | $1,986,734 | $990,757 | $222,546 | $329,007 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $16,366 | $16,366 |
| Fixed assets | $2,404,263 | $1,139,073 | $1,071,444 | $1,017,947 | $1,003,921 |
| Other long-term assets | $469,822 | $547,117 | $621,864 | $115,215 | $99,881 |
| Total long-term assets | $2,874,085 | $1,686,190 | $1,693,308 | $1,149,528 | $1,120,168 |
| Total assets | $4,597,239 | $3,672,924 | $2,684,065 | $1,372,074 | $1,449,175 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $270,792 | $241,947 | $274,485 | $448,576 | $542,096 |
| Other current liabilities | $38,842 | $36,311 | $37,040 | $27,427 | $22,711 |
| Total current liabilities | $309,634 | $278,258 | $311,525 | $476,003 | $564,807 |
| Debt | $799,065 | $836,347 | $865,841 | $412,241 | $429,681 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $11,270 | $18,575 | $1,370 | $9,677 | $7,969 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $810,335 | $854,922 | $867,211 | $421,918 | $437,650 |
| Total liabilities | $1,119,969 | $1,133,180 | $1,178,736 | $897,921 | $1,002,457 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $3,435,270 | $2,493,191 | $1,452,433 | $474,153 | $446,718 |
| With donor restrictions | $42,000 | $46,553 | $52,896 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $3,477,270 | $2,539,744 | $1,505,329 | $474,153 | $446,718 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $6,042,543 | $6,088,618 | $5,691,419 | $3,490,648 | $3,019,229 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | ($13,058) | $239 | $316 | $0 | $1,450 |
| Other revenue | $13,075 | $1,685 | $4,761 | $5,836 | $5,161 |
| Total other revenue | $17 | $1,924 | $5,077 | $5,836 | $6,611 |
| Total revenue | $6,042,560 | $6,090,542 | $5,696,496 | $3,496,484 | $3,025,840 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $3,900,986 | $4,076,609 | $3,677,196 | $2,523,783 | $2,713,218 |
| Management and general | $872,015 | $654,337 | $683,016 | $566,218 | $398,147 |
| Fundraising | $332,033 | $325,181 | $305,108 | $379,048 | $197,022 |
| Total expenses | $5,105,034 | $5,056,127 | $4,665,320 | $3,469,049 | $3,308,387 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $937,526 | $1,034,415 | $1,031,176 | $27,435 | ($282,547) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $937,526 | $1,034,415 | $1,031,176 | $27,435 | ($282,547) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr John Ankerberg | President | $201,604 |
| Darlene Ankerberg | CEO/Comptroller/Secretary | $80,877 |
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 6/16/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
Dr. Ankerberg is a graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, and holds three advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts in Church History and Philosophy of Christian Thought and Master of Divinity (with honors) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary. He has spoken at more than 78 American universities, numerous nationwide conferences, and worldwide at major events across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He and his wife Darlene live in Chattanooga, Tennessee and have one grown daughter, Michelle.
The biggest turning point in John Ankerberg's life happened while he was still in high school. His family moved at that time, changing houses and also schools. A few weeks before school started, he was at a teen summer camp and heard a message asking 'will you be a witness for Christ?' He remembers sitting in an empty baseball diamond wrestling with God over this question, because he knew that for him that meant bringing his Bible with him to his new school and being vocal about his faith. It wasn't an easy decision, or one he made lightly, but Dr. Ankerberg says, "God won that fight... and that was a turning point, basically for my whole ministry." Bringing a Bible to school meant that kids asked questions, and those questions needed answers. His standard response was, "I don't know the answer to that, but let me find out and get back to you." These types of conversations with classmates prepared him for leading student ministries with his peers, then later doing college outreach, and speaking at evangelical crusades domestically and internationally.
1978-79:John began hosting debate style apologetics programming on KYFC, a Christian television station in Kansas City.
1980: The John Ankerberg Show began airing on the Christian Broadcast Network, KYFC (Kansas City) and WCFC (Chicago). The Ankerberg family moved to Chattanooga, TN.
1982: The John Ankerberg Show grew into a full-time job for John, leading him and his staff to rent ministry office space in Chattanooga, TN.
1991: Banquets and TV productions were hosted around the country, including a large Apologetics Conference in Orlando, FL in 1991.
1996-97: A ministry building was purchased, studio was built and the first John Ankerberg Show website was created.
2001: The studio was expanded and additional offices were added.
2008: John and a team traveled to Israel for three weeks to film on-site programs with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung.
2014: With an expanding overseas presence, the Ankerberg family traveled to India for the ICMA's Kingdom Media Conference. That trip paved the way for broadcasting in four languages across India.
2016: The JA Show began partnering with Faith Comes By Hearing to send audio Bible devices worldwide.
2016-17: Our free online discipleship course was filmed and developed, which has since been translated into 10 languages.
2017: Dr. Ankerberg shared the Word of God at Calvary Temple in Hyderabad, India. With over 180,000 members at its main campus alone, it is the fastest growing church in the world!
2019-20: An adjacent property was purchased debt-free, remodeled, and now houses staff, expanding ministry headquarters with the new Global Communication Center. With this new building, and our state of the art set, The John Ankerberg Show staff continues to fulfill its central mission.
2020 - Future: Our next prayer is that God would help us reach over 7 million people through audio Bible listening groups by 2022.
This movement has grown far beyond our original plans and has become a work of God touching lives in more than 110 nations. You can serve as a missionary right where you are today through your prayers and gifts to the unreached.
Program accomplishments
"7 million people are estimated to have heard the Word of God in their own language thanks to the audio Bibles that YOU have sent!"
Needs
As we work toward our goal and focus on bringing the gospel to every person, would you join me in praying for those who will hear these messages? Ask God to raise up new missionaries along with us to make disciples of all nations.