Faith Broadcasting, Inc. 
Summary
Faith Broadcasting Inc. is Christ centered, commerical free, listener supported radio with a vision to reach unbelievers and nourish believers through Christian broadcasting. It is an independent network of four FM radio stations serving Central and Southern Alabama listeners with information and inspiration from a Judeo-Christian world view.
Contact information
Mailing address:
P. O. Box 210789
Montgomery, AL 36121-0789
Website: www.faithbroadcasting.org
Phone: (334) 271-8900
Email: mail@faithradio.org
Organization details
EIN: 630818257
CEO/President: Mr. Mark Williams
Chairman: Mr. Mark Williams
Board size: 8
Founder:
Year founded: 1981
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1986
Purpose
Faith Broadcasting Inc. (dba WLBF/WSTF/WDYF) is a listener supported radio broadcasting ministry, incorporated in 1981, with a vision to reach unbelievers and nourish believers through Christian broadcasting. It is an independent, non-commercial network of four FM radio stations serving Central and Southern Alabama listeners with information and inspiration from a Judeo-Christian world view.
Mission statement
Faith Broadcasting Inc. uses the following to express its mission:
Our mission is to serve the Christian community and strengthen the family unit and the local church as we provide spiritual encouragement and personal challenge with a Christ-centered focus, through biblical teaching, relevant information and uplifting music to the glory of God.
Statement of faith
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Radio/ TV Stations
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 161 of 660 | 6 of 22 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 266 of 662 | 11 of 23 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 329 of 662 | 9 of 23 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 125 of 660 | 6 of 22 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 88% | 98% | 101% | 99% | 99% | 100% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 12% | 2% | -1% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 79% | 81% | 81% | 83% | 83% | 83% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 101% | 92% | 99% | 97% | 100% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 79% | 81% | 75% | 82% | 81% | 83% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -1% | 8% | 1% | 3% | 0% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -1% | 10% | 2% | 4% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 16% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 13% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.47 | 1.16 | 1.10 | 1.25 | 1.22 | 1.29 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.15 | 1.32 | 1.35 | 1.39 | 2.60 | 2.91 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.15 | 1.53 | 1.48 | 1.73 | 3.17 | 3.75 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 21.69 | 25.02 | 29.07 | 27.14 | 17.68 | 12.05 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.06 | 0.08 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 9.35 | 7.53 | 7.82 | 6.67 | 3.57 | 2.93 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 209% | 84% | 89% | 78% | 80% | 75% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $301,165 | $312,221 | $248,238 | $243,585 | $207,612 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $13,045 | $15,115 | $17,657 | $21,332 | $20,871 |
| Short-term investments | $274,987 | $254,154 | $241,032 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $589,197 | $581,490 | $506,927 | $264,917 | $228,483 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $234,683 | $224,992 |
| Fixed assets | $188,459 | $200,748 | $196,628 | $188,874 | $212,186 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $188,459 | $200,748 | $196,628 | $423,557 | $437,178 |
| Total assets | $777,656 | $782,238 | $703,555 | $688,474 | $665,661 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $23,546 | $20,000 | $18,677 | $14,987 | $18,956 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $23,546 | $20,000 | $18,677 | $14,987 | $18,956 |
| 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 | $23,546 | $20,000 | $18,677 | $14,987 | $18,956 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $697,933 | $708,401 | $654,168 | $672,487 | $645,705 |
| Temporarily restricted | $79,723 | $73,837 | $29,710 | $0 | $0 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Net assets | $754,110 | $762,238 | $684,878 | $673,487 | $646,705 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $873,337 | $944,875 | $881,773 | $854,018 | $858,914 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $19,856 | ($6,366) | $8,454 | $11,075 | ($2,379) |
| Other revenue | $0 | ($22) | ($162) | ($395) | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $19,856 | ($6,388) | $8,292 | $10,680 | ($2,379) |
| Total revenue | $893,193 | $938,487 | $890,065 | $864,698 | $856,535 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $725,803 | $701,514 | $727,624 | $698,657 | $713,593 |
| Management and general | $118,899 | $108,584 | $116,228 | $110,299 | $110,555 |
| Fundraising | $56,619 | $51,029 | $34,822 | $31,860 | $32,764 |
| Total expenses | $901,321 | $861,127 | $878,674 | $840,816 | $856,912 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($8,128) | $77,360 | $11,391 | $23,882 | ($377) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,900 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($8,128) | $77,360 | $11,391 | $26,782 | ($377) |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
VISION FOR CHRISTIAN RADIO: A Story of God's Miraculous Leading
It was God's miracles and perfect timing that allowed WLBF-FM to sign on the air on April 4, 1984, to broadcast His love and good news to Montgomery and the surrounding area.
In June of 1980, Larry Wilkins (WLBF's contract engineer) and his employer were listening to a Christian FM station while in Pensacola, Florida, on business and felt a need for programming such as this in Montgomery. Larry contacted a local Christian organization upon his return to Montgomery, asking them if they would consider underwriting a Christian station. After 7 or 8 months of discussion, they decided they could not underwrite a ministry of that magnitude at that time.
At this point, a small group of Christians who had joined together because of their vision for Christian radio thought the vision had temporarily died. However, Greg McKinnon, former Board treasurer, suggested that the group incorporate, trusting God to bring to Montgomery a quality Christian FM station.
In the spring of 1981, Montgomery Educational Radio, Inc., was registered with the State of Alabama. For the next six months, the Board compiled information for the application to file with the Federal Communications Commission for a non-commercial FM station. The application was received by the FCC on December 18, 1981, for their approval or disapproval.
There were obstacles in the path to approval. In April, 1982, a local college applied for the same frequency. The Board prayed for guidance. They looked at other frequencies, but a local church had claimed the last non-commercial frequency. The only thing left would be for God to perform a miracle.
In October, 1982, a miracle happened. The local church withdrew their application and the Board immediately applied for that frequency in November, 1982. The Board then prayed if God wanted this station on the air, the FCC would approve this application.
On October 18, 1983, God blessed Montgomery with the FCC approval. Application was made for the station call letters. WLBF was chosen because it stands for the station's spiritual goals and philosophy, We Live By Faith.
Through God's faithfulness, a $40,000 automation unit was donated by Colonial Broadcasting. They also made available free tower space for WLBF's antenna. Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church allowed the use of one of their vacant trailers for office space rent-free.
Even with these and other donations, $58,000 had to be raised. This amount in itself was a miracle considering it normally takes half a million dollars to open a station. Between December, 1983, and April, 1984, through fund raising efforts, the money was donated by faithful Montgomery Christians who shared the vision for Bible-based family programming. On April 4, 1984, WLBF became a reality.
WLBF operated from its trailer behind Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church for five and one-half years when, in September, 1988, once again through the gracious giving of God's people in the Montgomery area, the station moved in to its current office and studio space on Mendel Parkway. Due to God's provision, the new building and grounds were completely paid for before the ribbon cutting ceremony was held!
In November, 1989, WLBF was granted FCC approval to increase its primary signal strength to 100,000 watts and its antenna height to 600 feet. A new transmitter and antenna were purchased to accommodate the change, widening the station's coverage area to include the greater part of south-central Alabama. In 1990, the Corporation's name was changed to Montgomery Christian Educational Radio to more closely reflect its mission and purpose.
WLBF, broadcasting the good news of Jesus Christ 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week...all with the donations of interested listeners and churches in the area. To God be the glory, great things He hath done!