Luke Society, Inc., The 
Summary
The Luke Society is an interdenominational organization of Christian health and business professionals dedicated to the field of missions. The Luke Society works with indigenous Christian health professionals who have a vision to reach their own people. The organization's focus is on community health--teaching people how to prevent disease through education, immunization, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and equipping people to care for themselves, their families and their communities. Besides teaching prevention, The Luke Society provides medical care for the sick and comfort for the dying. When appropriate, the organization also helps initiate economic development projects in conjunction with its medical ministries to assist people in providing for their families. Most important, The Luke Society is a Christ-centered ministry of evangelism and discipleship, reconciling man to God, and man to man through the truth of the gospel. The Society has approximately 20 ministries on four continents at the present time. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact information
Mailing address:
3409 Gateway Blvd.
Sioux Falls, SD 57106-7106
Website: www.lukesociety.org
Phone: (605) 373-9686
Email: office@lukesociety.org
Organization details
EIN: 840563440
CEO/President: Mr. Stewart Odell
Chairman: Mr. Stewart Odell
Board size: 10
Founder: Dr. Peter Boelens
Year founded: 1964
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/30
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 1987
Purpose
The Luke Society is an interdenominational organization of Christian health and business professionals dedicated to the field of missions. The Luke Society works with indigenous Christian health professionals who have a vision to reach their own people. The organization's focus is on community health--teaching people how to prevent disease through education, immunization, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and equipping people to care for themselves, their families and their communities. Besides teaching prevention, The Luke Society provides medical care for the sick and comfort for the dying. When appropriate, the organization also helps initiate economic development projects in conjunction with its medical ministries to assist people in providing for their families. Most important, The Luke Society is a Christ-centered ministry of evangelism and discipleship, reconciling man to God, and man to man through the truth of the gospel. The Society has approximately 20 ministries on four continents at the present time. This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Mission statement
The Luke Society's Mission Statement is:
"The Luke Society is a Christ-centered ministry of evangelism and discipleship, reconciling man to God, and man to man through the truth of the gospel."
Statement of faith
The Luke Society's Statement of Faith is:
We believe that God has gifted us, as Luke Society members, to minister to the health needs of the whole person. We believe the world and everything in it belongs to God. God made our world perfect but sin entered the world with its consequences of suffering and disease. We believe that God sent Jesus Christ to the world to take the punishment for sin, to restore man to Himself, and that He uses us as His instruments of restoration. We believe that God through His Spirit and Word empowers us to minister to health needs in the world and help those who are suffering. As we meet health needs, we desire to communicate God's compassion and love and tell others about Jesus Christ as the only lasting means of life and peace. We are committed to accompany quality health care with ministries of evangelism and discipleship. We believe that as we serve, 'He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen' (Ephesians 3:20-21). NIV
Transparency grade
A
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Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Relief and Development
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 195 of 585 | 37 of 68 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 79 of 585 | 15 of 68 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 112 of 585 | 24 of 68 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 528 of 585 | 66 of 68 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 8% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 6% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 94% | 89% | 104% | 92% | 98% | 101% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 6% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 6% | 11% | -4% | 8% | 2% | -1% |
| Operating ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 90% | 90% | 88% | 88% | 87% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 78% | 89% | 87% | 74% | 87% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 71% | 80% | 77% | 65% | 76% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | 22% | 11% | 13% | 26% | 13% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | 16% | 8% | 10% | 25% | 14% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 8% | 8% | 10% | 10% | 11% |
| Investing ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.08 | 0.56 | 0.57 | 0.66 | 0.71 | 0.92 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.69 | 4.92 | 3.64 | 3.86 | 3.65 | 2.94 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.18 | 2.73 | 2.08 | 2.57 | 2.60 | 2.70 |
| Liquidity ratios | Median measure for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 8.84 | 39.71 | 38.91 | 45.02 | 47.45 | 29.14 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.11 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.03 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.71 | 4.28 | 5.61 | 4.57 | 4.52 | 4.30 |
| Solvency ratios | Median % for all ministries in MW database | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 10% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 75% | 179% | 173% | 149% | 139% | 107% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $1,248,076 | $1,468,694 | $1,272,191 | $1,206,912 | $1,129,158 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $70,453 | $41,394 | $42,539 | $43,553 | $38,104 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,318,529 | $1,510,088 | $1,314,730 | $1,250,465 | $1,167,262 |
| Long-term investments | $4,376,644 | $3,168,979 | $2,976,561 | $2,600,085 | $1,521,334 |
| Fixed assets | $649,289 | $663,320 | $676,640 | $691,658 | $715,194 |
| Other long-term assets | $145,253 | $150,340 | $107,000 | $16,000 | $28,000 |
| Total long-term assets | $5,171,186 | $3,982,639 | $3,760,201 | $3,307,743 | $2,264,528 |
| Total assets | $6,489,715 | $5,492,727 | $5,074,931 | $4,558,208 | $3,431,790 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $30,722 | $36,329 | $26,723 | $23,874 | $37,578 |
| Other current liabilities | $2,478 | $2,478 | $2,478 | $2,478 | $2,478 |
| Total current liabilities | $33,200 | $38,807 | $29,201 | $26,352 | $40,056 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $9,724 | $10,229 | $10,738 | $11,251 | $11,427 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $9,724 | $10,229 | $10,738 | $11,251 | $11,427 |
| Total liabilities | $42,924 | $49,036 | $39,939 | $37,603 | $51,483 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Unrestricted | $4,941,742 | $3,976,183 | $3,636,413 | $3,112,389 | $2,013,854 |
| Temporarily restricted | $1,505,049 | $1,467,508 | $1,398,579 | $1,408,216 | $1,366,453 |
| Permanently restricted | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Net assets | $6,446,791 | $5,443,691 | $5,034,992 | $4,520,605 | $3,380,307 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $4,087,890 | $3,713,594 | $3,578,303 | $4,322,742 | $3,638,693 |
| Program service revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $520,964 | ($157,210) | $311,313 | $71,652 | ($22,163) |
| Other revenue | $364 | $713 | ($1,205) | ($2,426) | ($2,951) |
| Total other revenue | $521,328 | ($156,497) | $310,108 | $69,226 | ($25,114) |
| Total revenue | $4,609,218 | $3,557,097 | $3,888,411 | $4,391,968 | $3,613,579 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $3,249,884 | $2,834,415 | $2,985,444 | $2,849,209 | $2,745,119 |
| Management and general | $278,323 | $254,655 | $325,140 | $333,035 | $331,237 |
| Fundraising | $77,911 | $59,328 | $63,440 | $69,427 | $71,462 |
| Total expenses | $3,606,118 | $3,148,398 | $3,374,024 | $3,251,671 | $3,147,818 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $1,003,100 | $408,699 | $514,387 | $1,140,297 | $465,761 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $1,003,100 | $408,699 | $514,387 | $1,140,297 | $465,761 |
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
History
The Luke Society was initially organized in 1964 by a group of physicians and dentists to save a mission hospital in Rehoboth, NM. In 1970 Dr. Peter Boelens, a member of the Society, founded its first community health and development program in Cary, MS. Today, that ministry is independent and continues to serve the people of the Mississippi delta under local leadership. In 1979, under the direction of Dr. Boelens, the Luke Society broadened its focus to include international ministries as well as domestic. In 1996, the Luke Society appointed regional coordinators, indigenous Christian leaders already serving as Luke Society ministry directors, to seek new ministry opportunities on their own continents and to help mentor new ministry directors.
Program accomplishments
The Luke Society currently supports more than 20 ministries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and North, Central and South America and are continuting to add new ones. Each ministry varies in its scope, and might include medial clinics, community health outreach, water and sanitation projects, economic development, Christian education, church planting and Bible study.