2014 annual report

This annual report offers you a glimpse of the wonderful things that God is doing in our world today. Because of your generosity this year, you have become a strand of hope that God has fashioned into a beautiful global tapestry. In the hands of our loving divine Craftsman, the gifts of ministry partners like you are masterfully woven together with the work of mission partners in 43 countries. This global partnership, through Bible League Canada, has introduced millions of people to the hope of knowing Jesus Christ. Nothing is more beautiful than that!

As you read, celebrate your partnership with a God who makes all things new — and changes

lives through the power of His Word.

“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9, NIV).

Thank you again for your generous gift.

Paul Richardson, President Bible League Canada

Why your partnership is so valuableYou helped more than 688,000 people begin a new relationship with Jesus Christ in 2014. Thank you for helping to place almost 9 million Bibles and Scripture resources this year, which God used to transform lives for eternity in 43 countries.

Table of ConTenTs06 Who We serve

18 a special Thank You

22 Ministry Results summary

26 financial Report

John Hessels, Chairman Bible League Canada

32

tapestry of Hope

2014 Ministry results suMMary

Leaders/Teachers/ Church Planters Trained 159,616New Learners 2,251,944New Followers of Jesus 688,692New Churches Planted 9,808Total Scriptures 8,912,585

How you are helping to build Christ’s kingdomThank you for helping to transform lives through the Living Word of God. We praise God for what He has accomplished through our global network.

tapestry of Hope

54

These are consolidated figures for all of our ministry programs

688,692neW folloWeRs of ChRisT in 2014 indigenous pastors and leaders and equip them

with Bibles and discipleship resources. They typically plant 1-3 churches in the first year.

Support the perSecuted church: We place Bibles and resources, in countries where Christianity is restricted and Christians are persecuted, to disciple believers, equip a growing Church and offer the hope of God’s Word.

In Canada, we are committed to placing Bibles and providing reasonably-priced Scriptures and discipleship materials for individuals and churches.

children’S MiniStry: We reach precious, receptive young hearts with God’s Word through Children’s Bible Clubs, Vacation Bible Schools, summer camps, Values Education Classes and Alternative Basic Education.

Adult BiBle-BASed literAcy: We introduce adults to Jesus through literacy classes that use locally designed, culturally appropriate Bible-based materials. We help disciple eager new believers through Bible study classes.

church plAnter trAining: We train

Ministry programs made possible by your giftsThe Living Word of God transforms people prepared by the Holy Spirit and brings them into a relationship with Christ and His Church.

For more than 60 years, Bible League Canada has provided Scriptures and training to men, women and children worldwide. Working through indigenous mission partners in 43 countries, we place Scripture in four strategic ways:

tapestry of Hope: Who We seRve

76

WHo We serve children’S MiniStry

games, singing songs and listening to Bible stories.

Soon she learned about the love of Jesus and received Him as her Saviour. “My parents don’t love me,” she says, “but I’m not ignored by Jesus.”

Chunni also longed to go to school. So her Bible Club leader spoke with her grandparents and arranged for her to attend school. Today Chunni is studying in kindergarten.

Please pray that God will change the hearts of Chunni’s parents and that her grandparents will come to the saving knowledge of Christ in the days to come.

Chunni finds loveNo one celebrated the day Chunni was born. Instead, her parents felt cursed by the birth of a girl — a financial burden because of the dowry to be paid at her marriage.

In Chunni’s community, girls were often killed, dumped in garbage bins or thrown in rivers. And her parents tried, but she survived thanks to the kindness of her grandparents.

When she was seven years old, Chunni was invited to a Children’s Bible Club, where she loved playing

2.2 millionChildRen’s

sCRipTuRes plaCed

in 2014

Children’s Ministry transforms future

generations by presenting the love of Jesus to

children. you help share the love of Christ using

a variety of programs that include Children’s

Bible Clubs, vacation Bible schools, values

education and alternative Basic education.

. . . and He took tHe CHildren in His arMs . . . and Blessed tHeM.

—Mark 10:16 (niv)

Children’s lives transformed by God’s WordChildren’s Ministry transforms future generations by presenting the love of Jesus to children — often for the first time. You are helping to provide boys and girls with the opportunity to meet Jesus through Children’s Ministry. When children follow Jesus, they enthusiastically share their joy with their families and communities. In this way, children’s lives are changed and their prayers help transform entire families.

98

WHo We serve Adult BiBle-BASed literAcy

years — and even tried to take her own life. After she married, Dara directed this anger at her husband.

Then Dara and her husband were invited to join a Bible class at a church in her community. God began to speak to her troubled heart through His Word, and Dara came to understand how much He loved her.

“I went to God in prayer and confessed before him how the anger was hurting my marriage,” Dara says. “Not only did He forgive me, but He began to change me.”

God’s Word brings peace to Dara

“I had so much hurt in my past it seemed there was no hope for me.”

For Dara*, who lives in Burma, the pain of sexual abuse began at age 7 at the hands of her stepfather. Filled with fear, anxiety and shame, Dara hated what was happening, but her stepfather threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

With the threat of jail, her stepfather stopped abusing her, but Dara’s pain did not end. She was tormented by anger and depression for many

232,505neW bible-based liTeRaCY leaRneRs in 2014

adult Bible-based literacy classes offer men

and women vital reading, writing and math

skills. in several countries students learn to

read and write using the Bible or Bible-based

materials which teach them about issues

such as health, hygiene and finance. By God’s

grace, up to 40% of adults who complete the

program come into a life-changing relationship

with Jesus Christ.

. . . learn to revere tHe lord His God and folloW Carefully all tHe Words

of tHis laW and tHese deCrees . . .

—deuteronoMy 17:19 (niv)

teaching literacy and Bible literacy to men and womenAdult Bible-based Literacy classes introduce men and women to the life-changing truth of the gospel. Using a Bible-based curriculum, adults build vital reading, writing and math skills while learning about the Good News of Jesus. You also provide Bible study classes that introduce seekers and new believers to the Bible; help disciple Christians; and increase biblical literacy in families, churches and communities.

* Name changed for security

1110

WHo We serve church plAnter trAining

that the area he was targeting was a stronghold for witchcraft, so he mobilized fellow pastors to pray about the situation.

Now, Pastor Joseph is seeing incredible things happen in his community. “Young people are getting jobs in local industries, young girls are getting married and women are turning to Christ,” Joseph says. “My church now comprises 50 adults and 60 children and the number is expected to rise.”

Please pray for Pastor Joseph and the 319 other graduates of this training program as they share the gospel of Jesus Christ and transform unreached areas in Western Kenya.

Training leads to community transformation“We are witnessing an amazing transformation. Witchcraft is becoming a thing of the past,” says Pastor Joseph, who recently completed a year-long training course in church planting provided through our mission partner in Kenya.

“Before this training, I did not know the right approach towards planting a successful church,” he says. Now Joseph knows the importance of understanding those he was reaching out to before approaching them with the gospel. He learned

equipping pastors and evangelists to share the Good newsChurch Planter Training empowers and equips indigenous men and women to establish new local churches.Thank you for helping to equip pastors and evangelists with the knowledge, skills and tools to be more effective in sharing the Good News within their communities. A trained church planter who understands the culture, language and needs of their people can effectively share the life-transforming message of the gospel.

in 2014, 9,808 new churches were planted

through the programs of Bible league Canada.

almost half of these new churches were

planted by participants in the Church planter

training program. unique to each region in

which we work, these training programs can

last from 12 to 24 months during which time

participants are actively applying what they

learn in their studies. last year alone, program

participants planted 4,242 new churches.

HoW Beautiful on tHe Mountains are tHe feet of

tHose WHo BrinG Good neWs . . . WHo proClaiM

salvation . . . —isaiaH 52:7 (niv)4,242

neW ChuRChes ThRough ChuRCh planTeR pRogRaM in 2014

1312

WHo We serve Support the perSecuted church

God deeply every day but the big question was, how could it happen?” With your help, Digital Bibles have solved this problem for Amiir and his fellow believers — and even made it possible to share God’s Word with others.

“We are no longer sharing a few Bibles. Everyone in our fellowship has a Bible in a digital form,” says Amiir. “I have it in my mobile phone now. I can read it any time anywhere without fear.”

Please pray for Amiir and for all Christians who do not have the freedom to openly worship and witness.

Digital Bibles strengthen a Christian fellowshipAmiir* is a follower of Christ in a country where it’s dangerous to do so. In fact, Christians there have been killed for simply possessing a Bible.

“We used to have limited Bibles in our fellowship,” he says. “When we finished the Bible study group, we used to hide our Bibles and leave them behind at fellowship house.” However, this practice meant that believers were unable to read the Scripture at home.

Amiir says, “We wanted to learn the Word of

2.9 million

Bible league Canada, in partnership with other

ministries, gathers and formats digital biblical

resources that are distributed on dvds and

secure digital High Capacity (sdHC) cards.

the biblical material can be viewed using

smart phones, cell phones, tablets, e-readers

and computers. We work with our partners

to select the best study resources to include

with the scripture and make them available for

training pastors.

Be stronG and CouraGeous.

do not Be afraid; do not Be disCouraGed, for tHe lord your

God Will Be WitH you WHerever you Go.

—JosHua 1:9 (niv)

providing digital scriptures for ChristiansTogether we are standing with the Persecuted Church to help empower and equip Christians for growth and ministry.Christians in closed and restricted countries who share their faith often risk severe punishment, including imprisonment or even death. With your help, we place printed Bibles and Digital Bibles into the hands of persecuted Christians to comfort, strengthen and equip them for growth and ministry.

* Name changed for security

1514

digiTal sCRipTuRes plaCed in 2014

WHo We serve cAnAdiAn churcheS

programs is vital to our mission!

In 2014, the results of a Bible-engagement survey conducted by Angus Reid for Bible League Canada and other Bible agencies, revealed that the Bible-reading habits of Canadians are at an all-time low. Since 1996, weekly Bible reading has declined by 60% and only 14% of Christians actually read their Bible at least once per month. These alarming trends need to be reversed! Our prayer is that resources like the Devotional Day Planner will make it easier for Canadians to focus on Bible engagement to connect with God through His Living Word. Bible League Canada is committed to helping increase Bible engagement across Canada.

Bible League Canada works with local churches, mission organizations and ministry-minded individuals to reach Canadians in their communities with the Word of God. Our online bookstore offers resources in a variety of languages, at the lowest possible price, to help fulfill the Great Commission here in Canada.

The proceeds from every purchase in the bookstore are used to fund missions in 43 countries. If a church or mission cannot afford the Scripture resources for their program, Bible League Canada comes alongside and works for a solution. Making the Bible accessible for people in discipleship

Bible league Canada works with

Canadian churches for global impact by

empowering customized mission goals in

43 countries worldwide.

all sCripture is God-BreatHed

and is useful for teaCHinG, reBukinG,

CorreCtinG and traininG in

riGHteousness . . .—2 tiMotHy 3:16 (niv)

the living Word of God transforms CanadiansThrough your support of Bible League Canada, you are helping Canadians come into a relationship with Jesus Christ.Thank you for helping to provide Bibles and basic discipleship resources used by church leaders to strengthen their congregations and help individuals make use of God’s Word. You also make it possible for Bible League Canada to provide ministry grants to help reach Canadian communities with the gospel.

1716

125,044sCRipTuRes and sCRipTuRe poRTions plaCed in 2014Canada

8

god has blessed bible league Canada with exceptional ministry partners. We are grateful for

each one and for their commitment to see god’s Word change lives around the globe.

This past year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of a very special Joint Ministry with bibles for Missions (bfM).

in the fall of 1988, Mr. ben deRegt and Mr. Morris Thalen travelled to india with Rev. John Klomps to see the bible league

ministry firsthand. What they saw shocked them, and they knew god was calling them to respond. They returned home

with a conviction to do something to help bring the transforming message of god’s Word to the millions of poor in india.

in 1989, the first bfM Thrift store was launched in Chilliwack, bC. since that day the net revenue of that store, and

now 42 additional stores (soon to be 43) of the bfM foundation (Canada), have been provided to the Joint Ministry

of bfM foundation (Canada) and bible league Canada for mission work around the world.

Thank you for providing $7,416,625 to the Joint Ministry in 2014 and for the thousands of bfM volunteers

(and 70 paid staff) who have donated countless hours to make this Joint Ministry possible. We deeply

appreciate the unwavering focus and the Joint Ministry we share with bfM foundation

(Canada) and its Member stores for the cause of Christ in our world.

Bibles For Missions’25th Anniversarya speCial tHank you

Twenty-five years

Celebrating

25

1918

3,482 $7,416,625 bfM volunTeeRs finanCial ConTRibuTion in 2014

8

foundaTion paRTneRs

god has blessed bible league Canada with exceptional ministry partners.

We are grateful for each one and for their commitment to see god’s Word change

lives around the globe.

We are grateful for our partners. . .

2120

ThanK You

We want to thank our partners who gave so generously in 2014 to help

place the living Word of god:

legacy foundation of Canada

Multiplication network Ministries

Reinders family foundation

The John brouwer foundation

Tullo Charitable foundation

vanderende Charitable foundation

159,616leadeRs/TeaCheRs/ChuRCh planTeRs

TRained

in 2014

a speCial tHank you

bfM foundation (Canada)

bibles for Missions society abbotsford

Canadian national Christian foundation

Chimp foundation

daystar foundation inc.

felsen foundation

hensen foundation

2014 FinAnciAl report for tHe year ended auGust 31, 2014

22

open My eyes tHat i May see Wonderful

tHinGs in your laW. —psalM 119:18 (niv)

23

for detailed financial statements, please visit www.bibleleague.cadigiTal sCRipTuRes

Digital Scriptures — — 2,917,827

Total Scriptures 8,912,585

International Missions 65.8%Canadian Ministry 17.3%Fundraising 9.2% Administration 7.7% 100%

2014 disbuRseMenT suMMaRY

MinisTRY ResulTs 2011-2014 2014 (CuMulaTive ResulTs)

New Learners 2,251,944 9,222,234Leaders/Teachers/ Church Planters Trained 159,616 445,025Evangelistic Contacts* 3,220,171 14,359,089New Followers of Jesus 688,692 3,962,691Number of Baptisms 140,726 489,001New Churches Planted 9,808 33,355

2014 sCRipTuRe ResulTs Canada inTeRnaTional ToTal

Bibles 11,829 254,832 266,661New Testaments 1,026 366,924 367,950Study Bibles 265 48,413 48,678Children’s Story Bible 9,988 357,671 367,659Children’s Portions/Booklets 13,920 1,874,133 1,888,053Bible Portion/Selections/Booklets 88,016 2,967,741 3,055,757Total Scriptures Placed 125,044 5,869,714 5,994,758

dollaRs %

BFM Thrift Stores $7,416,625 62.7%Contributions Received $4,187,573 35.4%Publication Sales $216,558 1.8%Interest and other revenue $6,020 0.1%Grand Total Income $11,826,776 100%

2014 Canadian Revenue suMMaRY

* evangelistic Contacts are people with whom our national partners have shared the gospel as they have planted churches, led adult literacy classes and run children’s ministry programs.

Bible League Canada Contribution $7,776,449On Field – In Country Contributions $2,270,416Additional Spending on Ministry by Mission Partners $6,701,893

Total Spending on Ministry $16,748,758

ToTal inTeRnaTional MinisTRY eXpendiTuRes

paRTneR inCoMe

Through Joint Ministry Agreements, Bible League Canada provides financial support for our front-line Mission Partners in 43 countries. As well, national Christians in many of these countries contribute to the work of these same ministries, and churches that have been planted by those trained give sacrificially so that others may benefit. The result is even greater impact and the sense of ownership of these indigenous ministries by local Christians.

Ministry results summary

2014 FinAnciAl report for tHe year ended auGust 31, 2014

25

i deliGHt in your deCrees;

i Will not neGleCt your Word. —psalM 119:16 (niv)

24

The accompanying summary financial statements, which comprise the summary statement of financial position as at August 31, 2014, and the summary statements of revenues, expenditures and fund balances for the year then ended, are derived from the audited financial statements of Bible League Canada for the year ended August 31, 2014. We expressed a qualified opinion on those financial statements in our report dated November 29, 2014.

The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Reading the summary financial statements, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited financial statements of Bible League Canada.

To The MeMbeRs of bible league Canada

might be necessary to reported donations, excess of revenues over expenses, and cash flows from operations for the year then ended.

oTheR MaTTeR

The financial statements of Bible League Canada for the year ended August 31, 2013 were audited by another public accountant who expressed a qualified opinion over completeness of inventories on those statements on December 12, 2013.

Grant Thornton LLP Hamilton, Canada/November 29, 2014 Chartered Accountants Licensed Public Accountants

ManageMenT’s ResponsibiliTY foR The finanCial sTaTeMenTs

Management is responsible for the preparation of a summary of the audited financial statements on the basis of Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.

audiToR’s ResponsibiliTY

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the summary financial statements based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Canadian Auditing Standard 810, “Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements”.

Qualified opinion

In our opinion, the summary financial statements derived from the audited statements of Bible League

Canada for the year ended August 31, 2014 are a fair summary of those financial statements, on the basis of Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. However, the summary financial statements are limited in scope to the equivalent extent as the audited financial statements of Bible League Canada for the year ended August 31, 2014.

The limitation in scope of the audited financial statements is described in our qualified audit opinion in our report dated November 29, 2014. Our qualified audit opinion is based on the fact that, in common with many not-for-profit organizations, Bible League Canada derives revenue from donations, the completeness of which is not susceptible to satisfactory audit verification. Accordingly, verification of these revenues was limited to the amounts recorded in the records of the organization. Therefore, we were not able to determine whether any adjustments

independent auditor’s report

2014 FinAnciAl report for tHe year ended auGust 31, 2014

for you Have Been Born aGain…tHrouGH tHe livinG and endurinG

Word of God. —1 peter 1:23 (niv)

2726

2014 financial sheetsbalanCe sheeT

2014 2013

ASSETS

Current Assets Cash $307,571 $182,775 Accounts receivable $55,124 $41,538 Harmonized sales tax receivable $92,769 $42,753 Inventories $67,343 $71,755 Prepaid expenses $7,908 $415,498 $530,715 $754,319

Long-Term Note Receivable $400,000 $182,858 Property and equipment $1,739,704 $626,394 $2,139,704 $809,252

$2,670,419 $1,563,571

2014 2013

LIABILITIES

Current Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $567,426 $80,831 Deferred revenue $15,557 $167,991 $582,983 $248,822

FUND BALANCES

Unrestricted $347,732 $688,355 Invested in property and equipment $1,739,704 $626,394 $2,087,436 $1,314,749

$2,670,419 $1,563,571

sTaTeMenT of Revenues and eXpendiTuRes

sTaTeMenT of fund balanCes

2014 2013

REVENUES BFM Thrift Stores $7,416,625 $7,300,583 Contributions received $4,187,573 $5,969,889 Publication sales $216,558 $214,402 Interest and other revenue $6,020 $5,603 $11,826,776 $13,490,477ExPENDITURES International Ministry India $1,825,940 $2,554,973 Africa $1,520,000 $1,823,685 Latin America $1,333,048 $1,638,634 Eurasia $1,059,964 $1,188,757 Southeast Asia $625,849 $894,668 Persecuted Church $491,655 $614,487 Multi-region $919,993 $1,025,784 Canadian Ministry $2,035,140 $2,328,930 Fundraising $1,089,712 $882,996 Administration $911,681 $559,456 $11,812,982 $13,512,370

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenditures before other income (expenditure) $13,794 $(21,893)

2014 2013

Other income (expenditure) Net gain on disposal of property and equipment $977,655 – Write-offs $(218,762) – $758,893 –

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenditures $772,687 $(21,893)

Fund balances, beginning of year $1,314,749 $1,336,642Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenditures $772,687 $(21,893)

Fund balances, end of year $2,087,436 $1,314,749

thank you for helping transform lives through the living Word of GodYour gifts and prayers have helped to empower our partners who planted 9,808 churches and saw 688,692 people become followers of Jesus Christ.

. . . it is God WHo Works in you to Will and to aCt in order to

fulfill His Good purpose.—pHilippians 2:13 (niv)

Box 368 Grimsby, ON Canada L3M 4H8 bibleleague.ca ministry@bibleleague.ca 1.800.363.9673Charitable Registration Number: 10822 2084 RR0001