2010 MINISTRY
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Dear Ministry Supporter,
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t’s my pleasure to give you an update on what’s happening in and about Ligonier Ministries. Before I do that, allow me to
express my deep thanks for the outreach efforts funded primarily by our Ministry Partners. This “Message of the Month” Partnership Program is now more than 21,000 participants strong. It’s their monthly support that enables us to cover our costs for daily radio broadcasts, our online resources, our chaplain and prison programs, as well as our day-to-day ministry operation. The most exciting thing going on right now is the significant expansion of our radio outreach, where we’ve doubled up on some 25 major market stations at an extremely favorable cost. Additionally, Renewing Your Mind can now be heard internationally in Africa, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines. Also, our daily broadcast is available on our website, our Ligonier app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and as a podcast. With respect to the new Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies, we’re announcing a two-year and a four-year undergraduate program that will kick off in August of 2011. This is a strategic initiative for training the next generation of Christian leaders. Additionally, the online component of our introductory level certificate program for laypeople begins this fall, and our Doctor of Ministry program for pastors continues to grow in its second year. In regard to the funding of the Academy and new campus, our Capital
Campaign has raised over $6.3 million of the $15.6 million dollar initial phase goal. That encourages us, but of course we still have a long way to go. Our campus building renovations continue, and they’re very near the point of completion for our being able to occupy the Academy. We are on pace to have 3 million visits to our website Ligonier.org by the end of this year. That is double what we’ve seen in years prior. Our new website allows you to enjoy free streaming of audio and video teaching, and an online store that contains thousands of resources for purchase.
I’m always amazed at the fidelity of our donors who make this ministry possible.
Tabletalk presently has more than 200,000 monthly readers in 57 countries. Each year, 800,000 copies are printed and distributed. This makes Tabletalk one of the largest subscriberbased monthly devotional magazine in the world. Our conferences continue to be well attended. We completed our national conference in Orlando on Tough Questions Christians Face, and it was a superb event. In addition, we held a conference in Washington, D.C., in the fall entitled Being a Christian in a Post-Christian Culture, as well as our conference for pastors and church leaders here in Orlando in October. With respect to our global outreach we are
continuing to broadcast into the Arab world via TV satellite with a potential reach of 120 million people. Also our internet staff is in the process of building German and Spanish web sites featuring many of the resources that we have in these languages. The NRB channel on DirecTV continues to air the video edition of Renewing Your Mind on a regular national basis. I’m always amazed at the fidelity of our donors who make this ministry possible. And I want them to be encouraged by this newest development that we have at Ligonier, the addition of our Teaching Fellows. We have selected four men to
The big idea that thrills my soul is to reach as many people as possible with the essence of biblical Christianity. help me as we continue to expand our teaching ministry in conferences, on the radio, in Tabletalk, in publishing, and all the other avenues in which we’re engaged. The Lord has given us these Teaching Fellows who are incredibly able men. For example, we have Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, who is one of the premier theologians of our day, and who is a pastor as well as a professor of systematic theology at the seminary level. We have Dr. Robert Godfrey, who is a professor of church history and the president of Westminster Seminary in California. He has been a friend of the ministry for a long time and has agreed
to join our team of teaching fellows as well as sit on our board of directors. Add to that Dr. Steven Lawson, who’s the pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama, and a prolific writer and conference speaker, and who has a tremendous outreach to pastors. The other one is Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr., my son, who is currently doing post-graduate study in systematic theology to further his own education and his own equipping for this task. So the five of us meet regularly, we discuss theological matters, we record programs for broadcast, and will be working together in conferences, publishing Tabletalk, and all of the different outreach avenues of Ligonier Ministries. The big idea that thrills my soul is to reach as many people as possible with the essence of biblical Christianity, which I believe is a nickname for Reformed theology. Or I should say it the other way around that Reformed theology is, as Spurgeon called it, merely a nickname for biblical theology. We want to ground people deeply in the content of the Christian faith. This knowledge gives them integrity, encouragement, strength, faith, personal growth, and is a benefit to their entire spiritual pilgrimage. Thank you for your support of these efforts. Please let us hear from you if there is any way we can serve you better. I am, your servant in Christ,
Dr. R.C . Sproul President and Founder
We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Cor. 4:7)
t H a n K s a n D W e LCo M e , On Friday mornings the Ligonier team gathers for devotions and prayer. Tabletalk’s editor, Rev. Burk Parsons, usually leads this refreshing time. Recently he asked me to lead the brief Bible study while he was away on a mission trip to Colombia. We turned to 2 Cor. 4:7 where Paul writes, “we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” Here we are told that, apart from God’s work in us, we are not special. It is what God does with earthen vessels that make the difference. His sovereign choice and eternal purpose are what gives our labors meaning. The flawless gospel of Jesus Christ is the treasure we carry. Its worth is incalculable. It is humbling to see what God continues to do with the ministry started 40 years ago in a small town in western Pennsylvania. His blessing is evident and we point to His surpassing power. We spread the treasure of Christ’s person and work. We praise the Spirit who uses the proclamation of God’s holiness to build up His church around the world. And we thank you for being such a vital partner in the work of gospel ministry. SDG,
Chris Larson Executive Vice-President M I N I S T R Y
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Financials in Review
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ransparency and disclosure are hallmarks of faithful stewardship. Paul exemplified this when he
appointed faithful representatives to observe the administration of gifts to poor Christians in Jerusalem, saying in 2 Corinthians 8:2021 that this action was being taken “so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.� The management of Ligonier considers it not just a duty, but also a privilege to emulate Paul in regard to our stewardship of the financial resources that you have entrusted to us for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is our practice to make our audited financial statements and exempt organization information tax return (IRS Form 990) available for public access on our website (www.ligonier.org/about/financialinformation). F O R 2 0 0 9 , A H E A LT H Y R E P O R T
In the audited financial statements for 2009, the statement of activities shows that total contributions increased approximately 6.2% from 2008. The Ministry also saw an
encouraging 31.3% increase in revenues from conference registrations, tuition, and fees. Reflecting the general softness of the economy, however, the Ministry’s product sales decreased approximately 11.5% from 2008. With an 11.4% increase in other revenues, total public support and revenue increased
We trust in the Lord’s providence for the funding needed to continue. approximately 3.1% from 2008. Although total expenses increased approximately 3.2%, the Ministry’s change in net assets was very healthy at $1,274,630 in 2009 compared with $109,198 for 2008. E C O N O M Y H AV I N G A N I M PAC T
For 2010, the continuing lethargic state of the economy appears to be weighing more heavily on the Ministry. As of the end of July, year-todate contributions are down approximately 5.9% from 2009 while product sales are down about 1.8%. Although these changes are partially offset by increased conference and
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Ligonier Academy revenues, total revenue for Ligonier Ministries is $274,872 behind the comparable year-to-date amount for 2009. In light of these trends, we have been careful to watch our expenses. Total expenses are down 0.5% from 2009 and are 3.4% below the 2010 year-to-date budget. The revenue and expense variances partially offset so that our year-todate operating income is $226,838 behind that of 2009 and $356,077 behind the 2010 year-todate operating budget. W E A R E T H A N K F U L F O R YO U
Because of your faithful support provided through gifts, participation in ministry conferences and events, and purchases of learning resources and subscriptions, we have been able to maintain our activity levels in all areas of outreach. We trust in the Lord’s providence for the funding needed to continue the vital ministries that have been so helpful to those whom the Lord has given love for knowledge of the truth of God. We are thankful to God for your continuing support. In service to our Lord,
Dr. G. Todd Jackson Chief Financial OfďŹ cer
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In 2009, we saw an encouraging 31.3% increase in revenues from conference registrations, tuition, and fees.
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ONC E A DR E A M ,
Ligonier Acad IS NOW
The Ligonier Academy building currently under renovation will house classrooms, common study areas, faculty, and staff.
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demy
A REALITY H I S T O R Y. T R U T H . F A I T H .
As an encapsulation of everything Ligonier Ministries stands for—and a full-circle return to our origins as a study center—Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies is a natural outgrowth of almost four decades of teaching Christians to think deeply, critically, and obediently about every aspect of their faith by mining the riches of Scripture. God is continuing to honor your prayers and bless your gifts as you support the work of the Academy. This year Ligonier Academy has announced that it is now accepting applications for its first four- and two-year undergraduate degree programs, beginning fall 2011. We’re currently working diligently to prepare our campus—a stunningly beautiful 34-acre piece of prime lakefront property in central Florida—for the arrival of our first undergraduate class.
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Through academically rigorous scriptural study, we intend to offer Christian minds a deep, meaningful encounter with the Author of history, the Source of truth, and the Sustainer of our faith. Our initial programs of study will be the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, the Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies, and the Associate of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies. By emphasizing the coherence of biblical revelation and the Christian worldview, we desire to pass on to Christ’s disciples the grounding needed for lives and vocations that glorify God and continue the work of reformation. Meanwhile, the Academy’s other programs continue to grow. Since the launch of our non-degree certificate programs in April 2009, Ligonier Academy has enrolled 485 adults to study a variety of topics including the Bible,
God is continuing to honor your prayers and bless your gifts as you support the work of the Academy. theology, and apologetics. At our 2010 national conference, we also introduced a pioneering online version of our introductory Certificate programs.
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Visit our website: StudyAtLigonier.org
Our Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) program for pastors and others in ordained ministry continues to attract new students and is nearly at capacity as the program is in its second year. Be sure to encourage your pastor to apply to study with Dr. Sproul and our other world-class teachers as they emphasize the application of theology and the means of grace to ministry. This school and its three outreaches stands as one of the most ambitious projects Ligonier Ministries has ever undertaken. So we are grateful to God that, by all accounts, your prayers and support for these initiatives are enabling Ligonier Academy to make a significant contribution to the fulfillment of the mission of Ligonier Ministries to proclaim the holiness of God throughout the whole world.
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The leadership and faculty of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies consists of some of the most well-respected Reformed pastors and scholars in the United States, including council members and supporters of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Our institution is led by: R .C . S p r o u l ,
PRESIDENT
Dr. R. C. Sproul is the president of Ligonier Academy and the founder and president of Ligonier Ministries. Dr. Sproul holds degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the Free University of Amsterdam, and he has had a distinguished academic teaching career at Westminster College, Gordon College, the Gordon-Conwell School of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, and other theological institutions. R. Fowler White, VICE PRESIDENT FOR AC ADEMIC AFFAIRS and PROFESSOR & CHAIRMAN OF BIBLICAL STUDIES
Dr. White served for almost two decades as a professor and an administrator in theological institutions, much of that time co-laboring with Dr. Sproul. Dr. White holds degrees from Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1976; M.A. 1986), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1980), and Westminster Theological Seminary (Ph. D., 1987).
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LIGONIER ACADEMY STAFF PROFILES
Keit h A . Mat hi s on, DEAN OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
In addition to his role at Ligonier Academy, Dr. Mathison serves as an associate editor of Tabletalk magazine at Ligonier Ministries. Dr. Mathison earned his M.A. degree from Reformed Theological Seminary and his Ph. D. from Whitefield Theological Seminary. L. Michael Morales, DEAN OF ADMISSIONS and A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R O F O L D T E S TA M E N T
Michael Morales is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America who previously served as a pastor and seminary professor. He has an M.A. in Religion; an M.Div. with awards in Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, Church History, Christianity & Culture, and Pastoral Promise. He is currently pursuing the completion of his Ph.D. in the Pentateuch at Trinity College, U.K.
Visiting and Adjunc t Professors Drs. D.A. Carson, Mark E. Dever, Sinclair B. Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Michael G. Haykin, Paul Helm, Michael S. Horton, Dennis E. Johnson, Steven J. Lawson, Stephen J. Nicols, Archie Parrish, W. Duncan Rankin, Mark E. Ross, R.C. Sproul, Jr., and Derek W.H. Thomas. M I N I S T R Y U P D A T E
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Capital Campaign Update
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aunched to fulfill the vision for a new campus home for Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies and
our other ministry outreaches, the campaign has made significant progress despite a persistent recession. To date, we have received commitments totaling more than $6.3 million—a figure representing 40.5% of our funding goal of $15.6 million. GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE
We are grateful for the enthusiastic supporters who have stood with us in this work so vital to the future of our mission and the church. Gifts and pledges fulfilled have enabled us to remodel and convert the three buildings that will house the Academy, ministry headquarters, and a new media center. While renovations will soon be completed, additional county requirements must be met to receive a certificate of occupancy. Such progress has allowed us to announce the commencement of Academy undergraduate programs for fall term 2011. 18
Raising funds to construct a library and a dormitory are the next priorities. The library will house 50,000 volumes as well as additional classrooms, faculty offices, and study areas. By adding dorm space, we can accommodate students from around the country rather than serving only local commuters. For these building as well as other Academy and campus elements, memorial naming opportunities are available. $9. 3 MILLION TO THE FINISH LINE
Prayers and gifts designated for Ligonier’s capital campaign are greatly needed if we are to meet the obligations to our contractors and raise the $9.3 million to complete the entire campus project. Those who share this vision partner with us in our covenantal responsibility to the generations that follow. Your investment establishes a place of learning in central Florida that will have global impact for decades to come. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” (Ps. 33:11)
For more information about supporting the campaign, biblical estate planning, and other tax-wise giving opportunities, please contact Randi Walter, our director of stewardship, at 1-800-220RANDI WALTER Director of Stewardship
7636 ext. 1182 or by email at stewardship@ligonier.org. M I N I S T R Y
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Ministry Partn
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ur Ministry Partner program is literally the backbone of Ligonier Ministries. God has provided over
21,000 dedicated supporters who faithfully underwrite our outreaches every month. The impact our partners have on the ministry is incredible. We are blessed to see first hand how through their support, lives are positively changed, both educationally and most importantly, spiritually.
PA R T N E R S E N A B L E G L O B A L O U T R E AC H
Ligonier regularly receives letters, emails, and phone calls from people who share how they were blessed and enlightened by the teaching provided through the radio, conferences, our website, Tabletalk magazine, and the many available resources. Our radio program, Renewing Your Mind, simply would not come close to the global impact that it has today if it was not for the financial support and prayers of our Ministry Partners. Ministry Partners receive a sermon or teaching message from R.C. Sproul as well as an issue of our devotional magazine Tabletalk, every month. New this year, these messages of the month
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er Program are available via download within our partneronly section of our website, Ligonier.org. We encourage our partners to copy and share these timeless teachings with others. We’ve also added additional benefits: we will send
The impact our partners have on the ministry is incredible. a replacement issue of Tabletalk when our partners give their copy to someone else, while supplies last, once per month. Also if you upgrade your new or existing partnership pledge fulfillment via bank draft, we will send you a Reformation Study Bible as thanks for your commitment. This saves you time and the ministry money. On behalf of the staff and volunteers here at Ligonier, thanks for standing with us.
If you would like information on becoming a Ministry Partner, or have any questions about your existing partnership, please contact us at 800435-4343 or visit our website, Ligonier.org. JOHN PETERSEN Director of Development
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More Highlights from 2010 3 Million Visits to Ligonier.org We recently launched our new ministry website—www.Ligonier.org—to provide a better learning environment for Christians and inquirers everywhere. Ligonier.org receives 3 million visits each year, and offers free streaming audio and video, countless articles, a teaching-oriented blog, as well as thousands of resources for purchase. Subjects range from Bible study, theology, apologetics, and philosophy to Christian living and church history. From the home page, visitors are able to view or listen to teaching series, read encouraging daily devotionals, find information on an upcoming conference, see what is new on the Ligonier blog, purchase additional resources, or hear the daily broadcast of Renewing Your Mind. Double the airtime for Renewing Your Mind RYM is getting twice the airtime on our top 25 stations in 2010. In addition, eight new stations have been added. Every day for the past 16 years, Renewing Your Mind has sent the message of God’s holiness into major radio markets across the U.S. 22
and the world. Today, 260 stations air RYM in North America, 19 of which are sponsored broadcasts, and the program is also heard on XM Satellite radio and online via podcast. RYM can also be heard internationally in Africa, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Trinidad. 800,000 copies of Tabletalk magazine are distributed each year Tabletalk, our monthly devotional magazine, was launched in 1977 to help explain important biblical doctrines while encouraging Christians toward holy living. Today, more than 200,000 people in 57 countries read each issue, and more than 800,000 copies are printed and distributed each year, making it the largest subscriber-based monthly devotional magazine of its kind. New Winter Conference Launched In January, we hosted our inaugural Winter Conference at Ligonier Academy in Sanford, Fla., and drew 400 attendees. We hope many in coming years will take advantage of this new learning opportunity. In March, we held our West Coast Conference in Los Angeles, which drew nearly 1,900. Dr. Sproul was joined by Drs. Michael Horton, Peter Jones and John MacArthur as they addressed the topic “Christless Christianity.� M I N I S T R Y
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Tough Questions Answered at the 2010 National Conference (watch online at ligonier.org) Our 2010 National Conference featured Alistair Begg, Michael Horton, Steven J. Lawson, John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, Burk Parsons, R.C. Sproul, R.C. Sproul Jr., and Derek Thomas as they addressed some of the most difficult questions that we face as Christians and endeavored to offer biblical answers to assure us and to help us defend the truths of the Christian faith. This conference also featured a special mini-conference on Christian communication in a hypersocial world. Reformation Trust Poised to Publish Audiobooks in 2011 Reformation Trust publishing, founded in 2006, has expanded its titles in print to 33, with titles from authors R.C. Sproul, Steven J. Lawson, George Grant, Sinclair Ferguson, and others. Reformation Trust is also pushing into new media, with six audio books scheduled for publication in 2011. Digital editions are also now available on Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad. G L O B A L O U T R E AC H
Ligonier Ministries’ global outreach has many highlights from the past year, including broadcasting Dust to Glory into North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East; web development of translated materials; webcasting of live translated conferences; and we are diligently working towards the Spanish translation of Dr. Sproul’s teaching series so they can begin being disseminated
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throughout the Spanish-speaking world. We recently passed our one-year anniversary of God’s outreach to the Arab world. We are broadcasting Dust To Glory in English, with Arabic subtitles, via satellite to 66 countries, with a potential reach of more than 120 million people.
We recently passed our oneyear anniversary of outreach to the Arab world. Web development is moving forward with the goal of featuring many of Ligonier’s teaching materials in as many languages as God allows. We are in the process of building a German webpage featuring more than 140 of Dr. Sproul’s teaching sessions, electronic books, and other Ligonier teachings. We are blessed with resources that have been translated in more than 15 languages and only need final editing in order to publish. With the advent of the internet we are able to reach countries that were previously inaccessible. The outreach to the Spanish-speaking world continues to grow at a rapid pace. We are excited about the future launch of Ligonier Ministries Español and are organizing and creating materials that will be available on the Spanish webpage. Currently, we are working on the final translation processes with several teaching materials including six conferences, 58 Tabletalk articles, and 16 teaching series. M I N I S T R Y
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On the Horizon
schedule tabletalk issues November December January February
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College and the Christian Faith
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Overcoming Apathy
The New Testament Epistles //
Letters from the Abyss
March // Three Uses of the Law
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Coming Soon N EW AN D U PCOMING BOOKS F R O M R E F O R M AT I O N T R U S T Holy, Holy, Holy (2009 conference adaptation) Crucial Questions Series by R.C. Sproul Can I Be Sure I Am Saved? What Does It Mean to be Born Again? What Is Faith? Can I Escape My Guilt? What Is the Trinity? Abortion, Twentieth Anniversary Edition by R.C. Sproul The Priest with Dirty Clothes by R.C. Sproul Pillars of Grace by Steven J. Lawson The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Douglas Bond Unsparing Love by Derek W. H. Thomas Second Fiddles by George Grant Mark (St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary) by R.C. Sproul All to Jesus by Eric Alexander and Nick Batzig CON FE R E NCES + E VE NTS Pastors Conference Oct. 12–14, 2010 Ligonier Academy Conference Jan. 21–22, 2011 National Conference March 24-26, 2011 Study Cruise in Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy Sept. 1–15, 2011
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Our purpose is to awaken as many people as possible to the holiness of God by proclaiming, teaching, and defending God’s holiness in all its fullness.
800 -435 -4343
ligonier.org