ONE IN THE LORD 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

ONE IN THE LORD

Connecting God’s family

Table of Contents05 Ministry Impact

06 Ministry Programs

09 Joint Ministry Partners

21 Foundation Partners

22 Ministry Results Summary

26 Financial Report

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV)

As children of God, we are one family — a royal family — drawn together by Christ to build His Kingdom. What a great privilege, and what a great purpose!

Thank you for partnering with Bible League Canada in joint ministry with our brothers and sisters around the world.

You have played a vital role in introducing 1,225,151 people to Jesus Christ this year. Through our global family, you have helped to bring each of these people face to face with our living Saviour, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through God’s Word.

This annual report offers you a glimpse of how the lives of men and women, boys and girls have been transformed from the inside out. I hope you are encouraged and inspired in your faith by what you read.

We are deeply grateful for your shared passion for God’s Word and your desire to act together as God’s family to help expand Christ’s Kingdom.

We are grateful for the generous giving by so many.

John Hessels, Chairman Bible League Canada

Paul Richardson, President Bible League Canada

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ONE IN THE LORD

2015 MINISTRY IMPACT SUMMARY

Leaders/Teachers/ Church Planters Trained 133,424New Learners* 1,834,724New Followers of Jesus 603,448New Churches Started 6,221Scriptures Placed 5,137,298Digital Resources Placed 1,038,515

Growing His KingdomYou are a vital member of our global family. Please join with us in praising God for what He has done to change lives through His Word this year.

These are consolidated figures for all of our ministry programs.

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But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ” —Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

* New Learners include participants in: Children’s Ministry, Adult Bible-based Literacy classes, Church Planter Training, and in the new churches started.

ONE IN THE LORD

ADULT MINISTRY: We lead men and women to God’s Word through Bible studies, prison ministries and Bible-based Literacy classes.

STARTING NEW CHURCHES: We empower individuals to transform their communities through in-depth discipleship-training programs.

PERSECUTED CHURCH: We provide Bibles to build up communities of oppressed believers and we pray that God will strengthen their resolve.

CANADIAN MINISTRY: We partner with Christian ministries to reach the people of Canada who don’t know Jesus and set the groundwork for revival.

We raise local champions to bring God’s Word to people living in spiritual and physical poverty. The Holy Spirit works through our global family to help transform individuals, and even entire communities, from the inside out through these ministry programs:

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: We work with local partners to introduce children to the love of Jesus Christ through Bible clubs, vacation Bible camps and schools.

Ministry programs that your gifts make possibleOur ministry starts with God’s Word. It is the engine for transformation, from the inside out. In every country, from Canada to Cambodia, God moves through His Word to change individuals, families and communities. This year you have helped 1,225,151 people engage with Jesus Christ in churches, children’s clubs, adult literacy classes and even prisons.

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603,448 NEW FOLLOWERS of JESUS CHRIST in 2015

ONE IN THE LORD

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We are grateful for our Joint Ministry Partners around the worldChrist is building a Kingdom of justice and righteousness through His family, the Church. We believe that great fruit comes when Christians work together. So we work with our brothers and sisters as Joint Ministry Partners to bring the Good News of Jesus that can transform lives in every community and nation.

Joint Ministry Partners in our work

Working in joint ministry honours and delights our Father as we work together in unity. In addition, our work becomes more effective and cost efficient because our local ministry partners understand the cultural and religious contexts where they work. We are privileged to work with the following Joint Ministry Partners.

CH Global

Multiplication Network Ministries

Reach A Village

Mission India

Crossroads Bible Institute Canada

One Hope Canada

The Digital Bible Society

Forum of Bible Agencies International

The Gideons International in Canada

Bibles for Missions

Little Lambs Ministry

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

—Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

When children meet Jesus through God’s Word, their hearts are transformed from the inside out. In Christ, these young believers find new hope and freedom from spiritual oppression.

You have helped introduce children to Jesus this year through children’s Bible clubs, vacation Bible schools and partnerships with national governments to bring a Christian worldview to education systems. Sometimes all it takes is one child to inspire an entire family to follow Christ and start a new church in a community.

God’s Word changes children’s lives

loneliness and pain had taken its toll.

Then, Eldina attended a Christian youth camp

and met God for the first time! She felt God’s love

and was accepted by the Christian leaders at the

camp. Through this, Eldina began dealing with all

of the pain and suffering she felt in her young life.

“God healed me and helped me to let it all go

and forgive.”

growing. When her mother was

sent to prison, Eldina became more

despondent and depressed. “I was so young, full

of life, yet I did not want to live anymore,” she says.

Eventually, Eldina’s mother went to rehabilitation,

stopped using drugs and became a Christian.

When her mother explained God’s love to her,

Eldina could not understand. All the years of

Eldina finds love and acceptance in ChristAs a young child in Eastern Europe, Eldina

watched as alcohol and drug abuse tore her

family and home apart. Eldina went to live with

her grandparents, who loved her dearly, but she

felt a deep sadness not feeling wanted by her

own parents.

As she grew up, the pain inside was also

“God healed me and helped me to let it all go and forgive.”

CHILDREN’SMINISTRY

Let the little children come to me, and do not

hinder them...”—Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

1,530,153 CHILDREN involved in

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY PROGRAMS in 2015

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ADULT MINISTRY

By providing Bibles and Bible-based materials, you offer men and women the opportunity of a new life. In India, you have helped students learn to read and write.

You have helped introduce them to Jesus Christ and equipped them with practical life skills such as hygiene, nutrition and starting a small business. You have also helped provide Bible studies for adults, prison ministries and programs that help people learn about the Word of God and improve their Biblical literacy.

Bible-based literacy breaks the chains of poverty and darkness

Balraj found Jesus Christ through Adult Bible-based Literacy.

Soon reading, writing, and calculating money

became easy for Balraj. Through the Bible-based

lessons, Balraj also learned about Jesus, and

received Him as his Saviour.

Today, Balraj isn’t cheated anymore, his business is

successful, and he happily shares about Jesus with

those who come into his bicycle-repair shop.

children, trying to make a living

as a bicycle repairman. But he couldn’t

read, write or do math. He knew that vendors, and

even his customers, were cheating him, but he

had no way to prove it.

Then Balraj heard that a free Adult Bible-based

Literacy program started in his neighbourhood.

He jumped at the chance, and learned so much!

Balraj builds his business and his life through literacyAs a child, Balraj’s parents were too poor to

send him to school. He spent his days working

instead of learning to read and write. He

remembers peering into the schoolhouse while

the other children studied, desperately longing

to go to school too. But it never happened.

In a few short years, Balraj was married with

181,372 Bible-based LITERACY LEARNERS in 2015

Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,

that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.”

—Psalm 119:27 (NIV)

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STARTING NEW CHURCHES

Christ is building His Church everywhere. We empower local Christians with discipleship training and God’s Word to transform their communities.

You have helped provide these modern-day disciples with mentoring from experienced leaders, tools to share God’s Word in their communities and hands-on coaching to help them start up to two churches where there are none. Now these local champions can spark powerful movements within their communities.

Empowering local champions to transform their communities

A night in jail did not deter this church planter.

Filled with boldness, Rosalino and Diego shared

the gospel with their captors. The policemen

were so moved that each one surrendered his

life to Jesus Christ. Today, this remote village in

the Amazon basin is vibrant and rapidly growing.

The same hearts that were once steeped in dead

tradition are alive with Christ — eager to spread

the Word to neighbours!

sharing their faith. Soon they

were confronted and taken to jail by the police,

who accused them of coming to steal organs

from the town’s children. Sitting in their cell, they

remembered the words of the Apostle Paul: “Now

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that

what has happened to me has actually served to

advance the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12, NIV)

Two captives help captors find freedom in ChristRosalino, a member of the Quichua people from

Ecuador, felt called to serve a remote village in

the Andes Mountains, where people had lived

in poverty for generations. After completing

discipleship training, he and fellow church

planter, Diego, travelled to the village.

Reaching the village, Rosalino and Diego began

3,611 new CHURCH

PLANTERS TRAINED in 2015

Therefore go and make disciples of

all nations.” —Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

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PERSECUTED CHURCH

The Church continues to grow despite increasing persecution. Amazingly, persecuted believers around the world don’t look to us to end their struggles, which include losing their jobs and being harassed by the government.

Instead, they ask for just two things: prayer and Scripture resources. You have helped provide Scriptures for oppressed believers and we value your prayers that God will strengthen their resolve and continue to empower the persecuted Church.

Providing Scripture for suffering Christians in crisis

Although disowned, Dani is now part of God’s family.

her as a family member and have cut off her

inheritance, which means she no longer has any

right to the family’s land.

In spite of all this, Dani testifies about the great

peace and joy the Lord has given her, and she has

a burden for her family’s salvation. Although she

has lost earthly property, Dani has gained heaven!

town, so Dani invited him to

visit to explain about Jesus. Dani lived

near the church, and every night she could hear

the Christians singing about being forgiven in

Jesus. They also prayed for her eye, and she was

healed! As a result, she placed her faith in Jesus

and became His follower.

However, Dani’s family no longer recognizes

Dani’s heavenly inheritance Dani was a Buddhist nun in Myanmar. She was

collecting offerings in her community when

someone put a Christian tract in her offering

bowl. Even though she had an eye problem,

Dani read the tract and learned that Jesus died

for her.

She knew that a Burmese pastor funded

through Bible League Canada had come to

. . . we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in

his glory.”—Romans 8:17 (NIV)

1,280,676 RESOURCESplaced in PERSECUTED AREAS

in 2015*

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*Includes Scriptures, digital Scriptures, maps, photos, and video and audio Bibles, as well as hardware devices.

CANADIAN MINISTRY

We partner with Christian ministry organizations to reach people in Canada who don’t know Jesus.

The focus of our work in Canada is on children’s ministry, starting new churches and adult ministry, which includes working in prisons. You make it possible to provide Canadians with a host of Scripture resources, including online digital resources like Find A Bible and InScript. You also help us develop new partnerships to expand the impact of God’s Word in the lives of Canadians.

God’s Word changing the lives of fellow Canadians

A Manga Bible drew a teen closer to God at camp.

away from her. There were even times she would

try to refuse to go to meals because she was so

busy reading. I almost couldn’t get her to pack

her bags because she was reading. It was crazy!

She never let it go! She told me on the last night

that she thinks that reading the Manga Bible will

help motivate her and help her understand

the actual Bible.”

“One of my campers was

overjoyed at the fact that it was Manga —

she loves Manga! She said for years she has tried

to read the Bible and her parents really wanted

her to read it as well since they were missionaries.

Yet she could never find a part she liked or could

understand.

“Once I gave her the Manga Bible I couldn’t get it

“I’ve read it three times already because it is so interesting.”Through our partnership with One Hope Canada,

Bible League Canada was able to provide

Manga Bibles to children at summer camps

throughout Canada. Manga is a popular comic-

book style developed in Japan. Here’s what

one camp counsellor at Hampton Bible Camp

in New Brunswick observed in her cabin.

106,842 SCRIPTURES were

PLACED IN CANADA in 2015

He shall have dominion also from sea

to sea, and from the River to the ends of

the earth.” —Psalm 72:8 (NKJV)

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Bibles For Missions

Since 1998, Bible League Canada has enjoyed a special joint-ministry relationship with BFM Foundation (Canada) and Bibles For Missions stores. We are deeply grateful for this partnership that has meant so much to the cause of Christ in our world.

ONE IN THE LORD

4,300 $8,176,900 BFM VOLUNTEERS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION IN 2015

Our Foundation PartnersGod has blessed Bible League Canada with exceptional ministry partners. We are deeply grateful for each of our Foundation Partners who have helped to see lives changed through God’s Word.

Valued partners in 2015

Mennonite Foundation of CanadaLittle Lambs MinistryMultiplication Network Ministries Reinders Family FoundationStronger Together Grants 2015 The Charis FoundationThe John Brouwer FoundationThe One Way Ministries FoundationVanderEnde Charitable FoundationMission India

Abbotsford Community FoundationBFM Foundation (Canada)Bibles for Missions Society AbbotsfordCanadian National Christian FoundationDaystar Foundation Inc.Felsen FoundationHensen FoundationJack Gin Family FoundationJackman FoundationCH Global

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101,435 CANADIAN and

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS in 2015

DIGITAL SCRIPTURESDigital Resources Placed** — — 1,038,515

Total Scriptures 6,175,813

Total visitors to Find-A-Bible website 156,301

International Missions $9,122,917 68.7%Canadian Ministry $2,065,552 15.6%Fundraising $1,019,870 7.7% Administration $1,067,413 8.0%Total 2015 Disbursements $13,275,752 100%

2015 DISBURSEMENT SUMMARY

Ministry Results SummaryMINISTRY RESULTS 2011-2015 2015 (CUMULATIVE RESULTS)

New Learners 1,834,724 11,056,958Leaders/Teachers/ Church Planters Trained 133,424 578,449New Evangelistic Contacts* 1,225,151 15,584,240New Followers of Jesus 603,448 4,566,139Number of Baptisms 170,809 659,810New Churches Started 6,221 39,576

2015 SCRIPTURE RESULTS CANADA INTERNATIONAL 2015 TOTAL

Bibles 9,813 421,826 431,639New Testaments 228 340,559 340,787Study Bibles 84 57,099 57,183Children’s Story Bibles 20,392 229,530 249,922Children’s Portions/Booklets 5,492 1,402,084 1,407,576Bible Portions/Selections/Booklets 70,833 2,579,358 2,650,191Total Scriptures Placed 106,842 5,030,456 5,137,298

BFM Thrift Stores $8,176,900 61.5%Contributions Received $4,869,118 36.6%Publication Sales $232,570 1.8%Interest and other revenue $14,338 0.1%Grand Total Income $13,292,926 100%

2015 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.

** Digital Resources include digital Scriptures, photos, maps, and video and audio Bibles. They were shared through downloads and 8310 hardware devices in 2015.

2015 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR END AUGUST 31

For detailed financial statements, please visit bibleleague.ca

Bible League Canada Contribution $9,122,917 50%On Field — In Country Contributions $1,823,180 10%Additional Spending on Ministry by Mission Partners $7,369,023 40%Total Spending on Ministry $18,315,120 100%

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 started by those trained give sacrificially so others may benefit. The result is an even greater impact and the sense of ownership of these indigenous ministries by local Christians.

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...those who hope in the Lord will renew

their strength.”—Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

The accompanying summary financial statements, which comprise the summary statement of financial position as at August 31, 2015, and the summary statements of revenues, expenditures and fund balances for the year then ended, are derived from the audited financial statements of The Bible League of Canada for the year ended August 31, 2015. We expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements in our report dated October 26, 2015.

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 The Bible League of Canada.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BIBLE LEAGUE OF CANADA

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”.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our unqualified audit opinion.

Independent Auditor’s Report

2015 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR END AUGUST 31

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statements was described in our qualified audit opinion in our report dated November 29, 2014. Our qualified audit opinion was based on the fact that, in common with many charities, The Bible League of Canada derives revenue from donations, the completeness of which was not susceptible to satisfactory audit verification in prior fiscal periods. The Bible League of Canada, in the current fiscal year, modified its procedures such that the completeness of revenue from donations in the current year was susceptible to satisfactory audit verification.

Grant Thornton LLP Hamilton, Canada / October 26, 2015 Chartered Professional Accountants Licensed Public Accountants

OPINION

In our opinion, the summary financial statements derived from the audited statements of The Bible League of Canada for the year ended August 31, 2015 are a fair summary of those financial statements, in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.

OTHER MATTER

A qualified opinion was expressed on the summary financial statements derived from the audited statements of The Bible League of Canada for the year ended August 31, 2014. The summary financial statements were limited in scope to the equivalent extent as the audited financial statements of The Bible League of Canada for the year ended August 31, 2014.

The limitation in scope of the audited financial

2015 Financial StatementsSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

2015 2014

ASSETS

Current Assets Cash $228,670 $307,571 Accounts receivable $22,780 $55,124 Harmonized sales tax receivable $19,968 $92,769 Inventories $59,591 $67,343 Prepaid expenses $51,406 $7,908 $382,415 $530,715

Long-Term BFM Receivable $400,000 $400,000 Property and equipment $1,861,828 $1,739,704 $2,261,828 $2,139,704

$2,644,243 $2,670,419

2015 2014

LIABILITIES

Current Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $298,585 $567,426 Deferred revenue $5,486 $15,557 Term loan payable $235,562 – $539,633 $582,983

FUND BALANCES

Unrestricted $242,782 $347,732 Invested in property and equipment $1,861,828 $1,739,704 $2,104,610 $2,087,436

$2,644,243 $2,670,419

2015 FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR END AUGUST 31

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STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES

STATEMENT OF FUND BALANCES

2015 2014

REVENUES BFM Thrift Stores $8,176,900 $7,416,625 Contributions received $4,869,118 $4,151,237 Publication sales $232,570 $252,893 Interest and other revenue $14,338 $6,020 $13,292,926 $11,826,775

EXPENDITURES International Ministry India $2,957,584 $1,825,940 Africa $1,620,604 $1,520,000 Latin America $1,349,141 $1,333,048 Eurasia $969,712 $1,059,964 Southeast Asia $659,809 $625,849 Persecuted Church $533,307 $491,655 Multi-region $1,032,760 $919,993 Canadian Ministry $2,065,552 $2,035,140 Fundraising $1,019,870 $1,089,712 Administration $1,067,413 $911,680 $13,275,752 $11,812,981

Excess of revenues over expenditures before other income (expenditure) $17,174 $13,794

2015 2014

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

Excess of revenue over expenditures $17,174 $772,687

Fund balances, beginning of year $2,087,436 $1,314,749Excess of revenues over expenditures $17,174 $772,687

Fund balances, end of year $2,104,610 $2,087,436

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your

own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Thank you for being part of our global familyYour gifts and prayers are vital to our joint ministry. Together we helped place 5,137,298 Scriptures, start 6,221 churches and saw 603,448 people become followers of Jesus Christ.

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

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

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