Greetings in Jesus’ name.

I’m still the new guy around here, having begun as Seed Company President & CEO July 15, 2015. So please allow me to show you a bit of my journey and how it’s intersected with that of Seed Company.

In 1993, I was serving as the Hong Kong-based East Asia coordinator for Partners International. During staff meetings in the U.S., CEO Chuck Bennett gathered us after he’d spoken with an old friend of his, Bernie May.

Those two had been friends since 1956, when Chuck flew Bernie to Wycliffe’s Jungle Camp for missionaries. Now, Bernie had just told him about an intriguing plan. Devised during a season of intense prayer, Bernie’s idea was to accelerate Bible translation. He saw that God’s resources would increasingly be found in the Majority World. The focus of Western missions, he said, needed to shift — to help indigenous leaders translate Scripture in their own languages.

Bernie would lead the entity that drove this idea: Seed Company (which Chuck, who died in November 2015, had a hand in naming). Little did I know then that I’d get to play a role in the future they envisioned.

My History

When the Southern Baptists came to China in the early 20th century, my great grandfather accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. He became a founding member of the First BaptistChurch of Shanghai, and also started the YMCA and Christian universities there. During the 1940s he was international president of Baptist World Alliance.

Our family has had followers of Christ in every generation since. I am deeply thankful for that.

I was born in Taiwan. My family had moved there after the Chinese Communist Revolution. But in 1970, when I was 11, our family moved from Taiwan to Canada in order to provide a better life for my brother and me.

In winter 1974-75, I came to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I was baptized in a Chinese Baptist Church, and later attended People’s Church Toronto. Our congregation sentmissionaries all over the world.

What excited me most — and remains etched in my mind today — was visiting with ministry leaders from other countries when they would come to Toronto. They brought a contagious passion for their nations and visions for reaching their own people.

At People’s Church we had something called a “faith promise offering,” which I still abide by. We were encouraged to make bold giving commitments for missions and then see how God would provide the funds. One year in my late teens, I took that challenge to heart and set a pretty high goal. Through a combination of allowances and odd jobs — including an unexpected job of selling brown rice over the phone — God provided so much income that I met the goal and then just kept giving.

Exercising Trust

That’s the kind of faith I have been raised on. That’s the faith I desire to exercise here at Seed Company. God responds to our yearning to meet the faith promises we make, and then He provides the opportunities.

It’s not about dollars. It’s not even about the fact God can provide. It’s the practice of exercising our faith — trusting Him with absolutely everything. He will always — always — come through because He is no man’s debtor (Romans 11:35). Throughout my life, I have leaned on that strand of faith.

In the years I worked with the multinational firm Ernst & Young, I lived and breathed the business culture of accountability. Our board members know that mindset, too — and in ministry we take accountability every bit as seriously. As you page through this Annual Report about an extraordinary 2015, I pray you see God on every page. I am awestruck to think of myself, my colleagues and our partners as His children who have been handed a precious instrument — stewardship of what He is doing around the world today through His Word.

Together, let us play that instrument well.

Until that day when all have heard,

Samuel ChiangPresident & CEO

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T & C E O

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal

priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can

show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness

into his wonderful light. — 1 PETER 2:9

03

7,102

4,500

1,778

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if

they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how

will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the

feet of messengers who bring good news!”

— ROMANS 10:14-15

It’s people who don’t have the full Bible in the language they know best. The number includes people who may have a few verses of Scripture, or small portions of the Bible.

It also includes 1,778 language groups, representing 165 million people who don’t have Scripture at all. Not. One. Single. Verse.

What exactly does “Bibleless” mean?

Living languages on Earth

Languages with remaining Bible translation needs

People are still Bibleless

Languages that have no Scripture — not even a single verse — and need

Bible translation to start

0504

280 B.C.

Bible translation begins in Alexandria, Egypt, with the Septuagint translating the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek, the everyday language of the people.

1993

Bernie May steps down as Wycliffe president to prayerfully discover ways to accelerate Bible translation. Seed Company is born. Bernie connects financial and prayer partners with 10 projects.

A.D. 381

Jerome is commissioned to translate the full Bible into Latin. It becomes known as the Vulgate.

2003

Seed Company’s 200th Scripture translation project.New President Roy Peterson and his leadership team cast vision to engage 1,000 languages over the next 10 years.

1450

Johannes Gutenberg perfects the printing press in Germany (1450). Scripture access will be revolutionized. After Martin Luther sparks the Protestant Reformation in 1517, his friends print the 95 Theses and distribute them throughout Europe.

2007

Seed Company’s 400th Scripture translation project. A new emphasis emerges: translating Scripture portions that will immediately benefit each people group.

1611

King James I authorizes a new translation into English. The King James Version replaces the Vulgate as the translation of choice among English scholars.

2010

Seed Company’s 600th project. Increasingly, end users define project design. Innovative methods emerge: Oral Bible Storytelling, Sign Language, video and audio Scripture translation strategies, crowdsourcing and mobile apps.

1942

Cameron Townsend helps found Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.

2014

Seed Company’s 1,000th language. Field and organizational partners number more than 900. God reveals anew plan of sharing knowledge and resources with the world’s largest Bible organizations.

See the full video on the history ofBible Translation at: http://bit.ly/historyofbt

History of Bible Translation

1816

American Bible Society is founded in New York City. Elias Boudinot (ex-president of the Continental Congress) serves as the first ABS president. Dozens of new Bible societies spring up worldwide in the next decades, culminating in the 1946 creation of United Bible Societies.

0706

348

153languages

languagesHis Word1,194 languages

116 countries

6 continents

His People1.6 billion people potentially

impacted by Bible translation

27,863 prayer and financial partners

His Ways

7,400+ active prayer commitments

1,285 active field partnerships

2001 20051993

100

500

1,000

1,500

LA

NG

UA

GE

S E

NG

AG

ED

TOTAL IMPACT SINCE 1993

2015

We’ll remember 2015 as the year Bible translation

reached a pace unimaginable 10 or 20 years ago.

Seed Company broke all of our records as we

engaged 787 languages at the same time. There

were 37 Bible translation projects converted to the

Common Framework — meaning local partners

redesigned the projects to span shorter timeframes

and deliver Scripture faster.

1,194languages

0908

Languages in progress

First Scripturetranslations

787

83

155

131BY THE NUMBERSFY15

Transitions

New languagesengaged in Bible translation

AFRICA: 37

AMERICAS: 13

ASIA: 39

EURASIA: 16

PACIFIC: 26

Here’s how that breaks down geographically:

God has used Seed Company and our partners to accelerate Bible translation faster than anyone thought possible. The day rapidly approaches when the number of unengaged, unreached people groups will be ZERO.

Accelerating to Zero

1110

The future that Bernie May envisioned in the early 1990s has arrived. Vision and responsibilities for Bible translation are increasingly owned by local believers. Bible organizations worldwide are approaching Seed Company and asking, “Could you show us how to do what you do?”

Our partners range from national Bible translation organizations to church denominations and dioceses to media and distribution partners to tiny local churches in remote areas. Some provide resources or technical experience. Others will be the primary users of the translated Scripture. The common denominator: passion for God’s Word and readiness for the global Church to own the vision and responsibility for Bible translation.

Standing Together in Partnership

I am in them and you are

in me. May they experience

such perfect unity that the

world will know that you sent

me and that you love them

as much as you love me.

— JOHN 17:23

U.S. & International Partner Organizations

1,285

13

ANNABible StorytellerBotswana

PartnershipTranslation needs and

goals are determined

with partner organizations

and the end users.

StewardshipProjects are well-developed,

well-resourced, well-

managed and accountable.

RelationshipAll work together: those

translating God’s Word,

those receiving it and

those funding and

praying for the work.

Accelerated ImpactCommunity needs dictate

which passages of Scripture

will be translated first

— impacting the largest

number of people in the

shortest possible time.

Years from now, 2015 may be seen as the tipping point, when something once called the “Seed Company model” became known as the Common Framework for Bible Translation.

The Common Framework represents what we’ve learned about Bible translation over the past 22 years. And now we’re sharing it freely with other organizations. Think of it as not only helping others learn to drive, but also handing over the keys.

Ownership Local believers own the

vision and responsibility for

Bible translation work.

Standing Together with Methods

The Common Framework

15

ROCEScripture Engagement SpecialistPhilippines

Defining moment

In March 2015, leaders of six Bible transla-tion organizations stood together on stage at the illumiNations gathering to signify their unity. Wycliffe USA, SIL International, American Bible Society, United Bible Soci-eties, Biblica and Seed Company aligned under the banner of Every Tribe Every Nation (ETEN). Our common conviction: Capacity building, vision and influence be-long with the local church. Increasingly, our role is to help equip those who are ready to do this work themselves.

That gathering demonstrated that Seed Company is not only sharing what we’ve learned about project design, but we’re also sharing key funding strategies. Previ-ously a Seed Company gathering, illumi-Nations 2015 became a joint gathering for ETEN organizations. That alone was unprecedented. When financial partners

present invested in the Bible translation movement like never before, that too was shared — $36.5 million toward Common

Framework projects.

ImpactField partners, financial partners and prayer partners are cooperating closely to build locally led Scripture translation projects. We're starting more projects than ever, built on deep relationships with people around the world and mutual understanding of their most immediate needs.

Most of the manpower — and significant amounts of funding — will be owned globally. What a beautiful picture of Christ’s Church fulfilling the Great Commission.

Standing Together in Unity

In 2015, partnership, collaboration and generosity reached

unprecedented levels across the Bible translation movement.

Independent mission organizations came together in humility,

unity of vision, strategy and resources.

Less duplication of effort.

Sharing strategy, information systems and global data.

Sharing funding models — and even the funds themselves.

17

JAMESBible StorytellerBotswana

Standing Together with the Nations

Fifty years ago there was hardly a church in Africa. Now we have this big church. When God blesses you, He doesn’t bless you to just sit down and celebrate. You must extend that blessing forward.

A mature African Church must be on the forefront of Bible translation. Our vision is to build on foundations that have been built by missionaries for 50 years. The work must be imbedded in the country, the churches and the communities. We must own it.

Historically, organizations like ours have been transmission belts for missionaries, for ideas, for strategies. But today we are ready to also participate in the whole Bible translation movement — as agents, not just as transmission belts.

We are mobilizing the whole country around the idea that Bible translation is not an American task. It is the responsibility of every Christian in every country. As Christians in Ghana, we have a responsibility to ensure that our people get the Bible.

But we also need support and a model to look at. That is what we felt Seed Company provided. It was founded on the understanding that if they support the participation of nationals, the work could be accelerated.

And Bible translation is not just for our use. Just like the mature Church in America sent people to us, we should begin to support the work elsewhere.

God is shifting the way He is doing things, and we get to be part of that process. He’s given us this unique, historic opportunity.

All of these ideas 20 years ago would not have gotten traction. But now, everything is converging. That’s when you see that this is a move of God. All organizations are beginning to speak the same language. Seed Company has transformed itself — at the time when we really needed an organization that understood us. They said, “We are willing to stand behind you and support you in this.”

Seed Company has come forth as a natural ally for the kind of vision we had.

Paul Opoku-Mensah is executive director of the Ghana Institute of

Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation. GILLBT, a longtime Seed

Company partner, gives a clear picture of Bible translation’s bright

future on the local level. Here’s how Paul describes what God is

doing in Ghana.

We are mobilizing the

whole country around the

idea that Bible translation

is not an American task.

It is the responsibility

of every Christian in

every country.

19

Our KEY STRATEGIES

The approach that the Seed

Company takes is just very

effective. It’s very thorough.

It combines accountability

with all the other fantastic

elements — raising capital,

connecting small groups of

people financially and in prayer,

empowering technical people and

carrying out the mission. I think

it’s just an incredibly delicate

balance that they pull off and

do a fantastic job with.

— STEVEN GANSS, INVESTOR AND ADVOCATE

“

“

Gutenberg’s press revolutionized how the world learned. Since then, the mission movement has employed one particular form — linear learning through reading — as a strategy. But for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, spoken words still ring louder than any written text. Today, translators are seeing an overwhelming response to Bible stories told orally.

Seed Company works with local churches to provide training to their people, so they can share the Bible’s great truths with their communities. Some even become trainers themselves, helping create ownership and momentum.

The goal is to share Bible stories that matter deeply to listeners. Do people need physical healing? Tell them stories of heal-ing. Have people there been traumatized by violence? Tell them stories of hope.

Storytellers don’t just memorize stories; they internalize them. They learn characters and plot twists and integrate their own creativity into telling the stories. The result? Stories that impact oral cultures in a way that written words never could.

In Ethiopia, for example, an oral Bible storyteller named Gama and his team-mates were crafting the parables of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son. They were impressed by the realization that God actively seeks the lost. At that time, Gama was embroiled in a dispute with a neighbor over cattle and damaged crops. Others urged Gama to press charges. But Gama was so moved by God’s love and grace in Jesus’ parables that he chose not to file a police report. He says he found incredible peace after making that decision.

219 133Languages where translators are producing oral Bible stories plus a combination of other products: printed Scripture, the “JESUS”film, audio files and more

Languages where translators are producing oral Bible stories only

Jesus said, “How can I

describe the Kingdom

of God? What story should

I use to illustrate it?”

— MARK 4:30

Standing Together for Storytelling

23

IGNACIOBible TranslatorPhilippines

Together, Sign Languages comprise the largest unreached people group remaining.

In Kenya, Stephen lost his hearing at age 7. Angry and frustrated, he picked fights at school and abused classmates. But when Stephen was in 7th grade, someone shared the Gospel with him. He trusted Jesus as Lord and dove into reading God’s Word. In high school, he learned Sign Language and began sharing the Gospel with other Deaf people. In 2010, after high school, he helped plant a church for Deaf people.

Two years later, Stephen joined a Chronological Bible Storytelling project with one of our field partners, Deaf Opportunity Outreach (DOOR) International. He learned how to tell stories in a way that Deaf people — many of whom cannot read — could understand. Deaf people often relate well to the plights of the downtrodden and misunderstood. In some cultures, they are even considered cursed. Today, Stephen is a Sign Language translation facilitator and holds a diploma in Bible translation from Serampore University.

“Since becoming a teacher and preacher in my local Deaf congregation, I’ve realized how hard it is for the Deaf to understand written text,” Stephen says. “I saw the need and felt God wanted to use my Sign Language skills so that many more understand God’s Word and fear the Lord.”

Deaf people worldwide are being reached by videos that present Bible stories in visual-only format. The work requires Deaf translators, Deaf storytellers and teaming up with new Deaf organizations. Not only is Seed Company learning from our partners and working alongside them, but those partners also are collaborating in new ways among themselves. We partner with organizations like DOOR to tailor Bible translation projects to Deaf communities around the world.

In 2015 we also removed finance-based limits on the number of Sign Languages we take on. That means reaching an estimated 70 million Deaf people worldwide faster.

16 14Sign Language projectsengaged with Seed Company

More Sign Language projectsscheduled to start soon

“Let us, your servants,

see you work again; let our

children see your glory.”

— PSALM 90:16

Did you know there are an estimated 400 Sign

Languages? If people can’t hear, they likely can’t read.

Standing Together for Sign Language

25

JENNYBible TranslatorPhilippines

Who shall separate us

from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship

or persecution or famine

or nakedness or danger

or sword?

— ROMANS 8:35 (NIV)

Worldwide, local Bible translators are using innovative strategies to reach their languages and cultures with the authority of Scripture. It’s holy and humble work — often anonymous and often at great risk in dangerous places.

On one continent, Bible translators sometimes hear machine-gun fire close by. That means it’s time to flee their workplace and into the jungle — where they keep working secretly on laptops. When the batteries run out, they switch to notebook paper. Pinned in the jungle for several days, they survive by eating caterpillars and yams.

In another dangerous place, a Bible translator is kidnapped. When his captors

don’t get the demanded ransom, they appeal to political friends who jail the translator on false charges. During his time in jail, he leads twofellow prisoners to Christ.

Elsewhere, another Bible translator endures a severe beating and is left for dead because of his faith. Later he gives a bold testimony in court and publicly forgives his attackers — including members of his own family.

A Bible translation project is considered sensitive if its work would be harmed by public knowledge. Harm could range from churches being burned to Christians being deported, attacked or even martyred.

445 136 206Level 1 ProjectsLeast Security Sensitive

Level 2 ProjectsMedium Security Sensitive

Level 3 ProjectsMost Security Sensitive

In other words, 342 (43 percent) of our total 787 languages

engaged in FY2015 were sensitive projects.

Standing Together for Sensitive Projects

27

Seed Company develops cutting-edge tools to accelerate Bible translation. A prime example is audio-to-audio translation.

Of the languages that still need translation, almost two-thirds have literacy issues. Maybe they don’t have an alphabet yet. Or their alphabet is so complex that reading and writing are inaccessible. Or the culture may just have a preference for oral communication.

One solution we’re working on is Render, a Windows-based audio Bible translation app for mobile devices. We’re collaborating with Faith Comes by Hearing, Pioneer Bible Translators and SIL International to develop this technology.

Render makes God’s Word accessible and familiar … faster. It may prove to be one of the most significant technological advances in the history of Bible translation.

HOW RENDER WORKS: Translators use the app to listen to Scripture recordings in a trade language, then discuss and translate passages orally into their heart language. Once they’ve mastered a passage, they record an audio version. The app alerts a Bible translation consultant, who checks the passage and sends written or audio notes back to the translators. When each recorded passage is approved, they share it in their communities.

WHY IT WORKS: For many communities, oral drafting is a stronger way to start translation. It’s more natural. It promotes group discussion rather than individuals sitting at keyboards. Render allows the end users of translated Scripture to fully participate in the process. Not only does this accelerate the work, but it also extends ownership and dignity.

Technology

Render may prove to

be one of the most

significant technological

advances in the history

of Bible translation.

• Indonesia: Respected church leaders are empowered to take part in translation despite low literacy.

• U.S.: Translation is enabled among Sudanese immigrants in an American city.

• Uganda: Luke’s Gospel had been translated but few could read it. Now audio New Testament translation can continue, despite low literacy rates and a complex alphabet.

NEXT STEPS: Longer pilot programs will take multiple passages through the entire translation process and make them avail-able in audio form.

• Soon, a language community will be able to create a mobile app exclusively in its own language. As audio and written Scrip-ture passages are finished, they’ll be added to the app. Users will be able to listen to audio Scripture while the app highlights the corresponding text onscreen.

• We’re just beginning to experiment with machine-based translation, using an artificial intelligence engine. If this shows promise, it would mean that once Scripture translation is done, the same technology would be in place to translate other things — from discipleship materials to community development guides to health information.

2015 Render pilot projects completed

More tech news from 2015

Standing Together for Innovation

29

Almost half of the people groups ready to start a Scripture translation project are waiting for a Bible translation consultant. Consultants ensure that God’s Word is translated clearly, accurately and naturally. They check the work of local translators and help guide projects.

The shortage of these consultants and their skilled assistants is a significant bottleneck in global Bible translation. Seed Company’s Translation Internship Program (TIP) addresses this problem. Our model focuses on educating and train-ing highly qualified, highly motivated local people. The program can take five years.

Exceeding goalsIn 2006, Seed Company set a 10-year goal to engage 200 Bible translation consultant interns. By the end of FY2015, 233 interns had joined the program. TIP now has 83 highly skilled graduates. Each consultant will oversee an average of four new Bible translation projects.

Meanwhile, the Project Support Internship Program (PSIP) develops technical experts, accountants, administrators and other supporting roles for translation.

During the next 10 years, our goal calls for 300 new recruits for both programs. That target will almost surely grow as the global Bible translation movement continues to accelerate.

The Seed Company

model focuses on

educating and training

highly qualified, highly

motivated local people.

Average maximum educational and

training cost for Consultants in Training

$55,000

$35,000Average maximum educational and training costs for Translation Facilitators and Exegetical Facilitators

Total new interns in FY1550

Standing Together for Quality Translation

Consultant Development

13

37Project supportinterns

Translationinterns

31

OLEGBible Translation FacilitatorRussia

Steven was ready to go overseas as a missionary when Isaiah 6:8 stopped him in his tracks. His local church had been praying more than a year for someone to join the translation project that his grandfather began decades ago. No one had responded.

Steven sensed God calling him to serve his people by translating the Old Testament in the Guhu Samane language. His grandfather and father had worked with the Bible translation organization SIL (a Seed Company and Wycliffe affiliate) to translate the New Testament, which was published in 1975. Steven’s father revised the work and added the Psalms in 1984.

For the past 18 years, Steven and his father have been collaborating on the Old Testament translation.

With his vast biblical knowledge, Steven is a valuable asset to the Bible Translation Association of Papua New Guinea. He has taken courses in Hebrew, Greek, Old Testament Exe-gesis and Key Terms. Today he’s an instructor with the Translator’s Train-ing Course and also has served as a chaplain.

Join us in praying that God would use His Word, as He did with Steven, to draw many more to be Bible transla-tion consultants.

One Consultant’sStory

Then I heard the voice of the

Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?

And who will go for us?” And I

said, “Here am I. Send me!”

— ISAIAH 6:8 (NIV)

33

Our STEWARDSHIP

“

“

From an investment

standpoint, on the business

side, God’s Word is the only

thing that does not fade. So if

we were to invest in something,

why not invest in something

that is eternal? That’s really

what we love about the Seed

Company. We truly believe in

the Word and its transforming

ability. We want that, because

we’ve seen that in our lives

and continue to see that.

— TY KEELING, INVESTOR AND ADVOCATE

Seed Company’s Executive Leadership Team prayerfully follows God’s leading in working with President & CEO Samuel Chiang. This team is responsible for high-level decisions and alignment of key organizational strategies and initiatives.

Ken SchmittChief Field Officer

Shawn Ring Chief Information Officer

David BerothChief Financial Officer

Lori MillerChief Admin Officer

Mike ToupinChief Advocacy Officer

Samuel E. ChiangPresident & CEO

Executive Leadership Team

Core ValuesHonoring God in all we do.Valuing individuals and relationships.Partnering effectively.Encouraging creativity and innovation.Managing for quality results.

Vision

God’s Word transforming lives in every language in this generation

Mission

To accelerate Scripture translation and impact for people without God’s Word through Great Commission partnerships

Jason Baker2012 - present

Principal/OwnerBaker Katz, LLC

Rick Britton2009 - presentChairman of the Board

PresidentDigital Monitoring Products

Bob Creson2003 - present

PresidentWycliffe Bible Translators, USA

Matthew Mancinelli2009 - present

Executive Vice PresidentStrategy and Volunteers for Generous Giving

Joyce Williams2009 - presentVice Chairwoman

Board MemberCornerstone Trust

Jeff Johns2009 - present

CEOImpact Foundation

Michael Stoltzfus2007 - present

President/CEODynamic Aviation

Robby Moser2014 - present

PresidentClark Construction Group, LLC

Freddy Boswell2008 - present

Executive DirectorSIL International

Bill Williams2008 - present

CEO National Christian Foundation

Ten godly leaders comprise Seed Company’s Board of Directors. They draw on decades of experience and expertise from many fields — plus intense passion for the Bibleless people of the world — to provide Seed Company with insight, strategy, guidance and innovative leadership.

Board of Directors

3938

God has blessed Seed Company with integrity, humility and accountability. One significant demonstration of His blessing is the vital connections He’s given us with financial partners. These relationships are built on trust underscored by our track record. Again in FY2015, financial partners embraced God’s vision and Seed Company’s work to break all records.

Financials

2011

$17.7M

19%

81%

$19.2M

$21.4M

$28.0M

$31.3M

20132012 2014 2015

CONTRIBUTION INCOME

T H E W Y C L I F F E S E E D C O M P A N Y, I N C .S T A T E M E N T O F A C T I V I T I E S

For the Year Ended September 30, 2015With Comparative Totals for the Year Ended September 30, 2014

Temporarily Unrestricted Restricted 2015 2014

SUPPORT AND REVENUE

Contributions $ 5,819,198 $ 22,981,733 $ 28,800,931 $ 26,227,067

Gift in kind contributions 29,000 -0 29,000 -0

Support from affiliates

Wycliffe contributions 60,331 2,365,084 2,425,415 1,776,045

Member support 5,088,484 -0 5,088,484 4,833,448

Service income 153,864 -0 153,864 316,350

Investment income 365,282 -0 365,282 490,368

Other Income 56,326 -0 56,326 95,406

Net assets released from restrictions:

Field operations assessments 4,695,967 (4,695,967) -0 -0

Administrative assessments

(19% administrative & fundraising) 4,458,300 (4,458,300) -0 -0

Satisfaction of program restrictions 15,960,260 (15,960,260) -0 -0

TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 36,687,012 232,290 36,919,302 33,738,684

EXPENSESProgram services – Bible translation 27,336,834 -0 27,336,834 23,430,774

General & administrative services 3,770,446 -0 3,770,446 3,251,358

Fundraising services

(Includes communications, marketing) 5,534,128 -0 5,534,128 5,108,733

TOTAL EXPENSES 36,641,408 -0 36,641,408 31,790,865

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 45,604 232,290 277,894 1,947,819

Net Assets, Beginning of Year 8,037,387 18,845,934 26,883,321 24,935,502

NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR $ 8,082,991 $ 19,078,224 $ 27,161,215 $ 26,883,321

The Seed Company is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and complies fully with their rules for Christian ministries, including an annual independent financial audit.

TranslationExpenses

AdministrativeExpenses

Eighty-one percent of all gifts to Seed Company translation projects are used for translation expenses. This includes 6 percent to start new, or sustain existing translation projects.

4140

A Visionary Leader

New Space To Grow and AccelerateAs our task grows, so does the group of people that God has called to this extraordinary mission. Seed Company is already global and diverse; in coming years, we’ll be even more diverse. We anticipate future leaders from various countries helping lead the vision in the different regions. God is weaving the common thread of love across oceans, continents and cultures.

In 2015 Seed Company neared 300 full-time staff worldwide, including 125 in Arlington. This past fall we moved into beautiful new headquarters in Arlington, just a few blocks south of the former location. The move gives us more space, better workplace design and more effective, faster

technology. It all leads to greater collaboration with partners and remote staff … and even faster acceleration of Bible translation.

Inside our new building, bookcases hold copies of every Bible or New Testament that Seed Company has played a role in translating. One bookcase remains conspicuously empty — ready to receive the remaining translations God is entrusting to us and to our partners. Some of those won’t be books, but audio recordings or videos.

One day soon, that bookcase will be full.

It’s rare for a ministry to quicken its pace under an interim leader. But then, people like Todd Peterson are exceedingly rare. Todd served Seed Company for 17 months as interim president, from February 2014 to July 2015. Todd helped guide Seed Company through a period of unprecedented staff and financial growth.

Our global staff now numbers almost 300. Annual contribution income has grown almost 40 percent, from $28 million in FY 2014 to a projected $39 million in FY2016. And, Todd’s vision was a driving force behind illumiNations becoming a multi-organizational movement rather than a single event.

Thank you, Todd for your remarkable leadership, stewardship and service to the world’s Bibleless people.

4342

Today, 1,778 people groups on Earth don’t have a single verse of Scripture in their languages and await translation to begin. That’s 165 million people.

About 2,700 more people groups only have portions of the Bible — and they want more.

Those are big, imposing numbers — but realize that in the past five years 160 million people have received access to portions of God’s Word for the first time. We are gaining on this, and rapidly.

We are headed for ZERO unengaged, unreached people groups by 2025. Every known language will have at least some portion of Scripture. That won’t mean we’re finished, by any means. The goal is not just to give people a sample of Scripture, but to give them all Scriptures. We estimate, for instance, that up to 4,000 language groups still lack the Old Testament. What would your faith look like without the wisdom given in Proverbs? Or the comfort of the Psalms? Or encouraging stories of the patriarchs’ faith and failures? Thanks to our many partners, we’re gaining ground faster than ever before. God is providing necessary resources, technology and innovation. Our partners are actively engaged in every step — from local translation teams to translation organizations to financial and prayer supporters fueling the work. To all who have been or will be part of this great work to bring God’s Word to every tribe, every tongue, every nation on Earth — we say thank you.

Samuel ChiangPresident & CEO

Look Into the Future

45

Photos by Esther Havens ( Cover, pages 12, 16, 28, 30, 34, 44, 46 )

Photos by Walt Mannis ( Pages 14, 22, 24 )

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the New Living Translation.

220 Westway Place, Suite 100Arlington, TX 76018theseedcompany.org

A Wycliffe Bible Translators Affiliate