scripture union annual report 2012-2013

7/27/2019 Scripture Union Annual Report 2012-2013

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2013ANNUAL REPORT


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Dear Friend of Scripture Union,

With thankful hearts, we gladly declare Gods marvelous deeds on Scripture Unions behalf in our annual re-

port for the fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. In this report, youll find a summary and highlights of

Scripture Unions ministry during that period.

Bible engagement, helping people of all ages to read and live by Gods Word, the Bible, is at the heart and cen-

ter of all we do. For adults, the main vehicles for promoting this engagement are The Essential 100 (E100)

and The Essential Jesus Challenges and the daily Bible reading guides,Discovery andEncounter with God.

As youll read in this report, these programs continue, by Gods grace, to be used to bring people into Gods

Word and closer to him, in this country and around the world.

For children, SUs Bible engagement programs are SuperKids, SUs summer outreach ministry, andPrimeTime, our

after school outreach. Both reach primarily urban, at-risk children with Gods Good news in Jesus. They continue to

grow and touch many young lives for Gods glory. In addition, at the end of the year, the new Youth E100 was

launched, and is expected to have a substantial impact across the country in the year following. One encouraging

part of the reason for the growing nation-wide impact of Scripture Unions ministry is the further development of thePittsburgh/Great Lakes region and the opening and staffing of the Southeast Regional office in Florida this year.

The economic climate of the country began to improve somewhat last year, and that is reflected in the financial

overview in this report. Indeed, God blessed us in many ways, not the least of which was financially. An audited

financial statement is available on request.

So we present this report with gratitude to God for all his marvelous deeds this past year and for the continuing

privilege of declaring his glory in the year ahead.

Roger Sonstroem Whitney T. Kuniholm

SU USA Board Chairman SU USA President

Executive Committee:

Roger Sonstroem, Chairman

Frank Taylor, Vice Chairman

E.J. Rittersbach, Secretary

Steven Ross, Treasurer

Frank Barker

James J. Bowman

Bradley DeForest

Patricia Dunbar

William T. Ensslen

Gordon Haresign

D. Christopher Miller

Gil Peirce

Betty Purchase

Eduardo Ramirez

Thomas Riley

Sara Robertson

Ronda Shelton

Allen Swann

Roger Sonstroem,

SU USA Board Chairman

Whitney T. Kuniholm,

SU USA President

SU USA Board of Directors

Scripture Union USA P.O. Box 215 Valley Forge, PA 19481-0215 www.ScriptureUnion.org


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Bible Engagement Ministry

Bible engagement is the process of helping peoplepeople of all agesread and live by Gods Word, the Bible. Thats the very heart of ScriptureUnions ministry. That ministry is carried on throughout the year in anumber of major ways. One is through The Essential Programs (The

Essential 100 and The Essential Jesus), which offer people a reader-friendly, popular way to read through the big story of the Bible, and theBibles single greatest story (the story of Jesus). Another way SU promotesBible engagement is through the publication of two adult daily Biblereading guides, Discoveryand Encounter with God. The third is throughthe SuperKids and PrimeTimeoutreach programs which introduce childrento Gods love and Gods Word all around the country, all through the year.

Bible Engagement for Adults

The E100 Challenge Church-wide Bible Reading Plan continues to be usedby God to draw people into his Word all around the world. In addition tothe thousands of churches in this country which have used or are currentlyusing the E100 to introduce people to the big story of the Bible, thereare 15 new countries that have made commitments to use the E100

recently. There are now editions of the E100 in English, Spanish, French,German, Korean, Norwegian,Portuguese, Afrikaans and Chineseand new requests to use it are stillbeing received. In addition, many

churches that used the E100 within the past 5 years are

now going through the Essential Jesus Challenge, a Bible reading programthat takes people through the Bibles greatest storythe story of Jesus.

Overall, approximately 500,000 people engaged with Gods Wordthrough SUs two essential programs during the past year: 455,000through the E100 and 45,000 through the Essential Jesus Challenge. Inaddition, over 50,000 copies of the E100 were distributed in China inBibles provided by the American Bible Society. God is, indeed, using theseBible reading programs to help people engage with his Word andencounter the Savior.

BIBLE

MINISTRY

Pastors Affirm The E100

A recent study of E100 pastors by the Barna Group discovered the following

90% said E100 did an excellent job of helping congregants get a good overview of the

Bible.

80% said E100 was excellent at making reading the Bible a regular habit.

75% said E100 was excellent at helping improve congregants relationship with God

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During the previous fiscal year, Scripture Unionproduced and distributed approximately60,000 printed copies of the DiscoveryandEncounter with Godadult daily Bible readingguides each quarter. A large portion (26,000)were distributed by the American Bible

Society to its own constituency. Thispartnership has proven to be very valuable inextending the reach and ministry of SUs guidesand, more importantly, in helping more peoplemeet God every day in his Word. In additionto the many who receive the printed guides each quarter, approximately6,000 people receive the guides by free, daily email, also.

Chaplain Commends SU for Sending Bible Guides

Scripture Union regularly supplies Bible readingresources to members of the US military. Inpartnership with the American Bible Society, theE100 BibleReading Plan has already been providedto over 250,000 soldiers and their families. Inaddition, each quarter, SU sends 3,000-4,000 freecopies of Discoveryand Encounter with Godtosoldiers serving in this country and around theworld, including war zones.

In recognition of this effort, the SU Board ofDirectors recently received a US Flag and Certificateof Appreciation from a military Chaplain. Thecertificate was awarded in appreciation of Scripture Unions support ofour Soldiers and families which contributed greatly to the success of ourmission. This is just one more way SU helps people meet God every day inthe Bible and prayer.

New Essential Questionto be Published

During the last quarter of the fiscal year, SU President Whitney T. Kuniholmsubmitted the manuscript of his latest book, The Essential Question toInterVarsity Press. It is scheduled to be published late in 2013 or early in2014.

The third book in the essential series (following The Essential 100 BibleGuide and The Essential Jesus), The Essential Question covers fifty

BIBLE

MINISTRY


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readings that take a person through the New Testament book of Acts asthe ascended Lord Jesus Christ establishes his new church on earth. Thefocus of the study is the question that Paul asked when he encounteredthe Lord on the road to Damascus: What shall I do, Lord? (Acts 22:10).Readers are challenged to ask that question themselves and see whatthe Lord would have them do to make a difference for him in the world

today. It is anticipated that The Essential Question, like its twopredecessors, will become the basis of a popular church-wide Biblereading program, also.

Super Endorsement for Encounter with God

At the Super Bowl in New Orleans last February, SU staff met with TonyDungy, former NFL coach and current sports analyst for NBC TV. Dungyhas been a regular user ofEncounter with Godfor almost10 years. While in New Orleansto cover that big event, he spokewith SU of his experience usingEncounter with his wife and alsowith other NFL coaches. Ifyoure looking for a way tosystematically study and readthe Bible every day, I highlyrecommend Encounter with Godfrom Scripture Union, he said.He regularly recommends

Encounter with Godto other NFLcoaches and players, too. Imagine anation-wide Bible reading revival beginning in the NFL! That interview,and other video of NFL players talking about their Bible readingexperience, is available to view on the main SU website(www.ScriptureUnion.org).

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BIBLE

MINISTRY

Tony Dungy, Super Bowl winning NFL coach

and Encounter with God user.


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Bible Engagement for Children

The SuperKids Outreach Ministry: Record High Ministry

Achieved in 2012

The 2012 summer SuperKids outreach was another record-setter. There were 101SuperKids missions last summer, an increase of 20% over the number held in 2011.SuperKids 2012 exceeded the 100 number of missions for the first time in SU USAshistory. With the aid of over 850 trained and highly committed volunteers who

donated over 4,000 volunteer days,SuperKids missions reached 5,200mostly at-risk, urban children withGods Good News in Jesus lastsummer. That represented anincrease of over 27% more childrenreached than during SuperKids

2011. The children at SuperKidsstudied the Gospel of Mark using acurriculum titled On Your Mark,Get SetGo! The curriculum wasbuilt around an Olympic theme, inkeeping with the summer Olympicsheld last summer.

One of the new SuperKids missionsin 2012 was held in Reading, PA,among the poorest cities in the

nation, and known for its high crime and struggling economy. Yet, during July 2012,in the middle of City Park in Reading, about 120 children (plus people in thesurrounding neighborhood) gathered to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughouta 5-day SuperKids program. Twenty five volunteer staff from a local churchconducted this new outreach. Many children and family members reported new orrenewed commitments to the Savior.

In August, The Salvation Army Corps inMansfield, OH invited SUs NortheastRegional Director, Sonia Dobson, toconduct a new SuperKids program intheir local community center. In

addition to reaching children with theGospel, a major objective was to trainthe Salvation Army staff to presentthe SuperKids curriculum in the future.

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ChildrensMinistry

SuperKids reaches urban children all summer

wherever they are.

SuperKidsshares God's love with children

through trained, dedicated volunteer staff.


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Twelve volunteer staff shared the Gospel with over 30 children that week. Inthe fall, the Salvation Army division offered a PrimeTime afterschoolprogram where these same children learned more about following Christ.

There was a new SuperKids outreach in SUs South Central Region, also.SuperKids partnered with a summer camp to conduct an outreach toapproximately 75 at-risk children from inner city Dallas. The children were

bused in daily for an all-day program of three meals (part of a summerfeeding program provided by the camp) and the SuperKids ministry ofsinging, memory verses, small groupstudies, gamesand life-changingfriendships, too. This new SuperKidsministry holds great promise foroutreach during coming summers.

The 2013 SuperKids outreach willuse a curriculum called Welcome tothe Kingdom based on the Gospel of Matthew. And SuperKids 2013

promises to be just as extensive and have just as great an impact on thethousands of at-risk children all over the country who attend. There aremany free resources for churches which want to reach children with GodsGood News through SuperKids at www.SuperKidsmission.com.

ChildrensMinistry

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uper ids Makes a DifferenceA 2012 study by the Barna Group discovered the following outcomes

among children who participated in SUs SuperKidsprogram:

90% felt more loved by God

80% said they learned more about the Bible

74% said they want to follow Jesus


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The PrimeTime Outreach Ministry: ImpactingYoung Lives After School

In White Plains, NY, outside of New York City, a local church was given

permission to conduct PrimeTime programs in four public buildings. Thefirst program was launched in February 2013. It meets on Wednesdayafternoons with an average attendance of about 15 children each week.

One mother brought her two children tothat PrimeTime where she is also avolunteer. Her children were surprised tosee some of their classmates at theprogram. The next day when the childrenreturned to school they shared with theirclassmates all they had learned at

PrimeTime. The teacher allowed them tohave an open discussion about theprogram and the Bible stories they hadlearned. In that small way, the Gospel andPrimeTime were shared throughout thatpublic school.

The host church for PrimeTime in White Plains is also partnering withanother church in nearby Mount Vernon, NY to host a PrimeTime outreachthere. These are just more examples of how PrimeTime is reaching more andmore at-risk children with the Gospel each week.

ChildrensMinistry

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After school is a PrimeTime to reachchildren like these with the Biblesmessage.


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Regional Expansion Expands SUs Ministry

During the second half of the fiscal year, two new regional ministries wereinitiated: the Southeast Region (headquartered in Florida) and theMountain West Region (headquartered in Colorado). This brings to six, the

number of Regional Ministry offices now open across the country, and leavesonly 3 more to open (The Northwest, South west and Midwest regions). Thismarks a significant expansion of SUs ministry during the past year.

New Southeast Region Begins Ministry

During the last quarter of the fiscal year, SUs Southeast Region, engaged itsfirst Regional Director, Brandon McGuire, and began its ministry. The firstactivity was a SuperKids outreach mission in a city park in Auburndale,Florida (near Lakeland) at the end of April. Five local churches of variousdenominations participated by sending staff, children or both.

It was anticipated that, as follow up to the SuperKids outreach in April, theRegional Director and the churches would arrange for a number ofSuperKids missions for the summer of 2013, also. In addition, 15 churches inthe area have been contacted about the PrimeTime after school outreachand the E100 Bible reading program. Two of those churches already conductafter school programs and are interested in using the PrimeTime curriculafor them.

RegionalMinistry

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Already, the impact of SUs ministry in this newly opened region has beenfelt. By Gods grace, that ministry will continue to grow in the year ahead asa Regional Council is formed and begins to fully function.

Mountain West Region Partnership

The Mountain West Region, based in Colorado, also recently began its initialoutreach, partnering with a number of inner city churches in the DenverMetro area. David Stephen, the new Regional Director, and new FieldProgram Associate Michelle Nyhoff have begun introducing SuperKids andPrimeTime programs to area churches and schools through a partnershipwith Whiz Kids Tutoring, which serves 54 locations throughout the city.Whiz Kids Tutoring is a Denver-based elementary age mentoring programfor youth-at-risk in the public schools. It aims at "improving the lives ofdisadvantaged kids through academic tutoring, positive mentoringrelationships and spiritual nurture." Whiz Kids partners with local churchesto provide spiritually mature mentors and tutors to children and theirfamilies. Beginning in the fall of 2013, Whiz Kids will use SUsPrimeTimematerial as the spiritual component to their many programs across theDenver Metro area. Through this partnership, SUs ministry will reach evenmore at-risk inner city children with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Regions Reach Out with Gods Word

The Great Lakes Region (headquartered in Pittsburgh) which was launched

last year, expanded its ministry significantly during 2012-13. In addition toover 160 churches taking The E100 Challenge, the region held 3 newSuperKids programs (its first) during the summer of 2012. The missionsreached 55 children, served by 20 volunteer staff. In addition, the first areaPrimeTime program was launched the following fall. The Regional Council isactively working to continue to expand the scope and impact of SUsministry in the Region again this year.

The ministries of the South Central, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Regions alsocontinued this year, by Gods grace, to grow

and engage more people of all ages withGods life-transforming Word. To Godbe the glory!

RegionalMinistry

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In SU's programs, children learn God's Wordand have fun, too!


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Ministry Overview4 Quarters Ending June 30, 2013

MinistryOverview

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Bible Guides 65,552$

Essential Programs 498,236$

Children's Programs 6,950$

Other Programs 47,671$

Total 618,409$

Digital 228,405$

Print 377,170$

Social Media 5,884$

Total 611,459$

Total # of People Reached last 12 months = 618,409


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Financial Overview

We thank God for the prayers and financial support of Scripture Unionsmany members and partners who enable us to help people meet God everyday in his Word and prayer. Scripture Union is committed to maintainingthe highest standards of financial management, integrity and ethical

conduct in all areas of our ministry.

Our commitment to that integrity is demonstrated by: Continuous membership in the ECFA (Evangelical Council

for Financial Accountability) since its inception over 30years ago.

An annual independent financial audit. SUs auditedfinancial statements are available on request.

We are committed to using every dollar as effectively as possible to further

the mission and ministry of Scripture Union.

Financial Results:

The following charts and figures present the income and expenses for therecently completed previous fiscal year. They show that Scripture Unionended the year in the black, $108,882 in the fiscal year. We have much tothank God for as we move into the ministry year ahead.

For a copy of the audited financial statement for the recently completedfiscal year, please email [email protected] or call1-800-621-LAMP

(5267).

FinancialOver

view

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Income For Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2013

$2,655,486

Expenses for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2013

$2,546,604

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FinancialOverv

iewInternational Support $ 603,489

Consituent and Member Gifts $ 634,575Bible and Program Sales $ 505,288

Field Support $ 269,866

Grants and Special Projects $ 642,268

Total Income $ 2,655,486

Bible Engagement $ 980,337

Children and Field $ 431,876

International $ 737,453

Fundraising $ 212,256

General and Admin $ 184,682

Total Expense $ 2,546,604


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About Scripture Union

History and Mission

Scripture Union began in 1867 when a young Englishman named JosiahSpiers took the radical step of sharing Gods Word with children on a

beach. A few years later, a volunteer named Annie Marsten printed lists ofBible passages for the children to read after the beach missions. Soon, over500,000 children around the world were reading the Bible in ScriptureUnion groups.

From that small beginning, Scripture Union has expanded to 130 nationalmovements worldwide, each with indigenous leadership and the sametwo-fold mission: a) To encourage people of all ages to meet God dailythrough the Bible and prayer, and b) To make Gods Good News known tochildren, young people and their families.

In the United States

Scripture Union/USA began in 1959 and is located in Valley Forge, PA. Overthe years, in addition to publishing Bible reading guides for all ages,Scripture Union/USA has developed an innovative set of outreachprograms designed to reach the uniquemission field in the United States.

SuperKids. A program for creatively presenting the

Good News of Jesus and Gods Word to un-churchedchildren, wherever they are.

PrimeTime. A Bible-based after school program for at-

risk children, developed in partnership with

The Salvation Army.

The Essential 100 Challenge. A church-wide Bible

reading program using 100 selected passages to

give the Bibles big picture.

The Essential Jesus Challenge. A church-wide Bible

reading program telling the story of Jesus from both Old

and New Testaments.

AboutScriptureUnion

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Mid-Atlantic Region

Lisa Williams

Phone: (484) 393-1624

Email: [email protected] Address:

http://www.scriptureunion.org/mid-atlanticMailing Address:

Lisa Williams

Scripture Union Mid-Atlantic Region

P.O. Box 215

Valley Forge, PA 19481

Mountain West RegionDavid StephenPhone: (303) 619-1418Email: [email protected]

Michelle NyhoffPhone: (303) 619-7643

Email: Michelle [email protected] Address:http://www.scriptureunion.org/mountain-west

Northeast Region

Sonia DobsonPhone: (914) 414-0047Email: [email protected]

Web Address:http://www.scriptureunion.org/northeastMailing Address:

Sonia Dobson

Scripture Union Northeast Region

P.O.Box 2110

New York, NY 10163

Pittsburgh Region

Nancy Lee Cochran

Phone: (412) 463-8380

Email: [email protected] Address:

http://www.scriptureunion.org/pittsburghMailing Address:

Nancy Lee Cochran

320 Ft. Duquesne Blvd. Ste #356

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

South Central Region

Sonja Samuel

Phone: (972) 941-4523Email: [email protected] Address:

http://www.scriptureunion.org/southcentralMailing Address:

Sonja Samuel

Scripture Union South Central Region

2001 W. Plano Parkway #1044F

Plano, TX 75075

Southeast Region

Brandon McGuirePhone: (727) 612-9034Email: [email protected]

Web Address:http://www.scriptureunion.org/southeast

AboutScriptureUnion

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Scripture Unions Regional Ministry Offices


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P.O. Box 215Valley Forge, PA 19481-0215

www.ScriptureUnion.org1-800-621-LAMP (5267)

WWHATHAT CCHRISTIANHRISTIAN LLEADERSEADERS AARERE SSAYINGAYING

AboutScripture Union

Billy Graham I am totally, completely and forever a Scripture Union man.

Tony Dungy If youre looking for a way to systematically study and read the Bible everyday, I highly recommend Encounter with God from Scripture Union.

Luis Palau Scripture Union made me realize the importance of the word of God.

John Stott Scripture Union taught me the discipline of daily Bible reading.

N. T. Wright I wouldnt be the person I am today withoutScripture Union.

Jill Briscoe I heartily endorse this ministry

AboutThe Essential 100 Challenge

Christianity Today E100 provides an excellent overview of Gods big picture.

Charles W. Colson I am encouraged by E100. Many will be helped by the choice of texts.

John Guest Spectacular introduction to the great passages and characters of the Bible.

Eugene Habecker E100 helps you enjoy going through the entire message of the Bible.

scripture union annual report 2012-2013

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