President’s Report

2024

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

1 CHRONICLES 29:11-12

Photo of Don Lough, Jr.

Word of Life

Experience Your Faith

At Word of Life, we love to help young people experience their faith – to begin a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to grow in their daily walk with Him.

With God’s blessing and through the involvement and investment of your friendship, the worldwide ministries of Word of Life are expanding and moving forward: reaching youth with the gospel of Christ.

This report gives you a glimpse of God’s grace revealed through you during 2024. I know you rejoice with us and are encouraged with all that He has done. To God be all the glory! Thank you for your faithful prayers and for investing in young lives. God is using you to make a difference all over the world!

Don Lough, Jr.
President & CEO

Who We Are

Word of Life creates faith-defining experiences that give students and families the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and to grow in their spiritual walk. For more than 80 years Word of Life has focused on…
 

Core Values

Bible-Centered

The clear truth of God’s Word is our guide.

Youth Focused

The potential of the next generation is our passion.

Gospel-Driven

The Good News of Jesus is our message.

Disciple-Making

The training of multipliers is our method.

High Energy

The excitement of life in Christ is our culture.

What We Do

Youth and Family Camps

Opens doors for youth and families to develop their relationship with Jesus Christ and with each other.

Youth Ministries

Provides resources, curriculum, and training that equip local churches to maximize the impact of their ministries and to help students grow in their faith.
 

Bible Institutes

Gives students a foundation of biblical knowledge and a vision for the future with two-year accredited postsecondary biblical studies programs.

International Ministries

Sends short-term and long-term missionaries around the world to share the love of Christ and the good news of the gospel.
 
Word of Life Camps logo

Launch Your Faith

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
 
Matthew 19:14
 

Ministry Impact

19,362 Total Campers

9,584 Dedication Decisions

1,785 Salvation Decisions

1,663 Young People Who Received a Scholarship to Attend Camp

The natural beauty, outdoor adventures, exciting activities, and life-changing biblical teaching at Word of Life give youth and families an unforgettable experience. Because of generous donors, many young people were able to come to camp last summer.
 

Camper Testimonials

  • “Yes, I chose to follow God and I chose to let him be in control of my life. I made the decision because I felt like I needed to stop trying to take control of things and let God do the work for me. Since He has a plan for my life and he created me and I should follow the plan that he chose for.” ~ Ridge Camper

  • “This week, he’s really been teaching me about the importance of sharing my faith with others and really just being bold about it and not being timid. No matter where He puts me or where I go, I know He’s always with me.” ~ Coast Camper

  • “I learned to preach to people about Jesus’s word Because we are on the earth for a little time, and so are they. So you want to learn as much as we can to help others, so they can learn as much as they can.”  ~ Ranch Camper

  • “I decided to surrender my whole life to Christ. Instead of living the way of the world, seeking after temporary things, He has treasures stored up for you in heaven. And I just think that’s amazing because it’s not temporary!” ~ Island Camper

Word of Life Youth Ministries Logo

Grow Your Faith

I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 
Matthew 16:18A
 

Youth Ministry Coach Impact

30 Youth Ministry Coaches in the US

1,266 Churches actively engaging with our coaches

16,038 Students attending 13 Reverb events with 768 professions of faith

11,685 Attendees at Local church evangelistic events with 837 professions of faith

 

We seek to empower church youth leaders in their ministry. The heart of every successful youth ministry is always its leaders. We’re dedicated to coaching leaders to create vibrant, disciple-making ministries. We provide comprehensive youth leadership training, offer strategic guidance, and become trusted friends to pastors and youth leaders. We’re excited to see leaders thrive!

January marked our third annual Connect Youth Leader’s Conference where youth leaders will discover cutting-edge strategies in youth ministry. A youth pastor who attended last year’s event said, “I never regret making the effort to attend Word of Life’s leadership conferences. They are always worth attending and my team and I always leave feeling refreshed and encouraged.”

We team up with churches to supercharge their evangelism efforts. Our goals include making sure every student hears the gospel from a friend, encouraging year-round evangelism, equipping students to share the gospel, and assisting with local and regional evangelistic events. Partnering with local churches we see the gospel bring transformation in the lives of young people.

A church that attends Reverb, shared the following story with us: Years ago, during a Reverb event, one of our young members invited his best friend, who had never attended church due to his family’s past hurts. The friend came because he loved basketball and ended up accepting Jesus into his heart. He became a dedicated member of our youth group, later serving as a leader and pastoral assistant. He married a fellow church leader, and together they felt called to the mission field. Now, they lead a mission base in Zambia, training Bible school students and planting churches in remote villages. This story reminds us of the eternal impact of events like Reverb. Thank you for your ministry, and we look forward to this year’s event. Keep pressing on!

Once a student trusts Christ, we provide churches with incredible resources to help them grow in their faith. We’re committed to developing materials that help every student deepen their walk with Christ. Our offerings include customizable, biblically sound curriculum, Quiet Time devotions, and a scripture memory system for all ages. We see many churches engaging their members to use the Word of Life Quiet Time to establish this vital daily habit.

A youth pastor reported, “This year, we’ve purchased 412 Quiet Times, with some using the digital app. It’s been amazing to see God move in a mighty way. Our church has about 800 members, and half have committed to this practice. I’m praying for continued divine intervention.”

This year, 1,266 churches have been energized by our Ministry Coaches through dynamic curriculum, thrilling evangelistic events, and impactful training sessions. Our local church-based evangelistic events drew an impressive 11,685 attendees, with 837 making life-changing decisions for Christ. The excitement continued at our 13 Reverb events, where 16,038 enthusiastic participants gathered, leading to 768 powerful responses to the gospel invitation. The impact is truly inspiring!

Word of Life Bible Institute logo

Deepen Your Faith

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
 
Joshua 1:8
 

Ministry Impact

$3,581,936 Scholarships Awarded

563 Students at Campuses in NY and FL

68,497 People Who Heard the Gospel as a Result of Student Ministries

108,193 People Ministered to as a Result of Student Ministries

4,148 Salvations as a Result of Student Ministries

Word of Life Bible Institute is a collegiate-level program offering intensive biblical studies, discipleship, community, and hands-on ministry designed to help students discover God’s plan for their life. 
 

The Impact of Studying the Word of God

This year at the Bible Institute, I’ve learned a lot about forgiveness. Before I came here, forgiveness was just a word to me. I’d say I tried to forgive people, but I often held onto grudges in my heart. However, after this entire year of experience, forgiving and forgetting has become so much easier. Understanding that forgiveness entails making a promise to never bring up that sin again has truly guided me throughout this year.

– Hecsarah

 
Word of Life International Ministries logo

Share Your Faith

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Mark 16:15

Ministry Impact

107 International Locations

1,593 International Missionaries

16 International Bible Institute Locations

18 Discipleship Training Center Locations

12 Cross Cultural Internship Field Locations

67 Cross Cultural Interns Around the World

57,905 People Who Heard the Gospel at an Event

International Ministries missionaries have a passion for the nations. They work to make sustainable impact by providing short-term and long-term ministry in more than 87 countries.
 

Vanuatu

Two missionary couples, Asher and Kaylee Thompson, and Casper and Sara Lorenzen, have pioneered a new Word of Life ministry in Vanuatu. They have immersed themselves in the local culture, making strides in learning Bislama (the national language of the Republic of Vanuatu), and engaging with key leaders. Their inaugural “Word of Life Share Day” event was a significant milestone, fostering collaboration with local evangelical leaders. Additionally, they translated the “Colors of Life” gospel tool into Bislama, enhancing their outreach efforts. With strong community support, the couples are optimistic about their mission’s future impact on Vanuatu’s youth.
 

Jeju, South Korea

Seven teens from Jeju, South Korea, experienced a life-changing encounter with the gospel at a Word of Life camp a few years ago. Today, these same teens decided to plan and lead their own camp through their church. The Word of Life Korea team offered them support and resources, and they ran a successful church camp week with 40 campers in attendance. Their journey from unsaved campers to starting their own Bible camp highlights the power of God working in and through young hearts. Let’s continue to pray for these teens, Korean churches, and the ministry of the Word of Life Korea team in Jeju as they pursue further growth and life-change.
 
 

Word of Life Summarized Financials

Gifts and Revenues

Total Support and Revenue – $61,237,090

Program Revenue – $18,202,943

Unrestricted Contributions – $5,584,537

Restricted Contributions – $36,021,056*

Interest and Other Revenue – $1,428,554

*Restricted Contributions include $11.9 Million in extraordinary contributions for buildings and equipment.

Expenditures

Total Expenses – $56,980,464

Youth and Family Camps – $7,735,841

Administration and Fundraising – $4,567,839

International Ministries – $22,914,504

Youth Ministries – $4,401,329

Bible Institute – $13,307,531

Other Expenses – $4,053,420

Thank You

The worldwide ministries of Word of Life are made possible because of the generous gifts of friends who are committed to helping reach young people with the only message that truly brings life change. Thank you!

Word of Life Leadership

Photo of Don Lough, Jr.

Don Lough, Jr.
President and CEO of Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.
Chancellor of Bible Institutes 

John Nelson
Executive Assistant to the President
Director of Word of Life Foundation 

Rich Andrews
Vice President of  Youth & Family Camps

Brian Baker
Vice President of Bible Institutes
Executive Dean of New York Bible Institute

Brent Finchum
Director of Youth Ministries

Scott Foreman
Vice President of Growth and Impact Strategies

Chip Nightingale
Vice President of Ministry Advancement 

Kris Stout
Executive Vice President of International Ministries 

Mark Strout
Executive Dean of Global Bible Institutes & Professor

Michael Constantino
Vice President of Stewardship

2024 Directors

Dr. Donald H. Lough, Jr. / President
Mr. B. John Nelson / Vice President/Treasurer
Lt. Col. Walter R. Price, (Ret.) / Secretary

Dr. Mark L. Bailey
Dr. John S. Barnett
Mr. Mark R. Berardelli
Mr. Andrew C. Brown
Mr. Bob G. Brown
Mr. Roger L. Burdick
Mr. Robert C. Doll, Jr.
Dr. Christopher Gnanakan

Mr. Cory J. Hansen
Mr. Robert L. Horst
Mrs. Riley Hoselton
Mr. Joseph J. Hunt
Mr. Robert L. Lanyon
Mr. Chad J. Lubke
Dr. Ronald D. Moore
Rev. Philip A. Moser II

Mr. John Mark Page
Mr. Jonathan H. Price
Mr. John H. Reimer, Jr.
Mr. Brian M. Smoker
Mr. Kristopher M. Stout
Capt. Dane C. Swanson,
USN (Ret.)
Mr. Ronald D. Wyrtzen