MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Messenger International

Summary:  Messenger International began in 1990 to provide discipleship materials to Christians around the world in their own language.  Beginning in 2018 it changed its status to a church status for  IRS purposes so that it no longer files an IRS form 990; and because of that change, less information is available to the public at large.

Messenger International uses multiple mediums to provide discipleship resources, regardless of where they live, in their own language.  They have discipleship resources in more than 100 languages.  It is Messenger International’s hope that each person that hears and personalizes the good news of the gospel will in turn become a messenger right where they are and share God’s story in their own sphere of influence, providing the resources Messenger International creates.

Organizationally, Messenger International has the feel of a family business: 

• John and Lisa Bevere founded Messenger International.  
• John Bevere serves as paid CEO and Chairman of the Board.  He also owns the for-profit organization Teach Global LLC which is another revenue source for John Bevere to receive royalty, curriculum and book sales created for Messenger International.  He also receives a minister’s housing allowance,  and personal services paid for by Messenger International. 
• Lisa Bevere serves as paid Vice President and is a Board Member.  She also owns the for-profit organization Flag LLC to receive royalty, curriculum and book sales created for Messenger International, in addition to her salary.  She also receives a minister’s housing allowance.
• Addison Bevere serves as paid COO, and from time to time serves on the Board of Directors.  In addition to receiving a minister’s housing allowance.
• Austin Bevere is a paid staff member and family member.
• Daryl Collings is a paid staff member and family member.
• Arden Bevere is a paid staff member and family member.
• Alec Bevere is a paid staff member and family member.
• Dennis Rouse and Colleen Rouse are both related Board of Directors. 
• Also all employees are covered by the nonprofit organization Messenger International with a “profit sharing” retirement plan.
• The Board of Directors also have 100 percent direct controlling entities of “Messenger International United Kingdom” and “Messenger International Australia”.
• There is also an ownership stake in the for-profit organization Messenger Air, LLC.

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This is not an exhaustive link of Messenger International to that of it feeling like a family business, but suffice it to say, it is structured outside the norm of a traditional church.

The aim of Messenger International is for people to hear the Gospel and then to provide the resources created by Messenger International, to grow spiritually.

MinistryWatch Donor Confidence Score:  70 (out of a possible 100) 

MinistryWatch Financial Efficiency Rating:  3 Star (out of a possible 5 Stars)

MinistryWatch Transparency Grade:  C

ECFA Member?  Yes

Revenue in Most Recent Year Available (2020):  $15,198,957

Five-Year Revenue Trend:  Significantly Increasing (about 183 percent increase)  

Percent of Revenue Messenger International Spends on Fundraising:  8 percent 

Percent Peer Group Spends on Fundraising:  5 percent

CEO:  John Bevere

President’s Salary and Other Compensation:  Messenger International does not provide salary information, or how much the housing allowance is, or the information on royalty and book sales paid to the CEO, or how much “profit sharing” retirement plan payments were paid to the CEO. 

Complete MinistryWatch profile for Messenger International can be found here.

Find recent MinistryWatch articles mentioning Messenger International here.