DIGITAL BIBLE SOCIETY
God's Word accessible in every language.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
We have a wealth of Christian digital resources available and are in need of additional funding to provide for media for which we may load digital resources and distribute through partners, to the field. At this moment we have a request for over a thousand Bibles, to be locked down on audio devices for distribution to newly converted Africans in Malawi. In this particular area of Africa most do not practice reading and therefore solar powered audio devices is the logical method to intake God's Word. Whereas this is a very, large project with a startling (gratefully) number of Bibles needed all at once, there are many other partnership projects with many conversions and with the same need for media resources to load the digital resources on and distribute.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Find-A-Bible
A strategic alliance between the Forum of Bible Agencies International (FOBAI) and the Digital Bible Society, Find-a-Bible (FAB) serves as an international clearing-house designed to maximize worldwide access to God’s Word by insuring that Bibles and biblical resources are publically available and deliverable in every possible language.
Providing links to resources in the 6000+ languages of the world. FAB databases and delivery tools used by the web directory were recently revised and are fully maintained by DBS. Find-A Bible serves . . .
• The general public by enabling them to rapidly identify what Bibles and resources are available and where such resources can be secured.
• The FOBAI organization by providing a common site where resources can be identified, information can be disseminated and translation progress can be identified and tracked.
• Individual FOBAI agencies by enabling them to publicly declare and share what Bibles and resources they have produced or are currently working on.
Treasures Libraries
The Digital Bible Society’s Treasures Libraries are language-specific digital libraries consisting of Bibles, audio Scriptures, films, commentaries, books, movies and music.
inScript
inScript is a versatile, browser-based, open-source web application that assists the user in reading, studying and listening to the Bible in a way that is easy to use and free to share. Recently upgraded to version 3, the inScript Bible study tool may be used both online and offline and does not require software installation.
inScript supports a variety of browsers, and can run off of various media such as thumb drives, DVDs and micro SD chips. Loaded into all the latest Digital Bible Society Treasures Libraries, inScript promotes clear and simple reading while supporting complex functionality such as:
• The ability to study thousands of the world’s Bibles in a mobile or desktop environment.
• Full search functionality along with concordances, commentaries and footnotes linked to the Biblical text.
• The ability to compare Bible versions side-by-side or in contextual parallel passages in unlimited languages (permissions pending) – with synced scrolling.
• The ability to instantly deliver Greek and Hebrew words and definitions along with Strong's notes and a wide variety of morphological information.
• The ability to play audio Bibles with smart-scrolling text, as well as video (such as The Jesus Film) from wherever the user is reading.
• The ability to display a large library of DBS compiled high resolution biblical art and maps.
• The ability to share Bibles and search content via social media.
Bible.is
Bible.is is a platform for sharing and downloading Bible libraries in collaboration with partners, for free.A variety of file structures are emerging as standard ways to read, study and share electronic books. While we seek to make Bibles available in the aforementioned inScript Bible reader, we also go to great efforts to insure that Bibles are perpetually available for download and sharing in the following stand-alone formats. This is especially important for those desiring to access the Bible in their language in places where the Internet is unstable, unusable or unaffordable.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of bibles requested and distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Context Notes
This number includes Bible films distributed as Bibles. as well as text, audio and print.
Number of Christian digital resources distributed other than Bibles.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Context Notes
These come in a variety of formats including audio and video; includes but is not limited to discipleship and church planting tools.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
By 2020:
• Create and sustain 10 media centers worldwide for production, distribution and training.
• Increase Treasures Libraries to the top 100 languages of the world.
• Support 1000 or more Bible websites, churches and organizations with online and App Bibles.
• Deliver 2500 Bibles in every standard digital format.
• Enlarge Find-A-Bible to 250,000 resources.
• Deliver “Mission 24:14" – the App that unites Treasures Libraries, inScript, Find-A-Bible, eBibles, and materials from multiple ministries and sites into a single delivery systems enabling “God's Word Accessible in every Language."
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Digital Bible Society has been averaging $800, 000 in revenue over the past three years. That amount must incrementally increase to over 2 million by 2019 annually to sustain present growth and goals. Four critical factors are required:
• A strong, capable and committed leadership team that prioritizes righteousness, integrity, transparency and servant hood to God's Kingdom.
• A cadre of God-fearing, missions-minded and highly talented programmers and data managers.
• Strong working relationships with the Bible community as we seek to serve both our contribution and distribution partners in a selfless and Christ-like way.
• Vibrant relationships with mission agencies, Bible translators, churches and missionaries and effective systems that support the production and delivery of resources around the world.
The opportunities afforded us over the next 5 years are historic beyond description. The Gospel of God's Kingdom will indeed be proclaimed among all nations. God has apparently positioned the Digital Bible Society in the center of supporting this work and is now calling us to action.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Digital Bible Society is a non-profit ministry made up of web developers, graphic artists, pastors, missionaries, authors, translators, teachers, businessmen, tradesmen, students, prayer warriors and people who simply love Jesus.
Though we come from many diverse backgrounds (culturally, linguistically and spiritually), we share several important things in common:
• We love God's Word, because we know that it has the ability to transform lives, as it has our own.
• We are missional, that is to say, we believe that Christ commanded us to make His Name known throughout the world, that all people may have the ability to receive His forgiveness and salvation.
• We see the opportunities new technology offers us to accomplish that task.
In a nutshell, the Digital Bible Society seeks to use this technology for the purposes of global evangelization and discipleship through the production and distribution of digital Bibles (including audio Bibles and videos such as The Jesus Film) and other digitized Christian resources - all free of charge! Since our beginning fifteen years ago, God has seen fit to bless the DBS ministry in abundant and miraculous ways far beyond what any of us could have hoped for or imagined.
Based on His providence and direction up to this point, we feel that we have every reason to believe that God would desire to continue to use DBS as He seeks to bring His Word to the uttermost ends of the earth.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have brought ministries and mission agencies together for the digital cause.
We have yet to adequately tell the world what has resulted and what is now available.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
DIGITAL BIBLE SOCIETY
Board of directorsas of 09/17/2019
Mr Kenneth Bitgood
Digital Bible Society
Term: 2015 - 2019
Paul Richardson
BibleLeague Canada
Allen and Dorris Tarbutton
Current Elijah Ministries
Greg Pruett
Pioneer Bible Translators
Jeffory Taylor
Open Doors International
Jerry Jackson
Faith Comes by Hearing
Ken & Deborah Bitgood
Digital Bible Society
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No