2015 Annual Report by Venture

2015

ANNUAL REPORT

Miles | 1

5 YEARS IN A ROW… God continues to bless the intentional and sacrificial energies of the Venture Community. The last 5 years have been marked by significant growth, courageous innovation, and unashamed testimony.

SIGNIFICANT GROWTH In the past 5 years we have increased our funds raised by 218%, we have provided over 10 million meals, we have sent 10 full-time missionaries, and we have engaged tens of thousands in life-transforming tours and events.

COURAGEOUS INNOVATION

Ryan Skoog President

“Everything Venture does is a response to the Gospel, which has the ultimate power to bring hope.”

Venture has always used creative approaches to engaging people in the transformative work of Biblical justice and the hope of the Gospel. We have just completed a 3-year, fully-funded, project to launch an industry-leading web application that will allow people and organizations all over the world to participate in God’s work of justice. This app will track miles, raise funds, and show real-time impact – allowing anyone to make their miles matter where they live.

UNASHAMED TESTIMONY “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).” Everything Venture does is a response to the Gospel, which has the ultimate power to bring hope. We continue to witness God’s grace as He transforms the lives of our participants, the recipients of our community’s sacrificial generosity, and even those who once were the oppressors, and now are set free. Thank you for continuing to be a part of this incredible story, as we respond to the greatest needs, with our greatest energies, as a beautiful response to the Gospel.

2 | Letter From the President

WHAT'S INSIDE MISSION STATEMENT �� 4-5 MILES �� 6-10 The Greatest Story Every Lived �� 6 Miles = Change �� 8 Life Change �� 9 Miles Logged for Change ��10

VENTURE MILES �� 12-13 MISSION �� 14-21 More Than Food ��14 A Bold Move ��16 How We Work ��18 Missionaries, Where We Work ��19 Thank You ��20

FINANCIALS �� 22-23 5 Year Growth ��22 Committed to Stewardship, Income & Expense ��23

Cover and Table of Contents photos by Matt Lien

Table of Contents | 3

Photo by Matt Lien

4 | Miles

Miles | 5

THE GREATEST STORY EVER LIVED By Holly Pieper

Photo by Cameron Abueg

"Venture provided the setting for probably the greatest story I've ever lived, putting me through a much needed series of trials..., helping me discover a bit of my soul along the way," said Bruce Doane, 2015 participant in the Love Does Tour.

6 | Miles

The 500-mile ride along the California Coast is full of life change, challenge and community. It is a week committed to soul searching, and to sacrifice, to help fight injustices a world away. Each day on tour, this newly joined community bikes, prays, has devotions, shares stories with hosts, and fellowships together. At the end of this enduring trip, the team ceremoniously rides their bikes off the dock into the San Diego Bay at Bob Goff ’s house. Bob Goff is the author of Love Does and founder of the organization the team is benefiting. The ceremonious ride off the dock is a fitting end as each team member commits to take the plunge into whatever it is that God calls them to do after the tour. Venture’s tag line, “benefit the world, discover your soul,” sums up the experience for many of the cyclists. They return home with a new perspective and renewed purpose for their lives.

mix of participants, a passionate commitment to help the oppressed, miles and miles of epic views, hills and turns, and life transformation,” said Executive Director of Venture, Paul Hurckman. “The lives of the riders were deeply impacted, the lives of the beneficiaries were radically changed, and the light of the Kingdom shone brighter.” The 2015 Love Does Tour brought life altering experiences for each participant. Doane testifies that he has deepened his relationship with God. Another young man on the tour became spiritually refreshed by the joyous and loving community who encouraged him. A single mom, who was once full of fear, guilt, and shame, now understands God’s fulfilling love because of the trip.

“If you want to feel close to God put yourself in situations that force you to lean into that relationship.”

“I realized I had tried to start my faith, my identity, on life after the cross, but I had forgotten before the cross, before sin, before even Adam and Eve, Jesus loved us," said tour participant Amaris Burkel. "He decided that we were good and he would make us in his image. So though I am fragmented; each part of me is deeply loved and reﬂects a wonderful and beautiful God,”

- BRUCE DOANE | Cyclist Two participants, Bruce Doane and Holly Northup, discovered more than their soul, they discovered their soul mate. As a dating couple, they stuck together through the relational, emotional The Love Does Tour is just one example of how and physical challenges of trip. Doane and North- Venture’s tours provide adventure, sacrifice, up learned that they loved each other, even when change and impact. Many more stories are being life is difficult. They decided to get married soon shared by the hundreds of participants through more than a decade of trips. The stories they share after the tour. become a vessel of God’s love. “The 2015 Love Does Tour was everything we desire to see in a tour – an incredibly diverse

Miles | 7

MILES = CHANGE The more miles are logged, the more lives are changed. We believe transformation happens when the three elements of our miles programs are combined, resulting in measurable impact in the participants and those we serve around the world.

PHYSICAL SACRIFICE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

BIBLICAL JUSTICE Physical SacriďŹ ce

Spiritual Disciplines

Biblical Justice

Distance based: Cycling, hiking, running and walking.

Discipleship journeys, prayer, scripture engagement.

Reorienting life choices to serve the unreached and vulnerable.

8 | Miles

LIFE CHANGE Life change is central to everything we do. We are very intentional in our approach to each person's spiritual growth. Our participants continue to report significant growth across multiple spiritual indicators.

77%

89%

GREATER PASSION FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH

STRONGER FAITH

42%

CHANGE IN LIFE DIRECTION

63%

INCREASED SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Miles | 9

78,926 MILES LOGGED

(3.17 TIMES AROUND THE WORLD)

MAKES A DIFFERENCE

100 Days of summer

END WET

2015 Expeditions & Local Campaigns EXPEDITIONS Campaign Name Across America

27,900

IJM Freedom Tour

5,500

Love Does Tour

11,000

Run Free

4,680

Hope International

1,050

Totals

ACROSS AMERICA

50,130

LOCAL CAMPAIGNS Campaign Name

Miles

Hardcore Challenge

9,400

OK 200

6,000

End Wet

Salt

200

100 Days of Summer

8,400

Family 50

1,300

30 Days

1,590

Life Center in Action

1,500

Fargo Marathon

Totals

Hardcore 100

Miles

370

28,796

"Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." - HEBREWS 12:1-2

THIS WILL CH EVERYTHIN

HANGE NG

CHOOSE A CAUSE Choose a cause you care about.

Since its inception, Venture has committed to using its greatest energies on the world's greatest needs, as a response to the Gospel. For over a decade we have leaned into the suffering, with sacrifice and innovation, to respond to dire needs with the love of Christ. In 2017 we are thrilled to launch the Venture Miles App - our most ambitious move in the fight against injustice.

GET PLEDGES Ask friends and family to sponsor you per mile.

This App will allow anyone, anywhere, to do something on behalf of the vulnerable. With the Venture Miles App you can log miles for causes you care about, rally support from your community, and track your impact in real-time. You can change the world, in the palm of your hand.

TRACK YOUR MILES Connect to your favorite GPS application.

Available Spring 2017

SEE YOUR IMPACT See how much you raised and the lives youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve impacted.

MORE THAN FOOD By Holly Pieper

Miracles do happen today according Sonny Thweatt, Director of Operations in SE Asia. He tells stories from where he works with Venture's food program. He visited a little boy five years of age who couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t walk in a small town along the Myanmar border. 14 | Miles

Photo by Matt Lien

This year Venture will deliver its 10 millionth meal since starting its food program. By the end of 2016 Venture will provide 9 thousand meals every single day to hungry people thanks to its generous donors.

After being on the feeding program just seven While Venture celebrates the success of the feeding program, the organization also realizes that this weeks, he began to walk. is just the first step in the vision. Venture strives In another town, a young woman of about 21 years to help develop self-sustaining communities, rathof age only stood three feet, 10 inches tall. After er than ones that are dependent upon a feeding nine weeks on the feeding program she grew two program. inches. Venture's Mobile Teacher Program teaches refugee children Thweatt continues to tell of the Thai language so that they are feeding program’s significant imable to attend school. Education pact to the people’s health and is a pathway to employment and education. $1 = 10 Meals citizenship. Venture is dedicated to helping 9,000 People In Nepal, human trafficking is an refugee communities along the Fed Each Day imposing economic engine. To Myanmar border go from survivstop this injustice, another form ing to thriving. 10,000,000 of livelihood must replace it. Total Meals Served In Thailand, migrant children are Partnerships with organizations often admitted to the hospitals 500,000 like Lighthouse Foundation Nebecause of skin conditions simiLiving In Area of Need pal (LHFN), that provides safe lar to leprosy. "Mercifully, the nuhomes for over 500 women and tritious Manna Packs are helping children affected by trafficking, in quicker recovery time and in creates opportunities for Venprevention," Thweatt said. ture to do more than just food programs. Venture partners with Venture is committed to providing the much needed food, and then to help LHFN to develop schools, farms, education prochildren receive education, all while sharing the grams and businesses for vulnerable people while Gospel of Jesus. “Teachers are coming to us and offering them the Gospel of Christ. A substantial asking what has changed with these kids because gift jump-started Venture’s involvement in LHFN they are not falling asleep and actually learning,” and has funded a team of experts to identify best practices for serving in this area. said Thweatt.

OUR IMPACT

“If people are not worried about where their next “The food is the basis where it starts: education and meal is coming from, they can start rebuilding their training provide opportunity here on earth and the gospel provides hope for eternity,” said Hurckman. lives,” said Ryan Skoog, President of Venture.

"Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as the noonday sun." – ISAIAH 58:10 (NLT) Mission | 15

HOW WE WORK We partner with local churches and national leaders to implement a care point strategy. These care points focus on food, education and discipleship for future Christian leaders.

FOOD SECURITY In the midst of a food shortage, Venture provides meals to help malnourished people living in SE Asia and Nepal. This year we will deliver our 10 millionth meal, and serve over 9,000 people everyday.

EDUCATION Venture offers scholarships, after-school programming, and English education to vulnerable children in rural areas of SE Asia. These children now have access to an enriching place to learn and grow.

DISCIPLESHIP Venture empowers vulnerable children to become the next generation of Christian leaders through Bible training, prayer and discipleship. 16 | Mission

MISSIONARIES

INDIA

Elliotts

Klienjungs

Smiths

Thailand

Thweatts

Van Ravenhorsts

Wydevens

Thailand

Australia

N E PA L

BHUTAN

WHERE WE WORK

BANG L ADESH C HINA

We work in some of the toughest places in the world. SE Asia and Nepal are global epicenters for trafficking, sex slavery, child soldiers, extreme poverty and refugees. We serve in areas where there are less than 2% Christian nationals and where there are ethnic groups with little or no Gospel literature in their language.

PROG RAM S

V IE TNAM

M Y NM AR LOAS

NO PROG RAM S

THA I L A N D

Mission | 17

A BOLD MOVE By Holly Pieper

After 12 years of talking and praying about moving to Thailand, Ventureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder, Aaron Smith, and his family are finally making it a reality.

18 | Miles

Aaron, Krista, and their two kids Alaithia and Jotham, moved in July to build Venture's food, education and discipleship programs in SE Asia. “Aaron has been the heart and soul of this organization from the very first ride across America. His work ethic and leadership has formed Venture,” said Jesse Olson who participated in the first tour with Aaron.

Krista, Aaron, Jotham & Alaitha

Aaron is Venture's Co-founder, Program Development Director, Graphic Designer, Web Developer and more. For the past decade, he and his family, have logged many miles and raised a lot of money for the place that they now get to call home.

Photo by Jessie Papia

“Aaron's been working out his calling unselfishly, often behind the scenes for many years. It’s these efforts that has opened the doors for others to discover their soul and benefit our world.”

- JESSE OLSON | Board Member “They have given tirelessly on this side of the ocean and now are going to be doing that on the other side,” said Paul Hurckman, Executive about God through art, and launching businessDirector of Venture. “Venture just isn’t Venture es that may be run by migrants and refugees. without them.” “The Smith’s journey to Thailand is exciting The Smiths plan to work in Chiang Mai, because they have such a passion serve,” said Thailand with other Venture missionaries and board member Linda Furry. “Aaron is living partner organizations to help grow Venture's Venture’s mission of ‘spending your greatest energies for the world’s greatest needs.’ We impact in SE Asia. couldn’t be more honored to support his family’s Initially they will be focusing on learning the efforts.” language and culture. They plan on building relationships with people in their community and “I’m inspired to see him leading, by risking it all developing the Venture programs that exist in again to follow Christ’s call on this new adventure moving his family to Thailand. The people Thailand. he will serve in Thailand will be as blessed as we Their long-term plans include helping stateless have been,” said Olson. people gain citizenship, teaching street kids

Mission | 19

20 | Mission

Photo by Matt Lien

THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THE WORLD'S GREATEST NEEDS

SAFE HOUSES

DISCIPLESHIP

FOOD SECURITY

MICROFINANCE

EDUCATION

ANTI-TRAFFICKING

Mission | 21

5 YEAR GROWTH 46% GROWTH

$2,695,443

2,250,000

15% 49%

GROWTH

$1,809,955

GROWTH

$1,578,003

1,250,000

14% GROWTH

$1,060,159

$931,315 750,000

750,000 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

YEAR

REVENUE

GROWTH

ADMIN

% ADMIN

2011

$931,315

14.12%

$115,751

12%

2012

$1,060,159

13.83%

$133,947

13%

2013

$1,578,003

48.85%

$141,555

2014

$1,809,955

14.70%

$178,208

10%

2015

$2,695,433

45.63%

$226,286

22 | Financials

COMMITTED TO STEWARDSHIP 91.6% PROGRAM 8.4%* ADMINISTRATIVE & FUNDRAISING

92% TO PROGRAMS

*100% of administrative expenses are funded by private donors.

INCOME & EXPENSE REVENUE & SUPPORT

$2,695,433

Contributions

1,695,669

Special Events

51,073

Gifts-in-Kind

948,690

EXPENSES

$2,366,613

Program Services: Missions and Missionary Programs

1,552,730

Expeditions and Local Campaigns

587,596

Supporting Services: General & Administrative

226,286

NET ASSETS – END OF YEAR

$488,278

Net Assets – Beginning of Year

490,392

Financials | 23

511 E. TRAVELERS TRAIL, BURNSVILLE, MN 55337

GALA OCTOBER 14, 2016

VENTURE.ORG/GALA 24 | Miles