What Lutheran Bible Translators does

Lutheran Bible Translators, Inc. (LBT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization founded in 1964 and headquartered in Concordia, Missouri, on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High School. The organization's core function is Bible translation and Scripture engagement for language communities worldwide that lack Scripture in their heart language. LBT operates a portfolio of active translation programs across at least seven countries — Ethiopia, Tanzania, Botswana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, and Papua New Guinea — covering languages including Assyrian, Themne, Kara, Zayse, Subula, Kukele, Zia, and NOLA. The organization employs a local-leader empowerment model, training missionaries and community translators to own the translation process rather than relying on outside translators, and supplements translation with literacy programs, audio Bible production, and Scripture engagement resources.

LBT's product portfolio consists of Bible Translation Programs, Audio Bible recordings, a podcast, the published God Speaks Book, literacy programs (e.g., Themne Literacy and Scripture Engagement), a Scholarship Fund for local leaders, and a New Mission Exploration Fund for evaluating additional language projects. The organization is a member of the Forum of Bible Agencies International and partners with Illuminations, a Bible engagement platform, to extend digital distribution. Credibility is reinforced by Charity Navigator's 4-star rating, ECFA Charter Member status, and the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency (2024). Core technology is not publicly disclosed, and the operation is fundamentally content- and relationship-driven rather than technology-platform-driven.

LBT's revenue model is donations-only, with no commercial product sales or service pricing. Revenue is generated through individual donors, churches, and partner organizations, channeled via the lbt.org website, social media, email communications, podcasts, and church partner networks. The organization is governed by a board of directors, operates with 11-50 employees, and is not venture-backed. Distribution of mission impact occurs through direct engagement with supporters and field-level delivery of translated Scripture and literacy programs to beneficiary communities.

Name

Lutheran Bible Translators

Legal name

Lutheran Bible Translators, Inc.

Website

https://lbt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lutheran Bible Translators is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1964 that empowers local leaders to translate the Bible and deliver Scripture engagement, literacy, and audio Bible programs to language communities across Africa and Oceania through donations and church partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bible Translation and Scripture Engagement Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL)

Keywords

• Bible translation
• Scripture engagement
• Linguistic fieldwork
• Literacy programs
• Religious nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Concordia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Lutheran Bible Translators is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, churches, and organizations. Supporters can give financially to support Bible translation programs, scholarships, and missionary work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lutheran Bible Translators is a 501(c)(3) ministry partnered with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod that works to make the Word of God, accompanied by prayer, available to all people in languages they can understand. Its work centers on Bible translation, scripture engagement, and supporting translators in the field through donor-funded programs.

Product overview

Lutheran Bible Translators is a non-profit Bible translation organization that operates a portfolio of programs rather than a unified software platform. Their core offering consists of Bible Translation Programs supporting translation teams in various languages (Assyrian, Themne, Kara, Zayse, Subula, Kukele, Zia, and others), complemented by Literacy Programs for Scripture engagement, the Audio Bible for audio access to Scripture, a Podcast for stories and updates, the God Speaks Book for published content, and support services including a Scholarship Fund and Mission Exploration Fund. These offerings work together to fulfill the mission of bringing God's Word to communities in their heart languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bible translation ministry Core offering: translating the Word of God into languages that communities can understand, accompanied by prayer support. Targeted at language communities worldwide and supported by individual donors and LCMS congregations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,500 communities still waiting for Bible translation

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Saint Paul Lutheran High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLutheran Bible Translators' international headquarters is located on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia, Missouri. This partnership provides office space and operational support for the organization's global operations.
• Forum of Bible Agencies InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLutheran Bible Translators is a member of the Forum of Bible Agencies International, a network of organizations working together on Bible translation initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lbtorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lbtorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/LutheranBibleTranslators
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lutheran-bible-translators
• Instagraminstagram.com/lutheran_bible_translators

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lutheran Bible Translators