gates international

What gates international does

East Gates International (legal name East Gates Ministries International, EGMI) is a 501(c)(3) interdenominational nonprofit religious organization founded around 1988 and headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, near the Seattle/Tacoma area. The organization is dedicated to serving the Church in China through four core service areas: legal Bible distribution, training and discipleship, building and equipping churches, and social welfare. It maintains an Asian regional headquarters through wholly-owned subsidiary EG Hong Kong Ltd in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, and operates field operations across China.

The organization's competitive positioning rests on a 1992/1994 regulatory agreement with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), the China Christian Council (CCC), and the United Bible Societies that allows it to legally distribute Bibles printed at Amity Printing Press in Nanjing to House Church Christians with explicit government approval, capped at 500,000 Bibles annually. By 2018, East Gates had distributed over 4.5 million Bibles through 70+ distribution centers spanning every Chinese province, and had established 200+ Christian mini-libraries in home meeting points since 1997. Beyond Bible distribution, the organization runs pastoral training programs in multiple provinces, assists with church construction in rural areas, conducts Marriage Enrichment Retreats in cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Hangzhou, and operates social welfare programs including elderly Christian homes and a vagrant ministry partnership near Ningbo, Zhejiang.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and charitable contributions from individuals, churches, and partner organizations, supplemented by modest sales of Chinese-language Christian books ($5–$28 per title), audio resources (free MP3 collections such as Blessing Your Spirit), and ministry support items (e.g., $50 bicycles for Chinese pastors). Leadership is anchored by President Ned Graham (son of Billy Graham), Director of Operations Christina K. Graham, and a board including Treasurer Peter M. Lee. The organization is affiliated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and operates with no parent company, no venture or private equity backing, and no institutional investment.

Name

gates international

Legal name

East Gates Ministries International (EGMI)

Website

https://eastgates.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Short description

East Gates International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Church in China through legal Bible distribution, pastoral training, church building, and social welfare programs. Founded around 1988, it operates from the US and Hong Kong into all of China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Nonprofit Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAA

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Bible distribution ministry
• Christian nonprofit services
• Pastoral training programs
• Church planting assistance
• Faith-based social welfare

Headquarters

HQ city

Issaquah

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, East Gates International raises funds through prayers and donations from individuals, churches, and organizations to support Bible distribution, training programs, church building projects, and social welfare initiatives in China.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

East Gates International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that legally distributes Bibles to House Church and registered church Christians in China through a partnership with Amity Printing Press and the China Christian Council. It also delivers pastoral and lay training programs, assists with rural church construction and equipping, and runs social welfare initiatives including elderly care and homeless ministry. Auxiliary revenue comes from sales of Christian books, Bibles, and Mandarin-language audio resources that support its ministry.

Product overview

East Gates International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization serving the Church in China through four core service areas: Legal Bible Distribution, Training and Discipleship, Building and Equipping Churches, and Social Welfare. The organization distributes printed Bibles legally through partnerships with the Amity Printing Press and Chinese government-affiliated organizations. It provides training programs for pastors and church workers, assists with church construction in rural areas, and operates social welfare programs for the elderly and homeless. East Gates also produces and distributes Christian educational resources including the Blessing Your Spirit Mandarin audio collection and multiple Christian books translated into Chinese.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Bible Distribution Legal distribution of printed Bibles (hardback and leather editions) to House Church and Open Church believers in China through partnerships with Amity Printing Press and the China Christian Council. Recipients are individual Chinese Christians and the network leaders who steward distribution.
• Training and Discipleship Pastoral and lay training programs for Chinese pastors, lay trainers, and church workers covering theology, leadership, spiritual healing, prayer, family counseling, and worship. Includes Marriage Enrichment Retreats delivered in cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Aiji, Zibo, and Hangzhou.
• Building and Equipping Churches Direct assistance to churches for rebuilding, equipping, and restoring church facilities in rural and underserved areas of China. Beneficiaries are local church congregations and pastors needing physical worship space.
• Social Welfare Social programs including Christian elderly care facilities, homeless/vagrant ministry (shelter, food, employment assistance, Bible studies), and support for vulnerable populations in China. Operated through partner ministries such as the vagrant ministry near Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
• Mini-Libraries Project Establishment of Christian mini-libraries in home meeting points throughout China, providing Bibles, quality Christian reference books, and devotionals to house church Christians.
• Blessing Your Spirit (MP3 Audio Collection) Audio collection of 21 blessings in Mandarin Chinese taken from Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burke's book 'Blessing Your Spirit', available as free MP3 downloads for Christian caregivers, families, and Chinese-speaking audiences.
• The Basics (Christian Education Resource) Free foundational Christian education resource covering key topics including sin, redemption, the Cross, Holy Spirit, faith, prayer, and preparation for Christ's return.
• Behold the Man (Study Textbook) Study textbook examining Jesus as a Jewish rabbi and risen Savior, exploring His Jewish roots and rabbinic teaching methods. Sold at US$20.00.
• A Different God (Book) Treatise on God's covenant with Israel, addressing Replacement Theology and God's purpose for both Israel and the Church. Sold at US$5.00.
• For the Family (Prayer Resource) Prayer resource helping families and believers develop effective prayer lives based on principles from Sylvia Gunter's Prayer Portions. Sold at US$7.00 with US$2.00 shipping.
• Prayer Portions (Prayer Resource) Comprehensive 365-page prayer resource covering praise, repentance, warfare, personal prayer, intercession, and featuring over 365 Names of God. Sold at US$28.00.
• Just As I Am (Billy Graham Autobiography, Chinese) Billy Graham's autobiography translated into Chinese as a 10-year translation project for Chinese-speaking readers. Sold at US$25.00 with US$5.00 shipping.
• Peacemaker (Book) Biblical approach to conflict resolution by Ken Sande, presenting practical theology for unity and harmony within the Body of Christ.
• Listening to the Language of the Bible (Book) Guide to over 60 biblical words and phrases explained from Jewish cultural context by Professor Lois Tverberg and Bruce Okkema.
• Sitting At the Feet of Rabbi Jesus (Book) Book by Lois Tverberg and Anne Spangler exploring Jewish cultural norms of Jesus' time and their relevance to Chinese believers. Sold at US$15.00.
• Taste of Torah (Devotional Commentary) Devotional commentary on the Torah by Keren Hannah Pryor, gleaning wisdom from Jewish sages and Christian thinking. Sold at US$15.00 with US$3.00 shipping.
• While Men Slept (Book) Dr. L. Nelson Bell's admonition to the Church regarding spiritual vigilance based on Matthew 13:25. Sold at US$10.00 suggested donation with US$4.00 shipping.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4.5 million Bibles legally distributed to House Church Christians
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amity Printing PresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished in 1988, Amity Printing Press in Nanjing prints Bibles and Christian literature for distribution throughout China. East Gates works with Amity to fulfill Bible orders for house church Christians. By end of 2016, Amity had printed 200 million Bibles, making China the second largest Bible publisher in the world.
• China Christian Council (CCC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdministrative and social arm of TSPM that handles Bible distribution, theological training promotion, and relations with overseas churches. East Gates coordinates Bible distribution through CCC networks.
• Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernmental body overseeing Protestant Christianity in China. East Gates signed historic agreement in 1992/1994 with TSPM to distribute Bibles to house church Christians legally with government approval.
• United Bible SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Bible society partnership involved in the 1992 agreement that allowed East Gates to sell up to 500,000 Bibles annually to house church Christians.
• Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuation of Billy and Ruth Graham's heart and ministry to China. East Gates serves as the expression of their passion for reaching China alongside BGEA.
• Lotus Buds InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiated the Blessing Your Spirit CD project, working to encourage, support and educate families in China to adopt their own orphans. They approached East Gates to produce the CD for nannies and caregivers in orphanages.
• Radio Bible ClassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Gates helped Radio Bible Class print and distribute 'Our Daily Bread' publication in China.
• Josh McDowell MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Gates assisted in publishing and distributing 'More Than a Carpenter' and 'Evidence That Demands a Verdict' materials in China.
• American Bible SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partner involved in Bible translation and distribution work in China, including translation assistance by Dr. Moses Hsu.
• Inner Varsity, The Navigators, Kairos Ministries, DoulosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious Christian organizations East Gates has partnered with over the years to serve the Church in China.
• George and Linda KuominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarriage counselors with Masters degrees and certifications in Family and Marriage counseling who teach Marriage Enrichment Retreats in China in partnership with East Gates.
• Vagrant Ministry (Ningbo, Zhejiang Province)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ministry partnership near Ningbo attending to homeless individuals, providing shelter, food, funds for employment, and Bible studies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Bible Society: Major historic Bible translation and distribution organization with deep involvement in China, including translation work referenced in East Gates' history. Larger and broader portfolio but directly comparable on the Bible-distribution mission.
• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): Large evangelical missions organization with international training, discipleship, and leadership development programs — overlapping with East Gates' training pillar and donor demographic.
• United Bible Societies: Global coalition of Bible societies that co-signed the 1992 agreement enabling East Gates' China work. Directly comparable on Bible distribution and translation, with broader global geographic scope.
• Samaritan's Purse: Large evangelical humanitarian organization with international operations including Bible-focused programs and church partnerships. Broader portfolio but overlapping evangelical donor base and mission orientation.

Emerging players

• The Navigators: Christian discipleship and leadership training organization with international programs including China-focused work. Comparable in training/mentorship pillar and evangelical donor base, though with broader global footprint.

Direct peers

• Open Doors: International nonprofit serving persecuted Christians in over 60 countries including China, with Bible distribution, training, and church-strengthening programs. Highly comparable mission, donor base, and operational model to East Gates.
• Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Evangelistic association with which East Gates holds a formal strategic partnership, sharing the Graham family legacy and overlapping Christian outreach into China. Direct mission and donor alignment.
• Voice of the Martyrs: Faith-based nonprofit supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, including direct ministry into restricted-access countries like China. Operates a comparable donations-and-partnerships model with Bible distribution, training, and family support programs — overlapping functionally and demographically with East Gates.
• Gospel for Asia: Faith-based nonprofit serving Asia with Bible distribution, missionary support, and humanitarian programs. Directly comparable mission, beneficiary geography, and donation-driven operating model.
• China Partner: US-based ministry focused on serving the church in China through evangelism, training, and leadership development. Directly comparable in mission, beneficiary base, and donor-funded operational model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-gates-ministries-intl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 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 gates international