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Awakening Lives to World Missions

EIN 47-3102959 · Albuquerque, NM

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceFair58 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Awakening Lives to World Missions (ALWM) International carries out ongoing, fruitful, life changing ministry in Bangladesh, Belarus, Cambodia, Kenya, Laos, Myanmar, Tanzania, Thailand & Vietnam through our ministry partners, missionaries and strategic projects in each country. We operate schools, build wells, carry out medical / evangelism ministry, plant churches, train leaders and more, varying country to country based on the ministry and needs of our partners. Our primary focus is on taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard. we also equip churches for purposeful obedience to God's Call to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).

Income
$431,790
Spending
$424,133
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$75,000, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 0 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (11)
  1. $70,158 spent. ALWM Cambodia is a registered NGO in that country. We built and operate two schools and help support the work of 56 churches and ministries in Cambodia and a neighboring country that can't be named here. We are also raising funds for a new youth and leadership training center that will serve our leadhttps://efile.form990.org/Images/Main/form990-left.jpgership needs for Cambodia and surrounding countries with more restrictive governments for Christian Outreach.
  2. $26,825 spent. Our Ministry ALWM Vietnam, known locally as Vital Links for Humanity, provides medical / evangelism resources for rural congregations and provinces that lack basic medical care and clean water. We also train community leaders in churches to provide basic health services where healthcare is limited. We also build wells and water filtration systems. We have ongoing works with more than two dozen congregations, with more added each year as we expand outward from Ho Chi Minh City.
  3. $40,987 spent. We work in Laos and Thailand through Pastor Tom Thorstad, a western missionary sent by ALWM to serve in the region. He and his wife carry out a variety of Christian ministry activities in both countries in partnership with the Lao Evangelical Church, as well as seminaries in the region. Other activities can not be described in this public forum
  4. $29,320 spent. We work with ALWM / NALC Global Worker rev. Dagaga Gemachu and the Oromo Christian Fellowship in Nairobi, Kenya. The thriving ministry there works on two fronts: first, ministering to refugees fleeing Ethiopia and heading to somewhere safe and free in Europe or North America. In the interim these refugees are fed, taught and encouraged! We also have a major ongoing outreach in norther Kenya among the Borana people, a predominantly Muslim nomadic people. More than 8100 people heard the gospel, with more than 1700 coming to Christ! Pastor Dagaga and OCFN have planted 16 congregations among them over the past 10+ years.
  5. $26,603 spent. We work with Belarus Lutheran Missionary Fellowship and Pastor Valery Hryhoryk in Belarus, helping fund their outreach ministry, music ministry, and social outreach among teens, children, the handicapped, Ukrainian refugees and more. Some of the work can not be described in this public document
  6. $30,329 spent. We partner with Global Worker Rev. Martin Lalthangliana and the Lutheran Church of Myanmar to help this 2000+ member church body navigate the civil war and help facilitate ministry. We provide relief funds, leadership training resources, and fund discipleship and evangelism projects as the Lord provides.
  7. $16,182 spent. Domestic and International ministry travel for preaching, teaching and ministering to our teams included the Summer mission trip to SE Asia and also a fall trip to Visit our ministries in Kenya and Tanzania. In addition there as domestic travel and ministry in 7 states and also two major National gatherings (LCMC and NALC)
  8. $7,017 spent. We also carried out smaller program ministry with the publication of Celebrating Global Mission Magazine, a digital publication, as well as earthquake relief funds for Turkey via former missionaries.
  9. $19,935 spent. We work in partnership with ALWM Global Worker Swapon Sarker and the now 12 congregations of the Bangladesh Evangelical Lutheran Church. We provide ministry resources as the Lord provides including discipleship training, 2 motorcycles for the evangelists to broaden their sphere of ministry beyond bus routes, and build wells and water filtration systems at our partner village churches as the Lord provides. We built three in 2025.
  10. $11,986 spent. We work with ALWM Global Worker Randall STubbs, a western missionary who has served in Tanzania for 20 years in music ministry, capacity building for evangelism, and leadership development!
  11. $11,651 spent. We sponsor a short term mission trip each year to SE Asia. In 2025 a team of 5 ministered in Vietnam along with our ALWM Vital Links medical team providing support services, dental supplies, free reading glasses, and children's ministry for 330 children at the outreach in Kanh Vinh Province. We also ministered in Cambodia leading a 3 day English Bible Camp at the ALWM Mission School in Preah Vihear. 73 children attended, including 23 Muslim children!

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2018.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.