WEEKLY REVIEW: Database Changes, Podcast Highlights & More
Downgrades for Grove City College, Healing Hands International; Upgrades for CityGate Network, Deaf Bible Society
Each week, we bring you a list of changes in our MinistryWatch database, where we store financial information for more than 1,000 of the largest ministries in the country. We look at financial efficiency, financial transparency, and donor confidence in hopes of empowering you—the donor—to make wise decisions in stewarding the resources God has given to you. 
This week, we’ve added to that by providing a brief explanation of WHY a ministry score changed. You’ll find those beneath each database listing below. We hope it provides even more clarity.
Now, in case you missed it, here are the top three stories on the MinistryWatch website from this past week:
Samaritan’s Purse Dodges Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze
By Tony Mator. As Christian ministries scramble to discern and communicate the impact of President Trump’s 90-day pause on foreign aid, Samaritan’s Purse wants to assure donors its global poverty-relief and disaster response efforts are secure.
Anglican Priest Calvin Robinson Dismissed Over Nazi-Like Salute
By Kathryn Post. Robinson’s salute occurred Saturday at the end of his appearance at the National Pro-Life Summit, where he praised Americans for “fighting for life.”
NC Church Closes Doors, Uses IRS Mandate to Bless 75+ Charities
By Jessica Eturralde. In 2024, a century-old church chose to close and sell its property, including its 40,000-square-foot facility, and give their earnings to charity.
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,000 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $44-billion in total revenue, most of that donor revenue from evangelicals. The following ministries have their profiles updated with the most recent year’s financial data. The Financial Efficiency rating of each ministry is in parenthesis. If this rating represents a change from the previous year, that change is noted:
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Children’s Relief International (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)
Children’s Relief International now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
CityGate Network / Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
CityGate Network now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Deaf Bible Society (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)
Deaf Bible Society now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector, which also raised its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Design Outreach (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 73)
Design Outreach now in top 80% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Entrust (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 65 to 85)
Entrust now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Leadership Training sector, which also raised its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Good News Communications Inc / MOVIEGUIDE (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 55)
Good News Communications now in top 80% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector.
GoServ Global (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 90)
GoServ Global now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Heaven’s Family (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Heaven’s Family now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Chinese Christian Mission (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)
Chinese Christian Mission does not make its audited financial statements available on its website.
Cho-Yeh Camp and Conference Center (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)
Cho-Yeh Camp is now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)
Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Christian Solidarity International (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 76)
Christian Solidarity International now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Church World Service (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 66)
Church World Service now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
City Rescue Mission of New Castle (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 30)
City Rescue Mission of New Castle does not file Form 990 and does not make audited financials available on its website.
Cornerstone Christian Academy (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 93)
Cornerstone does not make audited financials available on its website.
Family Radio / Family Stations, Inc. (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 48)
Family Radio now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector.
Global Christian Relief (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 75 to 55)
Global Christian Relief now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector, which also dropped donor confidence score by 20 points.
Grove City College (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 64)
Grove City College is not an ECFA member, and does not make audited financials available on its website.
Healing Hands International (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 77)
Healing Hands fell into bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, which dropped its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Helps Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Helps Ministries now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.
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On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Catch up on this week’s ministry-related news in 30 minutes, including IHOPKC and Mike Bickle, Samaritan’s Purse Dodges Freeze on Aid, plus 50 Largest Relief and Development Ministries.
On today’s program, an independent investigation into the International House of Prayer in Kansas City and its founder Mike Bickle was released this week, finding 17 cases of abuse leveled against him.
Samaritan’s Purse dodges the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid. Other ministries—especially those working to resettle refugees—aren’t faring as well, however. Many face furloughs as they scramble to support the thousands of refugees already in the United States depending on them for rent and basic necessities. We’ll take a look.
And, the 50 largest relief and development ministries in the MinistryWatch database.
But first, Church of the Highlands founding pastor Chris Hodges announced Sunday that he is stepping down as lead pastor.
ECFA Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
ADDITIONS:
AIO Productions, LLC (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
First Priority of Johnston City (Clayton, North Carolina)
Venture Christian Academy (Los Gatos, California)
REMOVALS:
Los Gatos Christian Church (Los Gatos, California)
Trinity Church of Lubbock (Lubbock, Texas) – MEMBER
Trinity Christian School (Lubbock, Texas)
For Her (previously Heartline) (Lubbock, Texas)
Love Lubbock (Lubbock, Texas)
Advice About Giving
Hurricane Helene Giving. Western North Carolina is slowly recovering, but it will need help for months if not years ahead. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Hurricane Helene-affected areas. We’ve also included some tips for making decisions about how and where you should give. To see this article, click here.
To see our complete coverage of Hurricane Helene relief efforts, click here.
Ukraine Giving. If you want to give specifically to ministries working in and near Ukraine, click here. We posted this link before, but we’ve added a few new ministries recently.
Israel Giving. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Israel that we recommend. You will also find some ministries working there that we do NOT recommend. You can find the list here.
