WEEKLY REVIEW: Snapshot of Top Ministry Happenings From This Past Week
Upgrades for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, The Roys Report; downgrades for TBN, The Urban Alternative/Tony Evans
Here at MinistryWatch, one of our goals is to equip donors with the information they need to make wise decisions with their giving. That’s why we manage our database, which rates more than 1,000 of the country’s largest ministries based on their financial efficiency, financial transparency, and their donor confidence score. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.
We also highlight stories from our podcast, where you can catch up on the week’s news in less than 30 minutes—perfect for a commute or walk. We highly recommend ministries join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which is why we list organizations that have either joined ECFA in the past week or been removed. Check it all out below.
With that, here are three top stories on the MinistryWatch website from this past week:
USAID Unfreezes $19M for Samaritan’s Purse
By Tony Mator. Samaritan’s Purse has confirmed that $19 million in frozen USAID funds has been released to the ministry. Payments to the North Carolina-based evangelical aid organization had been stalled since January, when President Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all federal foreign aid.
Former Gateway Pastor Robert Morris Indicted by Oklahoma Grand Jury
By Kim Roberts. Gateway Church founding pastor Robert Morris has been indicted by a grand jury in Oklahoma for five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. On Monday, he turned himself in to authorities.
CA Pastor Charged With Scamming Friends, Nonprofit out of $230K
By Tony Mator. Terrance Elliot was already a convicted felon when he became pastor of Aboard the Ship of Zion in San Bernardino, California. Now, he faces 11 new felonies and a possible 20-year prison sentence.
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:
Spoken Worldwide (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
Dropped from bottom 40% to bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector.
Stand to Reason (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)
Up from top 60% to top 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Standing Stone Ministry (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 78 to 98)
Up from top 80% to top 60% for financial efficiency in Leadership Training sector, which also raised its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (Up 3 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Up from top 60% to top 20% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.
The Firs Bible & Missionary Conference (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)
Up from top 60% to top 40% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.
The Rescue Mission, Fort Wayne (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 68 to 88)
Up from bottom 40% to top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
The Roys Report (From N/A to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 60 to 80)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
The Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association (Up 0 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 71)
Now in top 80% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.
White’s Residential and Family Services / Josiah Whites (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 75 to 95)
Up from top 80% to top 60% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Whole Word Institute (Up 0 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 78 to 98)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Winston-Salem Rescue Mission (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Up from bottom 20% to bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector.
With God All Things Are Possible / ATP Ministries (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 70)
Up from bottom 20% to bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
World Evangelical Alliance (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)
Up from top 40% to top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
YWAM Ships Kona (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 83)
Up from top 60% to top 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Serge (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Dropped from top 40% to top 60% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Shepherds Theological Seminary (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 93)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
The Urban Alternative / Tony Evans (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 48)
Dropped from bottom 40% to bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector.
Trinity Broadcasting Network / TBN (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 45 to 25)
Dropped from top 60% to top 80% for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Trinity Forum, Inc. (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Down from top 40% to top 60% for financial efficiency in Leadership Training sector.
Turlock Gospel Mission (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Down from top 20% to top 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector.
With Open Eyes Foundation (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 63)
Down from bottom 40% to bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.
Word of Life Fellowship (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Down from top 40% to top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Robert Morris, USAID and Samaritan’s Purse, Steve Lawson
On this week’s program, Gateway Church founder Robert Morris turns himself into authorities after a grand jury indicted him on child sexual abuse charges. And, USAID unfreezes $19 million in funds for Samaritan’s Purse. Plus, nearly 200 ministries do NOT file a Form 990 with the IRS. We have that list, and many of the largest ministries in the country are on it.
But first, prominent pastor and theologian Steve Lawson breaks his silence six months after news surfaced that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. Lawson, 73, who stepped down from ministry following an adultery scandal, has published a public confession admitting his sin and repentance.
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
ECFA Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
ADDITIONS:
American Leprosy Missions (Greenville, SC)
REMOVALS
ThriVe St. Louis (Saint Louis, MO)
Vanguard University of Southern California (Costa Mesa, CA)
Global Hope India (Raleigh, NC)
LifeLight Communications (Sioux Falls, SD)
Carry the Water NC (Morrisville, NC)
Alternate Avenues Women’s Resource Center (Fontana, CA)
Assure Pregnancy Clinic (Fontana, CA)
Josiah White’s (Wabash, IN)
Compass Rose Academy (Wabash, IN)
White’s Residential and Family Services (Wabash, IN)
Southern California Youth For Christ (Long Beach, CA)
Drop A Dime On Us. Do you have a story idea for MinistryWatch? If so, send us an email. A lot of the stories we do originate from our readers and listeners. They send us news tips, press releases, emails, questions, and links. So, if you have a story you’d like us to cover, or a ministry that you think needs a closer look, please email us. Our email is [email protected]. That will come directly to the desk of MinistryWatch President Warren Smith, and we’ll take it from there.
MinistryWatch and Sex Crimes. We write a lot about pastors and ministry leaders involved in sex crimes. That’s why we thought it might be a good time to re-post this story, which explains why we think covering these crimes are necessary: Why MinistryWatch Reports on Sex Crimes. As always, your feedback is welcome.
MinistryWatch Video. In closing, a reminder that we have created a short (3.5 minutes) video that explains what we do here at MinistryWatch, and why. If you’re new to MinistryWatch, we hope you’ll check it out. To find it, click here.
