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. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes.
A few notable changes in the database this week:
- Six ministries voluntarily resigned from the ECFA in the past week, including A21, Compass, and Christian Heritage. Phoenix Seminary, however, was removed from the ECFA for merging with a nonmember after being acquired by Biola University. Alternately, nine ministries joined the ECFA in that same period.
- Haven of Rest Ministries in Anderson, South Carolina, has earned perfect ratings in the MinistryWatch database, with the highest Financial Efficiency Rating, an A Transparency Grade, and a Donor Confidence Score of 100.
- Cherry Street Mission Ministries in Toledo, Ohio, in the Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, fell into the bottom 40% for financial efficiency, dropping its Donor Confidence Score into the “Exercise Caution” designation.
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. And we note ministries who have recently joined or left the ECFA. Check it all out below.
With that, here are this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:
Former Youth Minister Charged With Alleged Abuse of Boys
By Kim Roberts. Jeffrey Turner Taylor, former youth minister at The Falls Church in Northern Virginia, has been indicted on federal charges of enticing minors to engage in illegal sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity with minors.
Survivors Build Database of Accused Abusers
By Kadence McKinnon. A new multidenominational database aims to identify, track and expose abusers within the Christian church.
Former Remnant Fellowship Leader Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud
By Neva Piombino. A Brentwood, Tennessee, optometrist and church leader pleaded guilty to a $7 million health care fraud scheme and received a 42-month prison sentence, according to a Sept. 14 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,700 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $58 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 recently added to the database:
AsOne Ministries (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Capstone Christian Academy (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 45)
Central Christian School of Kidron, OH (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
Cornerstone Christian Academy in Willoughby Hills, OH (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)
CROS Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 77)
Fellowship Adventures (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
Gospelink (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 9)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Arizona Christian University — (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)
Catholic Medical Mission Board / CMMB — (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 66 to 70)
Convoy of Hope — (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 32 to 45)
Feed The Children — (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 71 to 75)
Haven of Rest Ministries – Anderson — (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 95 to 100)
Hope for Haiti’s Children — (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 77 to 80)
Operation Blessing — (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS 93)
Redeemer City to City — (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS 77)
Springs Rescue Mission — (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)
Wycliffe Bible Translators — (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS Up 48 to 53)
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
California Baptist University — (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 65 to 63)
Cherry Street Mission Ministries — (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 70 to 50)
Fellowship Christian School – Roswell, GA — (1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 77 to 60)
Global Outreach Developments International/G.O.D. International — (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 65 to 45)
Jubilee Ministries — (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 95 to 78)
Rowan Helping Ministries — (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Sean Feucht Ministries — (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: Down D to F, DCS 19)
Timothy Christian Schools — (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS 65)
Union University — (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS 95)
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Doug Wilson, Zoning Laws and Ministries, New Anti-Trafficking Credentialing Program
On this week’s program, the college founded by Doug Wilson is in a zoning battle with the city of Moscow, Idaho — and it may be part of a larger trend. We’ll have details. And, a new credentialing program looks to close the gap in the world of anti-trafficking — equipping survivors to support other survivors. We’ll take a look. Plus, Liberty University reclaims the top spot as the biggest user of private aircraft — it’s our latest edition of Pastors & Planes.
But first, a Christian recovery ministry in Florida that once had the full support of local officials is now fighting to stay open.
The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, Casey Sudduth, and Christina Darnell. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Neva Piombino, Jeanne L. Allert, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde.
A special thanks to The Institute for Survivor Care for contributing material for this week’s podcast.
Until next time, may God bless you.
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 Membership Changes
Additions
Global Ahead (Frederick, MD)
promoteHumility (Warrenville, IL)
Life Impact International (Broken Arrow, OK)
Friends of Kijabe (Charlotte, NC)
SWAN: Scaling Walls a Note at a Time (Lyndell, PA)
GO Movement (Minneapolis, MN)
Kerusomen Gospel Ministries (Lake Worth, FL)
Unfaulted Corporation (Keller, TX)
Carey International Pastoral Training USA (Woodstock, IL)
Removals
Phoenix Seminary (Scottsdale, AZ)
Christian Heritage (Walton, NE)
Little Lambs Ministry (Carol Stream, IL)
A21 (Fort Worth, TX)
Compass (Kearney, NE)
Healing Thine Hearts Ministries (Prosper, TX)
Teach The Story (Richardson, TX)
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 info@ministrywatch.com. 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.