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:
- Two ministries rose into the top 60% for financial efficiency compared with other ministries in their sectors, which also raised their Donor Confidence Scores by 20 points: Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California, and Family Life Ministries in Bath, New York. Family Life now has a perfect Donor Confidence Score of 100.
- Comparatively, three ministries — all K-12 Schools — fell into the bottom 40% in financial efficiency in their sector, dropping their Donor Confidence Scores by 20 points. The list includes Evangelical Christian School of Memphis, Kansas City Christian School Association, and Lake Worth Christian School. Lake Worth Christian School now has an “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. Check it all out below.
With that, here are this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:
TX Man Indicted for $2.2M Faith-Based Fraud
By Kim Roberts. A federal grand jury has indicted a Texas man accused of defrauding victims of $2.2 million through “church flipping” and Christian concert investment schemes.
Merit Street Liquidation Reshapes Dr. Phil’s Fight With Trinity Broadcasting Network
By Jessica Eturralde. When MinistryWatch first reported on the collapse of Dr. Phil McGraw’s Merit Street Media last July, the network had just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and sued Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), its majority owner. But the fight has since moved beyond Merit Street’s claims against TBN.
Robert Sloan Lost a Few Battles, but He Ultimately Won the Way
By Warren Smith. I first met Robert B. Sloan, who died on July 4, at a meeting of conservative activists in 2006 in Houston, right about the time he took over as president of Houston Baptist University. He was something of a rock star in that group, even though he had, in the previous couple of years, been beaten up badly in the media.
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,500 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $55 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 into the database:
Adventist Frontier Missions (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Alabama Christian Academy (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
Augusta Christian School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)
Benjamin’s Hope (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Boston Trinity Academy (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Christian Light Publications (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)
Church at the Park (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)
Gift of Grace Aid (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 69)
GO Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 76)
Grand View Christian School (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
Greensboro Urban Ministry (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 68)
Hudsonville Christian School (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
Loganville Christian Academy (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 75)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Acton Institute for the Study of Religious Liberty (1 Star, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: Up 51 to 53)
Makes audited financials available on website.
Azusa Pacific University (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 35 to 55)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/University sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Christian Medical & Dental Associations / CMDA (1 Star, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 73 to 75)
Makes audited financials available on website.
Family Life Ministries (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Gordon College (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 73)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
City Mission of Schenectady (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
City Rescue Mission Inc (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Evangelical Christian School of Memphis (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 98 to 78)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
First Presbyterian Day School in Macon (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Glory of Zion International Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 57)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
International Cooperating Ministries/ Rosser Foundation (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 75)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Kansas City Christian School Association (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 90 to 70)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Lake Worth Christian School (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 73 to 53)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Lincoln Christian School (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
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‘Free Saeed’ Pastor Loses Custody Battle, Greg Locke, Michael Youssef
On this week’s program, pastor and former religious liberty celebrity Saeed Abedini loses the custody battle over his 5-year-old daughter after being accused of abducting the child from her mother. We’ll have details.
And, embattled pastor Greg Locke tells his church that federal investigators stormed his home weeks ago, claiming they had received reports of financial mismanagement. We’ll take a look.
Plus, the donation of Green Mountain College campus in Vermont falls through — instead it’s been sold to a Florida evangelist with plans to launch “Z University.”
But first, a well-known Christian conservative businessman has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud. Edwin Brant Frost IV could face up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors are calling it a massive, multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme. Frost owned a now-defunct Georgia company called First Liberty Building & Loan. Starting in 2014, he promised investors returns of 8% to 18% on short-term business loans. And investors trusted him — partly because of his Christian reputation.
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.