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:
- Seven ministries have resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability in the past two weeks, two of which are in the MinistryWatch database — Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef in Atlanta, Georgia, and Fellowship Christian School in Roswell, Georgia. They both resigned voluntarily, according to the ECFA webpage citing membership changes.
- Five Christian schools were added into the database, including Lafayette Christian School (LaGrange, Ga.), Lake Worth Christian School (Boynton Beach, Fla.), Lanier Christian Academy (Flowery Branch, Ga.), Lighthouse Christian School (Gig Harbor, Wash.), and Rehoboth Christian School (Rehoboth, N.M.). Only one is in the “Give With Confidence” category. Check out their ratings below.
- Four ministries rose into the top 40% for financial efficiency compared with other ministries in their respective sectors, including MANNA Worldwide (Relief & Development) and Urban Youth Impact (K-12 Schools/Academies).
- Three ministries fell into the bottom 40% for financial efficiency, also dropping their Donor Confidence Scores by 20 points, including Rescue Mission, Fort Wayne (Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters), Pacific Justice Institute (Advocacy), and Lighthouse Ministries (Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters).
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:
Arkansas Church Resolves Sexual Abuse Civil Case
By Robert Mineo. Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, one of the largest churches in the state, has settled a nearly two-year-old sexual abuse lawsuit through its insurance carrier. The case involved Reagan Danielle Gray, a female volunteer accused of assaulting a 15-year-old boy from the church’s youth group.
Federal Court Removes Plaintiff From Ballard Sexual Misconduct Case
By Kim Roberts. A federal court has dismissed Celeste Borys,Tim Ballard’s former assistant, from a lawsuit she filed against him, according to Courthouse News Service. Borys and five other women sued Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, in federal court, alleging sexually inappropriate conduct and violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003.
MinistryWatch 1000 Database: Withhold Giving From These Ministries
By Kim Roberts. In the MinistryWatch 1000 database, 249 ministries earn a Donor Confidence Score (DCS) of 49 or below—a designation we believe warrants withholding donations.
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:
Lafayette Christian School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)
Lake Worth Christian School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
Lanier Christian Academy (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)
Lighthouse Christian School (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 50)
Mission Springs Camps and Conference Center (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: 23)
Northwest Assistance Ministries (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 68)
Praying Pelican Missions (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)
Rehoboth Christian School (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
The Little Light House (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
MANNA Worldwide (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 90)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Oklahoma Christian School (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Phoenix Seminary (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Timothy Christian Schools (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 65)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Urban Youth Impact (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 97)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Vanguard University of Southern California (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 69)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Kingdom Advisors (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector.
Lighthouse Ministries, Inc. (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 77)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: Down 92 to 90)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Muncie Mission Ministries (1 Star, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: Down 55 to 53)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
National Day of Prayer Task Force (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector.
Olympia Union Gospel Mission (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: Down 78 to 76)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Pacific Justice Institute (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 97 to 77)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
The Rescue Mission, Fort Wayne (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 88 to 68) Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Trinity Christian Academy – Addison, TX (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 96)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Veritas Christian Academy of Houston (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Wesleyan School Inc. (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Westminster Rescue Mission (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: Down 75 to 73)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
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On The MinistryWatch Podcast
OUR’s Tim Ballard, Child Safety at Christian Schools, Our Annual “Withhold Giving” List
On this week’s program, one of the women accusing Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard of sexual misconduct has been dropped from the case for gathering evidence illegally. We’ll have details.
Plus, a hard look at child safety policies at Christian schools. What actually happens when a child reports abuse? We’ll take a look.
And, ministries we recommend donors NOT give to.
But first, a church vote in the Texas, Fort Worth area has failed to restore a pastor who allowed his son — a registered sex offender — to serve as a contractor at the church’s affiliated K-through-12 school.
ECFA Membership Changes
Removals
ChangedLives.org (Chattanooga, TN)
Bible Basics International (Port Richey, FL)
Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef (Atlanta, GA)
Fellowship Christian School (Roswell, GA)
The Colossian Forum (Grand Rapids, MI)
Servants Center (Grand Rapids, MI)
Boerne River Church dba Kingdom Building International (Boerne, 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.