EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to include a response from Orange County Rescue Mission about its resignation from the ECFA.
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, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.
A few notable changes in the database this week:
- Because Barnabas Aid International has taken great measures to increase its transparency and donor confidence, all of its ratings have risen in the MinistryWatch database. Specifically, its Donor Confidence Score increased by 52 points, making it a very highly rated ministry. For more on the changes Barnabas Aid is making, read our recent article here.
- Deaf Bible Society dropped in transparency and donor confidence because it resigned its membership from the ECFA in December 2025.
- Orange County Rescue Mission in Tustin, California, also resigned its membership from the ECFA this week, dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points and placing it in the ‘Exercise Caution’ designation. OCRM President Bryan Crain provided a statement to MinistryWatch explaining the ministry’s decision not to renew its membership. You can read that in full below (scroll past database changes and podcast highlights).
- Cookson Hills Christian School in Kansas, Oklahoma, increased its Transparency Grade to an A after posting audited financials on its website. It now meets all three MinistryWatch criteria for transparency, including filing Form 990s with the IRS, posting audited financials on its website, and being a member of the ECFA.
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:
G.O.D International and Former Leader Sued for Sex Trafficking and Forced Labor
By Kim Roberts. A lawsuit alleging sexual abuse, coercion, and cultlike practices has been filed against Global Outreach Developments International, also known as G.O.D. International. The ministry was founded by Gregg Garner in 1996 and is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Its mission is to equip “a globally conscious community to serve the poor and marginalized through education, advocacy and empowerment, without discrimination, demonstrating unconditional love.”
U.S. Protestant Foreign Missions Enter a Time of Upheaval
By Richard Ostling. These are turbulent times for U.S. Protestant foreign missions. A year ago, World Mission Director Mienda Uriarte announced that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was shifting “to a more integrated and relational approach aimed at more effectively engaging with our changing world.” Translation: After 188 years of illustrious efforts worldwide, the church’s foreign mission agency is disbanding, and the PCUSA would no longer dispatch a corps of career missionaries overseas, though it will continue to help international partners.
Acts 29 VP and Vintage Church Pastor Confesses to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’
By Isaac Wood. A church founder and leader of Acts 29 Network has been removed from his positions of ministry leadership after confessing to an “inappropriate relationship with a woman.”
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week:
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,300 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 recently added to the database:
Anabaptist Financial (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 67)
Central Missionary Clearinghouse (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 75)
Goshen College Inc (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Howard Payne University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Lancaster Bible College (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
North Carolina Wesleyan University (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Orphan Grain Train (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)
Reinhardt University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 70)
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
The King’s Academy (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: N/A)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Barnabas Aid International (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 44 to 96)
Makes audited financials available on website, is now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points—among many other measures to increase transparency and donor confidence.
Baylor University (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: 36)
Posts audited financials on website.
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 66 to 68)
Posts audited financials on website.
Bread for the World Institute, Inc. (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: 70)
Posts audited financials on website.
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 92)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 72 to 75)
Has at least four independent board members for every non-independent member.
Cookson Hills Christian School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: 80)
Files Form 990 with the IRS, posts audited financials on its website, and is a member of the ECFA.
Geneva Camp and Retreat Center (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 92 to 98)
Meets all the standards of donor confidence except posting audited financials on website.
Harvey Cedars Bible Conference Inc (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 71 to 91)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector, also raising its donor confidence by 20 points.
International Fellowship of Evangelical Students USA (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)
Posts audited financials on website.
Lake Geneva Foundation (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 75 to 78)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers, but also earned donor confidence points because it has at least four independent board members for every non-independent member.
Mercy Medical Angels (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: Up 72 to 77)
Posts audited financials on website, and board contains at least 5 members and no more than 12 members.
Modern Day Missions (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 85 to 98)
Posts audited financials on website, and meets all other donor confidence standards except that its board chair is not an independent member of the board.
Moms In Prayer International (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)
Posts audited financials on website.
MorningStar Mission Ministries (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 78 to 98)
Is a member of the ECFA.
Samaritan’s Feet International (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
West Dallas Community School (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Adult & Teen Challenge, USA (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 71 to 69)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Advent Christian Village (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 72)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Asbury University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Bair Lake Bible Camp (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 80 to 78)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Biola University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 69)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Cafe 1040 (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 95)
Board contains less than 5 members or more than 12 members.
Camp Eagle (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 100 to 98)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Cedar Ridge Childrens Home and School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 93)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Colorado Christian University (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 93 to 73)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Deaf Bible Society (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 100 to 80)
Not a member of the ECFA.
Dream Centers of Colorado Springs (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 80 to 78)
Does not post audited financials on website.
First Liberty Institute (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 93)
Does not post audited financials on website.
Orange County Rescue Mission (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 75 to 55)
Resigned its membership from ECFA.
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On The MinistryWatch Podcast
GOD International, ECFA’s LeaderCare Standard, Trey’s Law Goes to Washington
On this week’s program, Global Outreach Developments International—which goes by the name G.O.D. International—is in the hot seat after a lawsuit claims the Nashville-based ministry and its former leader engaged in sex trafficking and forced labor. We’ll have details.
Also, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is rolling out its new LeaderCare standard—we have compiled practical steps to help ministries develop their own plan and come into compliance with the new standard.
Plus, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz proposes taking Trey’s Law to the federal level, making non-disclosure agreements in cases of child sexual abuse unenforceable. And, U.S. Foreign Missions faces a time of upheaval—although elsewhere, cross-cultural ministry remains robust.
But first, a prominent North Carolina pastor and leader with the Acts 29 Network has been removed from leadership after confessing to an “inappropriate relationship.”
ECFA Membership Changes
Removals
Grace Chapel (Englewood, CO)
Child Evangelism Fellowship of Maryland (Windsor Mill, MD)
Orange County Rescue Mission (Tustin, CA)
Stronger Women (Plano, TX)
Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) President Bryan Crain provided MinistryWatch with a statement explaining the ministry’s decision not to renew its membership with the ECFA:
We appreciate the opportunity to provide clarity on Orange County Rescue Mission’s (OCRM) decision not to renew our accreditation with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
OCRM has long valued financial transparency and accountability, and we were pleased to receive consistently positive reviews from ECFA during our membership. However, after careful consideration, we concluded that non-renewal was the most appropriate step for our organization at this time. This decision was made in consultation with and the full support of OCRM’s Board of Directors.
OCRM undergoes an annual independent financial audit conducted by a reputable international CPA firm. The audited financial statements are publicly posted on our website. Their opinions have consistently stated that the financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which provides strong assurance of our fiscal integrity and stewardship.
Additionally, OCRM continues to maintain a four-star rating (100%) with Charity Navigator, the Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid (formerly GuideStar), and the Certificate of Excellence from Citygate Network (formerly the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions).
Thank you for your understanding and continued interest in OCRM’s work.
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