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:
- Fourteen ministries have been added into the database, including Reformation Bible College—which has made headlines in recent months for its association with St. Andrew’s Church and the upheaval related to the public “excommunication” of Dr. Stephen Nichols. RBC receives a ‘Withhold Giving’ Donor Confidence Score in part because of board composition, because it does not file a Form 990, and because it does not post audited financials on its website.
- Four ministries dropped into the bottom 40% for financial efficiency compared with other ministries in their respective sectors, also dropping their Donor Confidence Scores: Cornerstone Assistance Network (Relief & Development), Evangelical Child and Family Agency (Adoption/Foster Care), Holt International Children’s Services (Adoption/Foster Care), and Kansas City Christian School Association (K-12 Schools/Academies).
- One ministry jumped to 5 Stars this week, meaning it is in the top 20% for financial efficiency compared with other ministries in its sector: Anabaptist Foundation (Christian Foundations).
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, although there were no changes this week. Check it all out below.
With that, here are this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:
NJ Pastor and ‘Prophet’ Indicted on Sex Trafficking and Forced Labor Charges
By Kim Roberts. Treva Edwards, 61, and his wife Christine, 64, were both included in the indictment. According to the Department of Justice, Edwards and his wife were pastors of a church they named “Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost” and operated out of an apartment building.
McLean Bible Church Lawsuit Lives On
By Kim Roberts. A Virginia appellate court has allowed a civil case against McLean Bible Church, led by David Platt, to continue. In a decision issued last week, a three-judge panel sent the case back to the lower court for more inquiries about the application of the First Amendment.
Church Leaders Sued for Alleged $200M ‘Sham’ Drug Program
By Bob Smietana. A group of leaders in the Church of God in Christ have been accused in a lawsuit of defrauding a major pharmaceutical company out of more than $200 million in rebates for diabetes drugs.
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:
Lenawee Christian Ministries / The Centre (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)
New Braunfels Christian Academy (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Nightlight Christian Adoptions — (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
North Valley Christian Academy (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)
Pacifica Christian High School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
Reformation Bible College (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 37)
Second Presbyterian Church Foundation (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
The Christ School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
The Rescue Mission of Tacoma (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Trinity Academy of Raleigh (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 60)
Trinity Christian Academy Foundation (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
WAM – Witnessing as Ministry (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 60)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Administer Justice (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
All God’s Children International (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)
Reinstated as a member in good standing with the ECFA.
Anabaptist Foundation (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 85)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.
Brother Bryan Rescue Mission (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 51 to 56)
Board contains at least 5 members and no more than 12 members.
Childcare Worldwide (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector.
Christian Appalachian Project (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
Cornerstone Assistance Network (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Durham Rescue Mission (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Echo, Inc. (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 75)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Eugene Mission (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/ sector.
Evangelical Child and Family Agency (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care 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% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Holt International Children’s Services (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 88 to 68)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Jesus House (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 70)
Now in to 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters 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.
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On The MinistryWatch Podcast
COGIC Scandal, Sports Gambling and the Church, McLean Bible Church
On today’s program, a new lawsuit claims that church leaders participated in a $200 million ‘sham’ drug program. We’ll take a look.
Plus, sports gambling. Online sports betting continues to explode, causing all kinds of fallout…but many churches have decided it’s not a battle worth fighting. We’ll have details.
And, this week’s look at private jet usage by pastors and ministries.
But first, the lawsuit against McLean Bible Church lives to see another day.
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.