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 score. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.
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:
Southern Baptist Convention Leaders Address Lack of Funds for Legal Bills
By Bob Smietana. In mid-February, Southern Baptist Convention leaders received grim news. The denomination’s Executive Committee was essentially broke.
By Jessica Eturralde. After six months of silence, pastor and theologian Steven Lawson, 73, who stepped down from ministry following an adultery scandal, has published a public confession admitting his sin and repentance.
Former Gateway Pastor Robert Morris Indicted by Oklahoma Grand Jury
By Kim Roberts. Gateway Church founding pastor Robert Morris has been indicted by a grand jury in Oklahoma for five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child.
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,000 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 with upgraded ratings:
GoServ Global (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 90)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Heifer Project International (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 44 to 46)
HOPE South Florida (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 97)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector.
Impact Productions (Up 3 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 65)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector.
MANNA Worldwide (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 88 to 90)
Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center (Up 2 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 48 to 68)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Pennsylvania Family Institute (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 75 to 95)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Pro-life sector.
Habitat for Humanity International (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 46 to 44)
Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 64)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector.
Kalamazoo Area Christian Retirement Association, dba Park Village Pines (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 95 to 75)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
Lake Geneva Foundation (Down 5 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 93 to 73)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.
Lifeline Christian Mission (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 87 to 67)
Now in bottom for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Living Stream Ministry (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 56 to 36)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Lutheran Bible Translators (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector.
Lutheran Services in America (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
Museum of the Bible (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 68 to 66)
National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.
National Christian Foundation Real Property Inc. (Down 5 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 58 to 38)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
New Generations (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 92 to 72)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
New Life Camp (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 78)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Operation Care International (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 98 to 78)
Now in bottom for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly (Down 4 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 68 to 48)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Rabbit Room Inc / The Rabbit Room (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 69 to 49)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
SBC Financial Challenges, Oklahoma Bible-Buying Plan Halted,
On today’s program, the Southern Baptist Convention says the Department of Justice has wrapped up its investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse cases by its pastors and leaders. We’ll take a look.
Also, evangelical ministry leaders hold a vigil to protest the Trump Administration’s defunding of foreign aid. Plus, one ministry whose funding was canceled…then reinstated…but its operations remain in limbo. We’ll have details.
But first, Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction is asking Americans to donate money to send Bibles into public school classrooms, though the Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked his efforts.
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 Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
ADDITIONS:
Confidential Care Mobile Ministry (Millington, TN)
The Bridge Haiti (Blue Springs, MO)
Christian Foundation of America (Westlake Village, CA)
Star Gospel Mission (Charleston, SC)
Jerusalem University College (Xenia, OH)
Life Collective (Chattanooga, TN)
Door Creek Church (Madison, WI)
Boomerangs Resale Store (Madison, WI)
Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, IN)
Ron Blue Institute for Financial Planning (Marion, IN)
Wesleyan Retirement Center (Marion, IN)
IWU Accelerator (Indianapolis, IN)
Christian Foundation of the West (Westlake Village, CA)
The Open Door Adoption Agency (Thomasville, GA)
An Open Door Adoption Agency (Thomasville, GA)
REMOVALS
Central India Christian Mission (Indianapolis, IN)
Advice About Giving
Hurricane Helene Giving. Western North Carolina is slowly recovering, but it will need help for months if not years ahead. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Hurricane Helene-affected areas. We’ve also included some tips for making decisions about how and where you should give. To see this article, click here.
To see our complete coverage of Hurricane Helene relief efforts, click here.
Ukraine Giving. If you want to give specifically to ministries working in and near Ukraine, click here. We posted this link before, but we’ve added a few new ministries recently.
Israel Giving. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Israel that we recommend. You will also find some ministries working there that we do NOT recommend. You can find the list here.
A Guide To Giving For Disaster Relief. When disaster hits, Christians give. But where they give can make a big difference? Which organizations are most effective in these post-disaster situations? MinistryWatch has published a list of organizations that are doing relief work and which have an “A” Transparency Grade and a 3-, 4-, or 5-star rating for Financial Efficiency. It’s a list of about 30 ministries, and you can find it on the front page of our website. I’ll also include a link in the show notes to this program. Link to list HERE.