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:
Furtick’s Elevation Church Revenue Down, In-Person Membership Flat
By Kim Roberts. According to its annual report for 2024, Elevation Church led by Steven Furtick had less income in 2024 than it did in 2023. Total revenue from tithes and offerings for the multi-campus megachurch was $91.35 million and the year-end offering brought in $10 million. This represents a decrease from the $108 million in tithes and offerings reported the previous year.
Willow Creek Pastor Dave Dummitt to Step Down
By Bob Smietana. David Dummitt, who became pastor of Willow Creek Church at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Sunday (March 23) that he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch. Leaders also named his successor.
Two PCA Pastors Charged With Crimes in Past Month
By Kim Roberts. Two pastors in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), one from Mississippi and one from Florida, are facing serious criminal charges for statutory rape and vehicular homicide respectively.
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:
Alliance Defending Freedom (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector.
Awana Foundation (Up 3 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 90)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.
Bair Lake Bible Camp (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.
Camp Eagle (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 78 to 98)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Christ for All Nations (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 65 to 85)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
CityGate Network / Association of Gospel Rescue Mission (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Decision Point (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.
Eternal Perspective Ministries / Randy Alcorn (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Africa Renewal Ministries (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
American Bible Society (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 75 to 73)
CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
American Center for Law and Justice (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 61 to 59)
Does not make audited financials available on website, nor is CEO/President’s compensation within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
AnGel Ministries / Anne Graham Lotz (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 56)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Bibles for the World (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 78)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Camp Allen Camp and Conference Center (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 44 to 42)
Does not make audited financials available on website, nor is CEO/President’s compensation within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
Children of the Nations (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
David C. Cook (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 53 to 51)
Does not make audited financials available on website, nor is CEO/President’s compensation within one standard deviation of the median compensation.
Denver Rescue Mission (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Downtown Rescue Mission Inc. (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
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.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Willow Creek, Elevation, Trey’s Law, and AI in the Church
On today’s program, Willow Creek Pastor Dave Dummit announced this week he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch. Leaders have also named his successor. And, revenue is down for Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church, while in-person membership is flat. We’ll take a closer look at the church’s 2024 annual report. Plus, the state of the church—Barna Group released its new report showing men have outpaced women in church attendance, reversing a longstanding trend. We’ll have details.
But first, more churches are leaving what’s known as ‘the Network,’ led by Steve Morgan. Nearly half of the congregations that have been associated with a “Network” of churches overseen by Pastor Steve Morgan have either publicly announced their departure or removed any reference to the network from their websites.
ECFA Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
ADDITIONS:
Family Life Communications Incorporated
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.