Cross International Soars in Financial Efficiency, Equipping the Persecuted Plummets

And other notable ministry happenings from this week.

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:

• Cross International filed a Form 990 with the IRS, which increased both its Donor Confidence Score and its Transparency Grade. With that, its Financial Efficiency Rating also rose from 0 Stars to 5 Stars.
• Alternately, Equipping the Persecuted had a negative net worth, making it impossible for MinistryWatch to assign it a Financial Efficiency Rating. Because of that, it dropped to 0 Stars, and its Donor Confidence Score fell by 20 points.
• Children to Love International had both an increase and a decrease in its ratings this week. Its Financial Efficiency Rating rose from 4 Stars to 5 Stars, but its Donor Confidence Score fell by 2 points because it does not post audited financials on its website.

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 (there were none this week). Check it all out below.

 

With that, here are three top stories on the MinistryWatch website from this past week:

More Controversy at Bethel Church: Ben Armstrong Placed on Leave

By Kim Roberts. Ben Armstrong, pastor and “Overseer of Prophetic Ministry at Bethel Church, Redding,” was placed on administrative leave February 15 amid new allegations of clergy sexual abuse.

Trey’s Law and the Woman Behind it

By Warren Cole Smith. I started getting emails from Elizabeth Carlock Phillips in February of 2021 — five years ago this month. She wanted to tell me about sex abuse and its coverup at Kanakuk Kamps. That got my attention.

Camp Mystic Families Sue Texas State Officials for Deaths of Children

By Kim Roberts. The repercussions continue from the terrible tragedy at Camp Mystic where 27 campers and counselors died in a flood along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, last July.

 

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:

Arrupe Spirituality (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: 2)

Faith Family Academy Charter Schools (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 65)

Parish Episcopal School (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 70)

Vision for Israel (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 43)

 

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Cross International (Up 0 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 50 to 97)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector after filing a Form 990 with the IRS, which also raised its Donor Confidence Score by 47 points total.

Love Worth Finding Ministries (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 75 to 95)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

OneChild (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 94)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.

Worldlink International Ministries (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 78 to 98)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Aglow International (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 38 to 40)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Audio Scripture Ministries (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Leadership Training sector.

CURE International (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:

Choice Books of Northern Virginia (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 92)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in

Equipping the Persecuted (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 66 to 46)

Dropped to bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Kingdom Advisors (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 97 to 95)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Kinship United (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.

With Ministries (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 65)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support.

Administer Justice (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now in the top 40% (down from top 20%) from for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.

Advent Christian Village (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 72 to 70)

Does not post audited financials on website.

Adventist Development & Relief Agency (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 60)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development.

Asheville Christian Academy (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 80 to 78)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Brookstone Schools (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

Bushnell University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 93)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Cedarville University (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 73 to 71)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Children to Love International (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 100 to 98)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, but also dropped in Donor Confidence because it does not make audited financials available on website.

Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 97 to 95)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

College Golf Fellowship (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 64 to 62)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Concordia University – Mequon, WI (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 66)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Covenant College (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 75 to 73)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Crossfire Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 94 to 92)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Crossover Global (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.

CrossPurpose (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 77 to 75)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

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On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Camp Mystic Families Sue TX Officials, UMCOR Closes Relief Hub, Bethel Church Controversy

On this week’s program, families who lost children at Camp Mystic last year are suing Texas state officials for licensing the camp despite its lack of an evacuation plan. We’ll have details.

And, fundraising on commission—it may seem like a win-win scenario, but experts say the ethical issues outweigh any benefits. We’ll take a look.

Plus, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is closing down one of its central hubs where Methodists have been assembling relief kits since 1996 to send across the country after disasters.

But first, more controversy at Bethel Church in Redding, California.

Listen here. 

 

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 [email protected].  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.