Joni and Friends, Christian Military Fellowship Jump Into ‘Give With Confidence’ Designation

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 score. 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:

• Christian Military Fellowship rose in financial efficiency from 0 stars to 3 stars, and its donor confidence soared from 53 to 98, placing it into a “Give With Confidence” designation. The rise was because it files a Form 990 and is a member of the ECFA.
• Joni and Friends, led by Joni Eareckson Tada, also jumped into a “Give With Confidence” designation with its donor confidence score rising from 63 to 75 after it made audited financials available on its website.
• Healing Hands fell in financial efficiency from 3 stars to 2 stars, also dropping its donor confidence score from 97 to 77, still a “Give With Confidence” designation.

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:

Chicago-Area Megachurch Sued in Sexual Abuse Case

By Kim Roberts.  Plaintiff John Doe has sued First Baptist Church of Geneva, Ill., — also known as Chapelstreet Church — its interim pastor Brian Coffey, and the alleged abuser Don Vanthournout for the sexual abuse of a minor from 2011 to 2018. According to the lawsuit, Vanthournout was placed in positions of leadership, such as youth leader and discipleship group leader at Chapelstreet, where he had access to children.

ACNA in Crisis

By Warren Cole Smith. The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is a small but mighty denomination. To use an expression from boxing, it is a denomination that “punches above its weight.” Founded just 15 years ago, it has grown to more than 1000 congregations and a membership of 120,000.

MinistryWatch 1000 Database: Largest Christian Ministries in the US

By Kim Roberts.  Below is a list of the 50 largest Christian ministries curated from the MinistryWatch 1000 database as of October 29, 2025. The ministries are listed in order of total annual revenue, which ranges from almost $89 million to nearly $1.6 billion.

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.

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 recently added into the database:

Christian Healthcare Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)

Council for Life (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 88)

Rapid Response America (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)

Urban Hope NYC (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 63)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Ananias House (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.

Bethel Music (Up 0 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 17 to 44)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector. Also, it does file a Form 990 with the IRS.

Christian Military Fellowship (Up 0 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 53 to 98)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector. Also, files a Form 990 and is a member of the ECFA.

Heartbeat International (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 66 to 68)

Makes audited financials available on website.

International Fellowship of Evangelical Students USA (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Is a MinistryWatch Shining Light, with the highest ratings in all three categories.

International Needs formerly IN Network USA (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 72 to 92)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector, raising its donor confidence by 20 points.

Joni and Friends (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 63 to 75)

Ministry’s board has no more than 2 non-independent members, and makes audited financials available on website.

Pure Desire Ministries International (Up 0 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 53 to 98)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, and meets all of MinistryWatch’s guidelines for donor confidence except posting audited financials on website.

Restoration of America (Up 0 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 16 to 63)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector, raising its donor confidence score by 20 points. Also files Form 990 with the IRS.

Right Response Ministries (Up 0 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 14 to 59)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, raising its donor confidence by 20 points. Also files Form 990 with the IRS.

Unbound Now (Up 0 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 50 to 95)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Anti-Trafficking sector, raising its donor confidence score by 20 points. Also files Form 990 with the IRS.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Elim Christian Services (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

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

Extreme Response International (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 97)

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

Friends of the Good Samaritans (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

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

Healing Hands International (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 77)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Hope Ministries (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 80 to 78)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Houston Pregnancy Help Center (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.

Institute for Creation Research / ICR (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points. 

Jewish Voice Ministries International (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 53 to 51)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Life Training Institute (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.

Living Proof Ministries (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 87 to 85)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Loving Shepherd Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 94)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Community Sector sector.

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Gen Z and Missions, ACNA’s Archbishop Takes Leave, Churches Deal With Gov’t Shutdown

On this week’s program, an Oklahoma pastor was fired after reporting missing church funds—this, despite the fact that he followed denominational rules in raising his concerns. Now, his bishop has been arrested for embezzlement. We’ll take a look.

And, Gen Z is bringing a new paradigm to traditional missions.  A new report examines what they value—and what they don’t. We’ll have details.

Plus, churches and ministries are working to fill in the gap as SNAP benefits continue to be unpredictable amid the government shutdown.

But first, ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood is taking a leave of absence amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Archbishop Steve Wood, who heads the Anglican Church in North America, is taking a voluntary leave of absence in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and plagiarism. Those allegations will be investigated by a 10-person Board of Inquiry, made up of ACNA clergy and laypeople, that will assess whether there are reasonable grounds to initiate a church trial.

Listen here.

ECFA Membership Changes

Additions

Women’s Resource Medical Centers of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV)

Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry (Grand Rapids, MI)

Removals

Homes of Love (Farragut, TN)

Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the United Methodist Church (Ocean Grove, NJ)

Pursuit Church (Denver, NC)

Rocky Mountain Christian Church (Niwot, CO)

His Heart Foundation (Vancouver, WA)

Children’s Hope (Montgomery, AL)

IHOPE Ministries (Waterloo, IA)

Motor Racing Outreach (Concord, NC)

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.

MAIN PHOTO: L to R: Joni Eareckson Tada (Video screenshot) / Chapelstreet Church / ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood (Video screenshot via RNS)