Ministry Spotlight: Life Action Ministries

This Michigan retreat ministry's Transparency Grade fell to a D after it stopped filing Form 990s.

Life Action Ministries has not filed a Form 990 since 2023, as MinistryWatch reported in June. As a result, the ministry fell into the “Exercise Caution” category with a Donor Confidence Score of 50, and its Transparency Grade dropped from a C to a D.

Photo via Facebook @Life Action

Based in Buchanan, Mich., Life Action Ministries is a church retreat and event-planning ministry with its own campsite. For more than 50 years, Life Action’s goal has been “helping churches, families, and Christian leaders move toward revival, vitality, and their mission with Jesus.” The ministry carries out that mission “through relationships, church experiences, camps, retreats, and resources.”

Life Action has been a faithful member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) since 1989. Its revenue reportedly fell from 2024 to 2025, and its operating deficit over the last three reported years now exceeds $2 million.

Life Action’s ECFA Member Profile provides some financial information, but it does not offer the scope that a full Form 990 would. The 990 highlights revenue, expenses, fundraising costs and executive salaries. While a growing number of Christian ministries no longer file Form 990, MinistryWatch subtracts 25 points from a ministry’s Donor Confidence Score and a full letter grade from its Transparency Grade for ministries that don’t.

A ministry also cannot receive a Financial Efficiency rating without a publicly available, updated Form 990. MinistryWatch considers filing a Form 990 with the IRS a matter of transparency and stewardship.

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Stacey Martin, Life Action’s marketing director, explained the reason behind the ministry’s decision to stop filing: “Life Action is classified by the IRS as a church and, as such, is not required to file Form 990. While we do not file that form, financial transparency and accountability with our partners are of the utmost importance to us. We provide financial information to our partners upon request.”

MinistryWatch has reported on the growing trend of ministries requesting this reclassification with the IRS, including recent spotlights on World Gospel Mission, Messenger International, and LIFE Outreach International.

Despite the lower rating, Martin pointed to areas of growth this year: “This summer, 353 families joined us for weeklong Family Camp experiences at our property in southwest Michigan. Donor generosity provided scholarships for families who otherwise may not have been able to attend, and one donor made it possible to dedicate an entire week of camp to Transformation Ministries, which serves under-resourced youth and families in South Bend, Indiana.”

Life Action’s D Transparency Grade reflects its decision not to file a Form 990 or post audited financial statements — though its continued ECFA membership offers donors some measure of accountability.

MinistryWatch Donor Confidence Score: 50 (out of a possible 100) “Exercise Caution”

MinistryWatch Financial Efficiency Rating: This ministry has not been rated.

MinistryWatch Transparency Grade: D

ECFA Member? Yes

Revenue in Most Recent Year Available: $19,695,195

Five-Year Revenue Trend: Increasing (by about 26%)

Percent of Revenue Spent on Fundraising: 6%

Percent of Revenue Peer Group Spends on Fundraising: 3%

CEO/President: John Avant

President’s Salary and Other Compensation: $187,038

A complete MinistryWatch profile for Life Action Ministries can be found here.