MinistryWatch 1000 Database Tops 1,800 Ministries — and Counting
Plus, 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.
A few notable changes in the database this week:
- Six ministries fell into the bottom 20% for financial efficiency within their respective sectors, including Awana Foundation and Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas, both of which still maintain “Give With Confidence” Donor Confidence Scores. Another, Chicago Hope Academy, now holds a “Withhold Giving” score.
- Eleven new ministries were added into the database this week. The MinistryWatch database now tracks over 1,800 ministries and continues to grow. We hope you’ll check out your favorite ministries and see how they score in efficiency, transparency and donor confidence.
- Christian Light Publications, based out of Harrisonburg, Virginia, rose into the top 60% for financial efficiency within its sector, raising its Donor Confidence Score from an “Exercise Caution” designation to “Give With Confidence.”
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. Check it all out below.
With that, here are this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:
By Warren Cole Smith. The leadership of Christianity Today attempted to put a good face on all the changes happening there. A statement released on Oct. 2 said, “Celebrating the 70th anniversary of its founding, Christianity Today announced a new editorial leadership team to bring together the full scope of its various media platforms.”
By Tony Mator. A years-long effort to provide a retirement safeguard for U.S. clergy has taken another major step forward. On Sept. 30, the Senate unanimously passed the Clergy Act, following the bill’s passage by the House of Representatives in April.
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Settles $12M Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
By Kim Roberts. A sexual abuse survivor has reached a $12 million settlement with Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa after alleging that one of the church’s former leaders raped her 12 times, according to her attorneys.
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Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,700 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $58 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:
Manna Cafe Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)
Maranatha Christian Academy (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)
Now-Forward (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Oakland Christian School (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)
Superchannel (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: 4)
The Church Initiative (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)
The King’s Christian School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
Weatherford Christian School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
West Houston Assistance Ministries (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)
Wild At Heart / Ransomed Heart Ministries (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)
Wilmington Christian School (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
Alliance Defending Freedom (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 78 to 80)
Meets all donor confidence criteria except for its Financial Efficiency Rating.
AsOne Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: Up 88 to 95)
Fell to top 60% for financial efficiency, but meets all three standards for transparency.
Bethel Music (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 44 to 64)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
CBMC, Inc. (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector.
Christian Broadcasting Network (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 71 to 91)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Christian Light Publications (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 56 to 76)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
City for the Nations/ By the Spirit Ministries (Up 2 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 61 to 81)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Covenant College (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 73 to 93)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
African Bible Colleges (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Awana Foundation (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 72)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.
Boston Trinity Academy (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 51)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Buckhorn Children and Family Services (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector.
Capstone Christian Academy (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 65 to 45)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.
Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency for Pro-Life sector.
Chicago Hope Academy (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 48)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Christian Heritage School (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Christian Military Fellowship (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector.
Churches United for the Homeless (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Clarksville Christian School (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Calvary Chapel Pays Huge Settlement, Clergy Act Passes, Top Anti-Trafficking Ministries
On this week’s program, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa — the original Calvary Chapel — just settled a sexual abuse lawsuit for $12 million. We’ll have details.
Plus, a Facebook post is raising questions about Christian radio stations and the ministries they promote.
And, Southern Baptist seminaries see a new generation of leaders take the helm. Southeastern Seminary installed a new president earlier this week.
But first, a big win for pastors who opted out of Social Security years ago and now wish they hadn’t. The Senate just passed the Clergy Act—unanimously. That’s after the House approved it back in April. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk.
The producer for this week’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, Casey Sudduth, and Christina Darnell. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Kadence McKinnon, Tony Mator, Yonat Shimron, Bob Smietana, Aaron Earls, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde.
A special thanks to Lifeway Research and Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado.
Until next time, may God bless you.
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.
