MinistryWatch Index Flat in November
Index tracks revenue of large Christian ministries
ANALYSIS–The MinistryWatch Index remained essentially flat during the month of November.
The MinistryWatch Index is based on the revenue of 38 of the largest Christian ministries in the nation, ministries that represent all of the 21 ministry segments tracked by MinistryWatch. This month’s sidways move came after a significant drop in October was due to the release of new financial information from four of these ministries that saw declines in revenue from 2022 to 2023. Those ministries are:
Samaritan’s Purse $110,535,545 decline in revenue
Church World Service $66,448,128 decline in revenue
Children’s Hunger Fund $42,160,540 decline in revenue
Food for the Poor $37,432,943 decline in revenue
That said, most ministries that make up the MinistryWatch Index continued to grow in 2024, albeit much more slowly than in 2023. In 2023 the Index grew 24.1 percent. This year that growth has been 7.8 percent.
The relatively slow growth of the MinistryWatch Index for 2024 could suggest concern about the future of the economy.
A recent survey conducted by MinistryWatch of ministry executives found that fundraising has now replaced finding and recruiting staff as their top leadership concern. This concern seems well-founded. A recent survey found that giving by evangelicals is down.
Other studies, especially those by Giving USA, suggest that philanthropic giving correlates closely to the rise and fall in value of the major stock markets. (Note that this relationship is correlative and not causative.)
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The stock markets have experienced a recent surge, with all three major indices (Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq) hitting record levels. Year to date through November 30 (the period tracked by the MinistryWatch Index), the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up just 16.2 percent. All the major indices have seen significant volatility this year. The Dow has seen two corrections this year greater than five percent, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ fell 12 percent from mid-July to early August, though it has since recovered those losses.
To read more about how we compile the MinistryWatch Index, click here.
