Motor Racing Outreach Rises Into ‘Give With Confidence’ Designation

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:

• A number of Form 990s processed through the MinistryWatch database this month, shifting ratings for a variety of ministries. Two of them rose into the top 40% for financial efficiency compared with other ministries in their respective sectors, also raising their Donor Confidence Scores. Motor Racing Outreach in Concord, N.C., now has a Give With Confidence score, and JAARS — a mission aviation ministry headquartered in Waxhaw, N.C. — has a nearly perfect Donor Confidence Score of 97 out of 100.
• Comparatively, two ministries saw their financial efficiency ratings drop significantly, negatively impacting their Donor Confidence Scores. Adventist Development & Relief Agency dropped into the Withhold Giving category for donor confidence after falling into the bottom 20% for financial efficiency. Blessman International fell from being in the top 40% for financial efficiency in the Foreign Missions sector to being in the bottom 20%.
• Three ministries voluntarily resigned their memberships from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) this past week. See that list below.

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. And we note ministries who have recently joined or left the ECFA. Check it all out below.

With that, here are this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:

Tebow, Groeschel Suspend Ties to Life Surge Events

By Bob Smietana. The pastor of one of the nation’s largest churches will no longer speak at Life Surge, a series of Christian leadership and finance events accused of pressuring attendees into taking on thousands in debt.

New Details Emerge in Days’ Abuse Case

By Bob Smietana. More details have emerged regarding the arrests of Christian author and influencer Heather Thompson Day and her husband, Seth Day, a Christian college professor. The two were arrested last week and charged with allegedly harming a child. Seth Day was also charged with alleged sexual abuse.

Ministry Spotlight: Campbellsville University

By Makella Knowles. Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky, recently fell out of the top 50 in the Colleges and Universities sector after its revenue dropped by about $26 million in 2025.

Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.

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 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:

Arlington Baptist University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Asian Hope (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Aucilla Christian Academy (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Christian Camps and Conferences (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 73)

Covenant House New Orleans (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)

David’s House Ministries (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Dayspring Christian Academy (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Ezell-Harding Christian School (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)

Family Christian Association of America (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)

Holy Cross Christian Academy (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 55)

Lutheran Outdoor Ministry (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 92)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.

City Rescue Mission Inc (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

Destiny Rescue USA (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)

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

Frontier Alliance International Inc. (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.

JAARS (Up 2 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 77 to 97)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Mission Aviation sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Jackson Christian School (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies.

Motor Racing Outreach (Up 2 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 50 to 70)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector, also raising its Donor Confidence by 20 points.

Northwest Assistance Ministries (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 68)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.

Pregnancy Resource Center (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)

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

Refuge of Hope Ministries (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 50 to 70)

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

The Academy of Arts (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.

Veritas Christian Academy of Houston (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 78 to 76)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies.

Water Mission (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

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

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Adventist Development & Relief Agency (Down 4 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 60 to 40)

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

Arctic Barnabas Ministries (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)

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

Atlantic Gateway Communications (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector.

Blessman International (Down 4 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 96 to 76)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 77)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

Glory of Zion International Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 57)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.

Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector.

Grace Adventures (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.

Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. / IMA World Health (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 68)

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

Joni and Friends (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)

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

Lake Ann Camp (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.

Love a Child (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 80 to 60)

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

ServeNow (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)

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

SIL Global (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 79 to 59)

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

SOS International (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.

Total Living Network/TLN Media (Down 2 to N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 76)

This ministry has a negative net worth, dropping its Financial Efficiency Rating to zero stars.

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Ep. 649: Tim Tebow, Craig Groeschel, Heather Thompson Day, David Sills/SBC Lawsuit

On this week’s program, Tim Tebow and Pastor Craig Groeschel are among some big names suspending ties with Life Surge amid claims the Christian finance ministry pressured people at their events to take on thousands in debt. We’ll have details.

Plus, two Christian media ministries are clashing over the word “Hope” — and are battling their trademark claims in court. We’ll take a look.

And, a judge has dismissed most of the claims in former professor David Sill’s case against the Southern Baptist Convention and its leaders.

But first, a popular Christian author and her husband are facing serious charges this week. Heather Thompson Day is a popular speaker and author across the broader Christian community, not just her own denomination. She’s written 10 books, including a bestseller called “I’ll See You Tomorrow.” She also hosted a Christianity Today podcast called “Viral Jesus” and writes a weekly devotional with 10,000 subscribers. She and her husband, Seth Day, have been arrested on alleged child abuse charges.

The producer for today’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 Bob Smietana, Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, and Michaela Gordoni.

Until next time, may God bless you.

Listen here.

 

ECFA Membership Changes

Removals

Hines Ugandan Ministries (Littleton, CO)

Score International (Chattanooga, TN)

Life Choices of Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant, MI)

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.