On this Date: Church Closure Projection Examined

Plus, Steve Viars removed from leadership, Mike Bickle accused of “serious allegations,” Sewanee petition against Eric Metaxas, and more.

ONE YEAR AGO: On October 22, 2025, MinistryWatch questioned whether 2023 projections by the National Council of Churches that 100,000 churches would close in the coming years was supported by data. Read more here.

TWO YEARS AGO: On October 24, 2024, MinistryWatch reported that Steve Viars, senior pastor of Faith Church, a multi-campus church in Lafayette, Indiana, was removed from his position of leadership due to circumstances surrounding his recent separation from his wife. Viars and Faith Church are prominent names in the biblical counseling movement. Read more here.

THREE YEARS AGO: On October 30, 2023, MinistryWatch reported that Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC), had been accused of “serious allegations including sexual immorality.” Read more here. The full coverage of Mike Bickle and IHOP-KC can be found here.

FIVE YEARS AGO: On October 28, 2021, MinistryWatch reported that hundreds of students, faculty, and alumni of Sewanee, University of the South, a private Episcopal institution in Tennessee commonly known as Sewanee, signed a petition calling for the school to revoke an honorary degree it gave to evangelical radio host and author Eric Metaxas, citing comments he allegedly made regarding LGBTQ issues and the 2020 election. Read more here.

SIX YEARS AGO: On October 28, 2020, MinistryWatch reported that former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. announced a lawsuit against Liberty University, saying the school damaged his reputation after his resignation. In July 2024, Liberty and Falwell Jr. announced they had reached an agreement to settle all outstanding disputes and lawsuits between the two parties. Read more here.

SEVEN YEARS AGO:  On November 4, 2019, MinistryWatch reported that James MacDonald was “biblically disqualified” from eldership at Harvest Bible Chapel. Although he had been disqualified, MacDonald preached at Calvary Chapel South Bay in March 2020. Read more here.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO:  On November 2, 2013, MinistryWatch published a “Donor Alert” regarding Elevation Church and Steven Furtick. Read that story here. MinistryWatch has published other stories on Furtick and Elevation Church over the years. You can find them here.

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