Radio Training Network, Living Hope Intl Leave ECFA

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:

• Children to Love International, who cares for orphans and at-risk children in five countries, and Katy Christian Ministries, an anti-poverty group out of Katy, Texas, both rose into the top 20% for financial efficiency within their sectors.
• Six ministries voluntarily resigned from the ECFA in the past week, including Radio Training Network and Living Hope International.
• Barnabas Aid International and Christian Community Foundation (aka Waterstone) both rose into the top 60% for financial efficiency in their sectors, raising their Donor Confidence Scores into the 90s — strong ‘Give With Confidence’ designations.

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:

 

Gateway Church Wins Defamation Appeal

By Kim Roberts. Gateway Church and its leaders won their appeal to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought against them by Cindy Clemishire.

John MacArthur’s Replacement Announced

By Warren Cole Smith. WORLD and other news outlets are reporting that “Grace Community Church in California affirmed a new senior pastor, more than a year after the death of renowned theologian John MacArthur.” 

Resigned Elders Return to Lead SC Church Amid Sex Offender Scandal

By Kim Roberts. Elders who had previously resigned from Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) amid a scandal will help the church “recover and move forward,” the church said in an email to the congregation.

 

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:

Aurora Christian Schools (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Chicago Hope Academy (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 48)

Christian Heritage School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)

Cornerstone Rescue Mission (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Florida United Methodist Foundation (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 48)

Grace Cascade Christian Schools (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Holy Family Ministries (1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 50)

Jackson Christian School (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

 

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Barnabas Aid International (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 76 to 96)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Better Together (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: Up 71 to 73)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Children to Love International (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.

Christian Community Foundation, dba WaterStone (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 73 to 93)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Katy Christian Ministries (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 92)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.

Key Life Network (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 79 to 80)

Could not find audited financials on website, but organization does have a statement of faith consistent with historic Christian creeds easily found on its website.

MANNA Worldwide (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 90)

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

Operation Blessing (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)

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

 

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Cambridge Christian School (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

Dallas International University (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 77)

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

Davar Audio Bibles (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: Down 100 to 98)

Could not find audited financials available on website.

MorningStar Mission Ministries (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 98 to 78)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Oklahoma Christian School (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.

 

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Gateway Church, Free Burma Rangers, James Robison’s LIFE Outreach International

On this week’s program, Gateway Church wins its appeal to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by child sexual abuse survivor Cindy Clemishire. We’ll have details.

Plus, frontline missionaries with Free Burma Rangers are helping Burmese villagers clear landmines and reclaim their homes, one field at a time. We’ll take a look.

And, LIFE Outreach International unseats Liberty University as this months’ top user of private aircraft. It’s the latest in our Pastors & Planes series.

But first, an anti-trafficking group is stepping into a very different line of work. Our Rescue, formerly known as Operation Underground Railroad, just landed a $158 million federal contract. The group will provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. That’s a big shift for them.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Neva Piombino, Marci Seither, Michaela Gordoni, Christina Darnell, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde.

Until next time, may God bless you.

Listen here.

 

ECFA Membership Changes

Removals

Radio Training Network (Lakeland, FL)

Northwest Baptist Foundation (Vancouver, WA)

YWAM Tyler (Garden Valley, TX)

Living Hope International – USA (West Bend, WI)

The Prayer Covenant (New Albany, OH)

Terebinth Refuge (Waite Park, MN)

 

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.