Southwest Baptist University Ratings Rise, Taylor University Ratings Fall

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:

• Southwest Baptist University jumped from 2 to 4 Stars — meaning its financial efficiency jumped from the bottom 40% compared with other colleges and universities to now being in the top 40%.
• Alternately, two organizations dropped by 40% for financial efficiency within their respective sectors: Taylor University fell from the top 40% down to the bottom 40% compared with other colleges and universities. New Braunfels Christian Academy in Texas fell from the top 20% to being in the top 60% compared with other K-12 schools.
• Six ministries joined the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability this week. Check them all out below. MinistryWatch believes membership in the ECFA is a “best practice” for Christian ministries, especially organizations with more than $1 million in annual revenue. For that reason, ECFA membership weighs heavily on a ministry’s ratings in the MinistryWatch 1000 database.

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:

Orange Releases Sexual Misconduct Investigation Findings

By Kim Roberts. After the resignations of Christian curriculum company Orange’s CEO Kristen Ivy and founder Reggie Joiner — following allegations of sexual misconduct in April 2024 — the company’s board agreed to a full investigation into the matter.

Bethel Cuts Ties With Four Ministry Leaders

By Kim Roberts.  Bethel Church will no longer platform Todd Bentley, Mike Bickle , Shawn Bolz, or Bob Hartley, according to an update posted on the church’s website May 28.

SBC Annual Meeting Puts Core Tensions on Display

By Bob Smietana.  Over the past decade, members of the Southern Baptist Convention have touted the denomination’s diversity, sought to keep sexual abusers away from churches and passed statements advocating for immigration reform and a path to legal status for those in the country without authorization.

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

MinistryWatch Database Changes

MinistryWatch now has more than 1,500 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $55 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 into the database:

Pasadena Christian School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)

Phillips Theological Seminary (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 48)

Project Rescue Foundation (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Restoration House Ministries (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 33)

Restoration Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Rosehill Christian School (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 74)

Shiloh Christian School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 70)

United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 50)

Youthway Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 65)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Feed The Children (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 69 to 71)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Mississippi Christian University (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 64 to 66)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector. Also, refrains from using NDAs.

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

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Open Doors International USA Inc. (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 60)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector.

Regent University (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 91)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Southwest Baptist University (Up 2 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 47 to 67)

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

UnfoldingWord (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)

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

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Good News Rescue Mission (Down 2 to 1 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 55)

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

GraceWorks (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 70)

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

Hilton Head Christian Academy (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 78 to 58)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

Liberty HealthShare (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Healthcare Sharing sector.

Mission Eurasia (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

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

Mully Children’s Family USA (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

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

Nashville Rescue Mission (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)

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

New Braunfels Christian Academy (Down 5 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Now in top 60% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

Second Presbyterian Church Foundation (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 68 to 48)

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

Taylor University (Down 4 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 89 to 69)

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

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Orange Investigation Released, Bethel Church Cuts Ties, and Willy Rice to Lead the SBC

On this week’s program, Christian curriculum publisher Orange has released investigation findings after its founder was accused of sexual misconduct—and it’s highlighting key lessons other ministries can learn. We’ll take a look.

Plus, the 2026 annual meeting for the Southern Baptist Convention was this week, putting some core tensions on display. From sexual abuse reforms to immigration and women preachers, Southern Baptists faced defining votes. We’ll have details.

And, two big ministry acquisitions to announce—Salem Media Group and Phoenix Seminary.

But first, Bethel Church in Redding, California, is cutting ties with four big-name ministry leaders.

Listen here.

ECFA Membership Changes

Additions

Agape Asia (Chattanooga, TN)

Cornerstone Christian Church (Wyckoff, NJ)

Evans Training Center (Wellford, SC)

Orphan Relief and Rescue (Burien, WA)

Church of the City New York (New York, NY)

Resurrection House (Sarasota, FL)

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.