ThriVe St. Louis, Valley Christian Schools Drop in Financial Efficiency

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 Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas, fell into the bottom 40% for financial efficiency compared with other schools in the K-12 Schools/Academies sector. That change also dropped its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points. It now has an ‘Exercise Caution’ designation.
• Stoneybrooke Christian Schools in San Juan Capistrano, California, rose into the top 40% for financial efficiency in the K-12 Schools/Academies sector. Meanwhile, Winter Haven Christian School in Winter Haven, Florida, fell into the top 40% (down from the top 20%). Both schools have near-perfect Donor Confidence Scores of 98.
• Both ThriVe St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri, and Valley Christian Schools in Chandler, Arizona, fell into the bottom 20% for financial efficiency in their respective sectors. Both have Donor Confidence Scores that place them in the “Exercise Caution” category.

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:

UMC Texas Conference Sues Highland Park Methodist

By Kadence McKinnon. The Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church filed a lawsuit Aug. 10 against Highland Park Methodist Church, claiming church leadership is attempting to sever ties with the denomination through changes to its bylaws.

Metro World Child Founder Resigns Amid Allegations

By Neva Piombino. Pastor Bill Wilson has left his position at global Sunday school ministry Metro World Child following allegations of misconduct after nearly five decades at the helm.

Multiple Ministries Sever Ties With Arrested Pastor

By Stacey Horton. Kenneth Baldwin, 47, the former senior pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia, has been arrested and charged with sexually explicit communication and conduct with a minor from York County, Pennsylvania, that allegedly started when the male victim was 15.

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 with upgraded ratings:

Southern Wesleyan University (Stars: Up 2 to 3, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 53 to 73)

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

Stoneybrooke Christian Schools (Stars: Up 3 to 4, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

The Rescue Mission of Tacoma (Stars: Up 3 to 4, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

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

United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia (Stars: Up 1 to 2, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 50)

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

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Seattle Pacific University (Stars: Down 4 to 3, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 57)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Southwest Christian School (Stars: Down 4 to 2, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 51)

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

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

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

Star of Hope Mission (Stars: 1, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 75 to 73)

CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of the median compensation.

ThriVe St. Louis (Stars: Down 2 to 1, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.

Trinity Presbyterian School (Stars: Down 3 to 2, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 75 to 55)

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

Valley Christian Schools (Stars: Down 3 to 1, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 76 to 56)

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

Winter Haven Christian School (Stars: Down 5 to 4, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Johnny Hunt Lawsuit Dismissed, United Methodists Sue One of its Churches, and an Arizona Church is Embezzled

On this week’s program, a federal judge has dismissed the last remaining claim in Johnny Hunt’s defamation lawsuit, marking the end of a contentious legal battle. He had sued the Southern Baptist Convention and others back in 2023.

And, a Texas church is sued by the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church over its bylaw changes.

Plus, water filters open doors to share the gospel with vulnerable people around the world.

But first, a story out of Tucson, Arizona. Warren, tell us what’s going on at GracePointe Church. Arizona authorities have arrested a former finance manager at GracePointe Church on felony charges. Her name is Tracey Jorgensen. She’s 61 years old. Court documents say Jorgensen stole church funds for five years — from 2020 to 2025. The total is more than $356,000.

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 Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Michaela Gordoni, Kim Roberts, Kadence McKinnon, Kathryn Post, and Makella Knowles.

Until next time, may God bless you.

Listen here.

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.

ECFA Membership Changes

Additions

MENA Leadership Center (Greenville, SC)

Boys and Girls Bible Clubs (Southfield, MI)

Single MOMM (Traverse City, MI)

Cultivate Global (Stromsburg, NE)

Reality Sports Foundation (Sumner, WA)

Grace Community Church (Universal City, TX)

Compass Asia (Clearwater, FL)

Love INC Des Moines (Des Moines, IA)

C3 Tri-Cities (Richland, WA)

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.