Trail Life USA Joins MinistryWatch’s List of Shining Lights

And 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, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.

A few notable changes in the database this week:

• Trail Life USA and Faith Builders Educational Programs both joined the ranks of MinistryWatch’s Shining Lights, meaning they have earned the highest rankings in each of our three categories—financial efficiency, financial transparency, and donor confidence. To learn more about how we determine rankings, click on the links above.
• Christian Worship Hour is among a growing crowd of ministries, including American Family Association and Focus on the Family, who are reclassifying their nonprofits as ‘churches’ with the IRS and not filing a Form 990. Because of this, its financial efficiency, financial transparency, and donor confidence ratings fell substantially.
• Agape Flights, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Gateway Rescue Mission, and Good News Communications each dropped into the bottom 20% for financial efficiency in their respective sectors.

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. We highly recommend ministries join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which is why we list organizations that have either joined ECFA in the past week or been removed. Check it all out below.

With that, here are three top stories on the MinistryWatch website from this past week:

ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood Suspended

By Kathryn Post. Archbishop Steve Wood, who leads the Anglican Church in North America, was inhibited, or temporarily suspended from his ministry, on Sunday (Nov. 16), days after more than 140 clergy in the denomination signed an open letter calling for his inhibition. Wood previously announced he was taking a paid, voluntary leave of absence on Nov. 3, following a series of reports in The Washington Post in which a former church employee and another woman accused Wood of unwelcome sexual advances.

Niños de Mexico Closes Doors After GRACE Report Released

By Kim Roberts. Niños de Mexico, a ministry that operated eight children’s homes in the Mexico City area, has closed its doors. The ministry hired Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of abuse and misconduct raised against Niños de Mexico. 

Duluth Vineyard Affirms Integrity of Interim Pastor John Kliewer After Investigation

By Kim Roberts.  The Duluth Vineyard Church posted a public statement on October 30 to Pastor John Kliewer, acknowledging that allegations against him were unfounded. The church went on to “affirm [his] integrity, [his] leadership, and [his] faithful service to the Duluth Vineyard community.”

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

MinistryWatch Database Changes

MinistryWatch now has more than 1,000 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $44-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:

Charlotte Lozier Institute (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: N/A)

First Fruits of Zion (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 56)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Alberto Mottesi Evangelistic Association (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 65)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.

Christ for All Nations (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 65)

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

Christian Broadcasting Network (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 61 to 81)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Christian Military Fellowship (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 100 to 98)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector; also, dropped two donor confidence points because it does not post audited financial on website.

Educational Media Foundation (dba K-LOVE and Air 1 Radio) (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 78)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector.

Faith Builders Educational Programs (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now has highest ratings in each of our three categories, making it one of MinistryWatch’s Shining Lights.

Geneva Camp and Retreat Center (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 92)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.

In His Image International (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 92)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.

Inspiracom (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 78 to 98)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.

InterFACE Ministries, Inc. / IFACE (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 92)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector.

Trail Life USA (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now has highest ratings in each of our three categories, making it one of MinistryWatch’s Shining Lights.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Agape Flights (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Mission Aviation sector.

American Family Association (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 55 to 53)

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

Camp Eagle (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

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

Campus Outreach SERVE (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 50 to 48)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Charleston Southern University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 69)

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

Child Evangelism Fellowship / CEF (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 75)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.

Christian Worship Hour (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: Down 75 to 55)

Does not file Form 990 with the IRS, so does not rank in financial efficiency, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Cross International (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 52 to 50)

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

Crossway / Good News Publishers (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 61 to 41)

Is no longer a member of the ECFA.

English Language Institute in China (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 90)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.

Focus on the Family (Down 5 to 0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 68 to 48)

Does not file Form 990 with the IRS, so does not rank in financial efficiency, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Front Range Christian School (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.

Gateway Rescue Mission (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)

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

Global Christian Relief (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 55 to 53)

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

Global Service Network (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.

Good News Communications Inc / MOVIEGUIDE (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 55)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Educational Media 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

Vineyard Controversy, ACNA Archbishop Suspended, My Faith Votes

On today’s program, Duluth Vineyard cleared Interim Pastor John Kliewer of misconduct after an investigation found him innocent…but his wife is crying foul, saying Kliewer was forced to sign an NDA as part of his settlement agreement. We’ll have details.

And, a look at where the My Faith Votes is today a year after its former CEO Jason Yates was charged with the possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Plus, another next installment in our occasional series on radical generosity.

But first, the Anglican Church in North America has suspended Archbishop Steve Wood after more than 140 clergy signed an open letter calling for his inhibition.

Listen here.

ECFA Membership Changes

Additions

Portland Rescue Mission (Portland, OR)

Asbury Church (Madison, AL)

LifeWise (Hilliard, OH)

Reflejo (Mequon, WI)

TRIAD (Parker, CO)

RiverWorks (Rockford, MN)

Children’s Ministry Resources International (Bellevue, WA)

BLACKBOX (Parker, CO)

Behind the Scene International (Saint Louis, MO)

College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, MO)

The School of the Ozarks dba College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, MO)

Removals

Cornerstone TeleVision (Wall, PA)

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.