WEEKLY REVIEW

Snapshot of top happenings from this past 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 score. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.

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:

St. Andrew’s Chapel Delays Vote on Leaving PCA

By Kim Roberts. St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, was scheduled to vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) on Sunday, July 20. Instead, the congregation referred the matter to the church’s board of elders, also known as its session, to study the situation and return with a recommendation, according to ByFaith Online, the publication of the PCA.

Richmond Road Baptist Killings Point to Troubling Trend

By Tony Mator. When Beverly Gumm and her daughter, Christina Combs, were fatally shot at a small rural church in Lexington, Kentucky, they became the latest victims of a growing problem that is raising alarm among pastors, advocacy groups, and even the FBI. That problem—a rise in violence targeting houses of worship—has spawned a cottage industry of organizations offering ways to keep churches safe.

Christian Ministries Will Rue the Day the Johnson Amendment Is Repealed

By Warren Cole Smith. In a recent court filing, the IRS said the-so called Johnson Amendment, which bars all nonprofits from being involved in political campaigns, should not apply to political speech during religious services. The IRS decision still awaits a judge’s approval, but – if it comes – it will be a major victory for the Trump Administration and the fulfillment of a promise to at least one segment of his political base…There is, however, another perspective.

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:

Illuminations Foundation (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

The Relevate Group, DBA Thing Media (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 48)

Your Move Collective (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 93)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

American Bible Society (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 73 to 75)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Atlanta Mission (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 70 to 72)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Boston Rescue Mission (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 48 to 50)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Crown College (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 73)

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

Evangel University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 61 to 63)

Refrains from use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).

Family Life Radio / Intentional Life Media (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 63 to 65)

Makes audited financials available on website.

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

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottoms 20%) for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector.

Juanita Bynum International (Up 2 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 27 to 47)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Louisiana Christian University (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 48 to 68)

Now in top 60% (up from bottom 40%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Oral Roberts University (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 89)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

San Diego Rescue Mission (Up 1 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 72 to 92)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.

The Sheepfold (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

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

Wyoming Rescue Mission (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 78 to 80)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Asia Harvest (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

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

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

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.

Awana Foundation (Down 5 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 90 to 70)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Eternal Perspective Ministries / Randy Alcorn (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.

Kentucky Mountain Bible College (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)

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

North Greenville University (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Trinity International University (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Uncharted Ministries (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

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

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On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Burk Parsons and St. Andrew’s Chapel, Church Security, Child Evangelism Fellowship Pursues Ambitious Goal

On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We’ll have details.

And, the murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We’ll take a look.

Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update.

But first, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch.

Listen here. 

ECFA Changes

The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. 

REMOVALS:

Twelve 12 Ministries (Plano, TX)

Capitol Commission – Maryland (Raleigh, NC)

Capitol Commission – West Virginia (Charleston, WV)

Multiplication Network (Sauk Village, IL)

Child/Orphan Care

Mainland China Mission Intl (Montgomeryville, PA)

ADDITIONS:

Joni and Friends – Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)

Joni and Friends – Georgia (Buford, GA)

Joni and Friends – Florida (Orlando, 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.