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:

Seminary Admin Charged With Distributing Child Pornography

By Kim Roberts. A federal complaint for charges of distributing child pornography has been issued against Michael Deckinga, the vice president of advancement at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana.

Samaritan’s Purse Joins Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s Aid Efforts in Gaza

By Yonat Shimron. After struggling for months to find partners to help them deliver aid to Gaza, the embattled Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has picked up a collaborator — Samaritan’s Purse, the international Christian disaster relief organization headed by the Rev. Franklin Graham.

‘Apostle’ David E. Taylor Arrested for Forced Labor and Money Laundering

By Kim Roberts. David E. Taylor, the self-proclaimed apostle and leader of Kingdom of God Global Church and Joshua Media Ministries, has been arrested in a “nationwide takedown of their forced labor organization,” according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release.

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 with upgraded ratings:

Haggai International (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 73 to 75)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Home School Legal Defense Association (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 76 to 78)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Hope Media Group / KSBJ (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 76 to 78)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Human Coalition (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 90 to 92)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Josiah Venture (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 93 to 95)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Maranatha Volunteers International (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 66 to 68)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Mercy Community Healthcare (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 73 to 75)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 48 to 50)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Novo Mission (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 45 to 47)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Palmer Home for Children (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 66 to 68)

Makes audited financials available on website.

The A21 Campaign (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 70 to 72)

Makes audited financials available on website.

The Master’s Academy of Central Florida (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Trinity Christian School of Fairfax (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 93 to 95)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Western Christian Schools (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 91 to 93)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Life Pacific University (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 48 to 46)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Ligonier Ministries / R.C. Sproul (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 35 to 33)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Louisiana Christian University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 68 to 66)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Messenger International (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 33 to 31)

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

Multnomah University (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 75 to 55)

Is not a member of the ECFA. 

Nora Lam Chinese Ministries International (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Down 4 to 2)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Sean Feucht Ministries (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Down 21 to 19)

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

Sozo Children (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 75 to 73)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Down 23 to 21)

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

XO Marriage (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Down 8 to 6)

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

Youth Haven (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 92 to 90)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

YWAM San Diego / Baja (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 35 to 33)

Does not make audited financials available on website. 

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

David E. Taylor Arrested, Kentucky Church Encourages Members to Take Library Books, Flagship SBC Church Sells Property

On this week’s program, David E. Taylor—the self-appointed apostle of Kingdom of God Global Church and head of Joshua Media Ministries—was arrested this week for forced labor and money laundering. If convicted, he could face more than 20 years in prison. We’ll have details.

And, a Kentucky church has encouraged their members to check books out of their local library, and not return them—ever. The books, many of them geared toward children, promote LGBTQ lifestyles, and the church is framing the thefts as an act of civil disobedience. We’ll take a look.

Plus, Dauphin Way Baptist Church used to be the largest Baptist church in Alabama. Now, it is selling its property and plans to downsize.

But first, a PCA church in Newport Beach, California, is reeling after one of its elders was arrested for sexual assault.

Listen here.

ECFA Changes

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

REMOVALS:

Reigning Grace Ranch (Scottsdale, AZ)

Oasis Rest International (Bend, OR)

Life Impact Ministries

Forge (Aurora, CO )

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