WEEKLY REVIEW: Database Changes, Podcast Highlights & More

Ratings Drop for Asheville Christian Academy, Bethany Christian Services; Rise for All God’s Children International, Camp Eagle

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:

Africa New Life Ministries International (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)

All God’s Children International (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Alliance for Children Everywhere (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 82)

Asheville Christian Academy (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 83)

Bethany Christian Services (Down 5 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 73 to 58)

Breck School (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 46)

Camp Eagle (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 83 to 98)

Campbellsville University (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)

Cedar Ridge Childrens Home and School (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 88)

Center for Christian Growth / T Bar M Camps (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 80)

Christian Community Action (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 85 to 100)

Christian Research Institute / CRI (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 44 to 59)

Colorado Springs Christian Schools (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Cornerstone Christian Academy (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 88)

FaithBridge Foster Care (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Fellowship Christian School – Roswell, GA (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)

Gateway Creative Broadcasting / Joy FM Radio (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 95)

Global Advance, Inc.  (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 62 to 72)

KidWorks (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 97)

LeadersSource SGA / Strategic Global Assistance (Up 2 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 95)

Life Training Institute (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Long Beach Rescue Mission (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 82)

Lutheran Services in America (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 65)

Messenger International (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 48)

Middle East Bible Outreach (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 91)

Minnesota Teen Challenge, dba MN Adult & Teen Challenge (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 70 to 73)

Miracle Hill Ministries, Inc.  (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 90)

Mission Lazarus (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 85 to 100)

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Bethany Christian Services Sues Michigan, China Adoptions, 9/11 Heroes Get Help

On today’s program, Bethany Christian Services is suing Michigan for religious discrimination after the state denied its contracts to resettle refugee families. We’ll have details.

And, as we recognize another solemn anniversary of 9/11, we look at one ministry helping military heroes win the war back at home.

Plus, a new survey shows that giving to churches and charities is down—by a lot.

But first, China has closed its foreign adoption program, leaving families devastated. The decision announced on September 5 by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning brings the 30-year program to an end, with exceptions for international residents adopting blood relatives or stepchildren. The program officially ended August 28.

Listen here.

ECFA Changes

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

ADDITIONS: Church for All (Federal Way, Wash.), Jungle Kids for Christ (Cape Coral, Fla.), XL Miistries (Roanoke, Tex.), The Legacy Imperative (Naples, Fla.), Westminster Chapel of Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.), Apologetics (Trinity, Fla.), Galcom International USA (Tampa, Fla.), Reigning Grace Ranch (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

REMOVALS: NONE

Advice About Giving

Ukraine Giving.  If you want to give specifically to ministries working in and near Ukraine, click here.  We posted this link before, but we’ve added a few new ministries recently.

Israel Giving. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Israel that we recommend.  You will also find some ministries working there that we do NOT recommend. You can find the list here.

Salary Data Now In MinistryWatch Database

We now have salary information for 4,000 executives in our database posted in our profiles. So check out this new addition by clicking on the red button at the top of this page, or here.  That takes you to our database.  The search engine is right there, and you can type in the name of a ministry you’re interested in and our profile will pop right up – now, with compensation information for the top executives.

If you’d like to see who the highest paid executives are, take a look at our recently published lists of Highly Paid Ministry Executives and Highly Paid Christian College and University Executives.

A Guide To Giving For Disaster Relief.  When disaster hits, Christians give.  But where they give can make a big difference?  Which organizations are most effective in these post-disaster situations?  MinistryWatch has published a list of organizations that are doing relief work and which have an “A” Transparency Grade and a 3-, 4-, or 5-star rating for Financial Efficiency.  It’s a list of about 30 ministries, and you can find it on the front page of our website.  I’ll also include a link in the show notes to this program.  Link to list HERE.

About MinistryWatch

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 my desk, 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 I 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 new, short (3.5 minutes) video that explains what we do here at MinistryWatch, and why.  If you’re new to MinistryWatch, I hope you’ll check it out.  To find it, click here.