MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, Calvin Robinson was dismissed by the Anglican Catholic Church earlier this year after making a nazi-like salute at a pro-life summit. This week, another denomination has restored him to service…but not without pushback. We’ll have details. The Episcopal Church is ending its partnership with the U.S. after refusing to settle refugees from South Africa. We’ll take a look. Plus, long-time Carolina University President Charles Petitt passed away last week. His two-decade tenure transformed the small North Carolina school. First, influential Calvinist pastor has been suspended from his church over multiple fake social media accounts he ran where he criticized pastors and elders in his inner circle. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Bob Smietana, Kathryn Post, Tony Mator, Jack Jenkins, Bruce Barron, Kim Roberts,  Shannon Cuthrell, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Illinois Baptist and Bruce Barron for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, Calvin Robinson was dismissed by the Anglican Catholic Church earlier this year after making a nazi-like salute at a pro-life summit. This week, another denomination has restored him to service…but not without pushback. We’ll have details. And, the Episcopal Church is ending its partnership with the U.S. after refusing to settle refugees from South Africa. We’ll take a look. Plus, long-time Carolina University President Charles Petitt passed away last week. His two-decade tenure transformed the small North Carolina school. Natasha: But first, influential Calvinist pastor has been suspended from his church over multiple fake social media accounts he ran where he criticized pastors and elders in his inner circle. Warren: Josh Buice, founder of the G3 Conference and pastor of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia, was placed on indefinite leave last week after church leaders “uncovered irrefutable evidence that Dr. Buice has, for the past three years, operated at least four anonymous social media accounts, two anonymous email addresses, and two Substack platforms.” According to a statement from the church. “These accounts were used to publicly and anonymously slander numerous Christian leaders, including faithful pastors (some of whom have spoken at G3 conferences), several PMBC elders, and others,” “These actions were not only sinful in nature but deeply divisive, causing unnecessary suspicion and strife within the body of Christ, and particularly within the eldership of PMBC.” Natasha: Buice has also resigned as president of G3, which was founded in 2019 and brought in $2.3 million in revenue for the 2023 calendar year, according to its public IRS financial disclosures. The group grew out of a conference started by Buice in 2013 — the name G3 stands for “Gospel, Grace, Glory.” The group claimed its annual conference drew 6,500 people in 2021, according to the G3 website. Warren: The board of G3 has canceled the group’s annual conference, which had been planned for September, and promised full refunds. Natasha: So who was he criticizing? Warren: Buice especially criticized former Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore and Bible teacher Beth Moore (not related) for allegedly promoting liberal ideas in the church, as well as former SBC President Ed Litton for alleged sermon plagiarism. He has also apparently been running anonymous social media accounts that criticized other pastors from his own movement and elders at Pray’s Mill Church, according to the statement from the church. The church did not give any details about those accounts in their statement. Buice had previously criticized such anonymous accounts. Natasha: How was he discovered? Warren: The church said in its statement, “Dr. Buice had been asked on multiple occasions over the past two years whether he had any connection to these anonymous accounts. In each case, he denied any knowledge of them.” Eventually he did admitted his involvement. “Since then, Josh has acknowledged his sin, expressed sorrow, and asked for forgiveness,” according to the church’s statement. “His desire is to personally ask forgiveness of every person he has slandered or lied to.” G3 released an updated statement Tuesday saying they would be removing all of Josh Buice’s content from their platforms…“This will take sometime…Due to the public and egregious nature of the sin, we believe Josh Buice has stained the mission and character of G3 Ministries.” Natasha: Next, Calvin Robinson has been restored to ministry. Warren: Less than four months after a Nazi-like salute cost him his license in the Anglican Catholic Church, the Rev. Calvin Robinson, a priest and British transplant living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been granted a temporary license to act as a priest from another small Anglican jurisdiction. In January, at the end of a speech at the National Pro-Life Summit, Robinson thumped his chest and saluted quickly to the right, arm extended, palm down. Viewers were quick to link the gesture with Elon Musk’s controversial salute during an Inauguration Day speech at Capitol One Arena, which was also compared to a Nazi salute. Robinson was dismissed as a priest soon afterward by the Anglican Catholic Church. He had been serving since fall 2024 as rector of St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Natasha: What changed? Warren: On Monday (May 12), the presiding bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, who also oversees its Diocese of Mid-America, the Most Rev. Ray Sutton, granted Robinson a one-year license to serve as a priest. The license will allow Robinson to resume work as rector of St. Paul’s. The Reformed Episcopal Church is a distinct jurisdiction within the Anglican Church in North America, known as ACNA, which broke away from the Episcopal Church in 2009. On May 4, St. Paul’s Anglican disaffiliated with the Anglican Catholic Church, and Sutton will provide oversight of St. Paul’s as it determines its future affiliation. “I have licensed their rector, Calvin, to continue to serve a parish that wants him to continue to be their pastor,” he wrote. Natasha: While Sutton made clear the arrangement doesn’t grant Robinson or his parish membership in the Reformed Episcopal Church (or, by extension, ACNA), it prompted concerns from ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood about Robinson’s public profile. The Reformed Episcopal Church is self-governing but operates under the umbrella of the Anglican Church in North America, Warren: “I have concerns about Rev. Robinson’s ability to uphold the full commitments of our Anglican tradition, and his ability to model the Christ-like virtues of peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and love I know all of our permanent licensed clergy abide by in the daily exercise of their priestly duties. I do not personally believe The Rev. Robinson is a good representative of the Anglican Church in North America.” In response to Wood, Robinson said he’s spoken at several ACNA events and finds ACNA clergy and laity to be “faithful brethren in Christ.” Robinson has criticized the Anglican Catholic Church’s handling of the incident, saying the revoking of his license happened “without conversation, without any disciplinary hearing, without any opportunity to apologize or to repent or explain.” Natasha: The Anglican Catholic Church insists Robinson’s license was not revoked because of a single act, or without warning. In a statement released by the Anglican Catholic Church in February, the ACC said Robinson was “warned repeatedly that his continued partisan political activity was inconsistent with his ministry” and was “told that his license was at risk because he was continuing to act as a political social media personality.” The ACC also cited Robinson’s alleged antisemitic statements as reason for his dismissal. Warren: “Priests are certainly called to support the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life and on a range of other doctrinal issues; but they are not called to provoke, to troll, or to behave uncharitably toward their opponents,” The Anglican Catholic Church said in the statement. Robinson initially characterized his gesture at the National Pro-Life Summit as an “attempt at dry wit, in that typical British way,” but has apologized since. “And would I do it again? Absolutely not. Do I apologize for it? Absolutely I do,” Robinson said in a video posted online on Monday. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, the Episcopal Church is refusing to help resettle white South Africans as refugees in the U.S. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: In a striking move that ends a nearly four-decades-old relationship between the federal government and the Episcopal Church, the denomination announced on Monday (May 12) that it is terminating its partnership with the government to resettle refugees, citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by President Donald Trump’s administration. In a letter sent to members of the church, the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe — the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church — said that two weeks ago the government “informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees.” Natasha: The request, Rowe said, crossed a moral line for the Episcopal Church, which is part of the global Anglican Communion that boasts among its leaders the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a celebrated and vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa. Warren: Rowe stressed that while Episcopal Migration Ministries will seek to “wind down all federally funded services by the end of the federal fiscal year in September,” the denomination will continue to support immigrants and refugees in other ways, such as offering aid to refugees who have already been resettled. The announcement came just as flights with Afrikaners were scheduled to arrive at Dulles International Airport outside of Washington, D.C., the first batch of entries after Trump declared via a February executive order that the U.S. would take in “Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.” The South African government has stridently denied allegations of systemic racial animus, as has a coalition of white religious leaders in the region that includes many Anglicans. Natasha: What’s the issue in South Africa making the need for Refugees? Warren: “The stated reasons for (Trump’s actions) are claims of victimisation, violence and hateful rhetoric against white people in South Africa along with legislation providing for the expropriation of land without compensation,” read the letter from white South African religious leaders, which included among its four authors an Anglican priest. “As white South Africans in active leadership within the Christian community, representing diverse political and theological perspectives, we unanimously reject these claims.” In addition to ties with Tutu, the Episcopal Church has a long history of advocating against apartheid in South Africa. It first began altering its financial holdings in the region in 1966, and by the mid-1980s, the church voted to divest from companies doing business in South Africa. Rowe noted his announcement comes as the Trump administration has otherwise all but frozen the refugee program, with Afrikaners among the few — and possibly only — people granted entry as refugees since January. Shortly after he was sworn in, Trump signed an executive order that essentially halted the refugee program and halted payments to organizations that assist with refugee resettlement — including, according to one group, payments for work already performed. Natasha: That change has left refugees — including Christians fleeing religious persecution — without a clear path forward and forced the 10 refugee resettlement groups, seven of which are faith-based, to lay off scores of workers while still trying to support refugees who had recently arrived. Four of the faith groups have since filed two separate lawsuits, one of which recently resulted in a ruling that should have restarted the program. However, refugee groups have accused the government of “delaying compliance” with the court order. Warren: Rick Santos, head of Church World Service, said in a statement last week. “We are concerned that the U.S. Government has chosen to fast-track the admission of Afrikaners, while actively fighting court orders to provide life-saving resettlement to other refugee populations who are in desperate need of resettlement,” “By resettling this population, the Government is demonstrating that it still has the capacity to quickly screen, process, and depart refugees to the United States. It’s time for the Administration to honor our nation’s commitment to the thousands of refugee families it abandoned with its cruel and illegal executive order.” Natasha: What’s our next story? Warren: A mental health counselor for two counseling services in Metro East St. Louis in Illinois has been charged with five counts related to sexual exploitation of a minor. Matthew S. Cuppett of Collinsville was charged May 5. One count of grooming and two counts of exploitation of a minor under age 17 are felony charges. Two additional counts of exploitation of a child are misdemeanors. The alleged victim is a 13 year old, with incidents occurring over a seven-month period ending in February. Natasha: Can you give us more background? Warren: Cuppett, 33, is a professional counselor licensed in Illinois and Missouri. He served with Pathways Counseling since January 2023, and with Metro East Counseling. Pathways Counseling is a ministry of the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services of Illinois. Cuppett was placed on administrative leave in March when the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) notified BCHFS of an investigation involving Cuppett. BCHFS Executive Director Kevin Carrothers said Cuppett had no contact with clients of their residential facilities. Cuppett counseled in Pathways Counseling offices in Maryville, Swansea, and Vandalia. BCHFS is one of three entities operating under the umbrella of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Each operates with its own governing documents and boards of directors. Natasha: What’s our next story? Warren: Florida prosecutors had sought to put Paul Dyal, 81, behind bars for first-degree capital sexual battery — a crime that potentially carried a penalty of death by lethal injection. Instead, the former Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ pastor accepted a plea deal and was slapped with just five years of probation, plus a one-year prison term already served. Natasha: MinistryWatch previously reported Dyal’s 2022 arrest for sexual abuse of a child under age 12. His case was part of a larger crackdown on Dyal’s church, in which two other pastors were also arrested for involvement in an alleged pattern of physical and sexual abuse of minors spanning more than 30 years. Warren: At a March 2022 press conference, eight alleged victims recounted being sexually molested as minors, forced to follow cult-like rules about their appearance and behavior, beaten with paddles, “courted” by older men at the church, and isolated from the outside world. However, The Florida Times-Union reported that a ninth-hour snag in the prosecution’s case allowed Dyal to plead guilty to the lesser charge of contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child. Natasha: Another Jacksonville Assembly of the Body of Christ pastor, Vernon Williamson, was sentenced in 2024 to life in prison for two counts of capital sexual battery. Warren: The third defendant, Jerome Teschendorf, has also been charged with capital sexual battery and is awaiting a May 19 pretrial hearing. He has pleaded not guilty. Jacksonville Assembly has since closed its doors. But one former member, Cynthia Crawford, told News4JAX she had stories of abuse from other people within the Gospel Assembly, the network of churches Jacksonville Assembly belonged to. “I have had people call and talk about very similar actions, very similar ways of life, very similar styles of abuse, sexual abuse physical abuse, in Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, California, Oregon,” she said. “All over.” Natasha: Next, a lawsuit against Grand Canyon Education is moving forward. Warren: Former doctoral students suing Grand Canyon Education (GCE) over its representations about the requirements of doctoral programs at Grand Canyon University (GCU) prevailed against a motion to dismiss and can continue their lawsuit. In June 2024, Tanner Smith and Qimin Wang filed a lawsuit against GCE, the for-profit marketing agency for GCU, claiming it induced students “to enroll in doctoral degree programs at Grand Canyon University, which has been controlled by GCE, by lying to students about how much they would need to pay to obtain their doctoral degrees from Grand Canyon University.” Two other plaintiffs were later added to the lawsuit. Natasha: The claims pertain to the requirement for both plaintiffs to take continuation courses that added over $8,000 to the cost of their degree programs. Warren: According to analysis by the U.S. Department of Education cited in the lawsuit, between 2011 and 2017 about 43% of GCU Ph.D. students paid $10,530 in additional costs for continuation courses, while roughly another 35% paid $12,636 or more. Natasha: The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit in December 2023 asserting similar claims. It is still pending. Warren: According to the FTC lawsuit, GCU tells prospective students its doctoral programs are “accelerated” and the total cost will be equivalent to 20 courses, or 60 credit hours. However, nearly all GCU doctoral students are required to take “continuation courses” that add thousands of dollars to the cost. Natasha: The Department of Education reported that fewer than 2% of GCU doctoral program graduates complete it within the cost that GCU advertises. Warren: The lawsuit claims that GCE engaged in racketeering activity in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act. It also asserts claims of deceptive or unfair practices under California and West Virginia law, where the two plaintiffs reside. Federal District Judge Steve Logan ruled on May 6 that all but one of the plaintiffs’ claims may move forward. He has also given the plaintiffs until May 20 to amend their complaint on the RICO claim that was dismissed. Natasha: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: Dr. Charles Petitt, the longtime president of Carolina University whose leadership reshaped the school into a modern, globally connected institution, died Wednesday night (May 7) following a heart attack. The news was shared by family and friends in social media posts. He is survived by his wife, Dawn, and their two daughters, Tiffany and Alicia. Petitt took the helm of Winston Salem-based Carolina University—then known as Piedmont Baptist College—in 2002, stepping into leadership at a time when the school enrolled only about 200 students. Over the next two decades, he led a dramatic transformation marked by strategic mergers, rebranding, and a growing population of international students. Today, the 80-year-old institution stands at over 900 students, an increase of more than 400% during Petitt’s tenure. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: The mid-May list includes all 20 of the Bible translation groups in the MinistryWatch 1000 database listed in order of total revenue, largest to smallest. The 20 Bible translation groups listed in the MinistryWatch 1000 database have revenue totaling nearly $728 million. Wycliffe Bible Translators has total revenue exceeding $210 million. Its revenue is twice that of the next largest group, American Bible Society. According to the ECFA, Wycliffe’s revenue has declined from over $300 million in 2022.  The Wycliffe headquarters in Orlando, FL has been listed for sale for over a year, but is still listed as “under contract.” Of the top 5 largest groups, two do not file a Form 990. If they choose not to file a Form 990, it affects the ministry’s transparency grade, financial efficiency rating, and donor confidence score in the database. Natasha: Next our Pastors and Planes report for April Warren: MinistryWatch, in collaboration with the Trinity Foundation, each month publishes a list of the private planes belonging to pastors and Christian ministries. The list also includes basic information about their usage by pastors and ministries. Liberty University was the biggest user of private aircraft ($310,000), followed by Samaritan’s Purse ($267,375). Assemblies of God (including Assemblies of God Financial Services Group) was in a distant third ($191,200). It is important to note that some Christian ministries—especially disaster relief and missionary organizations—have legitimate uses for airplanes, but the planes they’re using are not luxury jets that can go literally around the world at nearly the speed of sound. We have not included these cargo planes on this list. Natasha: What ministries did Christina Darnell highlight this week in Ministries Making a Difference? Warren: It’s graduation week, so Christina focused on colleges and universities. Emmaus University is launching the Emmaus University Iowa Promise, offering tuition-free education to qualifying full-time undergrad Iowa residents. The school will do this by combining the Iowa Tuition Grant, the Federal Pell Grant, and Emmaus University’s Founders Grant. Emmaus University in Dubuque, Iowa, has 5 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 95. Starting in fall 2025, Southeastern University will begin making $12 million in scholarships available to eligible full-time students pursuing ministry-related degrees. The scholarships are funded through an end-of-life giving plan donated by the late Robert and Sandra Graper. Southeastern University is in Lakeland, Florida. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib MAY Recurring Donor Appeal. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Natasha: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Bob Smietana, Kathryn Post, Tony Mator, Jack Jenkins, Bruce Barron, Kim Roberts,  Shannon Cuthrell, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Illinois Baptist and Bruce Barron for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

I went on a road trip this week from my home in Charlotte, N.C., through Nashville to Branson, Mo., where I spoke at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Press Association. From there I drove home through Terre Haute and Indianapolis, Ind., and Beckley, W.Va. In 72 hours, I put in more than 1800 miles. It wasn’t all windshield time. I stopped for meetings all along the way, and I learned that real, life-changing and culture-changing work is happening in places that are not New York or Washington, or Los Angeles. Here’s what I learned…. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

You don’t see a lot of mergers in the Christian ministry space, but one recent merger caught our eye here at MinistryWatch. That merger was between CareNet and ICU Mobile. We thought it would be good to have Roland Warren back on the program to explain why and how this merger occurred. Regular listeners to the program will remember that we had Roland on the show last year to discuss his book The Alternative to Abortion: Why We Must Be Pro Abundant Life. I’ll have a link to that program in today’s show notes. But for those who missed that program, or who have forgotten, Roland Warren has been the president of Care Net, the nation’s largest network of pregnancy resource centers, for more than a decade. He’s been an advocate for the unborn for much longer than that. Roland Warren has also helped bring fathers into the pro-life conversation, in part because of a tenure as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, a post he held before coming to Care Net. I’ve interviewed Roland Warren many times over the years, including twice for my “Listening In” podcast, a podcast I did for a decade for WORLD News Group. I’ll include links to those interviews in today’s show notes. Those links are here and here. Today, though, we focus on the merger with CareNet and ICU Mobile because it’s an example of what I think more ministries should consider, and that is a strategic merger with other like-minded organizations. I think Roland has some interesting insights regarding the why and how to make such mergers possible. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Milestone Church in North Texas announced this week it is expanding its campuses by absorbing Cross Timbers Church in nearby Argyle. Cross Timbers has faced a series of challenges in the past year, including the forced resignation of its senior pastor. We’ll have details. Plus, prominent evangelical leaders petition President Trump to allow Afghan refugees to remain in the U.S. Refugees face arrest, torture, and possibly death by the Taliban if deported back to Afghanistan. We’ll take a look. A new survey shows the number of donors continued to drop in 2024…but revenue from overall donations rose. But first, Ethnos 360—one of the largest missionary agencies in the country—has been sued by a child of missionaries who says she was abused while her parents served in Indonesia. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, Paul Colliery, Brittany Smith and Warren Smith. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:   FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, Milestone Church in North Texas announced this week it is expanding its campuses by absorbing Cross Timbers Church in nearby Argyle. Cross Timbers has faced a series of challenges in the past year, including the forced resignation of its senior pastor. We’ll have details. Plus, prominent evangelical leaders petition President Trump to allow Afghan refugees to remain in the U.S. Refugees face arrest, torture, and possibly death by the Taliban if deported back to Afghanistan. We’ll take a look. And, a new survey shows the number of donors continued to drop in 2024…but revenue from overall donations rose. Natasha: But first, Ethnos 360—one of the largest missionary agencies in the country—has been sued by a child of missionaries who says she was abused while her parents served in Indonesia. Warren: Kayla McClain, 25, claims she was abused by an Ethnos360 missionary, Nate Horling, between 2005 and 2010. Her lawsuit asserts claims against Ethnos 360 for negligence, negligent training and supervision, fraud in the inducement, and vicarious liability for the alleged abuse committed by Horling. Boz Tchividjian, the attorney representing McClain, is also founder of Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE). said in a statement to MinistryWatch.  “Once again, Ethnos360 faces a lawsuit for failing to protect a child from sexual abuse — and for its deeply inadequate response when the survivor courageously came forward,” “Our client, like far too many others, was not kept safe. But through this legal action, she is now seeking the accountability and justice that were long denied to her,” he said. Natasha: What happened? Warren: In 2005, McClain’s parents served as missionaries with Ethnos360 in Indonesia after completing their missionary training. While there, Kayla McClain became acquainted with the Horlings, another missionary family living in the same housing area provided by Ethnos360. The Horlings had a daughter the same age as McClain. According to court filings, McClain often felt uncomfortable around Nate Horling, who would stroke her hair and give her prolonged full-body hugs. McClain also claims Horling showed her lewd pictures and videos of children in the Ethnos360 office while she sat on his lap and he touched her inappropriately. And in 2009 she was raped by Horling Natasha: And this was just one of multiple cases within Ethnos 360 the lawsuit asserts. Warren: “As a direct and proximate result of the sexual abuse inflicted on [McClain] by Horling as a young child, [McClain] began acting out the sexual acts she learned from Horling on other missionary children. Likewise, several other missionary children began acting out sexual acts on [McClain],” Natasha: In 2009, GRACE was hired to investigate allegations of sexual abuse within the ranks of Ethnos360 — then New Tribes Mission. The final report, released in 2010 at the same time McClain was allegedly still being abused, revealed widespread sexual abuse within the organization. Warren: “The GRACE report outlined in detail the substantive and repeated failures of Defendant Ethnos in how the organization and its leadership responded to child sexual abuse allegations and how such failures were the direct cause of profound emotional damages to victims and their families,” the lawsuit states. Following the report, Ethnos360 agreed to put in place necessary training, policies, and background checks to handle allegations in the future. Natasha: Back in the United States in 2019, McClain struggled with her mental health and even tried to die by suicide and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Warren: There’s a lot to this story and we can’t get into all the details here but McClain claims Because Ethnos was in a position of trust, the lawsuit alleges that it owed a duty of reasonable care to McClain from sexual abuse, but it breached that duty by “fail[ing] to establish, implement, or enforce policies” that would have protected her. The lawsuit also alleges that Ethnos failed to provide adequate training and supervision of its employees, which resulted in McClain suffering bodily injury, mental suffering, and emotional distress. Natasha: What did Ethnos 360 have to say? Warren: “Ethnos360 takes allegations of this nature very seriously,” David Doyle, attorney for Ethnos360, told MinistryWatch in response to our inquiry. “The organization’s first concern is the well-being of the individual affected. To that end, Ethnos360 has offered and continues to offer assistance with this individual’s counseling. Ethnos360 will continue to prioritize accountability, as well as the safety of every individual entrusted to its care.” Natasha: Next, a Texas church that has been in the middle of controversy is merging with a Texas megachurch. Warren: Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas, about 30 miles north of Fort Worth, will become a satellite campus of nearby Milestone Church in Keller. On Sunday, May 4, Milestone Founding Pastor Jeff Little made the announcement to the Milestone congregation. He said the leadership at Cross Timbers approached Milestone about a “shared future.” Because this aligned with Milestone’s plans to expand to Argyle, the two congregations came to a mutual decision that Cross Timbers would become part of the Milestone family. Natasha: Who will lead the church? Warren: Pastor Steve Chestnut will be the campus pastor in Argyle. According to the Milestone website, the music portion of the service will be live, but the preaching will be broadcast from the main campus. The website states. “Being a campus of Milestone Church means that you are a fully integrated part of the Milestone family. It’s not a separate church—we are one church in multiple locations that share the same vision, values, and leadership. You can expect a full staff team committed to serving the community, including a dedicated Campus Pastor who leads the day-to-day operations,” Milestone plans to meet at nearby Liberty Christian School “to allow for necessary building, systems, and signage updates” at the current Cross Timbers building. Natasha: This transition comes after some challenges at Cross Timbers. Warren: In July 2024, Cross Timbers Lead Pastor Josiah Anthony was asked to resign in July after the elders discovered he had engaged in “inappropriate and hurtful” actions. At the time, the elders said the actions didn’t involve “any children, physical or sexual interactions or any illegal activity to our knowledge.” Then in August, Byron Copeland, who had been named as interim pastor, resigned. Natasha: Next, A pastor in Harford County, Maryland, near Baltimore, has been charged with stealing $135,000 from the church he led. Warren: Daniel Champ, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bel Air, allegedly began stealing funds in January 2019 and continued until the theft was discovered in 2024. Last October, church officials began noticing missing money and suspicious bank charges for items like DoorDash, PayPal, and sports betting, The sheriff’s office said Champ has been removed from the church accounts and has been ordered to move from the residence on church property within 60 days. Natasha: What are the charges? Warren: According to court documents, a five-count criminal indictment was filed against Champ on April 1. The charges include theft of greater than $100,000 and embezzlement. Four of the charges are felonies. If Champ is found guilty of the charge of theft of greater than $100,000 in property, it carries a penalty of “imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or a fine not exceeding $25,000 or both;” and the criminal “shall restore the property taken to the owner or pay the owner the value of the property or services.” A $15,000 unsecured personal bond was posted on Champ’s behalf on April 11. His initial appearance in court is scheduled for May 19. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, evangelical leaders petition Trump to let Afghan Christians stay in the U.S. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: Top evangelical leaders are among the 15 signatories of a letter urging President Trump against deporting Afghan Christians, who face potential arrest, torture and death in their homeland under Taliban rule. The May 2 letter, signed by such prominent figures as National Association of Evangelicals President Dr. Walter Kim, is a response to the Department of Homeland Security declining to renew temporary protected status (TPS) for the approximately 8,200 Afghan nationals living in the U.S., including an estimated 300 Christians. “Protecting [Afghan Christians] is not only consistent with America’s values; it is a direct extension of your Administration’s commitment to defending religious liberty around the globe,” the letter states. Natasha: Other signatories include executives from Focus on the Family, World Relief, the Family Research Council, and the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Warren: As an alternative to deportation, the letter recommends the U.S. resettlement program, which Trump suspended in January pending a review. “One of the most essential tools the United States has historically used to uphold religious freedom is the U.S. refugee resettlement program,” the letter states. “It is critical that our nation continue to provide refuge to those whose lives are at risk because of their faith, including Afghan Christians.” Natasha: In April, Afghan nationals were notified their TPS was expiring and they had just seven days to leave the country. The move came as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on what it considers the overuse of TPS. The status was designed to be a short-term fix when refugees cannot safely return to their country, but has been known to extend into a long-term arrangement. El Salvador, for example, has had the TPS designation since 2001. Warren: Afghans have had TPS protection since 2022, after the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from Afghanistan led to evacuations of civilians who feared reprisals by the Taliban. But DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stripped the status after determining that Afghanistan no longer presents the level of danger necessary for a TPS designation. Natasha: However, many Christian leaders believe the risk is still too high. Warren: WORLD reported on previous attempts by Christians to dissuade the Trump administration from deporting Afghan believers. Among those advocates was Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham, who told WORLD he had been assured that the deadline for Afghans to leave the U.S. “has been pushed back in order for cases to be reviewed.” However, according to Fox News, no official has publicly confirmed an extended deadline. If immigration officials do begin rounding up Afghan nationals for deportation, each refugee will have to apply for asylum or prove in court that it is too dangerous for them to return to their home country. Natasha: Next, SBC Membership Drops to Its Lowest Number in 50 Years. Warren: The Southern Baptist Convention lost 259,090 members in 2024, with its total membership now at 12.7 million, according to the denomination’s Annual Church Profile report, released Wednesday (April 30). That’s a 50-year low — in 1975, the SBC reported 12.5 million members. It’s also the 18th consecutive year of membership decline. In 2006, the SBC hit a peak membership of 16.3 million, and over the past two decades it has lost 3.6 million members. Natasha: But for Southern Baptists, there was some good news in the report. Warren: About 4.3 million people attended SBC churches weekly nationwide in 2024, according to the report conducted by Lifeway Research. That means attendance is up more than a quarter-million from the previous year. And more than 2.5 million showed up weekly for Sunday school and small-group Bible studies, up 5.7% from the previous year. Total baptisms were up 10%, topping 250,000 for the first time since 2017. The report is an annual statistical census of Southern Baptist congregations conducted by local associations and state conventions in conjunction with Lifeway. Around 7 in 10 Southern Baptist churches (69%) reported at least one item in the current report covering 2024, according to Lifeway. Natasha: Moving on to New Jersey, where a court battle is raging between the town and the episcopal church. Warren: The mayor of Toms River, New Jersey, says he has a plan to revitalize the town’s riverfront and to create a new park for local families who live nearby. He’s found the perfect spot — three underused marinas and a large parcel of land with a great parking lot. There’s just one problem. A local Episcopal church sits on the 11-acre property and has no interest in selling. Instead, church leaders want to build a shelter for the homeless on the property to expand their ministry in the community. Mayor Daniel Rodrick, a Republican, says his plan will also be a benefit to the community.. So far, however, only the Township Council has made a call, narrowly passing a first reading April 30 on a proposal to buy Christ Episcopal Church’s property or take it by eminent domain. A second vote is scheduled on May 28. Natasha: Church leaders say the city’s proposal, which came as a surprise, is an attempt to prevent their planned shelter from being built. The dispute appears headed for a long court battle. Rev. Lisa A. Hoffman, Christ Church’s rector told church members in a letter posted on the church website. “Rest assured; our church campus is not for sale,” “Should this ordinance pass on the second reading, the church and the diocese are prepared for a long court fight to protect our congregation and property from this egregious land grab,” the letter said. Natasha: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: The U.S. population and the number of donors to charity appear to be going in different directions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. population reached 340.1 million on July 1, 2024, up 0.98% from the reported 336.8 million on July 1, 2023, the highest year-over-year increase since a jump of 0.99% between 2000 and 2001. Meanwhile, the number of donors plummeted 4.5% during 2024, with fundraising saved only by major and supersized donors providing more support, according to new data from the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP). The number of major donors increased just 0.9% and supersize increased 2.6% but combined made up 3.1% of all donors. That 3.1% contributed 77.7% of all donations, according to the FEP data. Overall, there was a projected 3.5% increase on dollars contributed even though donor retention declined 2.6%. “We can only speculate on the cause of the long-term trend of fewer donors since 2020, but the GivingTuesday Data Commons has observed that uneven and unequal engagement is suppressing participation,” said Woodrow Rosenbaum, chief data officer of GivingTuesday. The FEP is a collaboration among fundraising platform providers, researchers, analysts, associations, and consultants. The data is based on a sample of 6.7 million donors who gave a collective $10.5 billion to 12,504 organizations. The data is drawn from 12 fundraising platform firms and is coordinated by the Foundation for Philanthropy at the Association of Fundraising Professionals and GivingTuesday. Data providers include BetterUnite, Bloomerang, Bonterra, Classy, DonorDock, DonorPerfect, FundraiseUp, Givebutter, Keela, Momentive Software, Neon One, and Qgiv. The FEP leaders said there will be upgrades to its data sharing, including a new website which will launch later this year. A team of 50 “ambassadors” have volunteered to push data out to fundraisers and organizational leaders. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: The MinistryWatch Index fell .9 percent in April to 151. The MinistryWatch Index is based on the revenue of 38 large Christian ministries, ministries that represent all of the 21 ministry segments tracked by MinistryWatch. This month’s downward move follows a record five months of flat performance by the Index. The no growth and negative growth of the MinistryWatch Index over the past six months could suggest concern about the future of the economy. A recent survey conducted by MinistryWatch of ministry executives found that fundraising has now replaced finding and recruiting staff as their top leadership concern. This concern seems well-founded. A recent survey found that giving by evangelicals is down. Other studies, especially those by Giving USA, suggest that philanthropic giving correlates closely to the rise and fall in value of the major stock markets. (Note that this relationship is correlative and not causative.) This correlation seems to be proving out this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, though volatile this year, was essentially flat in the first four months of 2025. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is down about 8 percent for the year, though at one point in April is was down about 19 percent. To read more about how we compile the MinistryWatch Index, go to Ministrywatch.com Natasha: And who is in our Ministry Spotlight for this week? Warren: Globe International Ministries’ Transparency Grade has fallen to a D rating. The organization does not file a Form 990, and does not make its audited financials available to the public. Globe International Ministries is based out of Pensacola, Florida. According to its website, its mission is to “support hundreds of churches across denominations, aiding the Body of Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission through training, sending, and serving ministries and missionaries worldwide, both domestically and abroad.” Alan Prouty, executive director for Globe International, told MinistryWatch the reason they don’t file a 990 is because they’re “a foreign missions society; it’s classified by the IRS and not required.” He also said filing a Form 990 “puts our missionaries at risk that are in highly sensitive countries where it’s illegal to be a Christian and to share the gospel of Jesus Chris.” However, the information on the Form 990s does not compromise security. If a U.S. ministry does work overseas, it must disclose the amount of money it spends on that overseas work on its Form 990, but that disclosure is by region, not by individual country. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib MAY Recurring Donor Appeal. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Natasha: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, Paul Colliery, Brittany Smith—and you, Warren. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. If the Supreme Court decides their way, St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. We should note that a lot of conservatives are with St. Isidore. Alliance Defending Freedom’s Jim Campbell was one of the attorneys arguing on behalf of the Oklahoma charter board and the school. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican supporter of St. Isidore, said the case “stands to be one of the most significant religious and education freedom decisions in our lifetime.” The conservative legal group Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief in the case, also in favor of St. Isidore. But not everyone – even on the conservative and Christian side of the aisle — is so enthusiastic. David Dockery is the president of the International Alliance for Christian Education. He told MinistryWatch, “IACE does not have an official position on the St Isidore case since we do not have full agreement on this matter among those who serve on the Board.” Dan Burrell is a longtime Christian education leader. Today he serves as a pastor in Charlotte, N.C., and the chairman of the board of MinistryWatch. His experience includes a tenure as president of the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. He was also a faculty member at Liberty University’s graduate school of education. Burrell said he was “pretty strongly opposed” to government-funded religious schools.

On today’s program, a team of elders is recommending Dr. Michael Brown return to public ministry in spite of a recent report concluding that he engaged in sexual misconduct. We’ll have details. And, the Presbyterian Church USA—historically, very involved in evangelistic efforts—is now closing its missions agency. Theologians say they are not surprised given the denomination’s leftward drift. Plus, more than a year after Wycliffe Bible Translators listed its sprawling Orlando headquarters for sale, its status remains unclear with the property still marked “under contract.” MinistryWatch reporter Shannon Cuthrell takes a closer look. But first, megachurch Pastor TD Jakes has announced plans to step aside as head of The Potter’s House. T.D. Jakes, the well-known pastor of Dallas megachurch The Potter’s House, plans to step aside later this year and appoint his daughter and son-in-law as the church’s leaders, Christianity Today reported. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Mark Wingfield, Tyler Hummel, Shannon Cuthrell, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist News Global for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:   FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, a team of elders is recommending Dr. Michael Brown return to public ministry in spite of a recent report concluding that he engaged in sexual misconduct. We’ll have details. And, the Presbyterian Church USA—historically, very involved in evangelistic efforts—is now closing its missions agency. Theologians say they are not surprised given the denomination’s leftward drift. Plus, more than a year after Wycliffe Bible Translators listed its sprawling Orlando headquarters for sale, its status remains unclear with the property still marked “under contract.” MinistryWatch reporter Shannon Cuthrell takes a closer look. Natasha: But first, megachurch Pastor TD Jakes has announced plans to step aside as head of The Potter’s House. Warren: T.D. Jakes, the well-known pastor of Dallas megachurch The Potter’s House, plans to step aside later this year and appoint his daughter and son-in-law as the church’s leaders, Christianity Today reported. Jakes, age 67, told the Potter’s House congregation the news on Sunday, April 27, saying, “I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and that you be sheep without a shepherd.” Natasha: Last month, Jakes revealed in an interview on NBC’s Today Show that he suffered a massive heart attack in November. Warren: Sarah Jakes Roberts and husband Toure’ Roberts are expected to take over as senior pastors in July when the church celebrates its anniversary, but plans for the current assistant pastors to take the lead have been in the works for a few years, Jakes said. He will remain as chairman of the church’s board. The Roberts couple currently lead One: A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles. Toure’ Roberts founded One in 2004. Sarah Jakes Roberts is the founder of Women Evolve, a conference for women to be held in Atlanta later this summer. Natasha: Our next story also pertains to pastoral succession – but this one isn’t as positive Warren: Pastoral succession, megachurch wealth and family dynasties combine in a lawsuit filed against Second Baptist Church of Houston and its leaders April 15. The Southern Baptist congregation is the 17th largest church in America, according to Outreach magazine, with average weekly attendance of 19,735 in 2024. After 46 years as senior pastor, Ed Young stepped down last May and named one of his sons, Ben Young, his successor. Another son, also named Ed Young, leads a Dallas-area megachurch called Fellowship Church, which is the 13th largest church in America. Natasha: But all is not well in Houston, nearly one year after Ed Young the elder took a sudden retirement at age 87  — and orchestrated naming his son as successor. Warren: Now there are allegations of deceptive practices, an illegal church business meeting and a family’s attempt to enrich itself by control of the church’s $1 billion in assets. Natasha: What do you mean? Warren: The elder Young is Southern Baptist Convention royalty and a legend among American pastors. He not only was elected president of the SBC twice during the “conservative resurgence,” but he grew the church from about 500 people in 1976 to tens of thousands today. With that growth, and with the extremely long tenure of a senior pastor, came governance issues that boiled over at the time of a pastoral transition. While the vast majority of Southern Baptist churches operate with congregational governance and call pastors through a lengthy search committee process and an all-church vote, none of that happened last year at Second Baptist. Natasha: Now, a group of members has formed a nonprofit corporation called Jeremiah Counsel “to promote, protect and restore integrity, accountable governance and donor protection for churches in Texas.” Specifically Second Baptist. Warren: Jeremiah Counsel filed suit against Ben Young, Ed Young, Associate Pastor Lee Maxcy and North Texas attorney Dennis Brewer, who served as chief financial officer of Fellowship Church in North Texas. The plaintiffs charge these defendants — labeled “The Young Group” — conspired to steal church assets and take away the congregation’s right to choose its own pastor. They accuse the elder Ed Young of enacting a series of changes beginning in 2023 “to secure the ascendance of his son, Ben Young … as senior pastor to Second Baptist’s 94,000 congregants.” Natasha: And that’s not all… Warren: They accuse their former longtime pastor of collaborating with Ben Young, Lee Maxcy and Dennis Brewer Jr. “to orchestrate undisclosed and unvetted amendments to the bylaws at Second Baptist.” Natasha: Next, the latest concerning Michael Brown. Warren: A group of Christian leaders comprising an “elder accountability team” recommended that Line of Fire’s Dr. Michael Brown be released to resume his public ministry from which he has refrained since November. The team also expressed concerns about the Firefly investigation report into accusations against Brown that “concluded that Brown’s actions toward the two females were inappropriate and unacceptable for his leadership position within the ministry.” Natasha: Brown was accused of sexual misconduct by crossing physical boundaries with a 21-year-old woman, Sarah Monk, who was working as a secretary at Brown’s FIRE School of Ministry, based in Concord, North Carolina. While admitting to a close relationship with his accuser, Brown claimed the relationship was “totally non-sexual in every way.” Warren: The elder accountability team took issue with Firefly’s use of the term “sexually abusive misconduct,” the lack of opportunity for Brown to provide rebuttal to some testimony, the failure of Firefly to include testimony by Nancy Brown, wife of Michael Brown, and the claim that Brown was intentionally grooming Sarah Monk, one of his victims. According to the team, Firefly expanded the “historically narrow understanding of the term” sexual abuse when it evaluated Brown’s conduct. In evaluating this expansion, the elder team argued that it could bring “confusion in what constitutes true sexual abuse and has the very real danger of diluting it.” Instead, the elder team would choose the term “moral indiscretions” and “leadership misconduct.” Warren: The elder team also recommended that Brown or Line of Fire agree to pay for reasonable counseling expenses for Monk and that Brown invite Monk and the husband of the married woman to an in-person meeting for dialogue that might aid in healing. The elder accountability team condemned as unbiblical those who “relitigated with accusations, judgment, and sentencing by a jury on social media” and caused “irreparable damage to Dr. Brown’s credibility and ministry.” The team went on to say they do not believe Brown committed a sin “grievous enough” for which he should be disqualified from ministry. Natasha: Let’s look at one more story before we take a break – what do you have? Warren: Nearly four years after indictments were issued against Randy and Michelle Free for theft of property from Cedar Cross Country Church in Alvarado, Texas, both of the Frees have been sentenced. On March 17, Michelle Free entered a plea agreement for 10 years of probation with 320 hours of community service, according to Johnson County District Attorney Timothy Good. Her probation is a deferred adjudication and as long as she abides by the terms, Free will not have a felony conviction on her record. However, if she fails to abide by the terms or commits a new offense during the probationary period, Free could be sentenced to between five and 99 years in prison. Natasha: Good told MinistryWatch that Free had admitted to one felony charge of misapplication of fiduciary property valued at more than $300,000. In doing so, she admitted she had a duty to the church that she misused. Warren: According to a civil lawsuit related to the crimes, Randy Free began taking control of the church’s assets by making himself the president and registered agent for the Cedar Cross Country Church. The Frees then set up a separate non-profit corporation, Team Heritage International, in order to move the church’s assets and sell the church property, the petition claimed. The plaintiffs asserted that on July 2, 2021, the Frees sold the church property for somewhere between $1 million and $1.5 million to MYR Real Estate Holdings and used about $500,000 of the proceeds to purchase a house for themselves in nearby Godley. Natasha: Randy Free was convicted of four first-degree felonies and sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison and 10 years of probation, to be served concurrently in December 2023. Warren: The civil case seeking the recovery of church funds was resolved in May 2023 after the receiver was able to acquire and deposit over $1.2 million of the church’s funds with the court. The funds have now been returned to the church. Randy and Michelle Free divorced in 2024. Cedar Cross Country Church did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, the Presbyterian Church USA closes its missions agency, ending all of its mission co-worker roles. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: The Presbyterian Church (USA) has shuttered its World Missions agency and ended all of its mission co-worker roles. First announced in January as part of a restructuring that included $5 million in cuts, mission co-workers were told to expect either a different offer of employment or a severance package. Jeff Walton, communications director for the Institute on Religion and Democracy, told MinistryWatch that Presbyterians have long been involved in foreign mission endeavors. They were very involved in evangelistic efforts in both Ghana and Sudan, Natasha: This closure is sad but not unexpected. Warren: Walton sees it as primarily a financial decision based on the contraction of the PCUSA, which has about 1.09 million members, down from 3 million in 1983, Walton said. With the reduced membership, revenue has dropped and has required budget cuts. Natasha: Some are raising concern about this closure. Warren: The National Hispanic Latino Caucus of PCUSA wrote a letter expressing concern about the dismantling of the missions agency. “We fear that these decisions can inflict irreparable damage to the relationship of mutual respect and interdependence we’ve built over the years,” the letter said. Another letter signed by 81 mission co-workers questioned the denominational decision to close the mission agency. The PCUSA mission agency, as recently as 2010, had 200 missionaries, but was down to about 60 when the cuts were made. Now I should add, The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), an evangelical denomination formed after breaking away from mainline Presbyterianism in 1973, still has a missions agency—Mission to the World. It has missions teams in Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. According to a recent article in byFaith, the PCA grew by about 1.34% from 2023 to 2024 and has about 400,000 members. Natasha: Let’s now turn to Christian colleges. Warren: In the current market, the changing global economy prefers highly educated minds, with 72% of jobs expected to require a bachelor’s degree by 2031. Women greatly outperform men in earning college degrees, with 58.5% of all degrees going to women. Natasha: Unfortunately, higher education’s demand has created problems. Warren: It has created a student loan debt crisis, with students owing $1.78 trillion in the U.S. as of March 2025. And one recent study found more than half of college graduates are overeducated for the jobs they actually do. As a result, anti-college sentiment has been slowly growing. Many employers and activists have pushed back against the necessity for higher education, notably tech companies like Google and Apple removing education standards for some jobs. Sadly, this isn’t the most serious issue facing higher ed. Natasha: What is the bigger issue? Warren: The problems are many, from conservative parents discouraging college degrees due to fears of indoctrination, to high tuition, low public trust in educational institutions, and pandemic-related issues, to declining birth rates resulting in fewer children being born in the coming generations who can be educated. Natasha: And this also affects Christian colleges. Warren: The year 2026 is important because it marks 18 years since the 2008 financial crash, with the first generation of young people born since it began graduating from high school. While enrollment suffered immediately after the crash, the full long-term effects of the financial meltdown on fertility and public trust have yet to be felt. Those effects will be felt on Christian and secular schools alike, with overall college closures expected to spike by 8.1% in the next five years. However, the cultural decline in Christianity poses greater risks to enrollment in Christian schools, with 45% of Gen Z identifying as religiously unaffiliated. This will place pressure on Christian schools and universities that specifically focus on Christian values in education. Natasha: Of course it isn’t all negative – some Christian colleges have grown in recent years, but overall – how can they be planning ahead? Warren: Regardless of severity, the demographic cliff will affect Christian schools and universities. Schools already are evaluating how they will go about recruiting in the coming decades, with a greater focus on adult students and changing demographics shifting the focus of who colleges should be seeking to stabilize their student bodies. Natasha: One of the schools which is affected by the cliff is St. Andrews University in NC Warren: St. Andrews University announced it would close its Laurinburg, N.C., campus on May 5, 2025 after the spring semester ends. Dr. Tarun Malik, St. Andrews campus president and provost, said in a statement about the closing. “This outcome follows years of effort to preserve our presence in this community while delivering an affordable, high-quality education and meaningful student experience. Despite those efforts, we have reached a point where financial sustainability is no longer attainable.” The president sought to assure students it would support them in finding teach-out opportunities at other universities, such as Brevard College, Appalachian State University, and High Point University. It also plans to help employees secure new opportunities. Natasha: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: Back in February 2024, Wycliffe Bible Translators listed its 272-acre Orlando headquarters for sale. More than a year later, the status of the sale remains unclear, with the property still marked “under contract” on listings from LoopNet and First Capital Property Group, the brokerage representing the site. The listing includes a 167,782-square-foot office building and 120,000 square feet of ancillary facilities, including an RV park, activity center, clinic, lodging and warehouses. FCPG describes the campus as ideal for users looking to occupy existing space while leaving room to expand. Natasha: The property spans wetlands, mitigation areas, and pad-ready lots suited for future development. Warren: Despite its prime Florida location near Lake Nona and Sunbridge, there has been no public announcement of a buyer or finalized sale. MinistryWatch’s multiple inquiries to FCPG and Wycliffe for updates went unanswered. According to Wycliffe’s 2024 financial statement, the sale process initiated by its board remains ongoing, with no completion expected during fiscal year 2025, which ends in September. The listing does not disclose an asking price. The Orange County Property Appraiser recorded a 2024 market value of $43.7 million for the main campus, and $5.6 million for multifamily buildings nearby. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: We’ve got our list of the 50 largest foreign missions organizations by total revenue from the MinistryWatch 1000 database. The total revenue for all 50 organizations exceeds $1.1 billion. The largest organization is Pioneers with $88.8 million in revenue and the smallest is International Care Ministries with just over $8 million in revenue. Natasha: None of the five largest ministries on the list — Pioneers, Ethnos360, OneHope, Reliant Mission, and Frontiers — filed a Form 990 informational return with the Internal Revenue Service. Warren: MinistryWatch updated the revenue information for ministries who don’t file a Form 990 but are members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) with the financial information in their ECFA profile. Those ministries are denoted with an asterisk. In addition to the name and revenue, you will also find MinistryWatch’s Financial Efficiency Rating (1 to 5, with 5 being the highest and 0 indicating they don’t file a Form 990),  its Transparency Grade (A, C, D, or F), and its Donor Confidence Score (up to 100). You can learn more about each ministry by clicking the ministry’s name. That will take you directly to the ministry’s profile in the MinistryWatch 1000 database. Natasha: And who is in our Ministry Spotlight for this week? Warren: Grace to You, the media ministry of John MacArthur, now has a Donor Confidence Score of 38—a “Withhold Giving” designation. The organization no longer releases its Form 990s to the public and has changed its IRS status to “a church.” Grace to You (GTY) also provides just one audited financial statement on its website for years ending in 2022 and 2023. Natasha: According to limited financial data from GTY’s ECFA profile, the organization has seen a jump in both revenue and expenses over the last three years. Warren: In 2022, GTY had a revenue of $33.3 million. In 2024, its revenue was $39.8 million. Additionally, its expenses jumped from $27 million to $50.6 million in that same time. It had a deficit of $10.7 million in 2024, along with $44.7 million in net assets. In 2021, the last financial information MinistryWatch has for the ministry, MacArthur was collecting a salary of $246,686. But some reports have noted that between multiple ministries, his salary might be much higher. MacArthur is also the pastor of Grace Community Church in California and chancellor of The Master’s University and Seminary. In 2021, The Master’s University resigned from the ECFA. The organization did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. Natasha: What did Christina Darnell highlight in Ministries Making a Difference? Warren: Vacation Bible School is generally a popular church outreach to minister to elementary-age children, but Bridge Community Church in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, is focused on kids a little older—in grades 7-12—by hosting its annual summer LEAP program. LEAP is a week-long set of skills-based workshops that equip students in areas like auto mechanics, computer science, cooking, music, sewing, and improv. The program was created in partnership with the local Boys & Girls Club, provides breakfast and lunch, and sets time aside in the afternoon for relational skills workshops. Since it was launched in 2021, volunteers have worked with over 400 students. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein awarded $3 million each to NC Baptists on Mission and Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina for their assistance in ongoing rebuild efforts after Hurricane Helene ripped through the mountains in Western North Carolina last fall. NC Baptists on Mission is using the money to purchase building materials as they undergo home construction projects over the next four to six years. Habitat for Humanity International has 1 star and a “C” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 44. Grace Point Church in Croatia serves in a Ukrainian refugee camp nearby, and earlier this month hosted an Easter celebration for families that included crafts, games, Bible lessons, and an egg hunt. Thanks to partnerships between Ukrainian and Croatian pastors, the event was hosted in Ukrainian, Croatian, and English. Grace Point is also supporting its Ukrainian neighbors through language classes, field trips, and children’s programs. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib MAY Recurring Donor Appeal. Natasha: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Mark Wingfield, Tyler Hummel, Shannon Cuthrell, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist News Global for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

In the Great Commission of Matthew 28, Jesus plainly told his disciples to go to all parts of the world and make disciples. And for 2000 years, Christians have done that, and God has blessed that work. Today, mature Christian believers on every continent in the world. That’s why some Christian leaders are re-thinking what it means to “go.” My guest today, Aaron Baart, is one of them. He got involved in foreign missions in 2007 and discovered that Godly, mature Christ-followers are already living and ministering in many of the places we Americans are sending missionaries. Why not support them? That insight has put Aaron in the forefront of what I call the “New Missions Paradigm.” We’ve written a good bit about it here at MinistryWatch, and Aaron and his colleagues at Dordt University in Iowa have now produced a new six-part video series called “Missions Upside Down.”  I’ve watched it. I recommend it, and on today’s program Aaron is joining me to talk about it. Aaron Baart is an alumnus of Dordt who came back to serve on campus in 2010. As the Chief of Staff, Baart coordinates strategic efforts among the senior leadership team, is Dordt’s legal liaison, and leads the Crisis Management Team. He also serves as Dean of Chapel, providing oversight for the Campus Ministries staff that helps students develop spiritually through worship, service, missions, and discipleship initiatives. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

If you don’t live day-to-day in the world of finance or philanthropy, you might not have heard of the Great Generational Wealth Transfer. It’s the notion that in the next 20 or so years, as much as $90 trillion will transfer from the current generation that holds these assets to the next generation. MinistryWatch provides a database of the largest ministries in the nation, with lots of free data at your disposal. As a friend of mine often says (with a touch of irony), “We live in the future now. We can have nice things.” We may not live in the future, but we do live in a world where being uninformed is not an excuse. Dig in, ask tough questions, and give wisely. You can find recent examples of our “Generous Living” series here and here. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire was the subject of an independent investigation late last year. The findings of that report have now been released, allegedly finding that Brown DID engage in misconduct with two women who were not his wife. We’ll have details. And, is Bob Jones University facing closure? The school’s president says no—but alumni aren’t so sure. We’ll take a closer look. Plus, The Salvation Army in Denver is embroiled in protests, violence, and a failed $3 million bid to provide housing to the city’s homeless population. The ministry says the city is using it as a ‘scapegoat’ even as it faces an overwhelming homelessness crisis. But first, a female victim has joined the fray in suing Kanakuk Kamps for negligence after she was abused by former staffer Peter Newman when she was just 9 years old. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, and Brittany Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire was the subject of an independent investigation late last year. The findings of that report have now been released, allegedly finding that Brown DID engage in misconduct with two women who were not his wife. We’ll have details. And, is Bob Jones University facing closure? The school’s president says no—but alumni aren’t so sure. We’ll take a closer look. Plus, The Salvation Army in Denver is embroiled in protests, violence, and a failed $3 million bid to provide housing to the city’s homeless population. The ministry says the city is using it as a ‘scapegoat’ even as it faces an overwhelming homelessness crisis. Natasha: But first, a female victim has joined the fray in suing Kanakuk Kamps for negligence after she was abused by former staffer Peter Newman when she was just 9 years old. Warren: The plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe due to the sensitive nature of the allegations, filed suit on Monday, April 14 against Kanakuk Heritage, Kanakuk Ministries, KUKORP, and Joe White for negligent retention, negligent supervision, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and sexual battery. The lawsuit was filed in Taney County, Missouri, where Kanakuk is located. This is the first known female victim of Newman to come forward with a lawsuit, according to a press release by Monsees & Mayer, the law firm representing the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleges she was sexually molested by Peter Newman in 2008 when she was just 9 years old and attending K-Kountry, one of the summer camp programs for 6- to 11-year-old children. Natasha: I know these cases are extremely sensitive for the victims but why didn’t she bring the lawsuit sooner? Warren: According to the lawsuit, Doe’s memory of the events was repressed until December 2024 when she regained the memories of abuse and began to question Kanakuk’s conduct and responsibility for Newman’s actions. Missouri’s law allows for a pause of the statute of limitations related to childhood sexual abuse when memory of the abuse was repressed. Natasha: Our next story brings to light more unfortunate news Warren: An independent investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire “concluded that Brown’s actions toward the two females were inappropriate and unacceptable for his leadership position within the ministry.” Brown was accused of sexual misconduct by crossing physical boundaries with a 21-year-old woman, Sarah Monk, who was working as a secretary at Brown’s FIRE School of Ministry, based in Concord, North Carolina. Natasha: While admitting to a close relationship with his accuser, Brown claimed the relationship was “totally non-sexual in every way.” Warren: The investigation conducted by James Holler Jr. of Firefly Independent Sexual Abuse Investigations looked into the allegations by Monk and allegations that Brown engaged in another inappropriate relationship with a married woman in the congregation, who is now deceased. The alleged conduct took place between 2001 and 2002. According to the report dated April 12, Brown’s conduct “violated the ethical standards expected of someone in his role and undermined the trust and integrity essential to leadership within the church community.” The Line of Fire did not reply to a request for a statement about the report before the time of publication. Natasha: Megachurch Founder’s Son Indicted on 27 Charges of Sexual Abuse Warren: An Ohio grand jury has indicted the son of Faith Life Church leaders Gary and Drenda Keesee on 27 counts related to sexually abusing minors. On Monday, April 21, the jury charged Gary Thomas “Tom” Keesee Jr. for crimes that allegedly happened between May 2002 and October 2011, including those against his own younger sister. Out of the 27 charges, 11 counts are of first-degree felony rape and third-degree felony gross sexual imposition. Police arrested Keesee last Friday. The Licking County Sheriff’s Office said they are holding Keesee at the Licking County Justice Center. The office will host another press conference with the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office on Monday, April 28. Natasha: Next, a new law is hoping to stop all the stories we’ve just covered from happening. Warren: States are increasingly passing laws that criminalize not only sexual abuse, but the grooming process that often precedes the abuse. At least 13 states — Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia — have made grooming a criminal offense, independent of any sexual abuse conduct that may follow. Natasha: Gregory Love, an attorney and founder of MinistrySafe, wrote in an article about the grooming laws, “Grooming a child for inappropriate sexual activity and the inappropriate sexual activity itself are now two separate criminal charges in the above-referenced states. It is not a defense to the grooming charge that the underlying inappropriate sexual activity did not actually occur,”. Warren: Love told MinistryWatch in an interview that he is unaware of any prosecutions under these laws, but most of them have been in effect only about a year. He sees these laws as another tool in the tool box of prosecutors who are dealing with sexual predators. For example, if victims won’t testify because the abuser is a family member, these laws would allow for a charge if others can testify that grooming took place. The laws can also act as a deterrent before the sexual abuse itself occurs. Natasha: The criminal laws are fairly broad in their definition of grooming. While the definition is broad enough to take in a range of grooming behaviors, it can also bring challenges. Warren: “Grooming laws have always been difficult because of challenges in differentiating between innocent behavior and culpable behavior,” said Theresa Sidebotham, a Colorado-based lawyer who assists ministries with child protection. “It looks like the new laws are targeting lower-level sexual behavior, as well as showing children inappropriate material,” she added. Sidebotham added that reporting requirements for ministries should be updated to reflect the anti-grooming laws that have been passed. “Churches and ministries need to stay up to date with the laws in their jurisdiction and be ready to report appropriately. Failure to report could always bring about liability, and I suppose civil liability could be expanded by the definitions of grooming,” Sidebotham said. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, the latest from Bob Jones University. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: Falling enrollment, faculty cuts, and administrative resignations — Bob Jones University appears to be a college in turmoil. While some alumni are critical of recent decisions, they are also cheering for change in hopes the school they love can survive. Last May, Bob Jones University (BJU) in South Carolina named Josh Crockett as president. Crockett recently announced that, after only 10 months on the job, he has sought to be re-hired as senior pastor at Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville, the position he held before taking the reins at BJU. He told students on Tuesday (April 8) that he recommended the board bifurcate the leadership of the university. He would remain as president in a more pastoral and spiritual leadership capacity, while the school should hire a CEO to run the business side of higher education. “The university is not going to close, and I have not resigned,” Crockett told students. Natasha: A group called “BJU-New Contract” has proposed a series of actions they say the university must take if it is to survive. What are they? Warren: In an open letter to Crockett and BJU Board Chairman Dr. Sam Dawson, the group described themselves as “a robust network of BJU alumni and friends who have some connection to the university and desire to see [it] survive and thrive.” Two primary actions they recommend are the resignation or termination of Dr. Bob Jones III as chancellor and the replacement of the entire board of trustees. According to “BJU-New Contract,” Jones has been exercising undue influence to undermine the leadership of the university. This behavior became evident during events that led to the eventual resignation of Dr. Steve Pettit as president in 2023. Board members who were more moderate and sympathetic to Pettit’s changes and leadership were not renewed as members of the board. Instead, leadership chose very conservative board members loyal to Jones. Fuller said Jones now has a super majority on the board that will agree with Jones’ views about BJU. Natasha: While we’re on the topic of higher education, Limestone University Needs $6M to Stay Open Warren: A small Christian university in Gaffney, S.C. is facing possible closure if it doesn’t obtain immediate financial support of $6 million. Limestone University, founded as a non-denominational Christian women’s college in 1845, is facing imminent decisions about its continuation. The board of trustees is planning to meet on April 22 to discuss the college’s future. The financial pressure comes from a “combination of nationwide enrollment declines, rising costs, and long-standing structural pressures facing small, private institutions,” according to the university’s press statement. Natasha: Most recent reports indicate Limestone has enrollment of about 1,600 students. Warren: The $6 million would be sufficient to stabilize Limestone’s financial situation and give it time to pursue long-term solutions, the press statement said. Natasha: Next, news from Appalachian Bible College. Warren: Professors who say they were fired from Appalachian Bible College in West Virginia in retaliation for filing a complaint with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) will get no relief from the accrediting agency. In May 2024, Jeremy and Melissa Yowell — both music department faculty members — were fired after filing a complaint with ABHE alleging that Rosalie Anderson, wife of Appalachian’s president Daniel Anderson, exhibited “a pattern of behavior that is inconsistent with Christian integrity and professional teaching standards.” The Yowells complained that the Andersons created a hostile learning environment for students through verbal and psychological harassment. After requiring the school to submit a report in response, the ABHE Commission on Accreditation (COA) sent a letter last month to the Yowells saying that no further action would be taken on the matter at this time. Natasha: In response to the ABHE letter, Jeremy and Melissa Yowell told MinistryWatch in an email, “[W]e are genuinely surprised at the COA’s apparent lack of action. We feel that the COA, despite acknowledging our concerns, has not made meaningful efforts to investigate the issues at hand.” Warren: The Yowells believe the COA did “very little to investigate these allegations” and provided “little transparency” to the Yowells about Appalachian’s response. Appalachian Bible College is an independent private Bible college near Beckley, West Virginia, founded in 1950. It has approximately 250 students and about 13 academic staff. Daniel Anderson has been president of the college since 1983. MinistryWatch did not receive a reply from Appalachian Bible College after multiple attempts. Natasha:   Our next story comes from my neck of the woods here in Denver. Warren: On April 8, a few dozen people stood outside The Salvation Army’s Denver headquarters for a protest organized by Housekeys Action Network Denver (HAND) against the Christian ministry’s partnership with the city. Two weeks earlier, Denver City Council blindsided The Salvation Army by voting 10-1 against an expected $2.9 million contract to place the homeless in permanent housing. The Salvation Army has been one of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s primary partners in his “housing first” initiative to tackle the city’s rampant homelessness. But as the crisis deepens, the group is being targeted with accusations of poor stewardship of the more than $27 million in city contracts it has received since 2022 to serve the homeless. Natasha: These criticisms followed a series of violent crimes at The Aspen, one of three large former hotels the nonprofit runs on behalf of the city as homeless shelters. Incidents included a double homicide, a nonfatal shooting, and the arrest of employee Billy Johnson for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at the shelter. Warren: HAND’s website blames The Salvation Army for failing to provide adequate security. It also claims many families in need of housing have struggled to get through to the ministry’s Connection Center phone line. The mayor, however, praised The Salvation Army’s work and, according to local news source Denverite, accused opponents of intentionally overloading the hotline with hundreds of calls a day — a claim HAND denies. Jennifer Forker, communications and marketing director for The Salvation Army, defended the ministry’s efforts to shelter up to 1,800 people per day on a limited budget. She told MinistryWatch that “bad actors” accuse the organization of “profiting off homelessness, but the opposite is occurring. We are not profiting; we are actually dipping into our own profits.” Natasha: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: Congressional representatives are seeking to protect the freedom of tax-exempt charitable groups by filing the Safeguarding Charity Act. The bill would reaffirm that a tax-exempt status is not financial assistance, making a group subject to federal regulations. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) have authored bills clarifying that “‘Federal financial assistance,’ or any other term referring to assistance provided by the Federal Government, shall not include any exemption from Federal income tax.’’ According to Philanthropy Roundtable, accepting federal financial assistance triggers compliance with many federal rules and regulations. If a charity doesn’t comply with these regulations, their tax-exempt status may be jeopardized. Lankford’s legislative goal is to clarify that a tax-exempt status is not federal assistance, so that charitable organizations don’t “live in fear of federal control every day because courts want to redefine the meaning of tax-exempt status.” Groups like Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Family Research Council, Citygate Network, Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission are supporting the bill. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: American organized religion is a bit like a scene from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” It has been on the decline for decades, but churches aren’t dead yet. A new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found that 94% of Protestant pastors believe their church will still be open in 10 years, with 78% strongly agreeing that will be true. “Small churches can be resilient for a long time, especially when their building is paid for,” said Scott McConnell, director of Lifeway Research. Natasha: While many churches may survive the next decade, the 20-year outlook is bleaker. Warren: Lifeway Research found some indication that the rate of churches closing might have increased. The survey includes a look at data from the Southern Baptist Convention showing that 1.8% of congregations disbanded or closed in 2022, the last year with data available. If that annual percentage were to hold steady over the next decade, it would mean about 18% of churches would close during that time, which is more than than pastors surveyed would have predicted. Natasha: And who is in our Ministry Spotlight for this week? Warren: This week, Convoy of Hope’s Transparency Grade fell from an A to a C. The Christian humanitarian and disaster relief organization, based out of Missouri, no longer files a Form 990. Ethan Forhetz, VP of Public Engagement for Convoy of Hope, told MinistryWatch that the ministry was designated as an “association of churches” in 2020. “That decision came as a result of Convoy’s commitment to serving local churches,” Forhetz said. “Convoy already had many churches in our network, so our board of directors wanted to ensure that Convoy remained tethered to the local church. The board decided the best way to do that was to amend our status with the IRS.” Natasha: Over the last few years the organization has seen explosive growth in both its contributions and revenue. Warren: It has grown from $180 million in 2018 to $638 million in 2023. Its 2023 Annual Report notes this figure includes the Convoy of Hope Foundation. According to previous reports from Ministry Watch, the organization’s “top nine executives earn more than $200,000 each, according to its 2021 federal 990 form.” Because it no longer files a Form 990, more recent salaries from its top executives are no longer available to the public. Its ECFA profile and audited financials show that in 2023 the organization had a revenue of $638.4 million and its expenses were $640.2 million. Convoy of Hope has $213.2 million in net assets. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib April Recurring Donor Appeal. Diane Landberg’s book: When the Church Harms God’s People Natasha: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, and Brittany Smith. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

The music industry has been in something of a mess over the past two decades. Digital platforms have come and gone and come again, completely reshaping – and then reshaping again – the economic model of the music industry. The Christian music industry has had to undergo all these changes plus more: the rise of the worship genre, the growth of such radio juggernauts as K-Love and Salem, and the economic pressures these innovations have placed on the rest of the industry to conform or die. And the worship genre itself has shaped the way the church worships – whether we like it or not. Through all these changes, a small but influential music label in Nashville has not just survived, but it has thrived. That label is Centricity, and it owes much of its success to my guest today, John Mays. John is one of the co-founders of the label, and he has retained the title of  President of A&R. And if you don’t know what that means, stay tuned. John will explain. John Mays began his career as a musician, playing bass for some of the early bands in the CCM genre, first as a road dog, then as a session player. He worked for industry leader Word Records early in his career. With Word, Centricity, and others, he has been influential in the careers of artists such as Cindy Morgan, Point of Grace, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Andrew Peterson, and many more. John is currently working with Peterson, Jason Gray, and Lauren Daigle, among the two dozen or so artists currently on the Centricity label. John had this conversation with me from his home near Nashville. A special word before we go. I’m a bit of a music guy. I find music to be nourishing spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. Contemporary Christian Music and Christian radio also have an outsized impact on the evangelical movement. So from time to time, we’ll feature musicians on the MinistryWatch podcast. To hear recent interviews I’ve done with Charlie Peacock, Fernando Ortega, Andrew Peterson, and others, just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the “Podcast” button at the top of the page. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Thanks to PR guy extraordinaire Rick Hoganson for helping me arrange this interview with John Mays. Until next time, may God bless you.