MinistryWatch Podcast

Last week, nearly 300 ministry leaders who make up the True Charity Network gathered in Huntsville, Alabama. I was there. On this episode, I discuss what I saw and heard. To learn more about Watered Gardens and James Whitford, click here. Here are some of the checklists – called “Model Action Plans” — published by The True Charity Network.

On today’s program we have internationally recognized psychologies and trauma scholar Diane Langberg. She has come face to face with the trauma of sexual abuse, trafficking, domestic violence, and rape – and its cover up. And she has encountered all of them within the Christian community and the church. In her book When the Church Harms God’s People, Langberg diagnoses how Christian communities often choose to protect their institutions rather than the victims of harm, and she discusses what we can do about it. Diane Langberg has a Ph.D from Temple University, and she has chaired the advisory board of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She has written a number of books, books which have been translated into eleven languages. To receive your own copy of her book, go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the donate button at the top of the page. If you make a gift of any size to MinistryWatch during April 2025, we’ll send  you this book as our thank you gift. 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, Bob Jones University President Josh Crockett announced this week that he may be transitioning into a different role—he’s served as president of the school for less than a year. We’ll have details. Faith Life Church in Ohio is facing backlash after sexual abuse allegations prompt further scrutiny into some of its financial and governmental practices. We’ll take a look. Plus, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is moving to Canada after agreeing to be acquired by another university. But first, Pastor Rodney Finch’s Calvary Chapel Cary has sold its 9.8-acre church property in Apex, North Carolina — and this time, it’s for real. Finch, whose rocky tenure at Calvary Chapel Cary tested the limits of the Calvary Chapel Association’s (CCA) ability to reign in misbehaving pastors, had previously put the church up for sale in secret. After his board and congregation found out in July 2024, Finch withdrew the listing, but the damage was done. He announced his resignation in August, then rescinded his resignation less than two months later due to a dispute over retirement pay. He removed the pastors who were slated to replace him and set up a new church board. 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 Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Adam Macinnis, Marci Seither, Brittany Smith, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. A special thanks to byFaith Online 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, Bob Jones University President Josh Crockett announced this week that he may be transitioning into a different role—he’s served as president of the school for less than a year. We’ll have details. And, Faith Life Church in Ohio is facing backlash after sexual abuse allegations prompt further scrutiny into some of its financial and governmental practices. We’ll take a look. And Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is moving to Canada after agreeing to be acquired by another university. Natasha: But first, Pastor Rodney Finch’s Calvary Chapel Cary has sold its 9.8-acre church property in Apex, North Carolina — and this time, it’s for real. Warren: Finch, whose rocky tenure at Calvary Chapel Cary tested the limits of the Calvary Chapel Association’s (CCA) ability to reign in misbehaving pastors, had previously put the church up for sale in secret. After his board and congregation found out in July 2024, Finch withdrew the listing, but the damage was done. He announced his resignation in August, then rescinded his resignation less than two months later due to a dispute over retirement pay. He removed the pastors who were slated to replace him and set up a new church board. Natasha: As MinistryWatch reported, the church then closed its doors late last year and began liquidating assets through estate sales. Now, the entire three-lot property, which includes two buildings totaling about 40,000 square feet, has been sold for $7 million. Warren: According to a deed filed with Wake County, the church was purchased on February 21 by a local LLC called LIWSP Apex, whose articles of organization indicate it was formed just two days prior. In a letter of no objection by the state assistant attorney general’s office, the buyer is identified as Longleaf Industrial, LLC, a real estate development company owned by former NHL hockey player Tim Brent. Calvary Chapel Cary board member Steve Youell, a real estate agent in Florida, confirmed to MinistryWatch that the church sold for $7 million, but said he did not know the buyer’s plan for the property. Natasha: Next, Bob Jones University President Josh Crockett Announces a Possible Role Change Warren: In the continued saga of leadership changes at Bob Jones University (BJU) in Greenville, South Carolina, current President Josh Crockett has announced he may be changing roles if he is called to pastor Morningside Baptist Church in Greenville. According to BJU’s Public Relations Director Courtney Montgomery, Crockett informed faculty and staff on April 7 that he is a candidate for senior pastor at Morningside, a position he held for nine years before taking the helm of BJU in May 2024. The congregation will vote on the pastoral call on April 27. Natasha: What will happen if he does get voted in? Warren: Should Crockett be called as Morningside’s senior pastor, he will shift responsibilities at BJU to one of primarily preaching, leading chapel, and interacting with and shepherding students. In a statement the school said, “The BJU Board of Trustees is confident that with the planned transition and the appointment of a new CEO, the University will continue to thrive in its mission to serve students, faculty, and staff.” Natasha: Let’s move to news from an Ohio Megachurch Warren: Faith Life Church, a megachurch in New Albany, Ohio, faces mounting scrutiny as a current abuse scandal prompts questions about past allegations to resurface. A recent string of sexual abuse allegations has an earlier financial investigation, and widespread criticism over its use of employee nondisclosure agreements (NDAs). Natasha: What were the allegations? Warren: The Licking County Sheriff’s Office launched a criminal investigation in February 2025 after multiple women, including the daughter of church founders Gary and Drenda Keesee, accused former Chief Media Officer Tom Keesee—a son of the church founders— and another former youth leader of sexually abusing them. Some of the women—estimated to total at least 11—claim they were minors at the time of the abuse. The accused, Tom Keesee, stepped down as chief media officer in August 2024. Natasha: The criminal investigation has resurfaced questions about the church’s financial governance. Can you tell us more about that? Warren: In 2022, a whistleblower prompted an inquiry into the church’s leadership and financial transparency, particularly regarding its “Journey Campaign.” Some critics and former church members have said the church is overly focused on framing donations as “sewing seeds” in exchange for rewards and healing. The Columbus Dispatch also reported that Gary and Drenda Keesee “operate several businesses, have book deals, appear on religious television programs and own a private plane.” Though the state found no legal violations, the state deemed the consolidation of power and lack of transparency “fertile soil…for mistrust.” Recommendations included adding independent board members, enhancing financial reporting from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and seeking third-party oversight. Natasha: What can you tell us about the Church’s use of nondisclosure agreements? Warren: Adding to the controversy, former employees have criticized the church’s use of NDAs, claiming the church required staff to sign NDAs for continued employment. Some claim Faith Life Church used these documents to suppress concerns and protect the church institution over victims. Heidi Runion, a former administrative assistant and long-time church member, said she signed an NDA under financial pressure but was later fired for undisclosed reasons. Another staffer, Connie McVay, said her name was included without consent on her husband’s NDA after losing his church controller job. Faith Life maintains that its NDAs are standard and do not prevent employees from reporting misconduct. “Our agreements safeguard confidential and proprietary information,” said church attorney Katari Buck, noting the documents do not restrict whistleblowing or reporting abuse. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a prominent but troubled evangelical seminary has agreed to be acquired by a Canadian university and move to British Columbia. 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: Trinity International University’s divinity school will be acquired by Trinity Western University, the school’s leaders announced Tuesday (April 8). The move comes after years of financial struggle and declining attendance at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School — known as TEDS — an Evangelical Free Church school whose alums have played an outsized role in shaping American evangelicalism. Natasha: How will this impact the school? Warren: Trinity will continue to hold classes at its Bannockburn, Illinois, campus north of Chicago during the 2025-2026 academic year but will move to the campus of Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, in 2026. Current faculty will get a contract for the coming year but it’s unclear how many will move to Canada in the future. Natasha: What will happen to the school’s property in Illinois? Warren: The entire Trinity campus is currently under contract, and the school hopes to close on that sale in October. After the sale is complete, Trinity will lease back part of the campus for the rest of the academic year and use the proceeds to pay off a $19 million loan. About 100 students currently live on campus and their leases will become month to month for the upcoming academic year Natasha: Let’s move from Chicago to Detroit, what’s new there? Warren: Dan Millward looks for three characteristics when interviewing prospective church planters. First, they have to be evangelists who will make connections and share the gospel. Second, they must possess an entrepreneurial spirit to get a church off the ground. And third, they must be crazy. “Because you have to be crazy to plant a church,” he says. Natasha: He says he is honored to work with a group of men who check all three boxes. Warren: Millward is the director of The Detroit Project, a movement to establish PCA churches in the greater Detroit area. He knows it’s going to take people with a healthy dose of tenacity to reach every corner of metro Detroit. This story defies easy summary, so I recommend that anyone who is interested in church planting or the PCA go to our website and look for the story, which is on the front page. But with tenacity and confidence in the gospel, these church planters see the Lord working in the Detroit area as people come to faith and new churches gain traction in diverse communities. In 13 years The Detroit Project has planted seven churches in metro Detroit. Natasha: Next is the latest from our generous living series. Warren: When Tom and Mary Vande Guchte attended a Generous Giving Conference in 2014, they had no idea it would change the way they viewed money. Less than a decade later, they were on stage themselves, sharing how their first conference opened doors for them to serve together, and prompted them to be part of providing over 280,000 people with clean water and the Gospel. Again, this is a story that should really not be summarized. I’ll just say here that this is the latest series in our Generous Living series, and you should check it out at MinistryWatch.com 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: Christian philanthropist Hugh Maclellan Jr. of Lookout Mountain, longtime leader of the Maclellan Foundation, died on April 4. He was 85. Maclellan was involved in leading the influential private Christian foundation in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for 55 years, according to its Executive Director David Denmark. “For over 50 years, Hugh was faithful to continue the Foundation’s Founders’ passion for the advancement of the Gospel. It will be our honor, privilege and duty to continue Hugh’s legacy and passion for the next 50 years, and beyond,” Denmark wrote in a statement. The Maclellan Foundation was established in 1945 and is “focused on establishing and strengthening the local church, promoting discipleship and leadership development, sparking community transformation, promoting the power of prayer, advocating for generosity, and increasing access to Scripture.” Hugh Maclellan took the helm at the foundation in 1987 as its president and treasurer. Under his leadership, the foundation was among the earliest to invest in indigenously-led ministries, and also supported The Jesus Film in an effort to accelerate the proclamation of the gospel, Denmark said. In the early 1990s, Maclellan began his World Strategy Conferences with other wealthy Christians in order to “cast a vision for Kingdom investing.” Maclellan also served on the board of trustees for King University in Bristol, Tennessee. During the 1990s, Maclellan started a fundraising campaign with a matching gift of $12 million, and eventually, under his leadership, the university raised more than $50 million. Maclellan was also active in the local community, helping to start several local ministries, including First Things First, Pray Chattanooga, and the Maclellan Shelter for Families. Natasha: Next, MinistryWatch Index for the month of March Warren: The MinistryWatch Index was unchanged during the month of March, at 152. 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 sideways move means that the MinistryWatch Index has been essentially unchanged after a significant drop last October. The no growth and slow 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. Natasha: And who is in our Ministry Spotlight for this week? Warren: This week AnGeL Ministries’ Financial Efficiency Rating in the MinistryWatch database fell from 4 to 3 stars, placing it among the top 60% for financial efficiency in the Christian Growth sector. The organization, founded by Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of Billy Graham, now has a Donor Confidence Score of 56 or “Exercise Caution.” The reason for the low donor confidence score is, in part, because the ministry is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and does not make its Form 990s or audited financials available to the public. According to a spokesperson, however, the organization will provide these documents upon request. From 2022 to 2023, the organization’s revenue jumped from $1.1 million to $14.7 million. The spokesperson told MinistryWatch this came from “private donations received in 2023 to help expand our ministry.” This, in turn, raised the organization’s net assets from $4.6 million to $18.4 million. AnGeL Ministries now has a reserve coverage ratio of 1,444%. The ministry says they “are in prayer now for the Lord’s guidance where to invest those resources” and that it’s working on a variety of ministry initiatives. According to its website, AnGeL Ministries, based out of Raleigh, North Carolina, “serves as the umbrella organization for the diverse ministry of Anne Graham Lotz — including her many books, DVDs, CDs, and speaking engagements as well as special events such as ‘Just Give Me Jesus.’” AnGeL Ministries’ total expenses in 2023 were $1.2 million, with 14% spent on general and admin costs. Natasha: On Friday, March 28, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, devastating an already tumultuous region where 1.6 million people are displaced by an ongoing civil war. The death toll has exceeded 3,500, with bombings and military attacks threatening rescue and recovery efforts. The following ministries have boots on the ground in Myanmar—either through local partners or by sending teams—and are providing relief to quake victims. Warren: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Teams from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) and local Church of the Nazarene congregations in Myanmar are providing relief care to communities impacted by the earthquake. They are “conducting trauma debrief sessions, translating materials for local use, installing water filters in key areas, and distributing relief goods.” NCM is one of MinistryWatch’s Shining Lights, with 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100—the highest scores in each of our three ratings. Partners Relief & Development Over the weekend, a team from Partners Relief delivered rice, eggs, and drinking water to people affected by the quake. They also delivered supplies to people living near Inle Lake in Shan State, where 2,700 homes had collapsed, according to Mindy Belz of Globe Trot. Altogether, one week after the earthquake, the ministry had helped 2,421 victims. Partners Relief has 2 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 77. Water Mission According to an April 8 update from Water Mission, its team is working to install two safe water systems—one in Mandalay at a local humanitarian organization’s main office, and one in a monastery located between a slum and a community, where the need for safe water is critical. Its team is also passing out hygiene kits with items like soap, toothbrushes, diapers, and sanitary pads. They are also planning to distribute jerrycans. Water Mission has 3 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 100. Samaritan’s Purse On Monday (April 7), doctors and nurses with Samaritan’s Purse began performing life-saving surgeries for quake victims. Teams are also in process of building the ministry’s Emergency Field Hospital with an ICU, emergency room, lab and operating theaters. Over the weekend, Samaritan’s Purse also deployed a cargo plane carrying 104 tons of relief supplies, including water filtration systems, emergency shelter materials, solar lights and hygiene kits. Samaritan’s Purse has two stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence of 56 (“Exercise Caution”). Free Burma Rangers Free Burma Rangers was already on the ground providing emergency medical help when the earthquake hit Myanmar. Since then, they have continued to train frontline medics and provide support for surgical teams despite the constant threat of airstrikes in Karenni State. “We have two kinds of devastation, one natural and one unnatural and completely manmade,” Free Burma Rangers head David Eubank told reporters, according to Belz. Free Burma Rangers has 5 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 95. World Relief World Relief is responding to the devastation in Myanmar through partners with long-standing roots in the area. As of last week, World Relief was still assessing needs, which they said include emergency shelter, food and clean water, medical aid, and trauma counseling. They were preparing to provide food and clean water. World Relief has 4 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 95. 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 Ad lib webinars 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 Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Adam Macinnis, Marci Seither, Brittany Smith, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. A special thanks to byFaith Online 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.

Today I welcome back to the program Al Fadi and Amy McClintock, with the Strategic Resource Group, an organization that funds projects to reach unreached people groups in the Middle East and North Africa, the so-called MENA region of the world. Both Amy and Al have been on the program before to discuss a bible translation project for Hejazi speaking people. This is an Arabic language spoken by more than 11 million people. More than three years ago, I started reporting on a new initiative by the Strategic Resource Group that – if successful – could have a dramatic impact on the way we do Bible translation. They are using a so-called Translation Service Provider – an organization that normally translates contracts, treaties, movie scripts, books, and all manner of other material – to translate the Bible. I wrote my first article about this process in August of 2021. But one aspect of this project that is different from those undertaken by traditional Bible translation organizations is the remarkable degree of transparency SRG has shown to me in the process. Since this project began, I have been checking in with them every six months to get updates, and to hear lessons learned.  And that’s what we are doing today. The very fact that Al and Amy and SRG are allowing me to have these regular check-ins is dramatically different from the way the Bible translation industry normally operates.  It’s an industry cloaked in secrecy and layers of bureaucracy.  In fact, for the past four years or so, I’ve written about 50 articles on the industry and its practices, and I’ll have links to some of those articles in today’s show notes. I encourage you to check them out:  https://ministrywatch.com/bible-translations/

On today’s program, a judge dismisses all but one of Johnny Hunt’s claims in his defamation case against the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC has already spent more than $3 million in legal fees on the Hunt case. We’ll have details. Plus, Paula White is promising donors who give $1,000 to her ministry during Passover week seven “supernatural blessings” from God. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts spoke with a scholar who specializes in the book of Exodus to dig into the Scripture Paula White uses to back her claims. And, a new report shows that 1 in 12 Christians could be impacted by President Trump’s mass deportation pledge…and a group of evangelical and Catholic leaders hope this and other findings will alert Christians to the plight facing their fellow brothers and sisters. But first, a judge says a Texas pastor must pay out $124 million to two sisters who say he sexually abused them as children. 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 Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Adele M. Banks, Fiona Andre, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jack Jenkins, Skylar Laird, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to South Carolina Daily Gazette 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 judge dismisses all but one of Johnny Hunt’s claims in his defamation case against the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC has already spent more than $3 million in legal fees on the Hunt case. We’ll have details. Plus, Paula White is promising donors who give $1,000 to her ministry during Passover week seven “supernatural blessings” from God. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts spoke with a scholar who specializes in the book of Exodus to dig into the Scripture Paula White uses to back her claims. And, a new report shows that 1 in 12 Christians could be impacted by President Trump’s mass deportation pledge…and a group of evangelical and Catholic leaders hope this and other findings will alert Christians to the plight facing their fellow brothers and sisters. Natasha: But first, a judge says a Texas pastor must pay out $124 million to two sisters who say he sexually abused them as children. Warren: A jury says a Fort Worth pastor is liable for $124 million in damages in a sexual assault civil case—following a settlement that included giving the church property to his victims. In 2017, police arrested and indicted Jose Francisco Bernal for allegedly sexually assaulting two girls in his church’s youth department at Tabernaculo de Vida-Iglesia (Tabernacle of Life) Pentecostal Church. The women, sisters who are now adults, claim Bernal repeatedly sexually assaulted them since they were 7 years old. Natasha: The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the trial’s progress until September 2022. Prosecutors dismissed the charges after a mistrial. The jury deliberated over 10 hours and could not reach a verdict. Warren: But two years after Bernal’s arrest on June 4, 2019, one of the women filed a separate lawsuit against Bernal through the Tarrant County District Court. The survivors also named two churches in their lawsuit: Bernal’s Tabernaculo de Vida-Iglesia in Fort Worth and Tabernaculo de Vida in Dallas. Both churches are part of United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI), and the Fort Worth location is the daughter church of the Dallas church. Natasha: What’s happened to the churches? Warren: In 2023, the churches settled by agreeing to pay $100,000 and transferring ownership of the Forth Worth church property to the women. The sisters will also benefit from any eventual sale of the property. The $100,000 comes from an insurance policy held by the church. Though the jury awarded the women $124 million in damages, it is unclear how much of that they can actually collect from Bernal. Natasha: Next, a Judge Rules Against Former SBC President Johnny Hunt Warren: A federal judge ruled against former Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt on Monday (March 31), rejecting his claims of defamation against Guidepost Solutions and nearly all the former megachurch pastor’s claims against the Southern Baptist Convention and its Executive Committee. Judge William Campbell of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee issued an order granting summary judgment in the case. Natasha: Hunt had sued Guidepost, an investigative firm, and SBC leaders for defamation and other damages after Guidepost published allegations of sexual assault against Hunt in a May 2022 report on an investigation into how SBC leaders had dealt with sexual abuse. Warren: In their court filings, Hunt’s lawyers claimed Guidepost had ruined his reputation and claimed the pastor’s sins were no one else’s business. Hunt, the former pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia, and a former vice president of the SBC’s North American Mission Board, claimed Guidepost and the SBC had cost him millions, and he sought more than $75 million in damages. Natasha: So what was decided? Warren: All counts of defamation, emotional distress and the public disclosure of embarrassing private facts were dismissed against the SBC and the Executive Committee. However, one claim alleging that a tweet about Hunt from Texas Baptist pastor Bart Barber, who was SBC president from 2022 to 2024, was defamatory has not been dismissed. Hunt served from 2008 to 2010 as SBC president and remained a popular speaker before the Guidepost report. Court-ordered mediation on the case failed last fall. A trial had been scheduled this summer.  The Executive Committee has spent more than $3.1 million in legal fees related to the Hunt lawsuit and a second lawsuit related to the Guidepost report. Natasha: Next up, T.D. Jakes discloses cause of November health crisis. Warren: Bishop T.D. Jakes has disclosed that the medical incident that occurred as he spoke before his Dallas megachurch in November was a “massive heart attack.” Jakes, 67, who also is an author and business executive, suffered what his church initially called “a slight health incident” at The Potter’s House during the Nov. 24 worship service. On that occasion, about a dozen people rushed to his side after he lowered his microphone and was shaking in his seat. These are not typical heart attack symptoms, Jakes said. But his doctor said he would have been dead on arrival had he reached the hospital five minutes later. “The right side of my heart had completely stopped getting blood at all,” Jakes explained in an interview. Jakes also reiterated his appreciation for the prayers of people in and beyond his congregation. Natasha: Warren, Let’s look at one more story before our break Warren: A Kansas City youth pastor has been sentenced to over 29 years in prison for stabbing his family and setting his home on fire. On Wednesday, March 26, a judge sentenced Matthew Lee Richards, 43, to 188 months for one count of attempted first-degree murder and 165 months for a second count. The sentences will run consecutively, totaling 353 months—or just over 29 years in prison. Both charges are classified as level 1 felonies, the most severe under Kansas law. Natasha: Richards pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder in February. Warren: The sentencing comes 18 months after Richards stabbed his wife and five children and set his home on fire as a result of what he told detectives was financial strain. Richards told police the family was going to be evicted the day of the crime, and he had not been forthcoming with his wife about their dire financial condition. Richards had been serving as the children’s pastor of Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee, Kansas. In an online statement, Crossroads Christian Church characterized Richards’ offenses as “a tragedy beyond what any of us could have imagined.” Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, Paula White’s Passover promises—she claims donors who give $1,000 to her ministry during Passover week will receive 7 “supernatural blessings” from God. But does her promise line up with Scripture? 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: Paula White, televangelist and spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump, has suggested to donors who give at least $1,000 to her ministry between April 12 and 20 that God will release seven supernatural blessings upon them. “[W]hen you honor God on Passover…you can receive these seven supernatural blessings, for you and your house, according to Exodus 23,” White said in a video. Natasha: The blessings she claims donors can release from God with their gift include? Warren: An angel assigned to them; God being an enemy to their enemies; Prosperity; Sickness removed from them; Long life; Increase and inheritance; and A special year of blessing. She ties these blessings to a passage from Exodus 23 where God commands the Israelites to celebrate the Passover (verse 15). Natasha: Talbot School of Theology Associate Professor Dr. Carmen Joy Imes told MinistryWatch that the keeping of the Passover is not specifically tied to the blessings listed in the latter part of Exodus 23. Imes is the author of “Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters” and has been immersed in Exodus for more than a decade. She said all Scripture, including Exodus 23, should be read within the framework of its historical and cultural context. Warren: “We can’t just claim everything for ourselves,” Imes said. While Exodus is still relevant today, believers must ask what their relationship to ancient Israel is and what the purpose was of the original instructions. White’s exegesis isn’t historical or contextual. While Imes agrees God encourages generosity to Him, it is “deeply problematic” to connect a gift to a particular ministry to specific promises and results. “It’s a kind of spiritual abuse to suggest that if [donors] give to you, that God will bless them,” Imes said. Natasha: Our next story has similar themes Warren: Pastor and Grammy-nominated gospel artist Marvin Sapp is addressing criticism after a resurfaced video went viral on X showing him instructing ushers to “close the doors” while taking up a church offering. The clip, taken during the 109th Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Convention in July 2024, shows Sapp directing ushers to shut the doors as he called on 2,000 people to “plant a seed” of $20 to raise $40,000. Sapp then explained there were approximately 1,000 attendees in person and 1,000 online, and if everyone contributed $20, they could meet the $40,000 goal. Sapp then turned to the leaders on stage and suggested they contribute $100 each. “It costs to sit up here,” he said. Natasha: Social media users accused Sapp of pressuring the congregation, with some calling the act manipulative and likening it to false imprisonment. Warren: Sapp responded to the backlash in a Facebook post on March 26 that began with, “Response: Let’s Add Context to the Clip on Social Media.” Sapp his his intention in closing the doors was to create a safe, secure, and respectful environment for focusing on giving—not about control or being offensive. Natasha: The Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. also issued a statement on Facebook on Saturday, saying leaders of the denomination asked Sapp to seek a “free-will offering” to help pay for expenses of its International Summer Convention, and other expenses. Warren: The denomination said. “Closing doors during giving is an internal security protocol that was, unfortunately, taken out of context. No doors were locked, and no one was held in the room against their will. We do not force or coerce anyone into supporting the operations of our organization, and we never will. We apologize to those who may have been offended by the manner of receiving donations.” The viral clip has 5.1 million views on X at the time of publishing. Natasha: Next, Christian Broadcasters clash with automakers over radio bill. Warren: Automakers such as Ford and Tesla have been removing AM radios from some new models, and some conservative and Christian groups are fighting to save the format. Their solution, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, has found broad support in the Christian broadcasting world, including endorsements from the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), which represents more than 1,100 member organizations, and Salem Media Group, which owns 95 radio stations and specializes in Christian and conservative media. Natasha: What can you tell us about this bill? Warren: The bipartisan bill, reintroduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) in January, calls on the Secretary of Transportation to “issue a rule requiring access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles, and for other purposes.” In a March op-ed, NRB president and CEO Troy Miller promoted the bill as a safeguard against corporate control of free speech. Miller also planned to discuss the bill during a March 25-April 1 media event in Washington. “Removing AM radio from cars would limit a historically free and open medium, placing control of information into the hands of a few powerful corporations,” Miller argued. “At its core, this issue touches on a fundamental principle: Americans should have the freedom to access content of their choosing without corporate gatekeepers determining what they can and cannot hear. AM radio provides a platform for voices that might otherwise be marginalized by algorithm-driven digital platforms.” Left to be seen is how, if passed, such a mandate could affect regulation of AM radio programming. Natasha: What’s our next story? Warren: A settlement agreement between the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church pastors and the AME Retirement Services and denominational leadership has been preliminarily approved by a federal judge in Tennessee. On March 24, District Judge Thomas Anderson preliminarily approved the AME agreement reached by parties on November 27, 2024, along with an agreement with Newport Group, a retirement services provider that was also named in the lawsuit. Natasha: Warren, can you give us a little more context to this story? Warren: In 2022, retired and current AME Church pastors filed six federal class-action lawsuits as plaintiffs alleging the church mishandled tens of millions of dollars in pension funds. Natasha: In August 2024, the AME announced it had reached a tentative settlement agreement with the plaintiffs. Warren: On December 13, 2024, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of their settlement agreement with the AME Church defendants. The class will receive $60 million, which is 69% of the difference between the misrepresented value and the true value of the plan. Attorneys’ fees will take up to one-third of the settlement proceeds — a standard amount in class action cases. 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: A new report published by four prominent Catholic and evangelical organizations claims that around 1 in 12 Christians in the U.S. are vulnerable to deportation or live with a family member who could be deported by President Donald Trump’s administration, one of several data points religious leaders hope will alert Christians to the plight facing their fellow faithful. The report, notes that “nearly 7 million U.S.-citizen Christians live within the same households of those at risk of deportation.” Natasha: What’s next? Warren: Churches, synagogues and other religious institutions in South Carolina could apply for up to $25,000 in state aid for security improvements under a bipartisan proposal. The legislation, dubbed the “Pray Safe Act,” is meant to help worshippers of all religions feel safe practicing their faith amid a rise in violence toward religious institutions and groups, Rep. Beth Bernstein, the bill’s lead sponsor, told reporters Wednesday. Any tax-exempt organization “at particular risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime” would be able to apply for a grant of up to $25,000 to hire security guards, train existing security, make buildings more secure, or install cameras and lighting systems, according to the bill introduced earlier this month. Natasha: Our first list in April features the 29 pro-life ministries in the MinistryWatch 1000 database. They range from advocacy groups that lobby for pro-life policies to crisis pregnancy centers that are daily encouraging women to choose life over abortion and are listed in order of total annual revenue. Warren: The total revenue for the pro-life ministries is about $201 million, with the top 10 ministries accounting for more than 70% of that revenue. The largest group is Pre-Born. Founded in 2006, Pre-Born has been growing rapidly in the last few years. In 2019, Pre-Born’s annual revenue was $6.8 million, and in 2023 it exceeded $34.7 million. Pre-Born has been a MinistryWatch Shining Light award winner for the last two years, meaning the ministry receives the highest rating in each of our three categories—a 100 donor confidence score, a 5-star financial efficiency rating, and an A transparency grade. Natasha: Not far behind Pre-Born in total annual revenue is Human Coalition with $29.5 million. Warren: Of that income, $16.1 million—more than half—was from government grants. Six of the pro-life groups listed received government grants, but none came near the total received by Human Coalition. Natasha: We cover news related to a lot of big ministries here at MinistryWatch. But also making a huge difference are the local churches meeting needs in their own communities…that’s what we’re looking at this week in Ministries Making a Difference. Warren: This Easter, Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, will be hosting its Broadway-style production “The Promise” through its theater ministry. Calvary Theater debuted in 1997 with a version of the same play, and presents semi-annual productions on Easter and Christmas with the creative talent of over 150 cast and crew members. This past Christmas, they performed “The Gospel According to Scrooge,” which drew more than 2,000 attendees and resulted in 115 making proclamations of faith in Christ. Members of the Ululoloa Church of the Nazarene visited Mapuifagalele Home for the Aged in Vailele, Samoa, in late January. Youth performed for the home’s residents, and brought food and gifts donated by the church. They also offered to pray with residents and staff. The elderly home—the only one in Samoa—is run by Sisters of the Poor. Natasha: We also have a couple of leadership changes to report. Warren: Bryant Wright is retiring as president of Send Relief, the Southern Baptist Convention’s compassion ministry. Under his five-year tenure, Send Relief expanded from a domestic ministry to an international one, partnering with the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board. Send Relief worked with partners in Turkey after the earthquake, Ukraine since the start of its war with Russia, and Israel after the surprise attack by Hamas. NAMB President Kevin Ezell and IMB President Paul Chitwood will lead Send Relief moving forward. Hiring   Global Christian Relief (GCR) announced Brian Orme as its new CEO, starting March 17, 2025. GCR, an advocacy ministry, works to strengthen and support persecuted Christians around the world. Under Orme’s leadership, GCR plans to amplify its frontline reporting. Orme founded ChurchLeaders.com, was senior editor of Outreach Magazine, and worked in pastoral ministry for a decade. GCR has 0 stars and a “C” transparency grade—because the ministry does not file a Form 990 with the IRS—and a donor confidence score of 55. 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 Ad lib webinars 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 Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Adele M. Banks, Fiona Andre, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jack Jenkins, Skylar Laird, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to South Carolina Daily Gazette 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.

On today’s EXTRA episode Warren Smith explains why he thinks Christian ministries should not have endowments. He says the Internal Revenue Service recognizes 1.9 million organizations as tax-exempt. Of these, more than a million of them are “religious” organizations. For almost all of them, an endowment is a bad idea. To read Karen Houghton’s piece on why she thinks ministries should have endowments, click here. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Willow Creek Pastor Dave Dummit announced this week he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch. Leaders have also named his successor. And, revenue is down for Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church, while in-person membership is flat. We’ll take a closer look at the church’s 2024 annual report.  Plus, the state of the church—Barna Group released its new report showing men have outpaced women in church attendance, reversing a longstanding trend. We’ll have details. But first, more churches are leaving what’s known as ‘the Network,’ led by Steve Morgan. Nearly half of the congregations that have been associated with a “Network” of churches overseen by Pastor Steve Morgan have either publicly announced their departure or removed any reference to the network from their websites. 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, Bob Smietana, Shannon Cuthrell, Diana Chandler, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist Press 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, Willow Creek Pastor Dave Dummit announced this week he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch. Leaders have also named his successor. And, revenue is down for Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church, while in-person membership is flat. We’ll take a closer look at the church’s 2024 annual report. Plus, the state of the church—Barna Group released its new report showing men have outpaced women in church attendance, reversing a longstanding trend. We’ll have details. Natasha: But first, more churches are leaving what’s known as ‘the Network,’ led by Steve Morgan. Warren: Nearly half of the congregations that have been associated with a “Network” of churches overseen by Pastor Steve Morgan have either publicly announced their departure or removed any reference to the network from their websites. MinistryWatch began reporting about Morgan in 2022 when a watchdog group called “Leaving the Network” issued an eight-point “call to action,” including an independent investigation of the group. Morgan, who was originally part of the Vineyard Association of Churches, left that group in 2006 and formed his own network. At one point, the network included 26 churches in the U.S., U.K., and Taiwan. Morgan is still the lead pastor of Joshua Church in Austin, Texas. Natasha: Why were churches leaving? Warren: One of the concerns that “Leaving the Network” has raised is that Morgan was arrested in 1987 for aggravated criminal sodomy of a minor, but his case was diverted. The group believes Morgan’s past has been concealed from members and leaders in the network of churches. Natasha: Eleven churches no longer appear to be affiliated with the Network. MinistryWatch reported about four — Isaiah Church, Vine Church, North Pines Church, and Hosea Church — last fall. Now seven more have indicated in some way that they are no longer part of the Network. Warren: Brookfield Church in Athens, Ohio: Cedar Heights Church in State College, Penn.: Mountain Heights Church in Morgantown, W.V.: Oaks Church in Muncie, Ind.: South Grove Church in Athens, Ga.: Vida Springs Church in Gainesville, Fla.: Christland Church in College Station, Texas: Natasha: Next, Willow Creek’s Pastor steps down. Warren: David Dummitt, who became pastor of Willow Creek Church at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced Sunday (March 23) that he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch. Shawn Williams, the campus pastor of Willow Creek’s South Barrington, Illinois, location, will succeed Dummitt as senior pastor starting April 1. Dummitt will remain on staff until July 31 to help with the transition. Dummitt’s departure comes as Willow Creek has largely rebounded from the shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the controversies generated by founding pastor Bill Hybels and accusations of sexual misconduct. The church ended 2024 in the black, with its first budget surplus since 2019, according to a church spokesperson. In-person attendance for 2024 was up 16%, to 9,875 per weekend, with an additional 3,700 people viewing services live online. Natasha: Dummitt, who had pastored a Michigan megachurch before coming to Willow Creek, told RNS in 2020 that he knew restoring trust and a healthy culture at the church — which for decades was one of the nation’s largest and most influential congregations — would be a long process. Warren: The new pastor, Shawn Williams, is — like Dummitt — a graduate of Wheaton College, where he earned a master’s degree in theology. He served at megachurches in the Chicago suburbs and Las Vegas before coming to Willow Creek. Natasha: Next, an update from the state of Texas and NDAs. Warren: A bill to stop the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDA) to prevent sexual abuse victims from telling their stories has advanced in the Texas legislature. On Wednesday, March 19, the Texas House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence voted unanimously to report House Bill 748 favorably to the full House of Representatives and recommend passage. Natasha: The bill, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), is called “Trey’s Law” after Trey Carlock, a sexual abuse victim of Kanakuk Kamps’ employee Peter Newman.  Carlock died by suicide after suffering in silence due to an NDA. Warren: His sister Elizabeth Carlock Phillips spoke to the committee in support of the bill, sharing how her brother endured a decade of abuse then signed a restrictive NDA that caused him to even question whether he should discuss details of his abuse with his therapist. NDAs that take away a sexual abuse survivor’s voice and ability to tell their story are taking away their “path to healing,” she said. Natasha: So what’s next for this bill. Before it is enacted as a law, the bill must pass the Texas House then move through a Senate committee and be approved by the Texas Senate before being signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, the latest findings from Elevation Church’s 2024 annual report. 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: According to its annual report for 2024, Elevation Church led by Steven Furtick had less income in 2024 than it did in 2023. Total revenue from tithes and offerings for the multi-campus megachurch was $91.35 million and the year-end offering brought in $10 million. This represents a decrease from the $108 million in tithes and offerings reported the previous year. The church reported that the largest portion of its budget — $31.88 million or 35% — went to personnel expenses. The next largest expenditure was for central operations and ministries at $25.29 million or 28%. Natasha: According to its report, Elevation Church gave $12.16 million to outreach efforts in 2024. Warren: Elevation Church is based in Matthews, N.C. It has 19 total campuses—17 in the United States and two in Canada. The newest campus in Columbia, S.C., opened in December 2024. It also began construction projects on three campuses in 2024: Elevation Raleigh, Elevation Greenville, and Elevation Uptown. The annual report claims weekly attendance at the various campuses is 17,373, only a slight increase of about 300 weekly attendees since last year. Natasha: Elevation Worship, the music arm of Elevation Church, has a wide reach with over 2.3 billion streams of its songs streamed across all platforms in 2024. Warren In June 2023, Elevation Church withdrew its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention, giving no specific reason about its departure. Elevation Church is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which lists its net assets at over $305 million. Natasha: What’s our next story? Warren: Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has joined Gloo, the technology platform that serves churches and ministries, as its executive chair and head of technology. Gelsinger has been an investor and board member for Gloo for 10 years, but now will take on the expanded role of leading the Gloo product and engineering efforts, including Gloo AI. Gloo aims to help churches and ministries adopt technology to expand their reach, but it wants to use artificial intelligence as a “force for good.” Natasha: How do they plan on doing that? Warren: Gloo AI Chat is designed to protect children and families from harmful, unbiblical, or misleading content. Natasha: The Colorado-based company was founded in 2010 by Scott and Theresa Beck and currently claims to work with over 100,000 faith, ministry, and nonprofit leaders. It has been involved in the “He Gets Us” ad campaign designed to attract people to Christianity. Warren: In 2022, MinistryWatch reported about Gloo’s data mining to connect people exhibiting signs of crisis, stress, anxiety, divorce, depression, substance abuse, or grief with churches or ministries who might help them. Last year, Gloo announced it had acquired two sister news sites from Christianity Today: Church Law & Tax and ChurchSalary. The Winter Jam concert series also used Gloo to connect concert attendees with local churches. 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: Salem Media Group’s 2024 annual report signals a major financial comeback for the Christian world’s only publicly traded media company. The California-based firm made bold financial moves in 2024, drastically improving its bottom line after a challenging prior year. Salem not only reversed a $43.3-million net loss in 2023 into a $16.2-million net profit but also aggressively tackled its debt, eliminating long-term liabilities through a strategic buyback. Salem is now returning to its talk-radio roots, pushing Christian preaching, commentary, and conservative political programs. In February, the company transferred its Salem Music Networks business to Christian FM Media. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: Men have outpaced women in church attendance the past three years, reversing a longstanding trend of more women in the pews that narrowed in 2016, Barna said in its 2025 State of the Church release, created in partnership with Gloo. Women had outpaced men in attendance since 2000, then at 47% to 38%, before men began outpacing women in 2022, at 35% to 30%. In 2024, 30% of men were attending weekly, compared to 27% of women. Several reasons could be driving the gender flip in attendance, researchers told Baptist Press, but cited none as definitive to any degree. Among them: — Women are overwhelmingly responsible for homecare and childcare and increasingly work in the marketplace because of a rising cost of living. — “More women are single today than ever before,” researchers said, “and many feel discouraged by the dating pool at church, as church attendees are more often married than not.” — Researchers pointed to the lingering trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic and its shift on remote engagement in church and work. — “A troubling number of Christian ministry leaders have publicly and egregiously fallen to sexual sin, which tends to make women in particular feel uncomfortable and unwelcome,” researchers said. “These hurtful experiences cause great dissonance for women.” Overall, 2024 closed with 28% of U.S. adults attending church weekly. But early 2025 shows signs of promise with as many as 32% of adults attending church weekly, researchers said. Natasha: What other trends did they find? Warren: — Weekly church volunteering, at 24% of U.S. adults, surpassed pre-COVID 2019 levels of 18%, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the efforts. — 65% of U.S. adults, including Christians and non-Christians, believe the church is still relevant in today’s world. — Most adult church goers actively seek relational connections at church, engaging in conversation before or after church with a pastor (57%), other attendees (53%), or church staff (50%). — Spiritual encounters make church meaningful, Christians said. Natasha: Who is in our Ministry Spotlight this week? Warren: This month, Living Stream Ministry’s Donor Confidence Score dropped 20 points. The organization now has a rating of 36 “Withhold Giving,” and is in the bottom 40% for financial efficiency among other ministries in the Christian Growth sector. Natasha: According to its website, Living Stream Ministry (LSM) “is a non-profit corporation that is primarily dedicated to the publication of the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee.” Warren: Watchman Nee was an evangelist and church planter in China during the 20th Century. When the Communist Party took over in the 1950s he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison where he later died. He wrote numerous books, including the bestseller “The Normal Christian Life.” During his ministry, Nee worked with another evangelist named Witness Lee whose work eventually led him to Taiwan and later to California. He founded Stream Publishers in 1965, which would become Living Stream Ministry. Natasha: Today, Living Stream Ministry continues to operate out of Anaheim, California. Warren: In 2023, the organization had $21 million in revenue—almost double its revenue from 2020, which was $11.7 million. According to its website, LSM does not “solicit donations or contributions.” The organization does sell books, audio books, CDs and ebooks on its site. In addition, it hosts numerous conferences throughout the year. While its revenue in 2023 was $21 million, its expenses were just $16.8 million. Its General and Admin costs were 20%, compared with its sector median of 12%. At least eight staff members make six-figure salaries. LSM has $112.2 million in net assets and it is not a member of the ECFA. The organization did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Natasha: More than 2 billion people do not have easy access to clean water at their homes—that, according to the United Nations. Last Saturday was World Water Day, so in our Ministries Making a Difference column this week, we look at ministries that are providing clean water to people in water-crisis areas around the world—while also introducing them to the Living Water. Warren: Filter of Hope facilitates missions trips that are “part humanitarian project and part mission trip.” This month, college Cru groups and others are taking advantage of spring break to travel around the world delivering water filters in water-crisis countries like the Dominican Republic, Panama, Belize, Ecuador, and Cuba, and sharing the gospel with the people who receive them. In Cuba, a group from App State Cru gave out 110 water filters and witnessed to 163 people for the first time. Filter of Hope is one of MinistryWatch’s Shining Lights—they have 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100. Kinship United has been part of a water project facilitating peace in West Pokot in Kenya. Amidst four tribes at war, the ministry drilled 450 feet into the desert, and the well now pumps out clean water in each of those four directions. It is helping to build a community building at the same site to share about Christ and build unity where there has been conflict. Kinship United is also a Shining Light, with 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100. Thirty-five percent of people in Honduras lack access to safe water, according to Water Mission. They are building a solar-powered safe water project in Republica Alemania, where families currently have to buy bottled water for drinking and cooking—money that could otherwise be used to buy food. The project is slated for completion this summer. Water Mission has 3 stars, an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and donor confidence score of 100. Last year, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) helped drill two water wells in Malawi as part of its Water, Sanitation, Hygiene initiative (WASH). Two pastors shared about how those wells are impacting their communities, providing health, dignity, and even credibility. NCM is another MinistryWatch Shining Light, with 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib March Recurring Donor Appeal. Ad lib webinars 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, Bob Smietana, Shannon Cuthrell, Diana Chandler, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist Press 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.

On today’s “Extra” podcast, we discuss Amanda Ripley’s excellent 2021 book High Conflict, and I share some principles for becoming a discerning consumer of news in this partisan and polarized media environment. Today’s podcast episode is based on my “Editor’s Notebook” from last Friday, which you can read here. The producer of today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Gateway Church founder Robert Morris turns himself into authorities after a grand jury indicted him on child sexual abuse charges. We’ll have details. And, USAID unfreezes $19 million in funds for Samaritan’s Purse. We’ll take a look. Plus, nearly 200 ministries do NOT file a Form 990 with the IRS. We have that list, and many of the largest ministries in the country are on it. But first, prominent pastor and theologian Steve Lawson breaks his silence six months after news surfaced that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. Steven Lawson, 73, who stepped down from ministry following an adultery scandal, has published a public confession admitting his sin and repentance. 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 Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Ed Stych, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. 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, Gateway Church founder Robert Morris turns himself into authorities after a grand jury indicted him on child sexual abuse charges. We’ll have details. And, USAID unfreezes $19 million in funds for Samaritan’s Purse. We’ll take a look. Plus, nearly 200 ministries do NOT file a Form 990 with the IRS. We have that list, and many of the largest ministries in the country are on it. Natasha: But first, prominent pastor and theologian Steve Lawson breaks his silence six months after news surfaced that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. Warren: Steven Lawson, 73, who stepped down from ministry following an adultery scandal, has published a public confession admitting his sin and repentance. On March 12, in his first tweet on X since before the scandal broke, Lawson addressed his followers in a nearly 500-word tweet. “It is with a shattered heart that I write this letter. I have sinned grievously against the Lord, against my wife, my family, and against countless numbers of you by having a sinful relationship with a woman not my wife,” the tweet began. Natasha: In September 2024, Trinity Bible Church of Dallas removed Lawson, their lead pastor of six years, after he admitted to church elders that he was having an “inappropriate relationship” with a woman. Before joining Trinity in 2018, Lawson was a pastor for over 40 years, leading churches in Arkansas and Alabama. Warren: Lawson formerly served as professor of preaching and dean of D.Min. studies at The Master’s Seminary (TMS) and was a frequent preacher at John MacArthur’s Grace Community Church (GCC) and its conferences. Lawson is also the founder of OnePassion Ministries, executive editor of Expositor Magazine (a ministry of OnePassion), and author of 33 books. Natasha: Next, Robert Morris turns himself in to authorities. Warren: Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, turned himself in on charges of lewd acts with children on Monday, March 17. Morris was indicted by a grand jury in Oklahoma last week on five charges of lewd or indecent acts with children. Natasha: The charges stem for allegations brought by Cindy Clemishire last year. Warren: Clemishire has accused Morris of sexually abusing her in the 1980s, starting when she was 12 years old. Morris was allegedly a 21-year-old visiting evangelist. He was married, and he and his wife had a young child. Morris resigned after the allegations became public through Clemishire’s account published by The Wartburg Watch on June 14, 2024. In reaction to the indictment last week, Clemishire said, “After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child. Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable. My family and I are deeply grateful to the authorities who have worked tirelessly to make this day possible and remain hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.” Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge. Natasha: Next, anti-gambling groups and Casino unite. Warren: As the old saying goes “politics makes strange bedfellows.” That proverb fits a situation in Arkansas involving a proposition to allow casino gambling, where an anti-gambling group led by church leaders took casino-interest money to fight a competing casino from entering the state. The story begins in 2018 when Arkansas approved an amendment to the state constitution that would allow casino gambling in four counties: Crittenden, Garland, Pope, and Jefferson. That opened the door for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which operates at least eight casinos in that state, to seek a casino license in Pope County, Arkansas. Natasha: But locals created anti-gambling groups to oppose a casino in the county. Warren: At least two leaders of these anti-gambling groups involved in opposing casinos are affiliated with First Baptist Church of Russellville: Pastor Larry Walker and Deacon Jim Knight. Walker, the finance and administrative pastor on the First Baptist Russellville staff, has given his time and effort to anti-casino groups that accepted money from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Natasha: That’s not so unusual. You’d expect churches to be opposed to gambling. Warren: That’s right. But what makes this story strange is that the funding for these anti-gambling groups came from The Choctaw Nation, which owns casinos in Oklahoma. They funded the Arkansas groups because they wanted to eliminate competition. Natasha: In an email to potential supporters of a 2022 ballot question against the casino, Walker acknowledged the strange partnership between Fair Play for Arkansas and the Choctaw Nation but claimed they shared a common interest. Warren: Walker wrote, “Although the partnership may seem strange and though some may object, through much prayer and deliberation our leadership determined that this arrangement was the most prudent way forward and in the end our desired outcome was the same…no casino in Pope County.” Natasha: Moving to our next story: a pastor is charged for scamming nearly a quarter of a million dollars Warren: Terrance Elliot was already a convicted felon when he became pastor of Aboard the Ship of Zion in San Bernardino, California. Now, he faces 11 new felonies and a possible 20-year prison sentence. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, Elliot was arrested March 6 following a grand jury indictment for allegedly swindling several “long-time friends” and a nonprofit out of more than $230,000. The statement outlined multiple schemes allegedly hatched between September 2018 and February 2023. Natasha: What were they? Warren: In one case, Elliot convinced a friend, identified as “M.C.,” to let him manage her inheritance money, “claiming that she would lose her Medicare and Social Security benefits if she directly received the inheritance.” Elliot then used a “fraudulently modified copy” of a trust agreement to give himself sole control of the victim’s money, which he then withdrew to pay a church’s rent and cover personal expenses such as Nike sneakers and an extended warranty for a motorcycle. In another case, Elliot allegedly convinced a nonprofit that it owed money to a corporation, only to take the payments and deposit them in a bank account he controlled. Natasha: Elliot has quite the checkered passed but we won’t get into that right now, instead, what can we take away from this story? Warren: Todd Johnson, co-director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, told Christianity Today that the trust people feel for each other in religious organizations makes churches vulnerable to fraud. “One of the things we found after someone had been convicted of embezzlement, some cases where a pastor was actually in prison, you had church members who still said, ‘I don’t believe he could do this.’ They were the victims, but they still couldn’t accept it,” Johnson said. “That shows the power of trust. And trust is good, but if it’s misused—which is the definition of affinity fraud—that’s really a problem.” A 2022 study by Johnson’s organization projected that embezzlement in churches will decline to about $10 billion in 2025, but, based on current trends, will rise to $170 billion in 2050 unless churches do more to protect themselves. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, Samaritan’s Purse confirmed with MinistryWath that $19 million in frozen USAID funds has been released to the ministry. 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: Samaritan’s Purse has confirmed that $19 million in frozen USAID funds has been released to the ministry. Payments to the North Carolina-based evangelical aid organization had been stalled since January, when President Trump ordered a 90-day pause on all federal foreign aid. News of the release follows the Supreme Court’s March 5 ruling that the Trump administration must unfreeze nearly $2 billion for foreign humanitarian work already completed at the government’s behest. Natasha: That’s good news for Samaritan Purse and for those they serve. Warren: Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham said in a statement to MinistryWatch, “The funding grants that Samaritan’s Purse has with USAID are reimbursement agreements, “We pay for the supplies and staff in advance and they reimburse us. We have just received reimbursement for $19 million to provide life-saving aid in Sudan.” Natasha: Many charities have criticized Trump’s foreign aid pause for the risk it poses to communities that depend on USAID-funded programs, Graham has defended the process as an important step in reigning in federal waste and fraud. Warren: Graham told Time. “There has never really been a review of the policies and the procedures and expenditures. To take a pause and to shake things up and hold people accountable, I think, is very good,” However, Graham admitted to being concerned Trump may go too far. “Because the staff at USAID was allowed to misappropriate billions of dollars, I think the pendulum is going to swing to a point where the baby may be thrown out with the bathwater. And that is tragic, but it’s because the culture of USAID got so far off track,” he said. Natasha: Next, Seminary enrollment is up, according to data collected by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), an accrediting agency for seminaries. Warren: For more than three decades, ATS has been releasing its annual data about what is happening in the world of graduate theological education. ATS reported that total enrollment in Fall 2024 across the reporting seminaries was up by 1.7% over Fall 2023. Fifty-five percent of the schools reported year-over-year increases while 45% reported decreases. Natasha: Evangelical seminaries are the largest in the country. Warren: Liberty Theological Seminary, which is Baptist but not an official Southern Baptist seminary, leads the way with over 6,100 students enrolled in seminary courses. It has been steadily growing with 4,849 students in 2018-19 and 5,723 students in 2021-22. All six of the Southern Baptist seminaries are in the top 10, despite the scandals that have plagued the SBC over the last few years: Southern, Midwestern, Southwestern, Southeastern, Gateway, and New Orleans. However, these schools aren’t necessarily growing. Several evangelical seminaries not affiliated with a particular denomination make the top 25 list for enrollment, including Dallas Theological Seminary at No. 4 and Fuller Seminary at No. 8. Others in the list include Talbot, Gordon-Conwell, Kairos, Denver, Master’s, Western, Moody, and Columbia Biblical Seminary. Duke Divinity School is the only mainline denominational seminary that makes the top 25. Natasha: Next, two Presbyterian Church in America pastors have been charged with crimes in the last month. Warren: Two pastors in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), one from Mississippi and one from Florida, are facing serious criminal charges for statutory rape and vehicular homicide respectively. On March 11, Christopher Willett, the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, was charged with statutory rape, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse, computer luring of a person, and child pornography, according to reporting by ByFaith, the PCA Magazine. A 19-year-old woman came to the Crystal Springs Police Department on Friday, March 7, to report that she had been molested by Willett beginning when she was 15 years old. The police began the investigation the next morning and executed search warrants on laptops, cell phones, automobiles, and Willett’s home. Natasha: Did they find anything? Warren: Police Chief Robert Thomas said that after a lengthy interview with the victim on Monday, March 10, he feels the evidence the police have against Willett is “pretty substantial,” but emphasized that Willett has not been found guilty. Willett is currently being held in the Copiah County jail without bond, according to the Ledger. Natasha: Who is the other pastor and what are the charges against him? Warren: Nicholas Betancourt in Tampa, Florida, is facing 11 charges related to a fatal car crash on February 28, killing Dana Rivera and seriously injuring her three children, ages 4, 6, and 15. According to police, Betancourt was under the influence while he was driving on a suspended license. Betancourt had been arrested on February 27 for driving under the influence and was released on the morning of the 28th. After he was involved in the car crash on the 28th, a urine sample from the hospital where Betancourt received treatment showed the presence of cocaine, amphetamines, oxycodone and benzodiazepines in his system. Charges against Betancourt include vehicular homicide and 10 other offenses related to driving under the influence and possession of controlled substances. Until his resignation on January 24, Betancourt was an assistant pastor at Christ Central Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida. His official pastoral relationship was dissolved by the presbytery on February 8. 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: We have a new list in our MinistryWatch 1000 database featuring the 189 Christian ministries that do not file a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service. The groups are listed alphabetically, and some of the largest ministries in the country are included on the list: Compassion International, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Focus on the Family, Cru, and Wycliffe Bible Translators. The Form 990 is an informational tax return for nonprofit organizations, but church and church associations are exempt from the filing requirement. In recent years, more and more Christian ministries have been seeking to be designated as a church or association of churches in order to gain the exemption. This information is valuable to donors wanting to assess the effectiveness of a ministry; therefore, MinistryWatch takes the position that ministries should complete the Form 990. Any ministry in the database that does not complete a Form 990 receives zero stars for financial efficiency. It also affects the ministry’s transparency grade and donor confidence score. LIST HERE Natasha: Who is in our Ministry Spotlight this week? Warren: Ratings for Camp Cho-Yeh, headquartered in Livingston, Texas, recently dropped in two of the three MinistryWatch categories. Its Donor Confidence Score fell 20 points because it no longer has “an overall financial efficiency rating of at least 3 stars.” The camp dropped from ranking in the top 60% (3 stars) for financial efficiency in the Camps/Conference Centers sector to now ranking in the bottom 20% (1 star). The drop is in part because, in 2023, the organization’s net assets grew to $30.1 million — more than doubling its assets from 2020, which were $15.5 million. Its revenue has also more than doubled from $4.9 million in 2020 to $11.2 million in 2023. The organization was established in 1947. According to its website, it is “a premier Christian summer camp and retreat center.”  It offers overnight camps, day camps, family programming, gap years, and retreats. Camp Cho-Yeh did not respond to an interview request from MinistryWatch. Natasha: And in Ministries Making a Difference, we look at ministries helping people overcome addiction, poverty, and homelessness. Warren: Avenue of Life in Kansas City, Kansas, is hosting the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for households earning $65,700 or less in 2024. VITA volunteers will book appointments through April 11. Avenue of Life—which has 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100 in the MinistryWatch database—works to end student homelessness by helping low-income families become self-sustaining. Every third Wednesday of the month, Crossroads Mission in Arizona hosts its “Just For You!” community outreach. The “day of compassion” is focused on providing essential items like tents, pillows, food, and hygiene items to people in need. In summer 2024, the outreach doled out over 20,000 meals. Guests also receive vouchers to the mission’s thrift store, where they can pick up clothing, outfits for job interviews, and even furniture. Volunteers and staff invite recipients to its shelters and long-term recovery programs. Crossroads Mission has 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 95. The North Vietnamese village of Sin Suoi Ho showcases the transformative power of the gospel when an entire community embraces the teachings of the Bible. Once drowning in poverty, addicted to opioids, and oppressed by fear of evil spirits, this isolated village is now a thriving tourist destination that shares both their native traditions and their firm faith. They first heard the gospel through a radio program from Far East Broadcasting Company before being discipled by nearby pastors. Angela Lee Fulton with Christianity Today details the journey the community’s residents went through to embrace the gospel, burn their altars, and detox from their addictions. Far East Broadcasting Company has 4 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Ad-lib about “Conversations” column. Warren Ad-Lib March 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 Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Aleja Hertzler-McCain, Ed Stych, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. 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.

It has been a rough couple of decades for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, but the school seems to have turned a corner and is headed in a new, positive direction. If the saga of SWBTS does indeed have a happy ending, or at least a thriving next chapter, a good bit of the credit can be attributed to one man: Dr. David Dockery. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you. LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY’S PROGRAM: Dr. Russell Dilday Thomas Kidd’s excellent work, especially The Baptists In America, which he co-wrote with Barry Hankins. Mark Wingfield’s recent article “How Southwestern Seminary Is Bouncing Back From Financial Catastrophe” . 20 years of detailed financial audits.