MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, the Southern Baptist Convention says the Department of Justice has wrapped up its investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse cases by its pastors and leaders. We’ll take a look. Also, evangelical ministry leaders hold a vigil to protest the Trump Administration’s defunding of foreign aid. Plus, one ministry whose funding was canceled…then reinstated…but its operations remain in limbo. We’ll have details. But first, Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction is asking Americans to donate money to send Bibles into public school classrooms, though the Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked his efforts. 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 are Mark A. Kellner, Laura Erlanson, Kim Roberts, Jack Jenkins, Erik Tryggestad, Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Adelle M. Banks, Ed Stych, and Brittany Smith. A special thanks to Baptist Press and The Christian Chronicle 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, the Southern Baptist Convention says the Department of Justice has wrapped up its investigation into the denomination’s handling of sexual abuse cases by its pastors and leaders. We’ll take a look. Also, evangelical ministry leaders hold a vigil to protest the Trump Administration’s defunding of foreign aid. Plus, one ministry whose funding was canceled…then reinstated…but its operations remain in limbo. We’ll have details. Natasha: But first, Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction is asking Americans to donate money to send Bibles into public school classrooms, though the Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked his efforts. Warren: Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is asking Americans to donate money to send leather-bound Bibles into Sooner State public school classrooms, now that the state legislature nixed a funding request. Walters told MinistryWatch in a telephone interview he has created the BiblesforOklahoma.com website, where $59.99 “God Bless The USA” Bibles can be purchased for schools. Natasha: The controversial volume pairs the King James Version of the Bible with the texts of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. It also reproduces handwritten lyrics to Greenwood’s song “God Bless the USA.” Warren: Walters’s fundraising move launched less than 24 hours after Oklahoma’s Senate Appropriations Committee failed to recommend his budgetary request for $3 million to purchase Bibles for classrooms — and an additional $5 million to pay for potential litigation over the move. State Sen. Nancy Boren (D-Norman) told MinistryWatch she objects not only to the dollar amount requested but also to combining the Scriptures and America’s founding documents in a single volume. Natasha: Others have offered alternative options, but Walters didn’t seem interested Warren: The state senator, a Church of Christ member and an Abilene Christian University graduate, also said Gov. Kevin Stritt reminded people there’s a free smartphone app — YouBible — that’s created in Oklahoma. Boren also said other people were willing to donate “like, the real Bible, not the ‘Trump Bible,’ for free, and [Walters] didn’t want that.” The Oklahoma Supreme Court also as problems with Walter’s plan. The conservative court has temporarily blocked Walter’s attempt at fundraising, at least for now. Natasha: Next, an update on the SBC. Warren: U.S. Department of Justice informed Southern Baptist Convention attorneys (Wednesday, March 12) that its investigation into the SBC and its entities is closed. No sexual abuse-related charges were filed. The DOJ launched its investigation in August 2022, a few months after the release of the Guidepost Report, which was based on an investigation by outside group Guidepost Solutions into the EC’s handling of sexual abuse claims. The only charge brought by the DOJ in its two-and-a-half-year inquiry was against former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor and interim provost Matt Queen, who pleaded guilty to making a false statement to investigators. Queen was sentenced last week to one year supervised release and a $2,000 fine. Natasha: Continuing with the SBC, our next story looks at the financial strain they’ve experienced due to lawsuits. Warren: In mid-February, Southern Baptist Convention leaders received grim news. The denomination’s Executive Committee was essentially broke. Over the past four years, the committee has spent more than $13 million on legal fees and other costs related to a historic sexual abuse investigation by Guidepost Solutions, draining its reserves and leaving it unable to pay its bills for the following year. Among those bills were $3 million in additional legal fees for the upcoming year, with more likely to come. Natasha: What are they going to do? Warren: To deal with the financial crisis, the Executive Committee has put its Nashville headquarters up for sale, cut staff, and applied for a $3 million loan. The committee is also seeking a $3 million “priority allocation” for legal fees from the denomination’s $190 million Cooperative Program budget, which is usually used for missions and ministries. The SBC budget, including the legal allocation, must be approved during the denomination’s annual meeting in June. It’s unclear what will happen if the request fails. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, as donor advised funds grow, so does the market for philanthropic advising. 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: Al Mueller had years of experience helping very wealthy people invest their money on Wall Street, but he felt a pull to help families give their money away to life-changing causes. So in 2002, he founded Excellence in Giving, a faith-based firm to provide concierge-level philanthropic advising services to high-capacity donors. “Our goal is to upgrade a generous giver to a discerning steward,” Mueller told MinistryWatch about the services provided by Excellence in Giving. He says the firm’s work can give confidence to donors that their gifts are being used well. Natasha: Philanthropic advising is a growing field with advisors handling large sums of charitable contributions. A 2024 survey of 258 U.S.-based philanthropic advisors revealed that each of them facilitated an average of $50 million in charitable giving. Warren: Michael Moody, professor of philanthropic studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, has seen the advising industry balloon over the last 20 years. Nearly 2,000 members of LinkedIn identify themselves as “philanthropy advisors,” according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Much of this growth is driven by the large sums of money in philanthropic donor-advised funds, which have reached $250 billion, and private foundations with assets of about $1.5 trillion. Natasha: Instead of developing their own staff of subject matter experts to figure out how and where to give money, donors can outsource that work to an advising group and save some overhead and administrative costs. Warren: Mueller said Excellence in Giving starts by helping donors develop their mission statements, examining their giving history, and working with them as a matchmaker to find the best nonprofits in an area of interest to receive their donations. Excellence in Giving serves between 30 and 50 families who give over $100 million each year. It develops an annual service agreement with clients based on how much time advisors will be working on clients’ needs. It also carefully screens ministries based on 175 data points before giving them a “seal of transparency.” The form asks for many measurements about the health and growth of a charity that won’t be found on an IRS Form 990, Mueller said. Mueller wants Excellence in Giving to continue helping deliver confidence to ministry donors: “Obedience to God’s calling for their resources plus confidence in the ministry they are giving to will bring joy.” Natasha: Next, a number of evangelical organizations participate in a vigil against foreign aid cuts, Warren: Evangelical Christian groups are calling on Congress to reinstate foreign aid programs shuttered by President Donald Trump’s administration, arguing the government’s actions will hurt millions of people around the world. Christians assembled at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church on Tuesday morning (March 11) for a “Prayer Vigil for Foreign Aid.” The Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of the group Bread for the World, denounced the “broad, un-targeted cuts” recently implemented at the U.S. Agency for International Development as an assault on vulnerable populations all over the globe. Natasha: The unusual vigil, featuring an array of evangelical organizations such as World Relief and the Accord Network publicly criticizing the federal government, came a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on social media that the government will cancel 83% of programs at USAID. Warren: During Tuesday’s vigil, several speakers highlighted the human toll of the cuts. Kombo Choga, senior director for program design at Compassion International, pointed out that his organization currently does not receive government funds, but said they “are witnessing how the withdrawal of aid is devastating” populations they work with — including children. Cho and others expressed frustration at the administration’s actions but also highlighted the potential role of Congress, arguing lawmakers have the power to reinstate the programs. Multiple speakers made clear that while they believed the foreign aid system has issues, drastically reducing programs was not the answer. Natasha: One ministry lost its USAID funding, only to regain it—but getting its product into the hands of people who need it…that work remains in limbo. Tell us about that. Warren: Earlier this month, Mark Moore sent an urgent message to the factory that packages a life-saving peanut butter called MANA: Stop putting USAID labels on the packages. We’ve lost our funding. Five days later, he texted the factory again: Put the labels back on. Mana Nutrition, a ministry supported by Churches of Christ and used in global relief efforts, is among a host of nonprofits worldwide that receive grants from USAID, the United States Agency for International Development. Natasha: In late January, the Trump administration began cutting most of the agency’s staff and canceling its contracts which included USAID’s contract with Mana. Mana produces a high-calorie, vitamin-fortified peanut butter for children suffering from severe malnutrition. Since 2010, Mana has provided aid to 8 million children in 45 countries. Warren: “It’s been a yo-yo week,” Moore, Mana’s chief executive officer, said. The nonprofit buys 1.3 million pounds of peanuts per month, and USAID contracts represent about 90 percent of its business. Mana hasn’t received a payment from the agency since December, Moore said. When notified that their contract was terminated, the nonprofit had about 400,000 boxes of MANA packets in its warehouse with labels that read, “USAID. From the American people.” Although that contract is now restored, McDowell said, “the product is still in our warehouse.” Natasha: What’s going to happen to it? Warren: On March 3, Moore learned that Mana’s USAID contracts were reinstated. Although Mana produces the nutritional packets, “we don’t captain the ships that deliver it. We’re not in the villages handing it out.” By government rules, only transportation companies that also have USAID contracts can get the product to the people who need it. Several international shippers have told Mana, “We don’t yet have an order to come and get it.” While he’s thankful that he and his coworkers can continue producing life-saving peanut butter, “the drama is still unfolding.” Natasha: Let’s look at one more story before we take a break, what do you have? Warren: Last month, police arrested Charles B. Brinson, 64, the bishop of Brinson Memorial Church in Trenton, New Jersey, on allegations of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy while the teen was unconscious. A local health center contacted Trenton police after the teen disclosed the assaults while receiving treatment, authorities said. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Brinson with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault of an incapacitated victim and two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. A representative from the Prosecutor’s office told MinistryWatch that last week, a judge granted the state’s motion to detain Brinson pending trial. Natasha: While investigating the accusations, police uncovered a pattern of concerning events linked to the bishop: Brinson faced similar charges in 2008. Warren: Those allegations, filed in Pennsylvania, claimed Brinson drove a church van to meet, pick up, and drive a 15-year-old boy to Brinson’s home, where he sexually assaulted the boy. Philadelphia County, where the charges were filed, is around 30 miles from Brinson’s residence in Florence, New Jersey. Although Brinson admitted to befriending the teen in an online chatroom, the pastor denied meeting the teen in person or having any sexual contact with him. The judge dropped the charges, citing a lack of evidence to prosecute. However, the victim’s family refiled the case, and Brinson signed a plea agreement, reducing his charges to a lesser offense of corruption of minors. As part of the deal, Brinson had to register as a sex offender and serve four years of probation. Brinson remains detained at the Mercer County jail, with a detention hearing scheduled for mid-March. Law enforcement encourages community members to come forward with any additional information that might support the ongoing investigation. 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: Would they respond in anger? Or with mercy? On Nov. 8, 2024, Tom King, a 72-year-old Navy veteran and retiree, had driven off on his beloved motorcycle from a Salvation Army food pantry where he volunteered five days a week. Driving through downtown Akron, he was struck by a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup that ran a stop sign. The truck driver was Brandon Wellert, a 25-year-old surveyor’s assistant and father of two, who was on his way home from a job site. Wellert was driving down an unfamiliar street when he missed a stop sign. By the time he saw King’s motorcycle, it was too late. His truck collided with King, who suffered a serious head injury and was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. Wellert was arrested and charged for his role in the death. Natasha: But that’s not the end of the story. Warren: Tom’s brother Tim King, forgave Wellert. He said, “Tom was just a victim of circumstance, There was no need to be vengeful.” Natasha: This story is really powerful and there’s a lot of detail we can’t get into here but can you summarize how forgiveness made a difference for Wellert? Warren: On the day of his sentencing, Carmen Tenny, Tom King’s granddaughter had a simple message for Wellert — that her grandfather had already forgiven him. “I told Brandon that I hope that someday soon you could forgive yourself,” she said. “And that’s basically all I could get out without breaking down.” Wellert pleaded guilty, and King’s relatives asked he be assigned to do community service for the Salvation Army as a way of carrying on King’s legacy. The judge gave Wellert 80 hours of service at the Salvation Army and suspended his license. He received no jail time. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: Southern Baptists have long been known as a large branch of evangelical Christianity and a dominant force in the Southern states. But an analysis of recent statistics supplied by congregations across the country revealed New England is the sole region where Southern Baptists gained congregants overall from 2018 to 2023. “Churches in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont grew by 10%,” a Lifeway Research analysis released Tuesday (March 11) said, based on data from the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2023 Annual Church Profile. “Every other region saw declines in overall church membership.” Just 2% of Southern Baptist churches are in the Northeast region, compared with 78% located in the South. Two Southern regions — one comprising Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, and the other including Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas — saw the smallest drop in church membership in the five-year period at 8%. The region with the largest drop in church membership was the Pacific region, with a decline of 18%. Lifeway Research is an evangelical research firm that is part of Lifeway Christian Resources, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention that conducts the Annual Church Profile in cooperation with local associations and state conventions affiliated with the SBC. Natasha: Who is in our Ministry Spotlight this week? Warren: This week, the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association’s Transparency Grade dropped from an A to a C, because the organization does not post its audited financials or Form 990s on its website. The organization also lost points from its Donor Confidence Score because of its asset utilization. In 2022, the ministry had negative net assets, but in 2023 its assets jumped to $10.9 million. Also in 2023, the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association’s (SDEA) revenue jumped from $4.8 million to $15.6 million. That year, a commercial real estate firm in Alabama donated a $9.5-million building to SDEA “to start a ministry trade school for student pastors,” Scott Dawson, president of SDEA, told MinistryWatch. “This building was the major reason our revenue numbers increased. It wasn’t a ‘cash’ increase, but a ‘resource’ increase.” The organization’s total expenses in 2023 were $6.3 million, spending less than half of its revenue. SDEA currently has 18 board members, outside of MinistryWatch’s recommended board number of “between 5 and 11.” Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: 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 Kim Roberts, Jack Jenkins, Yonat Shimron, Jessica Eturralde, Shannon Cuthrell, Tony Mator, Bruce Buursma, 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.

Here at MinistryWatch I have witnessed a tragic phenomenon over and over again. A young person begins the Christian life with passion and enthusiasm. But if that person doesn’t put down an anchor in the Gospel, he begins to drift. Before long, that young person finds himself, or herself, broken apart on the rocks, wondering, “How did this happen?” If that person was a leader in the church, the damage can spread far and wide. My guest today, Jared Wilson, says Scripture can answer the question “How did this happen?” He points to Hebrews 2:1 as a key. “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” His new book is called “Lest We Drift: Five Departure Dangers from the One True Gospel.” I’ve got to say that I have been looking forward to this book and my conversation with Jared, in part because I believe the topic is so vital, but also because I’ve been following Jared on social media for a while and have found him to be one of the increasingly rare sane voices there. So it was a pleasure to settle in to this conversation with him. Jared C. Wilson is assistant professor of pastoral ministry and author in residence at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City. He is also pastor for preaching and the director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church, a Kansas City suburb. I’d like to remind you that during the month of March we are asking our regular listeners and readers to prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter of MinistryWatch. Monthly supporters play a special and badly needed role here at MinistryWatch. They give us a certain baseline of support that we know we can count on every month. That is a tremendous help in our planning. I also want to mention that as a monthly supporter you will receive ALL the donor premiums we offer during the year. To become a monthly supporter, just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the donate button at the top of the page. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Thanks to Amy Morris at Zondervan, as well as my assistant Carley Southerland, for arranging my interview with Jared Wilson. Please join me again on Friday when Natasha Cowden and I review the news of the week that we’ve been covering here at MinistryWatch. Until then, may God bless you.

On today’s program, the Trump administration cancels grants to refugee aid agencies…despite legal battles. We’ll take a look. And, a staggering 30 percent of nonprofits don’t survive a full decade—but when they go under, what happens to their assets? Our finance writer Shannon Cuthrell digs into the hidden risks and loopholes of nonprofit dissolutions. And, we’ve released our MinistryWatch list of the 50 Christian ministries receiving the largest government grants.  But first, the U-S Department of Justice has intervened on behalf of a Pennsylvania church trying to expand. 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, Jack Jenkins, Yonat Shimron, Jessica Eturralde, Shannon Cuthrell, Tony Mator, Bruce Buursma, 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, the Trump administration cancels grants to refugee aid agencies…despite legal battles. We’ll take a look. And, a staggering 30 percent of nonprofits don’t survive a full decade—but when they go under, what happens to their assets? Our finance writer Shannon Cuthrell digs into the hidden risks and loopholes of nonprofit dissolutions. And, we’ve released our MinistryWatch list of the 50 Christian ministries receiving the largest government grants. Natasha: But first, the U-S Department of Justice has intervened on behalf of a Pennsylvania church trying to expand. Warren: On March 3, the Justice Department section for the Western District of Pennsylvania filed a statement of interest supporting the Hope Rising Community Church in its lawsuit against the Borough of Clarion. The church has outgrown its current facilities and wants to expand using a facility in the city’s commercial district. While Clarion allows nonreligious assemblies in the commercial district, such as theaters, the city would not approve the church’s zoning use variance request. Officials from the city allegedly said they didn’t “need any more churches” because of the loss of property taxes. Natasha: Hope Rising Community Church filed its lawsuit in November alleging the city was violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a federal law that protects houses of worship from discrimination in zoning. When Clarion filed a motion to dismiss the church’s claim, the Justice Department intervened. Warren: The city argued the church had not suffered any concrete injury as a result of Clarion’s actions, the DOJ argued that the city’s zoning code has “stymied [the church’s] efforts to buy and develop the only suitable property for the church in Clarion.” As of March 2024, the DOJ had opened over 155 formal investigations and filed nearly 30 lawsuits related to RLUIPA’s Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) land use provisions, and had filed 36 “friend-of-the-court” briefs addressing the interpretation and application of RLUIPA in privately-filed lawsuits. Natasha: Next, The Trump Administration cancels grants to refugee aid agencies. Warren: President Donald Trump’s administration is making moves to shutter a decades-old partnership between the government and a group of mostly religious organizations to resettle refugees, with the State Department abruptly canceling grant agreements with all the agencies despite ongoing legal battles. On Wednesday (Feb. 26), refugee resettlement organizations, such as Church World Service, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, say they received “termination notification” letters from the State Department. Natasha: Myal Greene, the president of World Relief, an evangelical Christian ministry said, “With the cancellation of World Relief and other Resettlement Agency agreements, this is effectively ending a 45 year, bi-partisan, refugee resettlement program with the stroke of a pen.” Warren: The letters come as the government is involved in two separate lawsuits over the president’s decision to freeze the refugee program via an executive order signed his first day in office. On Wednesday, Church World Service, HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), and Lutheran Community Services Northwest won a victory over the Trump administration in their lawsuit, known as Pacito v. Trump, with a federal judge blocking the president’s order and calling Trump’s actions a “nullification of congressional will.” According to The Associated Press, the judge argued from the bench that the president does not have “limitless” authority over refugee admissions, noting the law establishing the program was passed by Congress. Natasha: Later in the program, we’ll take a look at Christian ministries receiving the largest government grants. But now, the wife of slain missionary Beau Shroyer, has officially been charged as a “co-author” in his murder. Warren: Jackie Shroyer, who was arrested in October 2024 in Angola, Africa, for the alleged murder of her missionary husband Beau Shroyer, has now been formally charged as a “co-author” in his death. For three years, Beau and Jackie Shroyer and their five children had lived in the “remote bush” of Angola. On October 25, police found Beau Shroyer brutally stabbed to death in his vehicle outside Lubango, where the family lived in a walled compound. Jackie Shroyer’s statements at the scene sparked police suspicion that Beau’s slaying was an organized plot involving three men paid to kill him. They began an investigation, alleging that Jackie might have been the mastermind. Natasha: What did they uncover in the investigation? Warren: During their investigation, detectives gained “strong suspicion” to believe Jackie was having an affair with one of the men—the family’s security guard. Jackie allegedly offered the men $50,000 to kill her husband by luring him to a secluded location and stabbing him to death. According to the statement, Jackie will remain in custody and will now face trial before a judge. A court date is expected to take place within the next six months. Natasha: Up next, A Kanakuk Kamps sexual abuse survivor can continue his lawsuit, according to a Missouri judge. Warren: On February 27, Judge Jessica Kruse denied the motions to dismiss and will allow Andrew Summersett’s case to continue against Kanakuk and ACE Insurance Company. Summersett filed suit in June 2024 alleging fraud and fraudulent concealment, claiming Kanakuk and its leaders intentionally omitted critical information and made misrepresentations that prevented Summersett from pursuing his claim for bodily injury against them. Natasha: Can you give us a little more background to this story? Warren: Summersett, now 37, claims he was abused by former Kanakuk camp director Peter Newman in 2001 and 2002. He allegedly told Jamie Jo (Braner) Johnson and Andrew Braner, former directors of Kanakuk Colorado, about the abuse in 2009. Johnson allegedly told him she did not know about them, while Andrew Braner warned Summersett against making “a mess of this,” and saying “now [was] not a good time to talk.” He also told Summersett to “back off, given the circumstances,” the court filings claim. Kanakuk asserted that Summersett’s claim for fraud was time barred by the statute of limitations and ought to be dismissed. Summersett asserted that he is alleging in his lawsuit that Kanakuk concealed its knowledge of Newman’s conduct. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, when a nonprofit closes its doors, what happens to its funds? 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: Despite amassing billions of dollars in charitable contributions every year, a surprising number of nonprofits (about 30%) don’t survive beyond a decade. With 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations operating in the United States today, this churn amounts to thousands of nonprofits dying on an annual basis. Natasha: So what’s the legal framework governing nonprofit dissolutions? Warren: Tax-exempt organizations are legally required to follow a structured dissolution process, which includes settling their outstanding debts and filing a final Form 990 tax return detailing their asset distribution plans. In notifying the Internal Revenue Service of their closure, nonprofits must disclose a description and fair market value for each disposed asset, the recipient(s), dates, and transaction fees. ​When a nonprofit organization dissolves, IRS Code 501(c)(3) requires that its remaining assets be allocated exclusively to another charitable entity or a federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. Organizations are also prohibited from distributing any property to individuals, including board members, employees, or volunteers, during the dissolution phase. ​In some cases, nonprofits may pay outstanding salaries or debts to individuals before closure, but surplus assets cannot be distributed as a windfall. Natasha: In a recent trend, some Nonprofits are Converting Into For-Profit Businesses Warren: Some nonprofits choose to restructure as for-profit entities rather than dissolve, which could create loopholes for financial misconduct. Although some states require approval before assets can be transferred to a for-profit, enforcement of these regulations varies, and oversight is often minimal. This is particularly troubling when valuable assets like real estate, intellectual property, or financial reserves are transferred to a newly formed for-profit entity. Natasha: Can you give us a Positive Example of Dissolutions Handled Responsibly? Warren: Most dissolving nonprofits distribute their assets responsibly, with funds continuing to serve the public good. Take Immanuel Baptist Church in North Carolina, which recently shut down after 109 years due to declining attendance. The church sold its 40,000-square-foot property for $1.5 million and distributed the proceeds to more than 70 charities, including mental health services, scholarships, and refugee aid. About 20% of the funds went to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, in line with the church’s mission and affiliation. Natasha: Next,   Warren, can you give us more details? Warren: In a move lauded by Evangelical leaders, U.S. legislators have reintroduced the bipartisan Clergy Act. The act offers a way out for clergy experiencing buyer’s remorse after taking advantage of a special exemption in the tax code. While most American taxpayers must pay into Social Security whether they want to or not, section 1131 of the Social Security Handbook allows clergy to claim a conscientious objection. Eligible individuals include “any duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church, member of a religious order who has not taken a vow of poverty; or any Christian Science practitioner.” Natasha: However, re-enrollment advocates say many pastors make this decision—which is generally irrevocable—early in their ministries, when they are young and not thinking about retirement. As they grow older, Social Security’s benefits can begin to seem more important. Warren: The act would provide a re-enrollment window, after which a minister would have to pay into Social Security for at least 10 years before becoming eligible for benefits—the same minimum required of all other taxpayers. The last time Congress offered a re-enrollment window was in 1999. The bill is endorsed by Christian organizations, including the Church Alliance, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and National Association of Evangelicals. Natasha: Next, Texas legislators have proposed bills that would make certain nondisclosure agreements in child sexual abuse cases void and unenforceable. Warren: House Bill (HB) 748, Senate Bill (SB) 1587 and a similar bill (SB 835) would apply to nondisclosure agreements related to certain “acts of sexual abuse,” including indecency with a child, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and compelled prostitution. An NDA would be “void and unenforceable as against the public policy of [the] state,” if, as part of an employment, confidentiality, or settlement agreement, the NDA prohibits a party from notifying law enforcement or a regulatory agency about child sexual abuse or prohibits a party from disclosing facts about child sexual abuse during an investigation or prosecution. NDAs can often arise as part of an agreement to settle a civil lawsuit about sexual misconduct. 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: Martin E. Marty, an eminent church historian, prolific chronicler and interpreter of religion and its role in public life, died at the age of 97 on Tuesday (Feb. 25) in a Minneapolis care facility where he spent his final years. Marty, who was also a warmhearted friend, mentor and pastor to many, taught for 35 years at the University of Chicago Divinity School and published a constant stream of books, articles, essays, newsletters and columns, with his book “Righteous Empire: The Protestant Experience in America” winning top honors at the 1972 National Book Awards in Philosophy and Religion. Marty, who published some 60 books in all, served for a half-century as an editor and columnist for The Christian Century magazine and produced a biweekly newsletter, “Context,” for 41 years. Marty is survived by his wife, Harriet; sons Joel, John, Peter and Micah; foster daughter Fran Garcia Carlson and foster son Jeff Garcia; stepdaughter Ursula Meyer; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. March 29 at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: Nonprofits are engaging in less policy-oriented advocacy than they did 20 years ago, according to a study in 2023 by Independent Sector. In 2022, less than a quarter of nonprofits lobbied for any legislation, down from three quarters of organizations five years earlier, according to the survey. As a follow-up, Independent Sector interviewed 40 nonprofit agencies across the country in an effort to find out why advocacy had diminished so substantially. Natasha: What did they descover? Warren: The primary reason is a lack of resources or capacity. Another barrier to engaging in advocacy, according to the study, is a lack of understanding of the rules related to nonprofit advocacy. Natasha: What’s our next story? Warren: The majority of U.S.-based Christian ministry executives are optimistic about the impact the new administration of President Donald Trump will have on the ministries they lead. In January’s quarterly survey of Christian ministry leaders, over 54% of respondents told MinistryWatch they expect the Trump administration policies to have a positive impact on their organization or the work they do. MinistryWatch has been conducting its quarterly survey of leaders of the nation’s 1,000 largest Christian ministries since October 2022. Almost 70% of the survey respondents are optimistic their revenue will increase over the next 12 months. Of those, about 11% expect revenue to increase by more than 10%, while about 59% expect to see revenue increases between 1-10%. MinistryWatch also asked a related question about whether ministry leaders believe a recession is on the horizon. Many leaders are optimistic about the state of the nation’s economy, with about 63% responding that they do not think the U.S. will enter a recession in the next year, up from 41% in our October survey. Over the past 12 months, nearly 61% of ministry leaders say their revenue increased. About 40% said the ministry’s revenue went up between one and 10%, while 21% saw increases of over 10%. Eighteen percent reported their revenue remained flat over the previous 12 months. About 21% of ministries saw a revenue decrease, with revenue decreasing between one and 10% for 17% of respondents and decreases of greater than 10% for about 4% of those who responded. Natasha: Next, a list of 50 Christian Ministries Receiving the Largest Government Grants Warren: With the new Trump administration making news with its federal funding freeze proposals, the issue of nonprofits, and specifically Christian ministries, receiving government funding has been in the news and a matter of conversation. Recently, MinistryWatch added government grant funding information to the ministry profiles in the MinistryWatch 1000 database. There were 321 ministries in our database that received government grants for a total of $2.35 billion. The smallest grant was just $919 for Bread of Life Mission while the largest grant totaled $661 million for World Vision. This month’s list is a compilation of the 50 Christian ministries who received the largest government grants based on their I.R.S. Form 990 from 2023. The top four recipients of government grants were all relief and development organizations. The recipient of the largest sum of government grants is also the largest ministry in the database: World Vision. World Vision has annual revenue of over $1.5 billion, $661 million of which came from government grants, about 44% of its total revenue. Mercy Corps was second with $400 million in grants — 77% of its annual revenue. In third place was World Relief with $126 million of its $163 million in revenue coming from government grants. Church World Service took $114 million in government grants — 75% of its $152 million annual revenue. Natasha: Who is in our Ministry Spotlight this week? Warren: Seed Company, a Bible translation ministry affiliated with Wycliffe Bible Translators, now has a Donor Confidence Score of 53, “Exercise Caution.” The organization does not file a Form 990, and it has petitioned the IRS to be classified as “a church.” According to its 2023 audited financial report, the organization had a revenue of $72.7 million and its expenses were $77.7 million. According to its ECFA profile, its expenses in 2024 were $102.1 million. The organization’s net assets have also more than doubled from 2019 to 2023, growing from $28.3 million to $80.2 million. Seed Company’s 2023 Annual Report says they engaged “973 language groups with Scripture” and “135 language communities are translating God’s Word for the very first time” during the 2023 fiscal year. The organization did not respond to requests for comment. Natasha: In Ministries Making a Difference this week, we look at ministries investing in the next generation. Warren: A pastor in Bakersfield, California, is ministering to inner city youth through his boxing program. Peter Baker was a competitive boxer before coming to Christ at age 20. Now, as part of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department activity league, Baker runs a boxing gym where 70 kids train weekly. All the assistant coaches have come to Christ since training with Baker, and have brought their families to Alta Vista AG, where Baker pastors. The program’s success prompted the Sheriff’s Activity League to add weight lifting, honor guard, cheer, soccer and crafting to its program options. Josiah Venture is celebrating its “most fruitful year of ministry to date” in 2024. With its mission to engage young people across Central and Eastern Europe with the Bible and equip them for Christian leadership, Josiah Venture “invested in” 7,749 leaders across 753 local churches in 16 countries. More than 1,000 young people made professions of faith in Christ. In Ukraine alone, the ministry hosted 36 evangelistic camps—its largest number to date—which resulted in 283 professions of faith. Josiah Venture has 4 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 93. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: 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 Kim Roberts, Jack Jenkins, Yonat Shimron, Jessica Eturralde, Shannon Cuthrell, Tony Mator, Bruce Buursma, 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. Natasha: The next story deals specifically with this, so that makes for a good tie between the two stories.

Bruce Bruinsma believes that 30 years is a long time to do nothing. He also says that this is precisely what a lot of Christian retirees do. The average lifespan of an American is about 78 years. But if that’s average, many live much longer. About 2 percent of Americans – more than 6 million people – are 85 or older. And more than 50 percent of Americans retire before the age of 65. Bruinsma believes we need a retirement reformation. We need to create an expectation that older people can make vital contributions to our churches, to Christian ministries, and to our communities. We shouldn’t segregate them in their own Sunday school classes, or send them off on Christian themed bus trips. They should play an active, leadership role in our churches. Promoting this message is what he has done with his retirement. Bruce Bruinsma is 83 years old, and still full steam ahead with ministry work. It was a pleasure to talk with him about why and how we can create a retirement reformation. To learn more about his organization, Retirement Reformation, just go to RetirementReformation.org

On today’s program, Dr. Burk Parsons of Ligonier Ministries has been suspended from pastoral duties at St. Andrew’s Chapelwhere he is senior pastor. He is now under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery. We’ll have details. And, Elevation Church has fired its youth pastor amid allegations of sexual misconduct from a decade ago. We’ll take a look. Also, after 16 months of wrangling and civil suits, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania has officially left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. But first, a former Liberty University employee is suing the school for discrimination and retaliation. 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, Bethany Starin, Jessica Eturralde, Yonat Shimron, Aaron Earls, 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 Hilton Head Island, South 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. Burk Parsons of Ligonier Ministries has been suspended from pastoral duties at St. Andrew’s Chapel, where he is senior pastor. He is now under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery. We’ll have details. And, Elevation Church has fired its youth pastor amid allegations of sexual misconduct from a decade ago. We’ll take a look. Also, after 16 months of wrangling and civil suits, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania has officially left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Natasha: But first, a former Liberty University employee is suing the school for discrimination and retaliation. Warren: A former professor and investigator at Liberty University has filed a federal lawsuit against the school and its leaders for discrimination and retaliation under Title IX, the Uniformed Services Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law. Peter Brake is a Liberty graduate and an attorney who served for over 20 years as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate. He was employed in 2019 as a full-time Civil Rights Investigator in Liberty’s Office of Equity and Compliance/Title IX and as an adjunct professor. While employed at Liberty, Brake took a 3½-year leave of absence starting in January 2020 to serve active duty with the U.S. Army. He had moved to reserve military duty at this point. Natasha: What happened? Warren: According to the lawsuit, Brake’s absence was referred to by Liberty administrators as a “problem” because they were required to hold his position while he served in the U.S. Army. Upon his return in October 2023, Brake claims he suffered discrimination in violation of the USERRA. Brake also claims he was fired after making “good faith reports” about violations of Title IX and the Clery Act at Liberty. Natasha: In November 2023, Brake claims he told Liberty President Dondi Costin about the Title IX office ignoring grievance procedure requirements, noting that some cases had been sitting idle for a year without resolution. Warren: In an email exchange with Costin, Costin allegedly assured Brake that “your leadership understands that retaliation is not allowed around here, so don’t give that possibility another thought.” After Liberty reached a settlement agreement of $14 million for Clery Act violations, Brake said he reported more violations. He was then allegedly subjected to a “humiliating and unusual interrogation” by Liberty’s human resources department and other harassment. In May, Brake filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education against Liberty and filed a Title IX complaint. Brake was fired in June. Brake is seeking damages to his physical well-being, and his reputation, loss of career opportunities, lost wages and benefits, plus attorney’s costs and fees. Natasha: Next, St. Andrew’s Chapel has suspended its pastor Warren: Dr. Burk Parsons, senior pastor at St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, and a teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries, has been indicted by a commission of the Central Florida Presbytery and is currently suspended from his duties at St. Andrew’s as he awaits the resolution of the case. Natasha: In January, MinistryWatch reported that Parsons was under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery for potential violations of two ordination vows. Warren: Now, the commission has informed Parsons that he was indicted in relation to the two vows. The presbytery commission also suspended Parsons from his duties of teaching, preaching, and administering the sacraments as a teaching elder at St. Andrew’s Chapel, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). In an email to the congregation, the board of elders, known as a session, of St. Andrew’s said it is supporting Parsons through the trial process. The email did not provide any details about what actions prompted the indictment or when the trial will take place. Natasha: Next, news from Elevation church. Warren: The Charlotte-based megachurch Elevation Church fired its youth pastor, Tim Somers, in late February for alleged sexual misconduct. Somers’ accused misconduct is with students in the youth ministry of Oaks Church in Red Oaks, Texas, where he served more than 10 years ago. A spokesperson for Elevation Church told The Christian Post that, “As soon as Elevation learned about these allegations, we reached out to local Texas authorities and immediately placed Tim on leave. “No charges have been filed.” It is still an open investigation, local police are still sifting through the case and are not releasing any information. Natasha: Next, a prominent Durham, North Carolina, megachurch is suing its local government after county commissioners rejected its rezoning request to build a new regional campus in a rural area. Warren: The Summit Church, led by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear, claims Chatham County’s decision violates federal law by discriminating against a religious organization. In the federal complaint, which spans more than 700 pages including exhibits, The Summit Church alleges the county breached the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by denying its plan to construct an 82,000-square-foot facility on a 100-acre parcel once approved for a retirement community. The proposal included a 1,200-seat auditorium, 500-plus parking spaces, a sports court, a children’s play area, and a large grass field. Natasha: Why were they denied? Warren: County commissioners and some community members opposed the development, describing The Summit Church as a “megachurch” that clashed with the rural character outlined in Plan Chatham, the county’s official land-use guide. Natasha: The documents add that other segments designated by the plan do not mention churches as a desired land use. The church contends the county unfairly relied on these guidelines to reject its rezoning applications, imposing what it calls a “substantial burden” on its mission to place a thriving evangelical church within fifteen minutes of every resident in the Triangle area. Warren: The Triad Business Journal reported that Chatham County Attorney Bob Hagemann has denied any hostility toward religious institutions, saying the county will respond to the legal complaint “through normal legal processes.” The county has until March 7 to answer The Summit Church’s motion for a preliminary injunction, which asks a judge to compel approval of the rezoning and site plan. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, after a lengthy battle, a Pennsylvania church splits from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. 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: After 16 months and two civil lawsuits, a church in western Pennsylvania has officially split from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church began its effort to disaffiliate from the EPC in October 2023 with a congregational meeting. It held its final vote on January 26, 2025, with 88% of members voting in favor of disaffiliation. However, the church had to wait until the February presbytery meeting to see if the EPC would acknowledge their removal. The Presbytery of the Alleghenies, the division of the EPC that had jurisdiction over Beverly Heights, met on Saturday, February 15. It voted to “acknowledge the departure” of Beverly Heights from the EPC once it received confirmation that the civil suits and complaints to the EPC’s general assembly had been withdrawn. Natasha: Why was this process so messy? Warren: Roger Rumer, chair of the presbytery’s administrative commission involved in the Beverly Heights dispute, called the interactions with the church “very unusual” and said the presbytery found the leaders’ actions to be improper and unconstitutional. Because the presbytery believes Beverly Heights did not follow the proper process for dismissal, the EPC acknowledged their departure but did not “dismiss” them. Beverly Heights pastor Nate Devlin told MinistryWatch, “We are grieved over this separation, but we believe it was necessary due to the rapid theological and progressive drift of the denomination. More than that, we are appalled that it took two years and two civil lawsuits for the Presbytery of the Alleghenies to acknowledge the will of this congregation.” Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church will maintain its name and its assets. In regards to moving forward, Devlin told MinistryWatch: “Our plan is to remain independent for a season as we recover from this ordeal and discern if/where God might be leading us next regarding denominational affiliation.” Natasha: Next up: new from the Christian reformed church Warren: At a church just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Tuesday (Feb. 18), 33 ministers from the Christian Reformed Church in North America stood up to read aloud a declaration, officially accepting ordination in a rival denomination, the Reformed Church in America. Having stated they will abide by the creeds and confessions of the RCA, each of the ministers was then offered a loaf of bread as a symbol of fellowship and welcome. Natasha: The group ordination ceremony — the first of its kind  — is one of the more public signs of an ongoing departure of liberal churches in the Christian Reformed Church no longer willing to abide the Christian Reformed Church’s firm stance on sexuality. Warren: The ministers are not moving alone. Since June of last year, 26 churches have informed the denomination that they intend to disaffiliate from the 1,000-church body based in Grand Rapids. Most of those churches have declared themselves open and affirming of people who identify as LGBTQ and their lifestyles. Not all are moving to the Reformed Church in America. Some ministers have sought to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) or the United Church of Christ. Natasha: Next, church plants are growing in Idaho. Warren: In a small town in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, Tim Nay began his church planting work by setting up a booth at a town festival where he asked people what question they would ask of God. Most replied that they’d want an answer to the question of suffering, or why bad things happen to good people. The interaction allowed him to learn more about the spiritual lives of those he encountered. Not many were regular church attenders, Nay learned. He planted and leads LifeSpring Christian Church in the growing town of Star, Idaho, about 17 miles from the state capital of Boise. Many congregations in the Boise area dwindled in membership as their members aged, but they are being replaced by new churches. Natasha: LifeSpring is one example of churches being planted by different Christian agencies in the area. It meets at the site of a former church that endured aging membership and internal conflict. Warren: Intermountain Church Planters Association is a church planting agency that has planted seven churches in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho over the last 20 years. Steve Edwards, the founder of Intermountain Church Planters, says the group is not just interested in planting new churches. “We’re interested in helping you be a multiplying church,” he told the Idaho Statesman. “We hope we’ll be planting a church that plants other churches.” It focuses its church planting efforts in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, Western Wyoming, and Alberta. Intermountain has increased its church planting strategy from planting one church every three years to planting two churches per year. 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: Care Net and ICU Mobile, two highly rated pro-life organizations in the MinistryWatch database, announced this week a strategic merger to expand their network of life-affirming care. The merger unites Care Net’s network of over 1,200 affiliated pregnancy centers with ICU Mobile’s mobile ultrasound ministry, a move they say will enhance their ability to reach women and men at risk of choosing abortion. Natasha: Through the merger, the two organizations aim to enhance their reach and deliver life-saving care directly to women, especially in underserved and remote communities. A joint press release says ICU Mobile’s mobile units will integrate with Care Net’s pregnancy centers and church networks, allowing for a more significant impact at critical decision points. They say the partnership will amplify efforts to train and mobilize churches to provide life-affirming support, equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to serve women and families in need. Beyond physical and practical assistance, both organizations deploy a holistic approach to care. Care Net’s focus on pregnancy decision coaching and ICU Mobile’s ability to deliver services directly to clients are expected to create a seamless continuum of support that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: As pastors speak and pray with their congregations, they say they’re also keeping persecuted Christians around the world in mind. More than 9 in 10 U.S. Protestant pastors (93%) say their church has engaged in at least one of six ways to bring attention to Christians suffering persecution within the past year, according to a Lifeway Research study. Praying isn’t all churches are doing for global persecuted Christians, but it is what the most congregations are doing. More than 5 in 6 pastors say they have encouraged their congregation to pray (86%) or prayed in a worship service (85%) for persecuted Christians worldwide within the past 12 months. Most pastors have used their sermons as an opportunity to bring up the topic of persecution, but fewer have gone beyond that. Two in 3 (66%) have talked about modern persecuted believers from around the world in a sermon. Pastors 65 and older are among the most likely to say they have handed out information about persecuted Christians (37%) or hosted a related event (23%). “Pastors are quick to say they are praying for persecuted Christians, but remembering them with other emphases or events is much less common,” said McConnell. Natasha: Who is in our Ministry Spotlight this week? Warren: This week, Training Leaders International’s (TLI) overall rating rose from 4 Stars to 5 Stars. It is now in the top 20% for financial efficiency in the Leadership Training sector. The organization, based in Minnesota, began in 2009 with the goal of providing theological education in areas of the world where pastors and churches lack access to formalized training. The organization currently has a 5-Star Resource Allocation rating. It spends 91% of its revenue on programming and just 4% on fundraising. LTI’s General and Admin costs are just 5% of its overall revenue, compared with its sector median of 10%. In 2023, the ministry’s revenue was $6.5 million and its expenses were $6.6 million. Its net assets were $2.8 million, dropping from $3 million in 2022. TLI’s Donor Confidence Score is 98. One of our top scores. Natasha: In Ministries Making a Difference this week, we look at ministries that support people with special needs and disabilities. Warren: This month marked 11 years of Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine celebrating people with special needs. More than 800 churches in 60 countries participated in the event Friday, Feb. 7. Videos show onlookers cheering and holding handmade signs as participants dressed in tailored suits and glittering gowns dance down red carpets and receive crowns. The Tim Tebow Foundation also launched Shine On, a ministry that provides resources for churches to reach and disciple people with special needs year round. The Tim Tebow Foundation has 2 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 75. Beginning in March, Shawn Thornton will step into the role of president at Joni & Friends, the international ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada for people with disabilities. Thornton is senior pastor of Calvary Community Church in California, where he spearheaded a disability ministry. He has also served on the ministry’s board of directors. As president, he will oversee outreach and evangelism efforts, offering practical help such as wheelchairs and the Gospel. Calvary Champions, a ministry of Calvary Church in Naperville, Illinois, is celebrating one year ministering to people and families with special needs. The church kicked off the ministry by hosting its first Night to Shine event in February 2024, then formed Calvary Champions to support families with children ages 4-12 with special needs. The need grew, initiating Calvary Nursery for children with special needs from birth to 4 years old. Senior Pastor Marty Sloan estimates that more than 70 families have joined the church this past year because of the special needs ministry. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: The Crisis of Dependency is our donor premium for February. 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, Bethany Starin, Jessica Eturralde, Yonat Shimron, Aaron Earls, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Lifeway Research 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.

Over the past two weeks I have traveled to Southern California and Colorado Springs – two areas that have long been considered evangelical “hot spots.” Some have even irreverently called Colorado Springs the evangelical “mecca.” That trip impressed on me that even in the arena of ministry headquarters, a sense of place matters. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

Charlie Peacock is a Billboard chart-topping, six-time Grammy Award-winning music producer whose recordings now exceed 25 million album sales. Billboard named him one of the 500 most important producers in popular music history. He has held executive positions at EMI and SONY/ATV and he founded the Universal Music Group imprint re:think. He helped launch The Lone Bellow, Switchfoot, and The Civil Wars. And now, he has a new book, Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music. These credentials make Charlie podcast-worthy in just about any format that is interested in the intersection of Christianity and pop culture. But one of the reasons I wanted to have Charlie on the program today is that he’s one of the most thoughtful guys I know when it comes to issues of fame and its pitfalls, vocation and work, and creativity. It was a special treat for me to get to spend this time with Charlie Peacock, and I hope you find it special, too. Charlie spoke to me from his studio in Nashville. He has a new book, Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music. I highly recommend it. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, another congregation is leaving the Hillsong fold…leaving only 5 Hillsong churches in the U-S. We’ll have details. And, T.D. Jakes filed an affidavit in response to allegations that he made sexual advances toward two other ministers decades ago. We’ll take a look. Plus, the Presbyterian Church in America issued an apology and removed a webpage with advice on how immigrants can avoid being detained. But first, after months of turmoil, Calvary Chapel Cary in North Carolina is closing. Months after Calvary Chapel Cary discovered its lead pastor, Rodney Finch, had secretly listed the church for sale, the 9.8-acre property in Apex, North Carolina, is back on the market, and weekly services have ceased. The real estate scandal was not Finch’s first controversy. Rather, it brought to a boil years of tensions and demands for greater transparency and accountability.  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, Adele Banks, Marci Seither, Bob Smietana, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you today from Colorado Springs, Colorado. 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, another congregation is leaving the Hillsong fold…leaving only 5 Hillsong churches in the U-S. We’ll have details. And, T.D. Jakes filed an affidavit in response to allegations that he made sexual advances toward two other ministers decades ago. We’ll take a look. Plus, the Presbyterian Church in America issued an apology and removed a webpage with advice on how immigrants can avoid being detained. Natasha: But first, after months of turmoil, Calvary Chapel Cary in North Carolina is closing. Warren: Months after Calvary Chapel Cary discovered its lead pastor, Rodney Finch, had secretly listed the church for sale, the 9.8-acre property in Apex, North Carolina, is back on the market, and weekly services have ceased. The real estate scandal was not Finch’s first controversy. Rather, it brought to a boil years of tensions and demands for greater transparency and accountability. Natasha: As MinistryWatch previously reported, Finch hid a years’ long drug addiction and pushed the board to secretly cover $50,000 of a luxury rehabilitation program with church funds. Warren: But then he left the program early without telling anyone. Between 2012 and 2017, he aggressively solicited restricted funds to build a new church, but the work was never started, and funds were secretly put toward other purposes. In addition, Finch has faced multiple abuse allegations by family members. Natasha: Next, another church is splitting from Hillsong Warren: Hillsong San Francisco is splitting from Hillsong Church and becoming an independent congregation, Hillsong Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley announced during the online broadcast Sunday, Feb. 16. Natasha: Since 2020, 11 churches have left the Hillsong fold as scandals have emerged involving multiple Hillsong leaders. Only five Hillsong congregations remain in the U.S.: New York City, Boston, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Orange County. Warren: Hillsong founder Brian Houston resigned in 2022 following the discovery of inappropriate texts sent to a staff member and time he had spent in a woman’s hotel room during a conference. Houston was also accused of lavish spending and misuse of funds. In December 2023, he and his wife Bobbie announced plans to launch a new church. Carl Lentz, who led Hillsong NYC, was fired in 2020 after he admitted to an extramarital affair. In May 2023, Lentz announced he is “no longer in ministry.” Another Hillsong pastor, Reed Bogard, who led the Dallas Hillsong Church, was accused of engaging in an extramarital affair with a junior staff member. He resigned in 2021. Natasha: Let’s look at one more story before our break – what do you have? Warren: On February 10, police arrested four individuals connected with allegations of child abuse at Maranatha Christian School (MCS) in Florence, South Carolina. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office alleges that on January 23, daycare worker Laurin Boyce, 73, “intentionally and repeatedly assaulted a child by slamming the head of the child into the crib, covering the child’s head with a blanket, pressing down on the child’s head for a length of time and also dragging the child out of the room.” Detectives further allege that nearly a week later, Boyce approached a child on the playground, knocked the child over, and then picked them up by the arm and leg before intentionally dropping them from waist height onto their head. Natasha: Who else was arrested? Warren: Two nursery workers, Jessica Elmore, 33, and Dawn Kirven, 42, have been charged with Failure to Report Child Abuse/Neglect. Police also charged Lee B. Patrick, 54, pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church — which is affiliated with the school — with Failure to Report Child Abuse/Neglect and Criminal Conspiracy. Natasha: Do we know what happened to these individuals? Warren: On Tuesday, February 12, a judge set bond at $6,000 each for Patrick, Elmore, and Kirven and prohibited them from supervising schoolchildren. The judge later amended the order, allowing Patrick to preach at First Free Will Baptist Church on Sunday mornings while maintaining his restriction from involvement with the school. All four suspects have an initial court appearance scheduled for April 2. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, T-D Jakes maintains his innocence after two brothers accuse him of sexual misconduct. 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: Dallas megachurch pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes continued to deny claims by two other ministers who have accused him of sexual misconduct, describing the accusers in a newly filed affidavit as “bullies” and himself as the victim of a scheme to “destroy” him. Two men, the brothers Duane and Richard Youngblood, allege that Jakes made sexual advances decades ago, when he was pastor of a church in West Virginia. Natasha: Jakes’ legal team filed a defamation suit against Duane Youngblood in November. Warren: Friday’s filings came in response to a January motion to dismiss the defamation suit by Duane Youngblood, a Pennsylvania man who made his allegations against Jakes in two 2024 interviews on the “Larry Reid Live” YouTube talk show. Natasha: How did Jake’s’ respond? Warren: Jakes and his legal team responded to the allegations by noting that Duane Youngblood has felony convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors and said Richard Youngblood’s “story surfaced only after I declined to hire him due to his lack of qualifications.” Jakes said the request from Richard Youngblood occurred about 10 years ago. Duane Youngblood, who described T.D. Jakes as a groomer, alleged that Jakes had offered to take care of the then-teenager financially “for life,” but Jakes and his team maintained that at the time of the alleged incident, the elder minister could not have afforded to make that offer. “During that period, I was barely keeping my own family out of poverty,” Jakes wrote. “I was not the ‘Bishop TD Jakes’ of today. I was a pastor with no substantial following, and no financial resources.” Natasha: The filings also include a Nov. 15 letter in which Duane Youngblood’s lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, requested an “opening settlement demand of six million dollars” to resolve Youngblood’s claims against Jakes. Warren: They also note that Duane Youngblood has created a website where Youngblood may be booked as a speaker, coach or to present webinars on overcoming trauma. Jakes also claims Youngblood has plans for a forthcoming book that is, as Jakes stated, a “‘tell-all’ about me.” Jakes’ representatives declined to respond to questions from RNS about the legal filings, citing it as “an ongoing legal matter,” but said he is continuing to recuperate from the medical incident. Natasha: Next, North Carolina supreme Court Upholds ‘Look Back’ Window of SAFE Child Act Warren:  On January 31, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the state’s 2019 SAFE Child Act as constitutional. The constitutionality of the law’s “look back” window had been challenged by the Gaston County Board of Education. Natasha: The look back period is a two-year window allowing child abuse survivors, who would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations, a chance to sue in civil court. The look back window ended on December 31, 2021. Warren: In its opinion, penned by Chief Justice Paul Newby, the court said there is no “constitutionally protected vested right” in the running of a tort claim’s statute of limitations that prohibits the legislature from reviving the otherwise time-barred claim. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in a press statement. “By upholding the SAFE Child Act’s lookback window today, the North Carolina Supreme Court acknowledged what we know to be true: it can take years for people to process the trauma of childhood abuse and victims should have the opportunity to hold their abusers accountable in court,” He said the ruling is “a continued charge to the rest of us to do everything we can to keep our children safe.” Natasha: What’s the practical implication of this decision? Warren: The court’s decision means that cases filed by other child sexual abuse survivors, like Stuart Griffin, during the look back window will continue. Griffin filed suit in June 2020 against his abuser, David Lee Wood, and two institutions he claims enabled Wood’s abuse in the 1990s—Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church and Charlotte Christian School. Now, according to his attorney, Bobby Jenkins, Griffin’s case can move forward. “The North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision is a wonderful victory for all those, like Stuart, who deserve the opportunity to seek justice and accountability from their perpetrators and those who enabled them,” Jenkins told MinistryWatch. Natasha: And the Supreme Court of Texas is also in the news Warren: In a case involving a report of sexual assault at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that a person supplying defamatory material can be held liable even if they weren’t the one who published it. Jane Roe, who brought the defamation lawsuit, was a student at Southwestern in 2015 when she claims to have reported an attack and rape on campus to then-President Paige Patterson. Patterson was terminated, at least in part, due to his handling of the sexual assault charges. Roe claims she was defamed in a donor letter supporting Patterson’s reinstatement — a letter that Scott Colter, Patterson’s chief of staff, assisted in drafting and distributing. Roe says statements in the letter claiming she lied about her rape, engaged in sexual activities in seminary buildings, and provided nude photos to the man who raped her are all false and defamatory. Natasha: The federal district court granted a summary judgment in favor of the defendants on the defamation claims, concluding that Colter was not acting as Patterson’s agent. The plaintiff’s claims against Patterson and the seminary would go no further, so she appealed. What did they decide? Warren: Now that the Texas Supreme Court has answered the questions about defamation law in Texas, the Supreme Court will issue its decision about whether Roe’s case can proceed forward. 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 domestic mission agency of the Presbyterian Church in America has removed a webpage containing links to advice about how illegal immigrants can avoid being detained by law enforcement authorities. The archived webpage published on January 9 by Mission to North America (MNA) started by framing the issue with a question, “Did you know? The average undocumented person has been present in the US for more than a decade.” It went on to provide links to “reliable secular sources” that “may be useful to you as you seek to love your immigrant neighbor well.” In a statement published on byFaith’s website, the PCA apologized. “MNA’s leadership erroneously allowed the posting of content that advised undocumented persons on ways to avoid being detained by authorities. We affirm that it is our Christian duty to obey the lawful commands of the civil magistrate and be subject to their authority (WCF 23.4; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). To counsel otherwise is a sin…We repent and apologize.” The apology acknowledged the action had fallen short of the “Biblical and Confessional standard” and had caused “confusion and consternation” in the PCA. It also acknowledged that MNA should not engage in providing legal advice or engaging in political campaigns. Mission to North America is focused on church planting throughout the U.S. and Canada and also promotes church vitality by providing ministry resources that “enable churches to grow in their outward-facing missional engagement. The Refugee and Immigrant Ministry is part of the church vitality prong of MNA’s mission. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: A proposed online database that would list the names of abusive Southern Baptist pastors is now on hold, with no names likely to be added to the website by the denomination’s annual meeting this summer. Instead, Southern Baptist leaders working to address abuse say they will focus on helping churches access other databases of abusers and training churches to do better background checks. However, the so-called Ministry Check database, which was a centerpiece of reforms approved by Southern Baptist messengers — or local church representatives — is now on the back burner. The proposed database has been derailed by denominational apathy, legal worries and a desire to protect donations to the Southern Baptist Convention’s mission programs. The news the database has stalled was both disappointing and expected for abuse survivors Jules Woodson and Tiffany Thigpen, who have long advocated for reforms. Both said that because the SBC does not oversee its pastors and because abusers only make it onto criminal databases after convicted, a list of abusive pastors is necessary. Thigpen said Tuesday’s meeting felt like the end of an era for survivors who have pushed for reform and that SBC leaders have moved on. But she said that even though the database seemed doomed, Southern Baptists can no longer say abuse is not a problem. Natasha: In Ministries Making a Difference this week, we look at ministries that fight child hunger and poverty. Warren: Hope Unlimited for Children, marking 30 years of ministry providing hope for at-risk children in Brazil, recently celebrated the graduation of students from its professional initiation workshops. At 16, students enter the vocational training aspect of the ministry’s program, which includes learning personal finance, resume and interview training, plus on-the-job culinary and IT skills. Training leads to internships, which, after the program ends, generally results in jobs. According to Hope Unlimited, 92% of residential graduates “are employed and in stable living situations.” Hope Unlimited has 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade and a donor confidence score of 97. Two women working together at ColdStone Creamery raised money to support widows through Kinship United. They started by selling cookies and eventually grew to writing grant proposals and raising enough money to support 100 widows, providing them with healthcare and income opportunities. Kinship United sponsors “Kinship Projects” across 10 countries, focused on supporting orphans and widows in war zones and disaster areas. The ministry is one of MinistryWatch’s Shining Light ministries, with 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade and a donor confidence score of 100. Feed the Children has been distributing food and resources to hungry families in the U.S. and around the world for over 45 years. Recently, it launched two new programs to tackle food insecurity in its home state of Oklahoma—one of the “hungriest states in the nation” with 1 in 4 children facing food insecurity, according to Oklahoma State University. Partner Market will provide local nonprofit partners with items of their choice based on the needs of their individual communities, including hygiene, cleaning supplies, and food. Nourishing Bright Futures will work with families in housing transitions or homelessness to provide regular food and long-term care. Feed the Children has 5 stars, a “C” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 71. African Vision of Hope is expanding Hope Village, one of its rescue villages in Zambia. Teams have completed two buildings, with two more under construction. The new space will provide homes for 160 more children. African Vision of Hope works in Africa to give children a safe place to live, the Gospel, a Christ-centered education, clean water, nutritious meals, and mentorship. The ministry has 5 stars and a “C” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 98. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: The Crisis of Dependency is our donor premium for February. 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, Adele Banks, Marci Seither, Bob Smietana, and Christina Darnell. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

Last week, on my trip to Southern California, I learned about a model for collaboration and funding ministries that is slowing growing across the country. That model is the brainchild of The Barnabas Group. That’s a group of Christian businesspeople and philanthropists – called “partners” who pay $2100 a year to be a part of the group. Those dues pay for quarterly meetings where the partners gather to hear Christian ministries tell their story. Over the past 25 years, The Barnabas Group has helped more than a thousand Christian ministries learn the power of having a network.

On today’s program, two former leaders from Archegos Capital Management have dropped their financial claims against disgraced Christian philanthropist Bill Hwang. Why did they drop out, and what does that mean for the other staff members hoping to collect $32 million? We’ll have details. And, the controversial ‘He Gets Us’ ads showcased its message again at Sunday’s Super Bowl game. After critics last year labeled the ads too political, this year’s version was decidedly less so. We’ll take a look. Plus, Mission Aviation Fellowship co-founder Jack Hemmings dies at 103…in 2024, he became the oldest pilot to fly a spitfire. But first, a second minister is accusing megachurch pastor and author T.D. Jakes of sexual abuse. 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 Adelle Banks, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Marissa Greene, Mark A. Kellner, Kim Roberts, Zach Rivas, Aaron Earls, Brittany Smith—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Lifeway Research 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 today from Newport Beach, California. 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, two former leaders from Archegos Capital Management have dropped their financial claims against disgraced Christian philanthropist Bill Hwang. Why did they drop out, and what does that mean for the other staff members hoping to collect $32 million? We’ll have details. And, the controversial ‘He Gets Us’ ads showcased its message again at Sunday’s Super Bowl game. After critics last year labeled the ads too political, this year’s version was decidedly less so. We’ll take a look. Plus, Mission Aviation Fellowship co-founder Jack Hemmings dies at 103…in 2024, he became the oldest pilot to fly a spitfire. Natasha: But first, a second minister is accusing megachurch pastor and author T-D Jakes of sexual abuse. Warren: The Rev. Richard Edwin Youngblood, the brother of a minister who has accused Bishop T.D. Jakes of sexual misconduct, has made his own accusation against Jakes, claiming the Texas megachurch leader climbed into bed with him on a church business trip. The claims were made in a legal filing responding to a defamation lawsuit Jakes brought in November against Youngblood’s younger brother, Duane Youngblood, a Pennsylvania man who made allegations against Jakes in two 2024 interviews. Natasha: What was that lawsuit about? Warren: Jakes’ suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, includes denials by Jakes that Jakes tried to groom and sexually abuse him. The suit also said the younger Youngblood is a parolee after convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors. Duane Youngblood has sought a court’s dismissal of Jakes’ suit. Richard Youngblood was among six people who signed sworn affidavits included in the January filing that testified that they had heard Duane Youngblood describe the alleged misconduct by Jakes. Natasha: Next, a case has been dropped against Bill Hwang. The hard task of discerning victims from victimizers continues in a fraud case that shook two typically unrelated worlds—Wall Street and Christian ministry. Warren: In late January, two former Archegos Capital Management leaders withdrew their bids against company founder Bill Hwang. They were among about 20 staff members seeking to collect $32 million of a more than $9 billion judgment against Hwang. Natasha: Bloomberg reports that Archegos’ former co-CEO Andy Mills and trader Daiki Taniguchi dropped out after government prosecutors characterized them and a third claimant, analyst David Park, as participants in, rather than victims of, fraud. Warren: Last year, MinistryWatch covered Bill Hwang’s conviction of wire fraud, securities fraud, racketeering and market manipulation that led to massive Wall Street losses. About $100 billion vanished in a week in a stock market fraud. Banks that had given loans to Archegos lost $10 billion, while Archegos itself lost $36 billion. Natasha: In November, Manhattan U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein sentenced Hwang to 18 years in prison, plus 3 years of supervised release. Warren: The judge declined the defense’s pleas for leniency on account of Hwang’s alleged Christian character and the good work he had done through his charity, the Grace & Mercy Foundation. His charity had supported numerous Christian ministries, such as Prison Fellowship, the Salvation Army and Fuller Theological Seminary, where Hwang served on the board of trustees. Neither Mills, Taniguchi nor Park were charged with crimes. However, in a Jan. 21 court filing obtained by Bloomberg, prosecutors said, “In the days leading up to Archegos’s collapse, Mills joined numerous other employees in misleading Archegos’s counterparties about its financial condition.” Mills’ attorney Paul Fishman disputed that characterization, calling it “inflammatory and misleading,” and insisted Mills had chosen to drop his claim “in light of the limited funds available for other ACM employees seeking restitution.” Natasha: Wheaton College is in the news: Warren: On Friday (Feb. 7), Wheaton College, the evangelical Christian school outside Chicago, publicly congratulated Russell Vought, a conservative activist and architect of Project 2025 who attended the school, for his confirmation by the U.S. Senate as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Within hours, hundreds of Vought’s fellow alumni had complained that Vought’s agenda contradicted the values they had been taught at Wheaton. By Saturday morning, the college had deleted the post, and a new social media barrage, this time from Vought’s supporters, had begun. Natasha: The college has defended its original post, and its subsequent pivot, as “deliberately non-partisan,” as its institutional commitments specify. Warren: The now-deleted social media post on Friday said, “Wheaton College congratulates and prays for 1998 graduate Russell Vought regarding his senatorial confirmation to serve as the White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget!” Natasha: The comment and deletion caused a stir. Warren: In an email to RNS, Wheaton College spokesperson Joseph Moore said, “The social media post led to more than 1,000 hostile comments, primarily incendiary, unchristian comments about Mr. Vought, in just a few hours,” wrote Moore. “It was not our intention to embroil the College or Mr. Vought in a political discussion or dispute. Thus, we removed the post, rather than allow it to become an ongoing online distraction.” Wheaton alumnus Eric Teetsel, chief executive officer of the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank founded by Vought in 2021 and credited for advising on Project 2025, called the decision an “act of cowardice.” Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, ‘He Gets Us’ ads return to Super Bowl 59. 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: Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, game day food and creative advertising — as well as those just in it for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show — were all invited to think of Christ once again during the 2025 Super Bowl. The “He Gets Us” ad campaign aired a new commercial during the first half of the Super Bowl on Sunday (Feb. 9), marking the project’s third consecutive year of having a presence in the big game, with the hopes of spurring dialogue and curiosity about Jesus. The commercials, created by Dallas-based advertising agency Lerma, include a slideshow of photos, ending with the text “He Gets Us. All of Us.” Natasha: Tell us about this year’s ad. Warren: According to a press release from Come Near, the nonprofit startup that acquired the He Gets Us project in 2024. This ad, Titled “What is Greatness?”, invited the audience to explore “what Jesus showed and said greatness is and the contrast to how culture defines greatness today,” Ken Calwell, CEO at Come Near said, “In a society struggling with division, loneliness, and a crisis of meaning, Jesus’ life and teachings offer a countercultural path toward healing,” Natasha: On Sunday the “He Gets Us” website turned into a hub of content, highlighting “stories of greatness” and offering self-paced resources to “rediscover or learn more about the person and teachings of Jesus.” Warren: The “He Gets Us” project was originally overseen by the Servant Foundation, a Christian foundation that launched the project in 2022, with an initial effort of raising $100 million. But by 2023 — when those first Super Bowl ads premiered — the branding firm Haven had taken over the project, and its president told RNS at the time that “the goal is to invest about a billion dollars over the next three years.” Natasha: Next, tariffs and their implication on the cost of Bibles. Warren: Bible buyers in the U.S. will likely be paying more for copies of Scripture. Any Bibles printed and bound in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will face a 10% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump. A White House official, who spoke on background, told MinistryWatch the February 1 tariffs are designed to make the PRC blunt the flow of fentanyl and the opioid’s components to the U.S., often by way of Mexico. The official said there are no exemptions for Bibles, as was granted in 2019 when a 25% tariff was imposed on China in Trump’s first term. Ironically, the tariff comes as Americans are buying more Bibles. The Wall Street Journal reported a 22% spike in Scripture sales for the first 10 months of 2024, versus the same period in 2023. Natasha: How will this tariff impact Christians? Warren: Jeff Crosby, president of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, told MinistryWatch via email that without exemption, “consumers and religious organizations will face higher prices, and churches, schools, ministries and non-profit organizations will have fewer resources to educate others and connect them to God’s word, the Bible.” Natasha: Warren, What’s our next story? Warren: Currently, 15 states are considering legislation that would extend or eliminate the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes and civil lawsuits. The reform movement to change the statute of limitations for those experiencing this childhood trauma has been growing. According to CHILDUSA, 44 states have no criminal statute of limitations for some or all child sexual abuse, 22 states have no civil statute of limitations for some or all child sexual abuse, and 30 states have revival or “look back” window laws that allow for claims that would otherwise be expired under a statute of limitations. Natasha: “Look back” or revival windows can be important because sexual abuse survivors often delay reporting the conduct for years due to trauma. In the case of child sex abuse, the average age at the time of reporting is about 52 years, —  most survivors probably never disclose the abuse they suffer. Warren: State lawmakers across the country have proposed further reforms. For instance, in Missouri, where the sexual abuse by a staff member at Kanakuk Kamps took place, several pieces of legislation have been introduced affecting the statutes of limitations related to child sexual abuse. Natasha: What are they proposing? Warren: A constitutional amendment in Missouri would establish a permanent revival window for civil child sexual abuse claims. A second bill would also establish a permanent revival window and eliminate the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits stemming from child sexual abuse. Three other bills introduced by Missouri legislators would extend the statute of limitations related to child sexual abuse to age 41 or 3 years after discovery, whichever is later. Natasha: Texas is also moving toward reform. Warren: In Texas, lawmakers have introduced three reform bills related to child sexual abuse. A proposed constitutional amendment in Texas would allow a person to bring a civil personal injury suit for conduct that violates the penal law, such as sexual assault of a child, trafficking of a child, or indecency with a child. Other states with legislation establishing or extending revival windows include Arkansas, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and South Carolina. 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: Jack Hemmings, a decorated World War II veteran pilot and co-founder of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), died “peacefully in his sleep” on January 24 at 103, according to MAF’s website. Hemmings’ life in the sky began at just 19 years old when he joined the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force in 1941. During the height of World War II, a young Hemmings was stationed in British India as squadron leader of 353 Squadron. In 1946, Hemmings was awarded the Air Force Cross for his “exemplary gallantry while flying” during the war. And just last year, in February 2024, Hemmings became the oldest British person to take control of a Spitfire at the age of 102. After the war, Hemmings and fellow veteran pilot Stuart King co-founded Mission Aviation Fellowship to reach remote communities around the world with “medical supplies, Bibles, building materials, and emergency food in times of crisis. Natasha: What’s next? Warren: Many U.S. evangelicals may view early immigration and refugee maneuvers by President Donald Trump’s administration as a mixed bag. Evangelicals want both secure borders and laws that provide avenues for certain illegal immigrants to obtain legal status, according to a Lifeway Research study. They want to deport dangerous illegal immigrants but aren’t as concerned about those who arrived as children and have lived peacefully in the U.S. Additionally, evangelicals recognize personal and national responsibilities to care for refugees and others fleeing their nation of origin. The 2025 study was sponsored by the Evangelical Immigration Table, World Relief, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and the National Association of Evangelicals and was conducted by Lifeway Research. Natasha: What were some of the findings? Warren: Most evangelicals voice support for refugees. Seven in 10 (70%) say the U.S. has a moral responsibility to accept refugees, Around a quarter (23%) disagree. That number is statistically unchanged from a January 2024 Lifeway Research study. Most want deportations to focus on individuals who have been convicted of violent crimes (67%) or those reasonably suspected of presenting a threat to national security (63%). Natasha: Overall, evangelicals in the U.S. see legal immigration as helpful to the country. Many evangelicals say the number of recent immigrants presents an opportunity to introduce them to Jesus Christ. Natasha: Next, the latest from the MinistryWatch Index. Warren: The MinistryWatch Index was unchanged during the month of January, 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 in October. The no growth and slow growth of the MinistryWatch Index over the past four months could suggest concern about the future of the economy. Natasha: Who did we feature in our Ministry Spotlight? Warren: Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), headquartered in Bartlesville, Okla., recently saw a significant drop in a number of its MinistryWatch ratings. Its overall Donor Confidence Score (DCS) is now a 53, “Exercise Caution.” This is in large part because the organization no longer files a Form 990 with the IRS, which deducts 20 points from its DCS. In the MinistryWatch database, organizations that do not file a Form 990 are also not eligible to receive any stars rating financial efficiency, which deducts another 20 points. VOM has posted audited financial reports from 2021 to 2023 on its website, all of which include executive salaries and the names of board members. The ministry is also a member of the ECFA. According to VOM’s audited financial statements, in 2021, the organization’s revenue was $94.5 million. In 2023, it dropped to $89.8 million. The organization also has a total of $89.4 million in net assets. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: The Crisis of Dependency is our donor premium for February. 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 Adelle Banks, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Marissa Greene, Mark A. Kellner, Kim Roberts, Zach Rivas, Aaron Earls, Brittany Smith—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Lifeway Research 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