On today’s program, Gateway Church has named a new senior pastor. The appointment comes a year after child sexual abuse accusations surfaced against founding pastor Robert Morris. We’ll have details. And, the Department of Justice is suing a city in Idaho for discriminating against Christ the Redeemer Church—a church plant of Doug Wilson’s Christ C…

I was recently trying to remember the first time I met S.D. (Sam) Smith, the creator of the wildly popular Green Ember books. I think it was at a homeschool conference a decade ago, back when I was working at The Colson Center. I noticed that one of the booths in the exhibit hall was crowded with kids and their parents. It was Sam’s booth, and the …

On today’s program, Liberty University reached a settlement with disgraced former President Jerry Falwell Jr. last year, but the terms of that settlement were only disclosed this week. We’ll have details. And, Bob Jones University names a new president just a month after its current leader announced he is stepping back. Many alumni aren’t happy wit…

On today’s program, Warren Smith talks with Michael Reneau of The Dispatch about his new column “Dispatch Faith.” They also unpack the mission of The Dispatch, his role there, the state of American journalism, and a whole lot more. Before joining The Dispatch, Michael Reneau was the editor of WORLD Magazine. He also served as editor of the award-wi…

If you are a conservative, Bible-believing Christian, there’s a lot to like about the Rev. Calvin Robinson. Raised in England, he stood up to the liberalism of the Church of England and, as a result, that church would not ordain him. He is a powerful communicator who puts his gifts in service of pro-life causes, the sanctity of marriage, and other …

On today’s program, Calvin Robinson was dismissed by the Anglican Catholic Church earlier this year after making a nazi-like salute at a pro-life summit. This week, another denomination has restored him to service…but not without pushback. We’ll have details. The Episcopal Church is ending its partnership with the U.S. after refusing to settle refu…

I went on a road trip this week from my home in Charlotte, N.C., through Nashville to Branson, Mo., where I spoke at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Press Association. From there I drove home through Terre Haute and Indianapolis, Ind., and Beckley, W.Va. In 72 hours, I put in more than 1800 miles. It wasn’t all windshield time. I stopped for …

You don’t see a lot of mergers in the Christian ministry space, but one recent merger caught our eye here at MinistryWatch. That merger was between CareNet and ICU Mobile. We thought it would be good to have Roland Warren back on the program to explain why and how this merger occurred. Regular listeners to the program will remember that we had Rola…

On today’s program, Milestone Church in North Texas announced this week it is expanding its campuses by absorbing Cross Timbers Church in nearby Argyle. Cross Timbers has faced a series of challenges in the past year, including the forced resignation of its senior pastor. We’ll have details. Plus, prominent evangelical leaders petition President Tr…

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. If the Supreme Court decides their way, St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa. We should note…

On today’s program, a team of elders is recommending Dr. Michael Brown return to public ministry in spite of a recent report concluding that he engaged in sexual misconduct. We’ll have details.And, the Presbyterian Church USA—historically, very involved in evangelistic efforts—is now closing its missions agency. Theologians say they are not surpris…

In the Great Commission of Matthew 28, Jesus plainly told his disciples to go to all parts of the world and make disciples. And for 2000 years, Christians have done that, and God has blessed that work. Today, mature Christian believers on every continent in the world.That’s why some Christian leaders are re-thinking what it means to “go.” My guest …

If you don’t live day-to-day in the world of finance or philanthropy, you might not have heard of the Great Generational Wealth Transfer. It’s the notion that in the next 20 or so years, as much as $90 trillion will transfer from the current generation that holds these assets to the next generation.MinistryWatch provides a database of the largest m…

On today’s program, Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire was the subject of an independent investigation late last year. The findings of that report have now been released, allegedly finding that Brown DID engage in misconduct with two women who were not his wife. We’ll have details.And, is Bob Jones University facing closure? The school’s preside…

The music industry has been in something of a mess over the past two decades. Digital platforms have come and gone and come again, completely reshaping – and then reshaping again – the economic model of the music industry. The Christian music industry has had to undergo all these changes plus more: the rise of the worship genre, the growth of such …

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

On today’s program we have internationally recognized psychologies and trauma scholar Diane Langberg. She has come face to face with the trauma of sexual abuse, trafficking, domestic violence, and rape – and its cover up. And she has encountered all of them within the Christian community and the church.In her book When the Church Harms God’s People…

On today’s program, Bob Jones University President Josh Crockett announced this week that he may be transitioning into a different role—he’s served as president of the school for less than a year. We’ll have details.Faith Life Church in Ohio is facing backlash after sexual abuse allegations prompt further scrutiny into some of its financial and gov…

Today I welcome back to the program Al Fadi and Amy McClintock, with the Strategic Resource Group, an organization that funds projects to reach unreached people groups in the Middle East and North Africa, the so-called MENA region of the world.Both Amy and Al have been on the program before to discuss a bible translation project for Hejazi speaking…

On today’s program, a judge dismisses all but one of Johnny Hunt’s claims in his defamation case against the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC has already spent more than $3 million in legal fees on the Hunt case. We’ll have details.Plus, Paula White is promising donors who give $1,000 to her ministry during Passover week seven “supernatural ble…

On today’s EXTRA episode Warren Smith explains why he thinks Christian ministries should not have endowments. He says the Internal Revenue Service recognizes 1.9 million organizations as tax-exempt. Of these, more than a million of them are “religious” organizations. For almost all of them, an endowment is a bad idea.To read Karen Houghton’s piece …

On today’s program, Willow Creek Pastor Dave Dummit announced this week he is stepping down as leader of the influential Chicagoland megachurch. Leaders have also named his successor. And, revenue is down for Steven Furtick’s Elevation Church, while in-person membership is flat. We’ll take a closer look at the church’s 2024 annual report. Plus, the…

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

On today’s program, Gateway Church founder Robert Morris turns himself into authorities after a grand jury indicted him on child sexual abuse charges. We’ll have details. And, USAID unfreezes $19 million in funds for Samaritan’s Purse. We’ll take a look. Plus, nearly 200 ministries do NOT file a Form 990 with the IRS. We have that list, and many of…

It has been a rough couple of decades for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, but the school seems to have turned a corner and is headed in a new, positive direction. If the saga of SWBTS does indeed have a happy ending, or at least a thriving next chapter, a good bit of the credit can be attributed to one man: Dr. David Dockery.The producer…

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 wh…

Here at MinistryWatch I have witnessed a tragic phenomenon over and over again. A youngperson begins the Christian life with passion and enthusiasm. But if that person doesn’t put downan anchor in the Gospel, he begins to drift. Before long, that young person finds himself, orherself, broken apart on the rocks, wondering, “How did this happen?” If …

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 dissolutio…

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 Amer…

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 …

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 toda…

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 l…

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 remo…

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 pa…

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 …

Conservatives, Christian conservatives in particular, have always had a troubled and inconsistent relationship with the idea of government funding flowing to non-profits and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh.By Warren Smith and Natasha Smith

Every church should be a safe space for everyone who comes in. Every church should also be equipping people to confront the powers of darkness and help those in trouble. Unfortunately, far too many churches are unsafe internally, which leaves them unprepared to confront external dangers. An unsafe church creates a toxic environment that works again…

On today’s program, an independent investigation into the International House of Prayer in Kansas City and its founder Mike Bickle was released this week…finding 17 cases of abuse leveled against him.Samaritan’s Purse dodges the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid. Other ministries—especially those working to resettle refugees—aren’t farin…

By Warren Cole SmithOn today’s podcast episode, we think through the relationship between Christian charity and the role of government in helping the poor.Here are the articles I mentioned in today’s podcast:Did Evangelicals Break Haiti?“Faith-Based FEMA” To The Rescue…AGAINThe producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time…may God …

If you are a regular reader of MinistryWatch, you know that we write a lot about ministries that care for the least and the lost in our culture. The Bible is clear that care for the poor should be one of chief concerns as Christians, but helping the poor in ways that are actually helpful is not easy. The issues are complex, and solutions require wi…

On today’s program, The King’s College in New York City shut its doors in 2023 under a mountain of debt—now, it’s launching a ‘go-forward plan’ in an effort to reopen. We’ll have details.And, a ministry in the U-K is urging Christians to stop giving to orphanages…and instead give to organizations that focus on family-based care. But when it comes t…

On today’s “Extra” episode, Warren Smith reads an excerpt from his recently published book, A Lover’s Quarrel With The Evangelical Church.The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.By Warren Smith and Natasha Smith

On today’s program, the lawsuit against Kanakuk Kamps brought by Logan Yandell has been dismissed. Yandell was a former camper who was sexually abused at the camp by leader Pete Newman. We’ll take a look. Also, in the next episode of our Generous Living series, a story about how $4 an hour changed the life trajectory of a young mom. And, Pastors an…

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in this column that you would see some subtle changes here at MinistryWatch in 2025.One of those changes would be in the way we cover stories that relate to what we might call the “brokenness” in the world. It’s not enough simply to say what happened. We want to do a better job of saying why and how something happ…

On today’s program, Joyce Meyer joins a slew of popular televangelists who have pulled their programs from Daystar Television Network amid accusations the network’s president Joni Lamb covered up the sexual abuse of her granddaughter. We’ll have details.Also, a long-time employee of a Florida church was sentenced to 2 years in prison for embezzling…

MinistryWatch’s annual lists of highly paid executives, just published, are among our most read posts of the year. They also generate the most questions and comments. I’m going to take this EXTRA episode to answer some of these questions, and to ask a few of my own.The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless yo…

On today’s program, Orange—a church curriculum publisher who faced its share of scandal last year—announces plans to merge with another organization. We’ll have details.Also, an Atlanta Church gives $100 million to missions. We’ll take a look.And, Sean Feucht Ministries’ transparency grade drops to an “F”—and its Donor Confidence Score plunges to a…

Here at MinistryWatch we are energized by the pro-life issue. I’ve been writing about the pro-life issue myself for more than 40 years, and John Stonestreet and I included a chapter on the life issue in our book Restoring All Things. The MinistryWatch 1000 database includes a category for pro-life organizations, and I would personally encourage all…

Welcome to the first podcast of 2025!2024 was a good year for MinistryWatch. We have much to celebrate, and to thank God for. Still, I learned a long time ago that in a dynamic media, cultural, and economic environment, it is important not to be complacent. That’s why I wanted to give you a “peek under the hood” at some of the things that I think M…

On today’s program, Chateauroux Fellowship claims to connect billionaires with Christian ministries…but we were not able to confirm with any ministries that they had received any of the funds. We’ll have details. And, a small reformed denomination commissioned a report by Guidepost solutions to investigate handling of sexual abuse cases…then it rev…