MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, Gateway Church wins its appeal to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by child sexual abuse survivor Cindy Clemishire. We’ll have details. Plus, frontline missionaries with Free Burma Rangers are helping Burmese villagers clear landmines and reclaim their homes, one field at a time. We’ll take a look. And, LIFE Outreach International unseats Liberty University as this months’ top user of private aircraft. It’s the latest in our latest Pastors & Planes series. But first, an anti-trafficking group is stepping into a very different line of work. Our Rescue, formerly known as Operation Underground Railroad, just landed a $158 million federal contract. The group will provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. That’s a big shift for them. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Neva Piombino, Marci Seither, Michaela Gordoni, Christina Darnell, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” They include:   John MacArthur’s replacement has been named.  WORLD and other news outlets are reporting that “Grace Community Church in California affirmed a new senior pastor, more than a year after the death of renowned theologian John MacArthur. World Compassion Terry Law Ministries has a new name. Another sports gambling tragedy. It’s an epidemic that churches and ministries have largely ignored, as our own Makella Knowles reported here. And, if you see something, say something. If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. Warren is in Nashville in September. If you live there, reach out to him. He would love to share a meal or a cup of coffee with you. His email is [email protected].  The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. This episode is based on Warren Smith’s weekly “Signs and Wonders” column. To read that column, which includes more links to the resources we’ve mentioned today, click here. Until next time, may God bless you.

Today we’re talking with Pete Peterson, a man who has spent much of his career at the intersection of story, faith, theater, and the arts. Pete is a playwright, publisher, and one of the central figures in The Rabbit Room since its earliest days, working with his brother Andrew Peterson to turn a small online community into a thriving center for books, music, theater, and other arts. The Rabbit Room has grown from a small experiment in creative community into a remarkable organization encompassing books, music, theater, podcasts, conferences, and North Wind Manor. Pete served for seven years as its executive director, helping guide that growth, and today serves as publisher of Rabbit Room Press and artistic director of Rabbit Room Theatre. But Pete is also a storyteller in his own right. Writing under the name A. S. Peterson, he is the author of The Fiddler’s Gun and Fiddler’s Green, and he has written extensively for the stage. His plays include The Battle of Franklin, a Civil War musical; an acclaimed adaptation of Frankenstein; and The Hiding Place, based on Corrie ten Boom’s story. His work as a playwright has earned both critical recognition and awards. Perhaps nowhere, though, has Pete’s particular combination of literary taste, artistic ambition, and entrepreneurial nerve been more visible than at Rabbit Room Press. The press has built a reputation for publishing beautiful, distinctive books that don’t fit neatly into conventional categories—and in 2026 it struck publishing gold with British poet and priest Malcolm Guite’s Galahad and the Grail. The book became Rabbit Room Press’s biggest launch ever, reaching the Top 50 of Amazon’s overall books chart, selling out at Amazon, and later winning the 2026 Parnassus Prize. So today, we’re going to talk about books, publishing, theater, and what it takes to convince modern readers that great literature still matters.

On today’s program, a federal judge has dismissed the last remaining claim in Johnny Hunt’s defamation lawsuit, marking the end of a contentious legal battle. He had sued the Southern Baptist Convention and others back in 2023. And, a Texas church is sued by the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church over its bylaw changes. Plus, water filters open doors to share the gospel with vulnerable people around the world. But first, a story out of Tucson, Arizona. Warren, tell us what’s going on at GracePointe Church. Arizona authorities have arrested a former finance manager at GracePointe Church on felony charges. Her name is Tracey Jorgensen. She’s 61 years old. Court documents say Jorgensen stole church funds for five years — from 2020 to 2025. The total is more than $356,000. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Michaela Gordoni, Kim Roberts, Kadence McKinnon, Kathryn Post, and Makella Knowles. Until next time, may God bless you.

In August of 1801 — 225 years ago this month — a great religious movement swept the country brought with it the phenomenon of the camp meeting. The famous Cane Ridge, Kentucky, meetings of that summer attracted as many as 10,000 people — at a time when Lexington, Kentucky’s largest city, had less than 2,000 people. Today, I’d like to share with you some of my reflections on an event that is having a profound impact on American Evangelicalism even today. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, the State Department funnels $2 billion to Christian ministries to provide health and humanitarian aid in more than a dozen countries. We’ll have details. And, new regulations make it harder for Christian ministries to operate in India — but one ministry we talked with remains committed to preaching the gospel there. Plus, a cybersecurity breach exposes donor date.  But first, the Southern Baptist Convention is facing a new federal lawsuit. Parents in South Carolina have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the SBC and its Executive Committee. They’re also suing Pawleys Island Community Church, its academy, and several former leaders.  The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Henry Durand, Adelle Banks, Yonat Shimron, Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Neva Piombino, Aaron Earls, Michaela Gordoni, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. A special thanks to the Christian Index and Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Here are links to some of the stories mentioned in today’s episode:   Christianity Today reports that “after making deep cuts in global health, food assistance, and other foreign aid based on allegations of fraud and abuse in USAID, the Trump administration announced $2 billion in humanitarian-aid funding for faith-based groups, with a consortium of US Christian organizations overseeing $1.4 billion.” Here’s Warren’s 2016 talk to the Western Conservative Summit. It’s called: “The Political Illusion: Choosing Christianity Over Political Ideology.” The talk begins at the 2:35 mark. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) does an annual survey that with a sample size of more than 68,000 from more than 400 colleges and universities. It’s one of the most comprehensive surveys of its kind. The survey asks about church attendance, and – according to Ryan Burge, who has parsed the numbers – “the two most “teched up” majors are the least Christian: data science and computer science. Just 27-28% of these folks identify as Protestants, Catholics, or generic Christians. In contrast, about 30% say that they are atheist/agnostic and another 13% are non-religious. In other words, they are about fifteen points more apt to be nones than Christians. An excellent article in the online British publication “Premier Christianity” by Derek Hughes reflects on the “quiet power of slow faithfulness and asks whether Christians have forgotten how to commit to work whose fruit they may not live to see.”   The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Today my guest is Bob Shank, a businessman, pastor, entrepreneur, mentor and author who has spent much of his life helping Christian leaders think differently about what it means to live a significant life. Bob began his career in the construction business, where he spent 14 years as an entrepreneur and executive. In 1984, he made a dramatic career change, leaving the business world to devote himself to ministry and founding Priority Living, an organization designed to help people in the marketplace integrate their faith with their work and calling. He later served for four years as the senior pastor of an Orange County megachurch. But perhaps Bob’s most enduring contribution has been The Master’s Program, which he launched in 1997. It is a multi-year mentoring and leadership-development program designed to help Christian leaders discover their unique Kingdom calling and move beyond simply pursuing career success toward what Bob calls “Kingdom significance.” Over the years, he has personally mentored thousands of leaders from both the marketplace and ministry. Bob has also helped found The Barnabas Group and has served on the boards of numerous churches, ministries and organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse. Today we’re going to talk about leadership, calling, success, significance—and what it looks like to make the second half of your life count. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a fifth person is arrested after a South Carolina church allowed a registered sex offender to work near children, and hid it from parents. We’ll have details. Plus, at least two new breakoff denominations are forming over divisions within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We’ll take a look. And, the 50 largest media ministries in the MinistryWatch database.  But first, a well-known pastor is now facing serious criminal charges involving a minor. Kenneth Baldwin is the former senior pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia. He’s now been arrested in Pennsylvania on 13 criminal counts, including unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of a minor. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Stacey Horton, Henry Durand, Fiona Andre, Richard Levey, and Makella Knowles. A special thanks to the Christian Index and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

In today’s extra episode, Christina Darnell and Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” Here are some links to resources mentioned in today’s episode:  According to The Conversation, “A trove of recent articles bemoan the collapse in recreational reading among younger Americans, with COVID-related reading declines, artificial intelligence and social media often described as causes.” You can find the complete article here. John Stonestreet and Tim Padgett have done us a service by speaking out strongly against sports gambling, which has become a scourge on the nation and threatens to ruin fair play in sports. They write, “A recently released report shows a clear correlation between legalized gambling and gambling addiction. While this should surprise absolutely no one, there is further evidence that the explosion of legalized sports gambling was a bad idea.” All these factors may play a role, but a new article by the Institute for Family Studies suggests that the quality of relationships is a key factor. Laurie DeRose highlights the recent research indicating that people who want children are more likely to have them if they are in high-quality relationships. To hear Warren’s recent conversation with Malcolm Guite, click here. Until next time, may God bless you.

For more than two decades, if you wanted to know what was really happening inside America's megachurches, one name has consistently risen to the top: Dr. Warren Bird. Along with sociologist Scott Thumma, Bird has conducted the most comprehensive longitudinal research ever undertaken on the nation's largest Protestant churches. Their latest study for the Hartford Institute for Religion Research is called “Megachurch Resurgence.” It reveals a surprising story: after the disruptions of the pandemic, America's megachurches aren't simply surviving—they've staged a remarkable resurgence, with new findings on attendance, finances, church planting, diversity, leadership, and the future of large congregations. Today we'll unpack what those numbers mean—and why they matter for the broader American church. And, we have a link to the complete study here. Warren Bird is one of the nation's leading researchers on church leadership and congregational trends. He earned his Ph.D. in the sociology of religion from Fordham University, has authored or co-authored more than 35 books and dozens of major research reports, and has spent years helping church leaders understand what makes healthy ministries flourish. His partnership with Scott Thumma has produced the definitive series of megachurch studies dating back to 2000, making him one of the most respected voices on this important and often misunderstood corner of American Christianity. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a Florida mom has been sentenced to prison after impersonating the father of a Camp Mystic flood victim. She used that fake identity to launch a GoFundMe campaign. We’ll have details. Plus, Focus on the Family launches the search for its next president. Jim Daly’s retirement is on the horizon after more than 20 years at the helm. We’ll take a look. And, charitable giving last year topped $600 billion, outpacing inflation for the second year in a row. But…Religion saw the slowest growth.  But first, a New York City megachurch says goodbye to its founding pastor. Four months ago, Fount Church's board said an outside investigation cleared its founding pastors of financial wrongdoing. Now, founding pastor Josh Kelsey has left the church. He's permanently relocating to Australia. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Michaela Estruth, Bob Smietana, Diana Chandler, Tony Mator, and Makella Knowles. A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast. You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

In today’s extra episode, Christina Darnell talks with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” They include: Lancaster Bible College has been reaccredited. Planned Parenthood releases its annual report. You can find the 2024-2025 annual report here. Allen Levi’s book Theo of Golden continues to be a publishing phenomenon. (Here’s an interview Warren did with Allen before he was famous.) Warren and Christina discuss Ryan Burge’s recent article about three misconceptions people have about data. People are finally beginning to pay attention to the coming population collapse and its consequences. Glenn Stanton wrote an excellent analysis of new United Nations data, and his conclusions are sobering. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a judge sides with Texas megachurch Second Baptist Houston in a lawsuit brought by current and former members. The judge says the constitutional principle of religious freedom shields the church — but the plaintiffs’ attorney says that should not be a get-out-of-jail free card.” We’ll have details. Plus, last month, the United Methodist Church dropped Asbury Theological Seminary from its list of approved schools due to its stance on biblical marriage — which could put two other seminaries in its cross hairs. We’ll take a look. And, a new survey reveals that American’s confidence in the church is near or at an all-time low. But first, three church leaders in South Carolina are facing criminal charges after being accused of hiding a registered sex offender's role around kids. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office laid it out at a news conference this week. Sheriff Carter Weaver said his office opened an investigation into Pawleys Island Community Church on July 12th, after officials learned about a man named Warren Perry, and his access to children. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Laura Erlanson, Tony Mator, Aaron Earls, Warren Smith, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Thank you for listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” Today, we discuss retirement, biblical generosity, and the legacy of J.I. Packer. If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have nearly 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) may be the greatest innovation in American philanthropy in the last generation. DAFs solve real problems. They allow donors to contribute appreciated assets without triggering capital gains taxes. They simplify recordkeeping. They help families think strategically about generosity. Those are real-world benefits. But there are also real-world problems that need to be fixed. Before we get to solutions, though, a little history is in order. The good news is this problem is not all that difficult to solve, though it will take significant political will. Three reforms deserve serious consideration. First, Congress should require that assets contributed to donor-advised funds be distributed within a reasonable period. I would suggest three to five years. But any limit — 10 or 15 years — would be better than no limit at all. Such a limit would preserve flexibility while ensuring that charitable dollars eventually accomplish charitable purposes.  Second, DAF sponsors should publish far more detailed information about inactive accounts, median payout rates, and how long assets remain before grants are recommended. Better transparency would reward sponsors that encourage active generosity while strengthening public trust. Third, Christian donors should treat donor-advised funds as conduits rather than warehouses. This recommendation is particularly aimed at Christian foundations. The National Christian Foundation has seen its assets under management double in the past five years, to $6 billion. Waterstone, another large Christian foundation, now has nearly $1 billion under management, also doubling in the past five years. The Signatry has grown tenfold during that time, from $81 million in assets to more than $800 million. MinistryWatch tracks 29 Christian foundations, and almost all of them have experienced dramatic growth. Charitable dollars help no one while the money sits in investment accounts — except for the highly paid executives who manage those accounts. Donor-advised funds remain a valuable tool. But tools exist to accomplish work. They are not ends in themselves. The measure of Christian stewardship has never been how much we reserve for charity. It has always been how faithfully we put those resources to work.

On today’s program, pastor and former religious liberty celebrity Saeed Abedini loses the custody battle over his 5-year-old daughter after being accused of abducting the child from her mother. We’ll have details. And, embattled pastor Greg Locke tells his church that federal investigators stormed his home weeks ago, claiming they had received reports of financial mismanagement. We’ll take a look. Plus, the donation of Green Mountain College campus in Vermont falls through — instead it’s been sold to a Florida evangelist with plans to launch “Z University.” But first, a well-known Christian conservative businessman has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud. Edwin Brant Frost IV could face up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors are calling it a massive, multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme. Frost owned a now-defunct Georgia company called First Liberty Building & Loan. Starting in 2014, he promised investors returns of 8% to 18% on short-term business loans. And investors trusted him — partly because of his Christian reputation.  The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, Jessica Eturralde, and Makella Knowles. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren The San Francisco Chronicle has yet another article about the so-called Great Wealth Transfer. According to the article, the “term [was] popularized by a 2024 report from market research firm Cerulli Associates. The broad idea is that, over the next two decades, as baby boomers journey to the great postwar subdivision in the sky, they will bequeath $124 trillion in assets — leaving $105 trillion to their children and $18 trillion to charities.” Christina You said this was “yet” another article. Do you think this story is overblown? Warren If you detect a bit of weariness in my tone, it is not because I don’t believe in the Great Wealth Transfer. It is coming, but it is always coming. It is not an event. It’s a process. A generation doesn’t die in a day, or a year. It dies over the course of a generation, and as long as the population and the economy keep growing, EVERY generation’s wealth will be greater than the previous generation. That’s the simple logic of the situation, but journalists breathlessly try to turn the Great Wealth Transfer into news every few months. Christina That said, you are here promoting the story and the idea yourself. Warren Touche! The Chronicle article is interesting, and I recommend it. And to all our readers: make sure you take our Philanthropy Assessment. It will give you some simple, actionable steps to make sure that your wealth ends up where you want it to go. Christina Warren, you’ve said that one of the most persistent myths in Christian world is the myth that the ranks of the Catholic Church is swelling with ex-evangelicals. Warren It’s not happening. Data guru Ryan Burge has pointed out that when there’s movement, it’s more often from Catholic to evangelical. Burge this week published a treasure trove of data from Detroit Catholics that further documents the decline of Catholicism in the U.S. Among his observations: “In 2011, the average weekend Mass attendance in the archdiocese was about 231,000 people. That dropped below 200,000 by 2015, it declined to 163,000 by 2019. The most recent data that these workbooks provide is from 2024, when Mass attendance was just under 140,000. According to their own reports, the Catholic Church in Detroit is recording an attendance decline of 4% per year.” Christina A lot of folks might say that Detroit is an anomaly. It’s been a city in decline. Warren That’s a myth, too. And if you are thinking, “Yeah, well, that’s Detroit. The city is dying.” Burge says that’s an old narrative. The population of Detroit rose during that same period. Christina A headline in The Jerusalem Post grabbed your attention this week. Warren It did. That headline is: “Why 800 million Evangelical Christians stand with Israel in an age of rising antisemitism.” It grabbed me because there are nowhere near 800 million evangelicals in the world. The most respected source for global Christian demographics is the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. It puts the number at around 400 million. Christina Well, maybe that headline was the product of an over-zealous headline writer. Warren I thought that too. Then I read the first line of the editorial, by Greg Denham, pastor of Rise Church in San Marcos, California and the founder of the Pastors Alliance for Israel. The headline merely echoed the first sentence in his essay: “At a time of rising anti-Israel sentiment, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism, it is worth asking why nearly 800 million Evangelical Christians continue to stand firmly with the nation of Israel.” It is a good question. It would be a better question if he got his facts right. That might cause readers to care more about his answer. Christina While we’re on the subject, a new survey indicates Americans are souring on Israel. Warren The most recent of Pew Research survey, unveiled on Thursday, July 9, found that most U.S. adults – 62 percent -- now view the Israeli government unfavorably, a nearly 20-point shift from 2022, when only 43 percent said the same. By the way, I’m a big supporter of Israel. I’ve visited there twice. But if you don’t think recent events in the Middle East aren’t having a major impact on the world’s opinion of Israel, you’re not paying attention. Christina Warren, I know you’re a history buff, and you noted in your “Signs and Wonders” column this week that last week was John Calvin’s birthday. He was born on July 9, 1509. Warren He wrote the first draft of his book Institutes of the Christian Religion when he was 26 years old. Many people marvel that he wrote a book that helped change the course of history at such a young age. But he revised it regularly over the years, and the version we read today is a version he published at age 50. This work was significant in shaping Protestant theology and was initially published in Latin while he was in exile in Basel, Switzerland. Christina Warren, let’s close today with a recent column by Aaron Renn about the Boy Scouts of America. Warren The Boy Scouts of America, one of the great institutions of civil society in the history of this country, is now a shell of its former self, and its prospects are not bright. For an up-to-date assessment of what is happening with what is now called Scouting America, I recommend Aaron Renn’s recent column, which you can find here. A preview: “The Scouts have responded by doing basically what mainline Protestantism and any number of other institutions did. It evacuated its traditional religious core, adopted standard issue liberal positions du jour, and started allowing girls to join (in the way the mainlines allowed female clergy). This isn’t likely to work out any better for them than it did for the mainline churches.” Christina Any closing thoughts before we go? Warren If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. Christina The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s EXTRA episode, I share some thoughts about my friend Robert Sloan, who served for a decade as president of Baylor University and then two decades as president of Houston Christian University. To read a written version of this episode, click here. To read Houston Christian University’s document “Ten Pillars 2030: HCU’s Vision and Core Convictions, click here. For a comprehensive examination of Sloan’s tenure at Baylor, read The Baylor Project: Can A Protestant University Be a First-Class Research Institution and Preserve Its Soul?  edited by Barry G. Hankins and Donald D. Schmeltekopf.

On today’s program, one of the women accusing Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard of sexual misconduct has been dropped from the case for gathering evidence illegally. We’ll have details. Plus, a hard look at child safety policies at Christian schools. What actually happens when a child reports abuse? We’ll take a look. And, ministries we recommend donors NOT give to.  But first, a church vote in the Texas, Fort Worth area has failed to restore a pastor who allowed his son — a registered sex offender — to serve as a contractor at the church's affiliated K-through-12 school. Members of Heritage Baptist Church voted 101 to 79 to rehire Pastor Eric Crawford. That's 56 percent in favor. But the church's bylaws require a 75 percent threshold. So Crawford is not returning to the pulpit.  The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Christina Darnell, Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Robert Mineo, Neva Piombino, Jessice Eturralde, Adelle Banks, and Makella Knowles. You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren One of my “must reads” is Phil Cooke. His observations about media and leadership and lots of other topics are always short, sharp, and wise. If you’re a regular listener to the podcast, you know that I’ve had him on the program before. Christina And today you’re recommending his latest article, “When the Wheels Come Off: Why Leaders Fail in a Crisis.” Warren He says a crisis reveals a leader’s true character. He advises leaders in crisis to “protect trust more than reputation.” He says, “Too many leaders try to preserve appearances. Strong leaders preserve credibility. Sometimes that means admitting mistakes publicly. The moment you stop communicating is the moment you start losing trust. Here’s the hard truth: People rarely remember the crisis itself. They remember how the leader behaved. In normal seasons, leadership is strategy. In a crisis, leadership is all about character.” Christina Next up is a significant new statement from the European Evangelical Alliance. Our work here at MinistryWatch focuses mostly on the U.S. Why did you want to feature this news from the EEA? Warren Being an evangelical in Europe is a bit different than here in the United States. For one thing, evangelicals in Europe are relatively small in number. The European Evangelical Alliance claims to represent some 23 million evangelical Christians on the continent with more than 450 million people. The U.S., by comparison, has about 40 million evangelicals in a country with about 350 million people. Perhaps because European evangelicals are so much smaller in number, their aspirations for political power are more measured, you might say more modest. The EEA recently attempted, in a new document, to clarify the ‘identity and role’ of evangelicals in public life. Christina And you think that American evangelicals have a lot to learn from it. Warren I do. Among other features of the document is an explicit attempt by European evangelicals to distance themselves from American evangelicals. “We oppose any political movement that undermines democratic accountability or treats any group of people as less than fully human,” the EEA says. “Evangelicals in Europe do not seek political privilege or dominance, do support a pluralistic and civil public square, do respect democratic institutions, rule of law, and human rights.” Further, they “reject coercion, manipulation, and the misuse of religion in politics.” By the way, you can read the entire statement for yourself. We have a link to it in today’s show notes. Christina A new proposal by the Trump Administration caught your attention this week. Warren The federal government is considering a really bad idea. According to WORLD, “Public comment closed last Friday for a proposed Trump administration policy to combat government information leaks. The proposal would require all federal employees—in agencies ranging from the CIA to the Education Department—to sign a nondisclosure agreement.” Christina WORLD wrote a lenghy and balanced report on this topic, which we’ll link to in today’s show notes. But, until our listeners get a chance to read it, what else does the article say? Warren It says that “According to the Office of Personnel Management, the government-wide NDA wouldn’t create new secrecy rules or increase penalties, but it would keep sensitive information secure. Violating the NDA could result in dismissal or legal penalties, the draft reads, and the agreement extends five years after federal employment ends.” Christina Free speech advocates and libertarian groups are up in arms about this proposed rule. Warren The conservative/libertarian Cato Institute has spoken out against the new rule. A coalition of roughly two dozen organizations—including journalism, transparency, and civil liberties groups—sent a joint letter arguing the rule would "silence public employees" and infringe First Amendment rights. Christina Here at MinistryWatch, we oppose non-disclosure agreements in general. Warren We do, and this one is a particularly bad idea, overbroad and a direct threat to transparency and limited government initiatives. By the way, the new proposal attracted some 30,000 comments, which you can search and read here. Christina Christianity Today’s Bonnie Kristian recently did a penetrating interview with Tyler Johnson, a former pastor who now serves as chief impact officer at Come Near, the organization now responsible for He Gets Us. Warren I’ve never been a fan of the He Gets Us campaigns and approach, but the organizations and the philanthropists behind the campaign – including the Green Family of Hobby Lobby fame – have spent so much money in Christian media that criticism of the campaign in major Christian outlets has been muted. No one wants to derail the gravy train. That is why I give CT some credit for this interview, which asks challenging questions and does not accept cliches for answers. Christina Finally, Warren, a couple of remembrances, one of Robert Sloan, the president of Houston Baptist University, who died this week. The other is of Henry Hazlitt, who died more than 30 years ago. Warren First, Robert Sloan. I first met Robert B. Sloan at a meeting of conservative activists in 2006, right about the time he took over as president of Houston Baptist University. A few years later, I helped organize an event at HBU featuring Dr. Sloan, Marvin Olasky, and Ted Cruz. I had deep admiration for him and this news that he has died is a bit of a gut punch. He made a huge contribution to Christian higher education, and he has left many proteges who will carry on his work. That said, there are a few people I have known in my life who I think were uniquely gifted and called for their cultural moment. Chuck Colson was one. Bill Armstrong was another. Robert Sloan was one of those men. He will be missed by me and by many. You can read more about him here. Christina And Henry Hazlitt. Warren Henry Hazlitt was a journalist, syndicated columnist, and one of the big brains of the 20th century. He died on this date (July 9) in 1993. His book `Economics in One Lesson was for many years the book I would recommend to anyone who wanted to read just ONE book on economics. If you are a parent or grandparent, I recommend getting this book. It will help you explain economics to your children. Christina Any final thoughts before we go? Warren If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have nearly 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. I am in Albuquerque next month. If you live in the Land of Enchantment, one of my favorite states, reach out to me. I would love to share a meal or a cup of coffee with you. My email is [email protected]. We’d love to have your financial support as we approach our fiscal year end. Just go to www.ministrywatch.com/donate Christina The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

If you've spent much time in the worlds of poetry, faith, or the imagination, you've almost certainly encountered the work of Malcolm Guite. He's one of those rare figures who moves comfortably between the academy, the church, and the arts. Guite is an Anglican priest, acclaimed poet, singer-songwriter, and Life Fellow of Girton College, where he served as chaplain for seventeen years." Over the years, he has become one of today's most influential voices exploring the intersection of literature, beauty, and Christian faith through books such as Faith, Hope and Poetry, Lifting the Veil, Mariner, and his beloved collections of sonnets inspired by the church year. His newest work is Galahad and the Holy Grail, a fresh retelling of one of the greatest stories in the Arthurian tradition. Rather than simply retelling an old legend, Guite invites readers into a richly imagined spiritual journey that explores courage, purity, sacrifice, and the deep human longing for God. Written in narrative verse, the book combines the musicality of poetry with the momentum of an epic adventure, making an ancient story feel remarkably fresh and relevant for modern readers. One of the delights of this project is that Galahad and the Holy Grail isn't confined to the printed page. Guite has also taken the work on the road, performing it before live audiences in churches, theaters, and literary festivals. Those performances blend storytelling, dramatic reading, and music in a way that recalls the medieval tradition of poems being heard as well as read. Audience response has been enthusiastic, with many listeners discovering that the oral performance brings new depth and emotion to the story. Today we'll talk with Malcolm Guite about the enduring power of the Grail legend, why ancient stories still matter, how poetry helps us recover wonder, and what Galahad's quest can teach us about our own search for truth, beauty, and grace. I think you'll enjoy this conversation. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host, Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first?  Warren William Bennett famously said, “The plural of anecdotes is not data.” Journalists who write about religion often forget that reality. Christina The latest example came from Carson Daly of the Today Show. He wants us to believe that young people are packing Catholic Churches, and they are leading a Catholic resurgence in this country. But you’re not buying it. Warren I’m not. The data tell a different story. I turned to the 2023–24 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study, based on nearly 37,000 randomly selected American adults, for a reality check. Among its findings: About 19 percent of U.S. adults identify as Catholic, unchanged since 2014 -- but well below historical levels. Even more telling: 43 percent of Americans raised Catholic no longer identify as Catholic. Only 1.5 percent of American adults have become Catholic after being raised in another religion or with no religion. Catholics have experienced the largest net losses of any major Christian tradition through religious switching. Christina What about young people? That seemed to be the focus of the Carson Daly piece. Warren It was, but even among young people, the data don’t support that conclusion. Among Americans ages 18–24, 12 percent have left Catholicism, while only 1 percent have converted into it. Pew concluded there is "no clear evidence" of a nationwide religious revival among young adults. Christina Why has this revival narrative been so persistent. We’ve been seeing it in the Protestant church as well. Warren Journalists want to find unusual stories. The slow secularization of religion over the past 50 years is not unusual. It’s been told, and journalists are looking for a new story. As the old saying, “Dog bites man” is not a story. “Man bites dog” is a story. As for the Catholic resurgence story? Well, to torture the metaphor: “That dog won’t hunt.” Carson Daly might be able to find a parish whose young adult Mass grows from 50 to 400 people, but that does not make up for the thousands of parishes experiencing gradual (and sometimes significant) decline. Christina Years ago, David Letterman had a routine that he called “Stupid Pet Tricks.” The first story we did, plus the next one, might qualify this episode of the podcast for its own “Stupid Media Tricks” segment. Warren You’re right. This week saw another significant media story that caused me to wonder. In this case, veteran National Public Radio Supreme Court reporter Nina Totenberg wrote a story that Justice Samuel Alito had retired. Christina And, to be clear, Justice Alito has not retired. Warren That’s right. But the story that he had retired made it through NPR’s editing process and onto the website before someone discovered the mistake. And, of course, if it makes it to one website, the algorithms soon have it everywhere. Christina About an hour after publication, NPR retracted the story, issued a correction, and apologized. But the damage had been done. Warren To be fair, the damage was not severe – except, perhaps, to the credibility of NPR. But it does provide a lesson in how modern media work. Charlie Warzel, writing for The Atlantic, does a fascinating post-mortem on the episode, saying the error highlights several habits of modern journalism that are pathological. Among them: “That a breakneck news cycle is forcing even the best reporters and editors to move too fast, that modern beat reporting itself has become too consumed with being first to report stories.” Warzel’s story is a smart look at how the journalistic sausage is made. I recommend it. You can find a link in today’s show notes. Christina Our next story is also a media story, of sorts. Warren I had not thought of it that way, but I think you’re right. Our friend Joseph Slife forwarded me a story that Michigan’s Cornerstone University was offering a degree that could be completed “100%” on a smartphone. Christina Warren, did you check the date on that story. Are you sure it’s not an April Fools Day prank? Warren I did check, because that was my first thought. Alas, it is not. According to The College Fix, “Cornerstone University, located in Grand Rapids, is offering an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in strategic business management along with a master’s in organizational leadership through its new program. Students pay a fixed rate of $2,400 per four-month term or $3,750 for graduate level work. The intended audience is working adults.” Christina That’s pretty cheap, and – as a working adult – I couldn’t imagine trying to get to a nearby college a couple of nights a week for classes. Warren I get that. 100  percent. I am not a Luddite. I use my iPhone for a lot of things – including learning. YouTube videos have helped me learn new licks on the guitar, have helped me repair my toilet, and have helped me gain new insights into the human condition. Christina But learning via iPhone is a different experience than face-to-face, in classroom learning. Warren That’s exactly right. Especially from a wise and well-qualified teacher, in a community with other learners who are grappling with the same ideas -- both in class, but also around the dinner table in the dining hall. Christina So what you’re saying is that virtual learning is not worthless. It is just different. Warren I do not oppose colleges offering programs virtually, but to offer accredited degrees that carry all the prestige and credentialing power of an in-person degree…well…that is just bearing false witness. Christina Let’s conclude today with news that the Texas State Board of Education passed a new required reading list that includes Bible passages. Warren On Friday, June 26, the Republican-controlled board voted 9-5-1 to approve a first-of-its-kind list that will affect more than 5 million public school students. Required readings for younger students include illustrated Old Testament stories such as Noah’s Ark and David and Goliath. By upper elementary school, students read New Testament passages about Jesus’ teachings and parables. Middle school and high school lessons pair scriptural themes with classic literature. Christina Most Christian groups are praising this decision. But you say…not so fast. Warren I will have to say that net-net I am glad they are reading the Bible in the classroom. You simply cannot understand most of Western literature – from Dante to Shakespeare to Faulkner to Eliot – without some biblical literacy. And I know that there are a lot of great public school teachers who will handle these texts with care and respect. Christina I sense a big fat…however…coming on. Warren Ha. So I’ll say it.  However… I do wonder what will happen when you put scripture into the hands of militantly secularized teachers, and you give them a platform to air their grievances. They may be forced to read the bible, but what if the teacher spends the rest of the class presenting arguments for its unreliability? Christina So are you opposed to reading the Bible in classrooms? Warren Absolutely not. I’m very much in favor of it, but I do wonder how it’s going to be taught. I would recommend that parents in Texas remain vigilant. Time will tell whether this was a positive innovation for the classroom, or one full of unintended consequences. Until then, though, I know that “God’s word will not return void.” So, I trust that the positive impact of scripture reading will be greater than any efforts to undermine it. Christina Any final thoughts before we go? Warren If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have nearly 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. I am in Albuquerque next month. If you live in the Land of Enchantment, one of my favorite states, reach out to me. I would love to share a meal or a cup of coffee with you. My email is [email protected]. We’d love to have your financial support as we approach our fiscal year end. Just go to www.ministrywatch.com/donate Christina The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Evangelical Christians should earnestly hope for, pray for, and work for revival. Maybe that’s why we’re always looking for and too often declaring, with only limited evidence, that revival has broken out. We want it to be true, so we declare it to be true with just the slightest encouragement. We should also not be ignorant to the fact that many purveyors of revival talk have financial incentives. If I can say that God is at work here, and you should support the work that God is doing, that provides a powerful and sometimes manipulative message that will separate well-meaning but naïve Christians from their money. Revival talk sells books, fills auditoriums and arenas, and causes donations to flow. And while we do not want to quench the spirit (to use biblical language), we should be clear-eyed and discerning when we hear people talk of revival. And we’ve been hearing a lot lately that America is experiencing revival. Kenneth Copeland has repeatedly declared that America is entering a season of revival. On his broadcasts and at ministers' conferences, he has described the nation as being on the verge of "the greatest awakening" and has tied it to his own prophetic announcements. Mario Murillo has been one of the strongest proponents of the "America is in revival" narrative. He argues that mass tent meetings, conversions in California and elsewhere, and openness among young people indicate that the country is already experiencing a "Third Great Awakening." Lance Wallnau has likewise said that America is experiencing a spiritual awakening, often linking it with political developments and what he describes as a national "reformation." But people who study religion say…not so fast. Today, I have one of the godfathers of Christian polling and survey work on the program, George Barna, and we address the question directly: Is America experiencing a revival. His thoughts on the subject may surprise you. George Barna is one of the best-known researchers of religion and culture in the United States. He founded the Barna Research Group in 1984, pioneering the use of survey research to measure Americans' religious beliefs, church attendance, worldview, and cultural trends. After selling the Barna Group in 2009, he launched several research initiatives focused on faith and public life. Today, Barna serves as Professor of Cultural Research at Arizona Christian University, where he is Director of Research for the university's Cultural Research Center. He is also Senior Research Fellow for the Center for Biblical Worldview at the Family Research Council and the author or co-author of more than 60 books on faith, culture, leadership, and worldview. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host, Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a former Truett McConnell president is suing, claiming the university breached his employment contract when it fired him amid claims that he mishandled sexual abuse allegations. We’ll take a look. And, Ed Young retired as pastor of Second Baptist Church of Houston after nearly 50 years. Now, he’s launched a new teaching ministry drawing from his decades of sermons and writings. But church members say the new ministry’s formation raises questions about who controls the church’s assets. We’ll have details. Plus, former Iranian prisoner Saeed Abedini — an international symbol of a Christian being persecuted for his faith — is being accused of abducting his 5-year-old daughter.  But first, Barnabas Aid — a ministry that serves persecuted Christians around the world — is now under direct oversight by regulators in the United Kingdom. The Charity Commission of England and Wales appointed two interim managers on June 19th — removing the charity's trustees from governance entirely. The commission named Edwina Turner and Catherine Gibbon of Anthony Collins LLP to the role. 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, Henry Durand, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, Christina Darnell, and Jessica Eturralde. A special thanks to The Christian Index for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren The Episcopal Church Center in Midtown Manhattan, commonly referred to as “815” because of its street address, 815 Second Ave., is for sale.For critics of the church, the building became a symbol of the bureaucracy and isolation of the denomination’s leadership. Christina Its sale now represents the continued decline of the denomination. Warren “We’ve done a detailed analysis about the best use of the building, with consultants and architects,” Chief Financial Officer Chris Lacovara said in a church news release. “We occupy a fraction of the Church Center space now, and the conclusion is that we don’t need to own and occupy a building in midtown Manhattan.” Christina The building is 12 stories high and has about 146,000 square feet of office space. Warren In 1965, the Episcopal Church had about 3.4 million people. Today, membership is officially listed at about 1.5 million, but less than a half-million attend Episcopal Churches on any given Sunday. Christina Next up, new data from Lifeway, but you have some concerns. Warren I do. I am a big data guy, but recent research from Lifeway does not pass my sniff test. Lifeway says that Gen Z adults who are regular churchgoers attend church at greater rates than other age cohorts. Christina So…regular church attend church regularly? Seems like you wouldn’t need a survey to come to that conclusion. Warren Exactly. The premise of the survey is strange. It is like saying, “In Texas, there are a high percentage of Texans.” Secondly, the Gen Z result is a serious outlier. “While the median churchgoer in each generation attends four worship services each month, the average Gen Z churchgoer attends a worship service at their church 6.2 times a month,” a statement from Lifeway said. This compares with “4.8 times for millennials, 5.1 for Gen X and 4.5 for baby boomers and older. This implies that while the typical Gen Z churchgoer attends at a similar frequency to other generations, there is a portion of young adults who attend at much higher rates.” Christina But other data we’ve reported on suggest that Gen Z is in fact not more religious. So what’s going on here? Warren The evidence increasingly suggests not a broad-based Gen Z revival, but a "committed remnant" phenomenon—fewer young adults in church, but those who are there are often attending with greater frequency and intentionality than previous generations of young adults. Christina Moving on…. Alliance of Responsible Citizenship (ARC) is meeting in London this week. Warren ARC claims to be an international movement of conservative thinkers, political leaders, business executives, academics, journalists, and religious leaders that seeks to renew the cultural, moral, and institutional foundations of Western civilization. Christina Founded in 2023 by figures including Jordan Peterson and Philippa Stroud, ARC describes its mission as helping to "re-lay the foundations of our civilization" by promoting responsibility, free institutions, strong families, economic opportunity, and a renewed sense of cultural confidence. Warren About 4,000 are gathered, from more than 85 countries. Many observers have dubbed it the “Conservative Davos” or the “anti-woke Davos.” Among this year's speakers are Boris Johnson, Jordan Peterson, Arthur Brooks, Andy Crouch, Eric Metaxas, and Ross Douthat. Christina For Christians, ARC is particularly notable because Christian faith is not merely a side topic but a recurring theme. Warren Evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox leaders are prominent participants, reflecting ARC's belief that cultural renewal requires moral and spiritual renewal as well. Rod Dreher has been posting all week from London, and some of his posts have been pretty humorous. A nerd’s view from the cool kids’ table, you might say. You can find one of those posts here. Christina As we have reported here at MinistryWatch, Bethany Christian Services, one of the nation’s largest adoption and foster care organizations, has reaffirmed its commitment to a biblical sexual ethic. Warren This reaffirmation requires staff, board members and foster and adoptive families to “personally agree and adhere to” a belief statement that defines marriage as “a covenant between one man and one woman.” Christina Katy Faust, a conservative activist who believes same-sex couples should not be parents, celebrated the change. On X, Faust said it was evidence that the “vibe shift” is having a “measurable impact.” Warren It is too early for me to declare a “vibe shift,” but I hope she is right. In any case, it is likely not to impact adoption and foster care efforts much, since the number of LGBTQ+ folk who adopt children are small. According to the Williams Institute, about 35,000 same-sex couples are raising adopted children. That is certainly significant, but the significance diminishes when you consider that about 1.8 million children in the U.S., between 2 and 3 percent of all children, are living with adoptive parents. Supporting Faust’s claim of a “vibe shift” is a recent Gallup survey suggesting that 65 percent of Americans still favor legal same-sex marriage, but that’s six percentage points fewer than its peak in 2022-2023. Similarly, the percentage of Americans who view gay or lesbian relations and gender transitions as morally acceptable have fallen since the early 2020s. Christina Finally, we have some good news here at MinistryWatch. Warren I am pleased to let you know that MinistryWatch has received a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism to help us with investigative reporting in the coming year. Christina The FIJ is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 that supports in-depth, public-interest investigative reporting by providing grants, editorial guidance, and legal assistance to journalists. Warren Its mission is to help reporters pursue stories that expose corruption, wrongdoing, abuses of power, and other issues of significant public concern that might otherwise go uncovered. Over its history, FIJ has awarded thousands of grants to freelance and staff journalists, helping launch investigations that have appeared in major outlets such as The New York Times, ProPublica, NPR, Frontline, The Washington Post, and many regional news organizations. The organization is widely regarded as one of the leading philanthropic supporters of investigative journalism in the United States. Christina Any final thoughts before we go? Warren If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have nearly 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. I am in Albuquerque next month. If you live in the Land of Enchantment, one of my favorite states, reach out to me. I would love to share a meal or a cup of coffee with you. My email is [email protected]. We’d love to have your financial support as we approach our fiscal year end. Just go to www.ministrywatch.com/donate Christina The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s EXTRA episode, MinistryWatch President Warren Smith shares observations from a trip he recently made to Knoxville, Tennessee, to observe the 10-year anniversary of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. The Colson Center has grown to become one of the most consequential Christian organizations in the nation. Warren explains how and why. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, the Assemblies of God is disputing liability in abuse cases — claiming local church autonomy shields it from the Daniel Savala sex abuse lawsuits. And, a movement to void nondisclosure agreements in cases of child sexual abuse is gaining ground — on both the local and national levels. The laws limiting NDAs are called Trey’s Laws. We’ll take a look. Plus, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has, after years of turmoil, officially regained its accreditation status. But first, Sean Feucht Ministries is fighting back against a lawsuit — and it's using the First Amendment to do it. It argues a $250,000 lawsuit filed against it should be dismissed because of what's called the "church autonomy doctrine." It protects religious institutions from lawsuits that would require courts to wade into matters of faith and doctrine. 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, Stacey Horton, Marci Seither, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren Microfinancing is taking a beating in the media these days. In the 1990s and 2000s, microfinancing was all the rage. The basic idea was to give entrepreneurs who could not qualify for loans at traditional banks an opportunity to take out a small loan to finance income producing activities. Christina Women could buy sewing machines and take in tailoring and alteration work to support her family. Men could buy motorcycles to take them to job sites or pick up trucks to start a hauling or construction business. Warren That’s exactly the idea. But new reporting by the Wall Street Journal questions the effectiveness of such microfinancing activities. It is also interesting that Christian ministries who got on the microfinancing bandwagon (Opportunity International, Hope International, Five Talents, and others) are now pivoting to savings groups, financial literacy, and broader economic development because the evidence for traditional microcredit has been more mixed than early advocates expected. Christina Something else that’s been in the news this week has been Steven Spielberg’s new movie “Disclosure Day.” Warren The new movie is being touted as a “takedown” of Christianity. Spielberg suggested that the discovery of extraterrestrial life would create a crisis for the Christian faith. Christina But a lot of Christian apologists have weighed in on this question and they say that’s not accurate. Warren That is right. I’ve got to confess that I’m skeptical of extraterrestrial life on other planets, at least life on any planets within reach. There’s some evidence of water on the moon and on Mars, so we might find some type of organism there, and that would be interesting. But I think we can see deeply enough into space to suggest that there’s nothing significant nearby. Christina But even if there was, nothing about Christian doctrine would be challenged by the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Warren I think that’s right. Christians from C.S. Lewis to Larry Norman (in his song “Unidentified Flying Object”) have written about this idea, and it is interesting but innocuous in terms of its threat to Christianity. A more troubling aspect of Spielberg’s film, according to Rod Dreher, is its overt Gnosticism, and ancient heresy that keeps getting re-heated and half-baked by modernists and post-modernists. Christina So what is Gnosticism? Warren Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious movements that taught that salvation comes through secret spiritual knowledge (gnosis) that awakens the divine spark within humans and frees them from the material world. To read Dreher’s critique of the film, click here. My friends John Stonestreet and Tim Padget over at The Colson Center have also written intelligently about this movie. You can find their commentary at www.BreakPoint.org. By the way, the film is getting decent reviews and is performing well at the box office, taking in $44 million its first weekend, against a $110 million production budget. Christina This week marks the anniversary of the death of someone you hold in high regard. Can you tell us about John Dyer? Warren If you find self-promoting (and, too often, self-destructive) Christian celebrities distasteful, John Dyer could be your palate cleanser. He lived in the 1800s, and he helped bring Christianity to the American West as a Methodist circuit riding preacher. A church he founded in the resort town of Breckenridge is still in operation. He also ended up in the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. To find out why, read this piece, which I wrote a year ago, but which I call your attention to this week because it is the 125th anniversary of his death. Christina And you’ve been turning your eye toward Europe this week. Why? Warren Culturally speaking, things are strange in Europe right now. Birth rates are plummeting there even more than here. This fact will have profound economic and societal implications in the years ahead. I visited Spain 15 years ago and wrote about what I saw there for WORLD Magazine. (And here.) Here are the headlines from that story: Large, gorgeous, empty churches, an economy that lacked confidence, and conservative political parties hunkered down. Christina But that was, as you said, 15 years ago. Today, things have changed somewhat. Warren The economy is better, though not great. Center-right conservatives, represented by the Partido Popular, have been overtaken by the far-right Vox party. I started thinking about this when I read that Franklin Graham recently did a crusade in Madrid that attracted 10,000 people. That sounds like a lot until you realize that the musician Bad Bunny attracted 60,000 on the same night. Read my friend Bruce Bower’s account of what is happening in Spain here. Christina Another high-profile event this week was the UFC fights at the White House. Do you have any thoughts about that? Warren Christians often talk about the "good, true, and beautiful" as if they are separate things. They are not, these three qualities are unitary, of-a-piece. Something cannot be really TRUE or GOOD unless it is also BEAUTIFUL. Something that is ugly or banal aesthetically is also, to that extent, also less true and less good. These are ideas to consider as we assess the events of June 14, which was -- in my view -- another "wag the dog" spectacle designed to distract the masses. Juvenal had a phrase for it: panem et circenses. Bread and circuses. He also said that such spectacles were a sign of a nation in decline. Christina Any final thoughts before we go? Warren If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have nearly 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of views. Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word about our work. I am in Albuquerque next month. If you live in the Land of Enchantment, one of my favorite states, reach out to me. I would love to share a meal or a cup of coffee with you. My email is [email protected]. We’d love to have your financial support as we approach our fiscal year end. Just go to www.ministrywatch.com/donate Christina The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

Today’s guest is Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief, one of the world’s largest Christian humanitarian organizations. Serving in nearly 20 countries and across the United States, World Relief works at the intersection of disaster response, refugee resettlement, economic development, and church-based ministry, partnering with local congregations to serve vulnerable communities around the globe. Myal has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Lehigh University, and a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before becoming president in 2021, Myal had already spent fourteen years at World Relief, much of it in leadership positions, helping guide the organization’s international programs and strategy. He has worked extensively in some of the world’s most challenging environments, focusing on issues such as poverty alleviation, forced migration, community resilience, and the role of local churches in sustainable development. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Christian curriculum publisher Orange has released investigation findings after its founder was accused of sexual misconduct—and it’s highlighting key lessons other ministries can learn. We’ll take a look. Plus, the 2026 annual meeting for the Southern Baptist Convention was this week, putting some core tensions on display. From sexual abuse reforms to immigration and women preachers, Southern Baptists faced defining votes. We’ll have details. And, two big ministry acquisitions to announce—Salem Media Group and Phoenix Seminary. But first, Bethel Church in Redding, California, is cutting ties with four big-name ministry leaders. Bethel says it will no longer platform Todd Bentley, Mike Bickle, Shawn Bolz, or Bob Hartley. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, Kathryn Post, Tony Mator, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Etturalde. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren Last Friday, just days before the Southern Baptist Convention gathered for its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, SBC megachurch Pastor Jack Graham said in a social media post that the SBC has never had a “systematic sexual abuse crisis” and described what prompted a 2021 independent investigation by Guidepost Solutions as a “reckless hoax.” Christina Speaking of reckless, given all the evidence for serious issues in the SBC, that seems a pretty reckless thing to say. Warren Agreed. I have met Jack Graham a few times, and he seemed like a normal guy. I clearly missed the signs. This statement is so dislocated from reality as to make my head swim. Christina The Houston Chronicle documented nearly 400 cases of sexual abuse in Texas alone. The Guidepost Report on the SBC found hundreds more. Warren Graham’s view seems to be that the problem was not systematic and was instead a function of how large the SBC is (“a few bad apples”). Even if that was true (and I do not think it was), the failure to respond quickly and adequately to survivors was surely systematic, a product of the culture of the SBC. That said, the SBC has, in recent years, taken solid steps toward reform. I applaud the denomination for that. But Graham’s comments are not helping. Christina While we’re on the subject of the Southern Baptist Convention, the SBC has released new demographic information, and Ryan Burge has analyzed it. Warren Here’s a passage from one of his recent weekly newsletters: “I’ve said this on many occasions, but the rise of the SBC from 1945 through 1990 will never ever be replicated again in the history of American religion.” The SBC peaked at $16.2 million in 2006. Today it has about 12.3 million. This 25 percent decline in a generation is due to a lot of factors, including a general secularization of culture. But to claim that the sex abuse scandals played no role strains credulity. Christina The Southern Baptist Convention is meeting this week, but the SBC is not the only thing in the news. Warren That’s right. A new study is out from Communio and the Institute for Family Studies. Among the findings: “Children raised in homes where faith is discussed regularly are more than twice as likely to attend church and say religion is very important to them when they become adults.” The study is called Passing the Torch: How Faith Moves Across Generations, and it claims to be the “most comprehensive examination to date of how parents successfully pass on faith to the next generation.” The report also found that when both parents attend church weekly, 41 percent of children do the same in adulthood, compared to 29 percent when only one parent attends. Children who report a strong relationship with both parents are 97 percent more likely of believing in God as adults than those with weaker parental relationships. Christina We do not often cover the Catholic Church, but a story from our hometown of Charlotte caught your attention this week. Warren Prosecutors say a Catholic Charities employee in Charlotte embezzled and laundered money by using a business credit card. The damage was more than $13,000. Leah Stewart, age 46, was arrested in late April. She faces felony charges over the unauthorized credit card charges. We do not cover Catholic charities much, but this one was in my hometown, so I could not help but notice. Also, it gives me another opportunity to note that we can learn from this situation. To find out how your organization can put safeguards in place to avoid financial fraud, click here. Christina And our last story is a bit of good news. Warren That’s right. There’s so much news about people doing bad things, it’s nice sometimes to catch people doing good things, especially when they happen to be friends. Christina And one of them is right here in Charlotte. Warren That would be Rod Culbertson. He has “graduated” to emeritus status at Reformed Theological Seminary here in Charlotte after a long and distinguished career as a pastor, campus minister with Reformed University Fellowship, and a longtime professor at RTS. “Emeritus” is what you call someone who has retired but who does not believe in retirement as a biblical category! Christina And who’s the other one. Maria Montserrat Alvarado, the current president and COO of U.S.-based Catholic media giant EWTN News, will lead the Vatican’s communication office, the Vatican announced Tuesday (June 2). Montse, as I know her, is not yet 40 years of age, and she will be the youngest person to lead a Vatican dicastery in recent memory and the first woman who is not a religious sister to be a Vatican prefect, a task historically reserved for cardinals. When I first met Montse, nearly 20 years ago, she was barely in her 20s and working for The Becket Fund, the religious liberty legal organization. We have reported on their work often here at MinistryWatch. It was clear even then she was a rising star. Indeed, in 2017 she became the Executive Director there. So, Montse and Rod, I will be praying for you both as you enter news seasons of life and ministry. Christina Warren, we need to wrap things up here. Any final thoughts before we go? Warren I’m in Colorado Springs and Denver this week. I’ll be doing a reader lunch in the Springs on Thursday and in Denver on Friday. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected]. I also want to mention that June is the end of our fiscal year. We’ve had a good year, so far, but we still have about $45,000 that we need to raise between now and June 30. If that number sounds huge, I’d like to remind you that the average gift to MinistryWatch is less than $100. But they add up. If you have been listening to us here on the podcast for a while, but have never given, I’d like to ask you to consider a gift so MinistryWatch can continue our work. Just go to www.MinistryWatch.com/donate Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I hope you’ll join Warren and me again on Friday. We’ll be bringing you the news of the week, from a MinistryWatch perspective. Until next time, may God bless you.

MinistryWatch has long been a proponent of what some call the “New Paradigm” of missions. This New Paradigm has several components, but at its core is the notion that well-trained indigenous missionaries are better positioned to evangelize their neighbors than American missionaries who come from thousands of miles away with little knowledge of the language or culture of the people they hope to evangelize. The Institute for Great Commission Research (IGCR) at California Baptist University recently released “Missional Imagination: How the Next Generation Understands Missions.” Among the “top line” findings of this landmark study is this: “Supporting local Christians in their context is seen as the most trusted model of missions.” The study continued, “This preference reflects a strong concern for cultural legitimacy, partnership, and long-term witness, and signals a shift away from models centered on external control, short-term intervention, or visibility.” The man who led that study is my guest today. Dr. Matthew Niermann serves as Professor of Architecture and Associate Dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts & Design at California Baptist University.  Niermann serves as a director of the Lausanne Movement and editor of the State of the Great Commission Report prepared for the 4th Global Congress in Seoul, Korea in 2024. Niermann holds a Ph.D. in Architectural Design from the University of Michigan, M.A. Apologetics from BIOLA, M.A. Theology and Th.M. of Missiology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Trey Falwell — the son of former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. — is suing the school, claiming he is owed $1.75 million in unpaid wages. We’ll have details. And, an Ohio pastor resigned from his post amid allegations of financial misdealings, leaving the church in a state of upheaval…a year later, members are still waiting for answers, and an audit. We’ll take a look. Plus, a Georgia pastor lovingly dubbed ‘The Autism Pastor’ has died at age 47…and SBC seminary president Al Mohler shares his own health update. But first, Samaritan’s Purse is opening an Ebola field hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 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 Yonat Shimron, Bob Smietana, Kathryn Post, Kim Roberts, Henry Durand, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Etturalde. A special thanks to The Christian Index for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren Ministry Brands, the leading provider of church management software and online giving solutions, has opened a new corporate headquarters in a suburb of Atlanta. Christina Warren, it’s not like you to be taken in by a corporate press release. What caught your attention about this move? Warren A statement announcing the opening said the company has “upwards of 700 employees across the United States and Ireland, including 54 in the Atlanta area.” Ministry Brands says it has more than 90,000 churches and non-profit organization customers and facilitates more than $6.45 billion in charitable giving annually. That’s a huge business, focused just on churches and ministries. I’ve asked the president for an interview, and – to their credit – they’re going to give me one. So stay tuned for more information about this organization. Christina If you cover religion, like we do here at MinistryWatch, one of the big events of the year is coming up, and that’s the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Orlando. Warren Stay tuned to MinistryWatch for our coverage of the event. The annual meeting is often an opportunity for other meetings to happen, and one that caught my attention was one hosted by the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP). Stand Up: Standing for Vulnerable Adults Against Abuse and Exploitation” is a ticketed luncheon on Tuesday, June 9, during the annual meeting. The event is sponsored by the SBC Executive Committee’s Abuse Prevention & Response Department, led by Jeff Dalrymple. Christina The luncheon will convene ministry leaders, disability advocates, and abuse-prevention experts to address a crisis the Church can no longer afford to overlook. Warren To learn more about this important topic, check out this article by Dalrymple, whose daughter has autism. It highlights important issues all churches – not just those in the SBC – need to face. Christina We normally don’t report about ourselves, but our MinistryWatch database has hit a milestone. Warren We’ll soon be looking for another name for the MinistryWatch 1000 database, because just passed the 1500 mark, representing $55 billion in annual revenue. We hope to have 2000 ministries in the database by the end of the year. If you don’t use “The Database,” as we call it, check it out here. Christina We have a story that is adjacent to our database. Warren MinistryWatch rates a ministry’s efficiency and transparency, but rating a ministry’s effectiveness has been an elusive measure for us and for others. We can measure how much a ministry spends on fundraising, but how can you really measure whether a discipleship ministry causes people to grow spiritually? Or whether an evangelism ministry who claims people made “decisions” for Christ are following up, and that those people are still following Christ a year or a decade later? Coming up with ways to measure ministry effectiveness is sort of the “Holy Grail” for people in my business. Christina I’m guessing that’s why you were fascinated by news from World Vision that they were making the attempt to create such a measurement. Warren They are calling it the “Hope and Love Measure,” and they claim it is the first “validated tool to quantify how children experience God’s love.” I must confess that I remain apprehensive, but fascinated. You can read more about that new tool here. And stay tuned: I’m interviewing World Vision President Edgar Sandoval later this week, and we’ll take a deeper dive into this tool in a future episode of the MinistryWatch podcast. Christina Among the bigger news stories of the week was Pope Leo’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas last week. Warren He made the announcement surrounded by AI experts, including Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah. My friends at AXIS, who I often turn to for succinct translations of cultural events through a biblical lens, said, “The pope spoke of the need to ‘disarm’ artificial intelligence so it might become a tool to promote the common good. He insisted that, although the Church won’t always have ‘technical answers,’ it does bring the wisdom that ‘every person is unique and irreplaceable, a free and intelligent subject with a conscience, capable of seeking God, serving one another, caring for our common home.’ His call was for AI to be developed in such a way that these human realities are served, instead of being displaced. And yes, at one point, he did quote Gandalf.” For the full (42,000-word) text, click here. Christina Warren, we need to wrap things up here. Any final thoughts before we go? Warren I was in Knoxville last week attending an event hosted by my former colleagues and good friends at The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. I was able to connect with MinistryWatch readers and listeners. I’ll be in Denver and Colorado Springs in next week. Let me know if you would like to join me for lunch. My email is [email protected]. Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

For 50 years, the pro-life movement was united in a common goal: overturn Roe v. Wade. Today, the movement is splintering over questions of funding, accountability, and strategy. In this EXTRA episode, Warren Smith offers advice to the movement to keep it moving forward in the years ahead…forward toward the goal of making abortion not just illegal, but unthinkable. To read Warren’s “Editor’s Notebook” on which this episode is based, click here. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a new lawsuit claims that church leaders participated in a $200 million ‘sham’ drug program. We’ll take a look.  Plus, sports gambling. Online sports betting continues to explode, causing all kinds of fallout…but many churches have decided it’s not a battle worth fighting. We’ll have details. And, this week’s look at private jet usage by pastors and ministries. But first, the lawsuit against McLean Bible Church lives to see another day. A Virginia appellate court has decided that a civil case against David Platt’s McLean Bible Church can continue. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina  Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren I subscribe to Kate Bowler’s Substack and read this week that she had spoken at Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City. When she wrote that this United Methodist congregation had 25,000 members, I was a bit incredulous. Christina United Methodist churches do not usually grow that large, especially these days. Warren So, I did some fact-checking, and she is right, though most online sources also say that weekly attendance at the church is closer to 6,000. Still, that is big. The church is centrist in theology and has so far managed to stay in the United Methodist Church without suffering a meltdown in attendance, though its growth has flattened in recent years. I am going to keep my eye on the church. It will be an interesting bellwether for the future of the UMC. Christina Moving on, there’s a leadership transition coming up at a significant Christian organization. Warren After nearly six years of service, Kevin Van Horne has stepped down as Executive Director of International Fellowship of Evangelical Students/ USA. His last day was Friday, May 15, 2026. According to a statement from the organization, “Kevin led IFES/USA through a season of significant change, helping to serve our global fellowship and partners well. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and for the ways God has worked through him.” Dave Shepherd (Director of Finance) has been appointed to serve as Interim Executive Director. IFES was a MinistryWatch Shining Light Award winner in 2023 and has maintained excellent ratings from us since then. Christina Warren, I know you are always interested in demographics and statistics. But something special caught your attention this week. Warren That’s right, and before I say what that was, let me as some rhetorical questions. What is the most significant problem facing America and the world? Nuclear winter? Global warming? Artificial intelligence? I would submit for your consideration the coming depopulation of the earth. For at least 30 years, most reputable demographers have been saying that the world population growth is slowing and will likely top out soon. By the year 2100 the world will be in the midst of a significant population decline. Christina And one thing that caught your attention is just how much this population decline will impact all areas of life on earth. Warren That’s right. This decline will have enormous implications for every aspect of life. Cities built for millions of people will disappear, leaving a rotting infrastructure. Economic growth will be impossible. We are already seeing towns in the Midwest and West disappear. That trend will accelerate. Christina I’ve got to admit, Warren, that that sounds a bit melodramatic. Warren I think it’s fair to be skeptical, but population demographics is one area of social science that has pretty sound prediction models. Birth rates have fallen to record lows, and they don’t change that much from year to year. So it’s actually pretty easy to predict what the population will be in the future. And the numbers don’t look good. But if these predictions seem a bit melodramatic to you, I suggest reading a new article from The Atlantic, The Great Depopulation. A world with a shrinking and aging population will offer great opportunities for ministry, but for almost every country on the planet, it will be a culturally wrenching reality. Christina On May 17, an event called ReDedicate 250 brought speakers to the National Mall in Washington. The speakers included Eric Metaxas, Mark Driscoll, Sean Feucht, and Greg Locke – all men we’ve written about here at MinistsryWatch. Warren That’s right. They are a part of what some are now calling the Dissident Christian Right. Christina What does that mean? Warren They are not quite Christian Nationalist, but not mainstream evangelical, either. Most assessments have judged the event as kind of a bust. A few thousand people attended, but DCR pundits had predicted many more. For example, The Christian Post reported that Robert Jeffress predicted the gathering “could be the nation’s largest religious gathering in more than 50 years.” It is not clear what the attendance figures for this event forbode for the DCR movement, but the weak attendance was a surprise to me and to many who have been following the movement. Christina And there was a notable passing last week. Warren My friend Bob Woodson died last week at the age of 89. If you do not know about Bob’s life and the legacy he leaves behind, I recommend reading John Stonestreet’s excellent tribute. It was an honor for me to be a part of the Colson Center team that presented Bob with a Wilberforce Award in 2018. He was sui generis. One of one. I will miss him personally, and our country will miss his leadership. I helped arrange a trip for him to The King’s College in 2010 to do a live interview with Marvin Olasky. That interview is worth a listen, and you can find it here. Christina Warren, you’ve mentioned before, that you are a fan of Carey Nieuwhof’s leadership podcast. This week he dropped one of his most personal episodes ever. Warren He recounts how, about 20 years ago, he experienced a period of profound burnout. It is part of a two-part series on how to avoid burning out. I strongly recommend it. You can find the first episode here. Christina Warren, we need to wrap things up here. Any final thoughts before we go? Warren I’ll be in Knoxville this week attending an event hosted by my former colleagues and good friends at The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. If you’d like to have lunch with me on Friday, let me hear from you. I’ll be doing similar lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs in June. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected]. Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

American institutions are facing a crisis in confidence. Those institutions include religious institutions. That’s why it seems to me that now is a good time to talk about TRUST. How does one build trust? How is trust maintained? What happens when trust is betrayed? How do we know who we should trust? That’s why I thought a primer on the mechanics of trust would be helpful. That’s the topic of today’s podcast. To see the “75 Red Flags” document mentioned in today’s episode, click here. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, the Central Indiana Teen Challenge—associated with the widely known Adult & Teen Challenge addiction recovery ministry—is facing allegations of trafficking and forced labor. Nine young women have filed a lawsuit claiming they were victims of abuse. We’ll have details. And, a look inside Zoe Ministries. Led by self-proclaimed “Master Prophet” E. Bernard Jordan, the ministry operates a digital pipeline for prophecy and donations while offering limited transparency. Plus, the value of a volunteer. A new report says the value of a volunteer hour has jumped to $36.14, surpassing the rise of inflation. But first televangelist James Robison died this week at age 82. He was a friend of politicians and key figure in the Moral Majority movement…who later led a humanitarian organization. James Robison is also the founder of Life Outreach International, a TV and evangelistic ministry. It also works in humanitarian aid, drilling water wells and providing disaster relief. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Bob Smietana, Mark Wingfield, Kim Roberts, Jessica Etturalde, Richard Levey, Paul Clolery, and Makella Knowles. A special thanks to Baptist News Global and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren Fidelity Charitable has released an interesting study.  Among the findings: “Most pre-retiree and retiree givers (ages 50-80) are committed to giving and avidly supporting their favorite causes. Of the donors surveyed, over half of pre-retirees (56%) and retirees (59%) gave $1,000 or more—and 17% of all donors gave $5,000 or more—to IRS-qualified charities in 2023.” Christina Fidelity Charitable may think that level of support is “avid,” but it sounds pretty anemic to me. Warren It is. Retirees and so-called “pre-retirees” both give far less than the biblical tithe, or 10 percent of their income, taken in the aggregate. That said, working people in their 50s and 60s are often in their peak earning years, and often have their home paid for and their kids through school, so there is some evidence that they are giving more, just not a lot more relative to their income. Christina Any other interesting findings in this study? Warren The Fidelity study found that “more than three-quarters of these pre-retirees and retirees (78%) say that charitable giving plays a significant or pretty important role in their lives” and “almost one-quarter of pre-retirees and retirees (24%) say charitable giving is much more important than other financial priorities.” Christina Retirees are also spending more time as volunteers. Warren “In the last year, over two-thirds of pre-retirees (71%) and over half of retirees (55%) volunteered,” the report said. “Nearly 9 in 10 retired respondents who currently volunteer agree that volunteering is a way to remain active (88%) and connected (91%).” Christina Let’s shift gears. The Anglican Church in North America has been in the news lately because of its chaplain corps. There was an ugly split a few months ago. But today, some good news. Warren Rear Admiral Carey H. Cash, an ACNA (Anglican Church in North America) chaplain, is the new Chief of Chaplains for the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. Rear Admiral Cash will provide spiritual leadership and pastoral oversight for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel and their families, strengthening spiritual readiness, moral resilience, and compassionate care in the midst of the unique challenges and demands of military service. Christina Warren, I already know that you are sucker for data and lists. Forbes magazine has a new list out, its annual list of billionaires. What can that list say, and what does it mean? Warren The new annual list from Forbes says there are now 3,428 billionaires on Earth. In 1987, the year Forbes started keeping track, the list had 140 names. The list included more than 400 new entries to the list. The growth of rich and super-rich motivated Washington Governor Bob Ferguson to sign into law the state’s first income tax of any kind -- a 9.9% “millionaires’ tax” on income over $1 million. Christina And even some Christian groups are chiming in the subject. Warren The Christian online journal Mere Orthodoxy has an interesting analysis of the list. Its conclusion: the current wealth inequality is unjust. Christina But you disagree with most of the conclusions of this article. Warren I do. Most of the billionaires are rich because of their ownership in companies that create tens of millions of jobs. And there is that most important and overlooked fact of all in this conversation, and that is that we all die, and none of us take it with us. Most if not all the billionaires on the Forbes list got there because they built companies and stewarded them over time. Their personal wealth is usually incidental to the wealth they have created for others. Now, don’t get me wrong. I think – as the Bible teaches – that those with wealth have much greater responsibilities. To whom much is given, much is expected. And the Bible has special condemnation for those of us who have wealth and yet ignore the poor, or structural injustices. But to make a blanket statement about the inherent injustice of wealth are painting with too broad a brush, and are ignoring many wealthy yet honorable people of the Bible. But, in a spirit of equanimity, here is the article. You can decide for yourself if its arguments hold water. Christina I also know you cover the world of journalism. And there have been some changes in the conservative journalism space. Warren The Daily Wire, after having its day in the sun, appears to be on the decline. The online magazine Puck recently reported a “sudden, precipitous decline of Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire,” with “sweeping layoffs and a steep drop-off in audience.” Christina On the other hand, the more even-handed Dispatch seems to be thriving. Warren I was particularly pleased to hear that The Dispatch had promoted my friend Michael Reneau to Executive Editor. According to a statement from The Dispatch, “Michael got his start in local journalism in East Tennessee, rising through the ranks to serve as editor of The Greeneville Sun before moving to national journalism, and eventually serving as editor of WORLD Magazine.” Christina You wrapped up your Signs and Wonders column this week with a few statistics from THINQ. Warren I was stopped in my tracks by some recent factoids from my friends at THINQ, the Nashville-based ministry led by Gabe Lyons. Among their gleanings: 23.7% of all Christian clergy in the U.S. are women, up from 2.3% in 1960. (Axios). And almost a quarter of American women aged 60 and over (24.3%) are on antidepressants. (CDC) You can sign up for THINQ’s email bulletins here. Christina You’re recording today from Dallas. That’s the latest stop in what seems to be a lot of travel this spring. Warren I have had a lot of travel, but I’m not suffering. It has been tiring, but a lot of fun. It was a delight to meet with about 25 MinistryWatch supporters in Dallas this week. It is always fun to tell our story, but to tell it to such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience is even more fun. We will be doing similar events in upcoming weeks in Knoxville, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected]. Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

MinistryWatch has long been a proponent of what some call the “New Paradigm” of missions. This New Paradigm has several components, but at its core is the notion that well-trained indigenous missionaries are better positioned to evangelize their neighbors than American missionaries who come from thousands of miles away with little knowledge of the language or culture of the people they hope to evangelize. A new study suggests that if Christian missions organizations want to stay relevant in the 21st century, they must adopt this New Paradigm. The Institute for Great Commission Research (IGCR) at California Baptist University recently released “Missional Imagination: How the Next Generation Understands Missions.” Among the “top line” findings of this landmark study is this: “Supporting local Christians in their context is seen as the most trusted model of missions.” The study continued, “This preference reflects a strong concern for cultural legitimacy, partnership, and long-term witness, and signals a shift away from models centered on external control, short-term intervention, or visibility.” For most Christians in the United States, that challenge is difficult to hear, but if the new IGCR study is right, it is a challenge we must meet if American missionary efforts are to stay relevant in the 21st century.

On today’s program, Minnesota pastors—a husband and wife team—have been accused by the Attorney General’s Office of misusing more than $2 million of ministry funds for personal use. We’ll take a look. And, author and speaker Jada Edwards on how her journey to radical generosity reshaped her marriage, ministry, and faith. We’ll have details. Plus, Daystar TV co-founder Joni Lamb dies after health complications. She was 65. But first, the FBI has charged a woman with threatening federal agents involved in the prosecution of David E. Taylor and his Kingdom of God Global Church. Before we leave today, I want to mention that I’m in Nashville for the annual meeting of the Evangelical Press Association’s annual meeting, and MinistryWatch received four awards for excellence this year. Stories by me, by Kim Roberts, by Tony Mator won individual prizes. And MinistryWatch as a whole won an award for overall excellence. I just want to thank the entire staff here at MinistryWatch for their excellent work, and I want to thank you, our listeners, readers, and donors, for making our work possible. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jessica Etturalde, Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Marci Seither, Dan Burrell, Stacey Horton, and Bob Smietana. You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren Christian colleges are facing a federal challenge. Emily Belz is reporting for Christianity Today that a new Department of Education regulation “could crater” the programs of Christian colleges. Belz writes, “The regulation would label a bachelor’s or master’s program a “failure” if its graduates do not earn more than their peers without the degree. Students in these ‘failing’ programs would be ineligible for federal financial aid.” Christina Why should Christian colleges be held to a lower standard than other colleges? Warren They shouldn’t, but the Christian colleges are saying that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. The graduates of engineering or accounting programs at Christian colleges should be compared to engineering and mathematics graduates of secular schools. But religious and theological studies students are not going into these fields for the money, and they don’t have true analogs in secular schools. The new regulation essentially punishes students for their commitment to a ministry career. The Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities and the Association for Biblical Higher Education are fighting the new rules. Christina On May 4, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said the abortion inducing drug mifepristone – used in nearly two-thirds of U.S. abortions – can continue to be prescribed via telehealth, dispensed at retail pharmacies, and delivered to patients in the mail. Warren This is a huge setback for the pro-life cause. The Dispatch has provided a helpful “explainer” of what is going on now, especially at the states. Bottom line: thirteen states ban abortion entirely, but with telemedicine, abortions continue in those states. To see the status in all fifty states, click here. Christina Speaking of abortion, Ryan Burge injects some data into the conversation. Warren He has some graphs showing that support for abortion has gone up over the past 50 years, even among evangelicals. In some cases, support has gone up significantly. But that rise masks an important fact. From about 1997 until about 2007, support for abortion went down. Burge does not track the number of actual abortions, but they went down too. Christina So, what happened in 2007? Warren The iPhone. Facebook. Twitter. Correlation does not mean causality. But lots of social theorists from Jean Twenge to Jonathan Haidt have suggested that around 2007 is when we stopped talking to each other, and we retreated into our digital foxholes and started lobbing mortars at those in other foxholes. We used to persuade in the public square. Now, we pummel. The public square has become the scene of a cage fight. Whatever you think of my theory, I do suggest you check out Ryan Burge’s data, which you can find here. Christina Colorado Springs has long been the mecca for Christian ministries, but in recent years there are signs that the city is losing its appeal. Warren The latest sign is the announcement that the pro-life organization Save The Storks is moving from The Springs to Dallas. The organization said in a statement that the move was “strategic,” to “centralize operations and expand support for women nationwide.” Christina They’re not the first to leave. Warren CauseIQ estimates that about 20 ministries have moved or shut down in Colorado Springs in the past five years. In 2020, the Christian and Missionary Alliance national headquarters left Colorado Springs and moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be nearer the majority of its churches. Colorado Springs is still home to Focus on the Family, Compassion International, The Navigators, Young Life, and other major ministries, but as the city does not have a major airport, and – with traffic – downtown Colorado Springs can be two hours from the Denver airport. Christina We normally don’t report about ourselves, but we have a few updates this week. Warren I was recently on Christianity Today’s podcast The Bulletin. It was my second appearance in as many months. If you do not subscribe to The Bulletin, you can listen here. I also wanted to let you know that MinistryWatch has won recognition for our work from the Evangelical Press Association. Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, and I won awards at the annual meeting in Nashville. I also wanted to mention that we may need to re-name the MinistryWatch 1000 database. As of this week, we now have 1500 ministries in the database, representing more than $55 billion in annual revenue. Thanks to Kim Roberts, Rod Pitzer, Rob Martin, Stephen duBarry for their contributions to growing our database. Christina In fact, you and I are both in Nashville this week for the EPA conference. You’ll be on the road next week, too. Warren Readers in Dallas, Colorado Springs, and Denver. I will also be in Dallas next week, and I will be holding a lunch for readers. I will be Knoxville later in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I will be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected]. Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

After a four-year streak of tightening wallets, evangelicals’ giving habits have at last held steady, according to a new study by Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts. The survey of over 1,000 evangelical Protestants found the average respondent’s generosity level remained virtually unchanged from 2024 to 2025. Compared to 2020, however, the latest numbers show a 31% drop in giving to churches and charities as a percentage of household income. Just 10% of respondents gave nothing to any organization or individual. “There has been little change over the past year, which is at least some good news. But when you consider the average evangelical Protestant gives away just 2.2% of household income, that good news is a pretty small ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy day,” the researchers noted in their report, The Generosity Landscape: How Evangelicals Give. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On this week’s program, embattled Kanakuk Kamps CEO Joe White announced he will retire at the end of this summer. We’ll have details. Plus, Ligonier Ministries is under scrutiny after it announced that Stephen Nichols, one of its teaching fellows, would be leaving his role. This, around the same time he was excommunicated from St. Andrew’s Chapel. We’ll take a look at the fallout. And, with many eyes on Iran, one ministry with boots on the ground is encouraging Iranian Christians and sharing the gospel with Muslims affected by the war. But first, a court has ruled that the Chicago-area church led by well-known pastor Dane Ortlund illegally fired an employee back in 2021. 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, Stacey Horton, Erik Tryggestad, Bob Smietana, and Makella Knowles. A special thanks to Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren  The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) has formally asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate comments aired by Jimmy Kimmel during the April 23, 2026, broadcast of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Kimmel’s comments were, as a lot of his comments are, thoroughly tasteless. But if they are not protected speech, clearly covered by the First Amendment, then we are all in trouble. Christina And you think it is particularly ironic that the NRB is filing this complaint. Warren I do, because the NRB claims to be a champion of free speech.  The organization claims to be a “nonpartisan, international association of Christian communicators” whose mission is to “protect the free speech rights of our members to speak Biblical truth by advocating those rights in governmental, corporate, and media sectors.” But in recent years, some of its largest members, and the organization itself, has been little more than an unpaid public relations arm for the Republican Party. Christina There was also news this week about a little-known arena of pro-life work: embryo adoption, sometimes called “snowflake adoption.” Warren The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) just announced the addition of two new affiliate clinics, bringing its embryo adoption and donation services closer to families across the country. Dr. Craig Sweet of Embryo Donation International, will serve as the NEDC’s affiliate physician in Fort Myers, Florida, and Dr. Valerie Shavell & her physician partners of The Fertility Center will serve in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with each performing frozen embryo transfers for NEDC patients in their respective regions. Christina Embryo adoption is often described as a “life-affirming” option because it gives embryos a chance to be born rather than destroyed. Embryos have been donated from all 50 states. Warren Recipients have traveled from across the United States, U.S. territories, and about a dozen foreign countries, including as far away as China, to participate in the program. The NEDC’s website is www.embryodonation.org. Christina We have another abortion related story this week. Warren In the years since Roe was overturned, the number of abortions has grown to record levels, with two-thirds of them being chemical abortions. Christina The recent Supreme Court decision restoring abortion pill access via telehealth is another huge blow to the pro-life movement, erasing any gains made by the overturning of Roe. Warren This seems a good moment to state what should be obvious, and that is that we will not eliminate abortion by passing laws. We will eliminate abortions when we change the hearts and minds of Americans about abortion. That means persuading people who disagree with us, not beating them into submission to achieve political goals that do not make a difference. Beating people up makes them less likely, not more likely, to listen to you. Thus endeth the lesson. Christina Southern Baptists released new membership data this week. Warren Southern Baptist churches saw sustained growth in attendance and baptisms, but the two-decade membership decline continued in 2025, according to a statement from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Total SBC membership fell by more than 3 percent from 2024 to 2025, dipping to 12,331,954, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by Lifeway Research in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. Christina Fewer members belong to Southern Baptist congregations, but more people are attending worship services and small groups and are being baptized. That seems contradictory. Warren It does. These seemingly contradictory data probably reflect efforts by the SBC in recent years to clean up their roles. They were listing people as members who were, in some cases, dead or who had long since joined other churches. There’s also probably a bit of generational difference in attitudes relative to church membership and attendance. Older generations are more likely to be members but not attend. Younger generations are more likely to attend for longer periods before becoming members. Christina On average, nearly 4.5 million people attend a Southern Baptist church each week, while more than 2.6 million participate in a small group Bible study or Sunday School class—both up more than 3% compared to 2024 and up for the fourth consecutive year. Warren Meanwhile, the number of baptisms increased by nearly 5 percent to well over a quarter of a million, marking five consecutive years of growth and surpassing pre-COVID levels. Christina Any final thoughts before you go? Warren It was great to visit with readers and donors in Los Angeles and Jacksonville recently. I will be speaking at the annual convention of the Evangelical Press Association in Nashville next week, and I will be holding a reader lunch in Franklin. For precise location, send me an email at [email protected]. I will also be in Dallas and Knoxville later in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I will be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected]. Christina That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

By Warren Cole Smith Megachurches are not going away, of course. But data in recent years suggest their growth and numbers are leveling out, and possibly even declining. In 1970, the United States had less than 20 protestant megachurches, churches with more than 2,000 in weekly attendance. Today, that number is close to 2,000, a 100-fold increase. However, this number has been mostly unchanged for the past 10 years. In other words, after a period of explosive growth from 1970 to about 2010, the growth in the number of megachurches, and the number of people who attend them, seems to have stagnated. Outreach Magazine publishes an annual list of the fastest growing churches in America, and the largest churches in America. I recently compared the most recent list to the list from 2006 — 20 years ago. My analysis was not comprehensive, but it was fascinating. For example, the largest church on the 2006 list was Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, pastored by Joel Osteen. In 2006 and 2026, the attendance listed was 45,000. No growth whatsoever over a 20-year period. The No. 2 church on the 2006 list was Florida’s Without Walls International Church, led by Randy White, the former husband of Prosperity Gospel preacher and Trump advisor Paula White. Without Walls had 23,900 attendees in 2006. Today, that church is not on the list. It sold its facility in 2011 following the divorce of Randy and Paula White, not to mention other public scandals. Today, the church still exists, but attendance figures are hard to come by. Attendance is likely in the hundreds or — at most —low thousands. Not the tens of thousands of its heyday. The No. 3 church on the 2006 church is the Second Baptist Church of Houston, which listed attendance of 22,266 in 2006 and still has attendance of 19,564 today. That is a slight decline over the past two decades, but Second Baptist is still a substantial church and a force in the Houston area. Rounding out the Top Five on the 2006 list are New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (22,000) and Willow Creek Church (21,500). Both churches have been wracked by scandal and are now much smaller today than then. In short, not one of the Top Five churches of 2006 grew in the intervening decades, and three of the five had very public scandals that precipitated dramatic declines.  I do not want to overstate my case. As William Bennett famously said, “The plural of anecdote is not data.” I am sharing anecdotes, not data — or at least, not all the data. I will be the first to admit that. And I can think of a couple of good counterarguments to my thesis that the Age of the Megachurch is over. First, while these churches have declined, others have emerged, and some of them are very large indeed. For example, Life.Church of Edmond, Okla., led by Craig Groeschel, now claims 85,000 attendees. That makes it the largest church in the nation. Church of the Highlands of Birmingham, Ala., is led by Chris Hodges. That church claims 60,000 attendees. And Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, Ariz., is both the No. 3 church on this year’s list and it remains one of the fastest growing churches in the country, with 54,142 in weekly attendance. However, it is worth noting that all three of these churches are multi-site churches. Life.Church has more than 45 physical locations. Church of the Highlands has at least 27 locations. Christ’s Church of the Valley has more than 18 physical locations. The multisite phenomenon was rare in 2006 and nonexistent in 1970. It is obvious that if these multisite churches were not aggregating numbers from dozens of sites, their numbers would be much less eye-popping. The growth in multi-site churches, and the anemic growth in the number of megachurches also make obvious that American infatuation with megachurches seems to be in decline. Ryan Burge, my “go to guy” when it comes to church data, notes that the median size of a church in America is about 70 people. Put plainly, the nation’s megachurches attract about five to seven million people each week. But non-megachurches attract 10 times that many — 50 to 70 million people. In other words, the megachurch is not now, nor has it ever been, representative of the church experience in the United States. Megachurches feel dominant because they receive media attention, and they can invest in radio, television, and other mass media. But that is an illusion.  Will these trends continue? The answer to that question is, likely, “yes.” First, lots of church leaders, even those in the church growth movement, are growing tired of the megachurch and multisite model. Here at MinistryWatch, we have written about Watermark Church, which abandoned its multisite model in 2021. Most of those sites became independent churches, and they are now thriving. Some of these independent churches have themselves planted churches. Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., is someone who has never embraced either the megachurch or the multisite model. His church has intentionally stayed relatively small, less than 1,000 in weekly attendance, and it has been equally intentional about planting churches in the D.C. area. So far, CHBC has helped plant or revitalize more than a dozen churches in the surrounding area. Secondly, it is important to note that the megachurch is at least as much a cultural phenomenon as it is a spiritual phenomenon. Megachurches are the brainchild of Baby Boomers and the post-World War II industrialization of America and the world. That is why I often refer to the “Evangelical Industrial Complex” to describe what has happened to religious life since the 1970s. The industrial model, with its features of scale and mass production, has proven damaging to the mission of the church, and it has lost its appeal to subsequent generations, who value community and relationships. We can now see that evangelicalism’s industrial model is good at empire building, but not as good at kingdom building. So, to return to the question that started this conversation: Is the Age of the Megachurch over? The answer to that question may be that it really never was. The sturm und drang of the megachurch movement has turned out to be just what Goethe’s famous expression suggests: overwrought, full of passion, but fleeting. Megachurches will not disappear, but after a half-century of observation, we can say that the legacy of the megachurch is mixed, and includes scandal, spiritual deconstruction, and cynicism. In short, becoming a megachurch is no longer the goal to which even church growth advocates aspire. Many faithful Christians are discovering the wisdom found along the Old Paths, and they can say with conviction E.F Schumacher might admire: “small is beautiful.” The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Newsboys co-founder Wes Campbell and the band’s musicians are suing multiple defendants for defamation related to stories about former lead singer Michael Tait. Defendants include World Vision, MercyMe, and reporter Julie Roys. We’ll have details. Plus, police uncovered a multi-year fraud scheme that siphoned more than $3.8 million from a church in New York. We look at lessons churches can take away from this case. And, a new report shows that church attendance is up for the first time in decades. The growth is not enough to erase earlier declines—but it is noteworthy. We’ll take a look. But first, another vendor is suing Benny Hinn Ministries for unpaid bills. For years, Benny Hinn Ministries has struggled to pay its debts. Now, another one of its creditors has taken legal action. 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, Stacey Horton, Erik Tryggestad, Bob Smietana, and Makella Knowles. A special thanks to The Christian Chronicle for contributing material for this week’s podcast.

Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren  The Clergy Act (H.R. 227) would give pastors a chance to re-enroll in Social Security if they mistakenly opted out irrevocably earlier in their careers. Christina This bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Reps. Vince Fong (R-Calif.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.). And it’s endorsed by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Warren Yes, and that’s a bit unusual. That group doesn’t often endorse legislation. According to ECFA President and CEO Michael Martin, “Having heard numerous stories of ministers who feel trapped by a decision they did not fully understand as they began their pastoral work, I know this bill will be a breath of fresh air for many faith leaders.” Christina I don’t think a lot of people understand that clergy can opt out of the social security program, but once they opt out, they’re stuck with that decision. Warren That’s right. And that decision is usually irreversible. Many clergy choose early in their ministries to apply for the exemption from the Social Security system. The Clergy Act would allow a temporary two-year window for pastors to revoke their exemption and re-enter the Social Security system beginning in 2029.” Pastors opting back in would still need to pay into Social Security for the equivalent of 10 years (40 quarters) before being eligible to receive benefits. Christina Speaking of unusual moves, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the second largest district in the nation. It passed a resolution last week to limit screen times in all classrooms. Warren This is a huge development that I hope other districts will follow. The school board issued a statement saying the move sets the district “as a national leader in setting thoughtful, research-based limits on student screen use and classroom technology tools.” The resolution passed 6-0 and will set screen time limits per grade level, eliminate technology for those in first grade and under and prohibit student-led use of YouTube and other streaming platforms. Christina Up next, you have more data from Ryan Burge. Warren Yes, I hate to be so predictable, but I have new data from Ryan often, because I think he’s one of the most insightful analysts in the Christian world these days. Christina So what do you have this week? Warren First, he remains skeptical that we are experiencing revival in the U.S. He says that the growth in church attendance is likely temporary, kind of a “dead cat bounce,” a rebound from COVID. And he warns that the death of the Baby Boom generation over the next 10 to 20 years will put serious stress on both the American culture and on the American church. The oldest Boomers are now in their 80s, and more recent generations are simply not large enough or active enough in church to replace them. You can read his latest analysis here. Christina In your “Signs and Wonders” column, you highlight a church in San Diego that is taking a dramatic step to help ease the housing crisis. Warren It’s an interesting story of a church that has a lot of land, but is in a neighborhood that is struggling, so it is re-developing some of that land into affordable housing. Christina Puritan Reformed Presbyterian Church is creating a community of townhomes named Villa La Paz. Warren They are partnering with a real estate developer named Randy Haragan. Haragan said, “Hard-working people are leaving Southern California in droves because they can’t afford to raise a family here.” Haragan hopes the project will become a template for smaller San Diego churches and their neighborhoods. Christina Haragan and church leaders believe the redevelopment of church property solves a lot of problems. Warren It provides cash and income for land-rich but cash-poor congregations, it provides badly needed affordable housing, and it provides local jobs and entrepreneurial energy to a neighborhood. The  church’s pastor, Grant Van Leuven, said, “My eldest daughter and her husband are moving to Michigan because they can’t afford housing to raise a large family in San Diego. We hope Randy’s program helps folks stay in our communities and churches.” Christina Lifeway Christian Resources has a new leader. Warren Dr. Ryan Blackwell is the organization’s 11th president and CEO during a special-called meeting April 22 in Nashville. Christina Blackwell, 42, has blue-chip credentials. Warren He does. He comes to Lifeway from his role as executive pastor and teaching pastor at Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas, where he has served since 2020. The church grew from 7,000 to more than 11,000 in weekly attendance and expanded to a fourth campus while he was there. Christina Prior to joining the staff at Cross Church, he served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church of San Francisco for nearly a decade. Warren San Francisco is a tough place to lead a conservative, evangelical church. But he led the revitalization of this historic congregation from 2010-2019. I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I predict that we have just witnessed the emergence of a new national leader in the SBC. Christina So what’s going on behind the scenes here at MinistryWatch? Warren It was great to visit with readers and donors in Los Angeles and Jacksonville recently. I will be speaking at the annual convention of the Evangelical Press Association in Nashville in May. I will also be in Dallas and Knoxville in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I will be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected]. Christina The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.