Podcast appearances and mentions of Kim Roberts

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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 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 wsmith@ministrywatch.com. 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.

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.

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.

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.

On today's program, Bethel Church commissions a third-party investigation into clergy sexual abuse allegations against the church's Prophetic Ministry Director Ben Armstrong. We'll have details. Plus, charities were left with major donation losses when the fundraising platform Flipcase declared bankruptcy—while owing charity groups over $29 million. We'll take a look. And, a new report shows that evangelical giving has leveled out after a steep decline…the report also tracked online giving and spiritual engagement.  But first, recent events at Baylor University have sparked concern from Texas Baptists. Baptists with the Baptist General Convention of Texas are going to take a hard look at their relationship with Baylor at this year's meeting. Concerns relate to two recent events approved by Baylor and hosted by student groups. The first is the student-led Turning Point USA event. And the other alternative event is the LGBTQ-affirming “All Are Neighbors” event.  Both events were scheduled to take place on Wednesday this week in separate locations on campus. 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 Kendall Lyons, Faith Pratt, Eric Black, Kim Roberts, Kathryn Post, Tony Mator, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. A special thanks to Baptist Standard for contributing material for this week's podcast. You've been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On this week’s program, a church child care director has been charged with stealing $500,000 from a Georgia United Methodist Church. Investigators went so far as to call it a ‘criminal enterprise'—and because of it, the church was forced to shut its doors. We'll have details. Plus, war in the Middle East has led to a humanitarian crisis for the Lebanese people caught in the crossfire. MinistryWatch reporter Tony Mator rounded up a number of Christian aid organizations rushing to help. We'll take a look. And, last year's deadly Texas floods have led to safety legislation intended to increase safety for campers. But measures meant to make camps safer may instead cause some to close permanently. But first, Elevation Church increases the number of its campuses across the country. Meanwhile, tithes and attendance are decreasing. 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, Scott Barkley, Tony Mator, Cheryl Mann Bacon, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. A special thanks to Baptist Press and The Christian Chronicle for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina, was one of the charter members with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Now, 47 years later, it has left the ECFA. Meanwhile, another scandal-plagued megachurch has also resigned its membership with the ECFA, this time while under review. We'll take a look at both cases. Also, almost two years after being stripped of ordination by the Anglican Church, a former bishop is back in ministry. We'll have details. And, a Christian school ministry drops from a 5-Star rating for its financial efficiency down to 1 star. But first, Dad's Place, a church in Bryan, Ohio, that has been fighting for its right to provide temporary shelter to homeless persons, has finally reached a conclusion to its ongoing legal battle. 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 Smeitana, Tony Mator, and Jessica Eturralde. You've been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Robert Morris is released from jail after serving 6 months behind bars. The former megachurch pastor released a statement apologizing to Cindy Clemishire, who he abused when she was just 12 years old. We'll take a look. And, a Christian school teacher has been charged for using AI to create child sexual abuse materials using the faces of his students. We look at steps parents can take to protect their children. Plus, red kettle rebound. The Salvation Army released numbers from the 2025 holiday season, and they showed an uptick in both in-person and online donations. But first, the Presbyterian Church in America is speaking out in defense of Stephen Nichols after St. Andrew's Chapel publicly excommunicated him. 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 Smeitana, Tony Mator, and Jessica Eturralde. A special thanks to The Nonprofit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, more turmoil at St. Andrew's Chapel in Florida—the church started by R.C. Sproul. Allegations surface as the church grapples with the fallout of recent excommunications. We'll have details. And, World Water Day was last week, and that prompted us to look at ministries that are in the clean water business. Which ones should you support? We'll take a look. Plus, former Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines died last week at 68 after a bout with cancer. He led one of the SBC's largest churches for nearly two decades. But first, a former PCA pastor was sentenced this month to 30 years in prison for abusing a minor. 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, Isaac Wood, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, Makella Knowles, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Angelus Temple in Los Angeles—widely considered the first U.S. megachurch—has replaced its longtime pastors Matthew and Caroline Barnett. The announcement came after a sabbatical turned into a permanent separation. We'll have details. And, current news often leads to urgent fundraising pleas—but is your money going where you think it's going? A recent example sought money to get Bibles to Iran, and prompted MinistryWatch to take a deeper look. Also, the latest list from the MinistryWatch 1000 database—a look at ministries that do not file a Form 990. That list is getting longer, and why it matters. But first, former New Life Church pastor Brady Boyd is starting his own church services less than 5 miles from his old church. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, Adelle Banks, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, 22 plaintiffs who say they were abused at a Christian children's homes in Romania are suing Harvest Christian Fellowship—who sponsored the children's homes—and its famous pastor, Greg Laurie, claiming the church knew about the abuse and could have stopped it. Plus, are Donor Advised Funds right for you—things you should consider before choosing. And, a businessman is looking to donate a historic college campus to a ministry focused on “spiritual revival of our Christian faith.” Also, Beth Moore will be ending her popular Living Proof events in 2027. But first, a Virginia judge has ruled that a discrimination lawsuit against Liberty University can move forward. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Fredrick Nzwili, Bob Smietana, and Jessica Eturralde. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Global Outreach Developments International—which goes by the name G.O.D. International—is in the hot seat after a lawsuit claims the Nashville-based ministry and its former leader engaged in sex trafficking and forced labor. We'll have details. Also, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is rolling out its new LeaderCare standard—we have compiled practical steps to help ministries develop their own plan and come into compliance with the new standard. Plus, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz proposes taking Trey's Law to the federal level, making non-disclosure agreements in cases of child sexual abuse unenforceable. And, U.S. Foreign Missions faces a time of upheaval—although elsewhere, cross-cultural ministry remains robust. But first, a prominent North Carolina pastor and leader with the Acts 29 Network has been removed from leadership after confessing to an ‘inappropriate relationship.' Tyler Jones is vice president for Acts 29 and founder of Vintage Church in Raleigh, N.C. Last month, he confessed the inappropriate relationship to the Vintage Church elders…who then voted to remove Jones from his role, effective immediately. Acts 29 also dismissed him from his VP position. 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 Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, and Richard Ostling. A special thanks to Religion UnPlugged for contributing material for this week's podcast.

On today's program, families who lost children at Camp Mystic last year are suing Texas state officials for licensing the camp despite its lack of an evacuation plan. We'll have details. And, fundraising on commission—it may seem like a win-win scenario, but experts say the ethical issues outweigh any benefits. We'll take a look. Plus, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is closing down one of its central hubs where Methodists have been assembling relief kits since 1996 to send across the country after disasters. But first, more controversy at Bethel Church in Redding, California. 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, Isaac Wood, David Roach, Diana Chandler, and Makella Knowles. A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has sued a small church in California for legal title to its property—but that small church is fighting back. We'll have details.  And, a hacker drained $85,000 from an Oklahoma church's bank account. Then in North Dakota, a woman was indicted for stealing over $600,000 from a church she worked at. Both cases highlight why ordinary access to church finances can equal extraordinary losses—and the need for tightening protocols. Also, six months ago, Barnabas Aid came under scrutiny for accusations of financial mismanagement. Now, under new leadership, the ministry is working hard to turn things around. Plus, Bible Study Fellowship prepares its new headquarters in Grapevine, Texas. But first, Agape Flights, a Christian aviation ministry, lost contact with one of its planes last Thursday. The next day, search and rescue teams found the plane crashed in the Haitian mountains. No one on board survived the crash. 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 Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Scott Barkley, Jessica Eturralde, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, WaterStone is being sued by a client who claims that the donor-advised fund cut him off from his family's account. The results of this case could have larger implications for the rights of donors and other donor advised funds. We'll have details. Also, the ‘He Gets Us' Campaign is back for the 2026 Super Bowl—but under new leadership, this year's ad is less political, more personal. We'll take a look. And, a new study shows that American donors think they're a whole lot more generous than they actually are. Plus, the Christian Broadcasting Network announced job cuts this week as part of a larger ‘workforce realignment.' But first, The president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod was arrested last week for child pornography.  The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Isaac Wood, Marci Seither, Stacey Horton, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell.

On today's program, a report reveals past sexual abuse among the Christian scouting program, the Royal Rangers. Now, the Assemblies of God—who heads up the group—is being criticized for not providing adequate safeguards. We'll have details. And, the popular Passion Conference attracted some 60-thousand young people to its flagship event earlier this month, bringing in millions of dollars —but a deep dive into the ministry's financials shows a lack of transparency in how that money is being used. We'll take a look. Plus, one week ago, tens of thousands of pro-lifers flooded the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the 2026 March for Life. But just how unified is the pro-life movement? We'll try to answer that question. But first, the Jesus Film has become one of the most widely viewed films ever, having been used by missionaries for decades to share the gospel. Now, the Jesus Film Project is shifting away from in-person relationships and is focusing on digital products.  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 Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Stacey Horton, Diana Chandler, Jessica Eturralde, Aleja Hertzler-McCain, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Cities Church in Minneapolis is considering legal options after protestors stormed its church service Sunday in response to the government's immigration measures in the city. We'll have details. And, philanthropists are turning to family offices to manage their wealth—but what are they, why have they grown so much in the past decade, and how will it impact ministries? We'll take a look.  Plus, Missouri passed a law to hold boarding schools accountable after several were shut down over allegations of neglect and abuse. Now, another ministry is fighting that law, saying its broad requirements are infringing on its religious freedom. But first, Apologia Church in Arizona is suing a former member for defamation. The former member made videos, claiming church leadership mishandled confidential marriage counseling information. 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, Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Christina Darnell, and Warren Smith. You've been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, the pastor of Arise Vineyard in California has resigned after old allegations resurfaced of inappropriate behavior. We'll have details. And, medical debt continues to be a growing burden for many American families—but churches are partnering to help pay it off. We'll take a look. Plus, a Baptist news publication is sued for defamation by a former college professor who says he was falsely accused of sexual abuse. But first, a Florida woman is charged for impersonating the father of a Camp Mystic victim to raise money through a GoFundMe page. The complaint identifies Maitlin White, who used Matthew Childress' name and his daughter's picture to start a GoFund Me campaign to raise money. Childress lost his daughter Chloe during the July 4 floods that swept through Camp Mystic last year, killing 27 campers and counselors. 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, Daniel Ritchie, Isaac Wood, Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Joseph Abboud, Kelly Van Duine—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Chimes, the student-run news publication for Biola University, for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Kingdom of God Global Church—the church founded and led by self-proclaimed apostle David E. Taylor—is asking the U.S. government to return assets it seized in its investigation against its embattled pastor. We'll have details. And, as more pastors are facing criminal charges for not reporting abuse, MinistryWatch took a deep dive into mandatory reporting laws—what are they, how have they evolved, and what do church leaders need to know. Plus, our annual list of highly paid ministry executives. But first, Philip Yancey, a beloved evangelical author and speaker, is withdrawing from public ministry after confessing a long-term affair.  To read all the stories in today's podcast, go to www.MinistryWatch.com  Click here to read “Are We Paying Our Ministry Leaders Too Much?” 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, Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Yonat Shimron, Tony Mator, Steve Rabey—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Baptist News Global for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's special year-end episode, Natasha Cowden and Warren Smith look at the top 25 stories of the year as voted on by you, the MinistryWatch reader. These are the stories that got the top number of page views for the year. Of course, the number of page views is not the only way to measure the impact of a story. So Warren will be sprinkling in some commentary throughout the episode that we hope will put some of these stories in a larger context. We'll also talk about a few surprises in this year's list. For example, the Robert Morris story did not make this list at all. We did a lot of reporting on Robert Morris this year, but the most read story on Morris came in at #48 on our list. Also, the Dave Ramsey story – our number one story — got more than 200,000 page views, which is by far the most page views an individual story has ever gotten here at MinistryWatch. Speaking of numbers, we have some metrics related to MinistryWatch. Our website got four million page views this year. That is by far the most page views we have seen in our 26-year history. I also wanted to mention that Kim Roberts wrote eleven of the 25 stories on this year's list, and I wanted to commend her for her excellent reporting this year. Christina Darnell, our managing editor, edited every single one of the nearly 900 stories that went on our website this year, and she compiled this year's Top 25 list. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. To see this complete list, along with links to the original stories, just go to MinistryWatch.com. Until next year, may God bless you.

On today's program, the judicial commission of the Anglican Church in North America has handed down its long-awaited verdict in the months-long trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch. And that verdict is, “Not Guilty.” We'll have details. And, International Servants has been making big claims about its decades of ministry work in Belize—but verifying those claims has proven more difficult. We'll take a look. Plus, Elevation Church—the North Carolina-based megachurch led by Steven Furtick—has announced the launch of Elevation College. But first, St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, has officially voted to leave the Presbyterian Church in America. The church, originally led by Dr. R.C. Sproul, joined the PCA in 2023. It first considered a vote to leave this summer, but delayed the vote while referring the matter to the church's board of elders, also known as its session, to study the situation and return with a recommendation. Its lead pastor, Burk Parsons, was suspended from his role as a teaching elder in the PCA in June after being found guilty by a church judicial commission of three charges related to, among other things, a “domineering” and “intimidating” leadership style, which included accusations of bullying and slander. 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, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, and Aaron Earls. A special thanks to Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, the Department of Justice is suing the founder of Life Surge, Joe Johnson, for his alleged part in a scheme to cheat the government out of over $46 million in taxes through abusive bargain sale transactions. We'll take a look. And, a new report reveals the final moments of missionaries Alex and Serena Wurm before their plane crashed on a trip to deliver aid to Jamaica. We'll have details. Plus, two reports that detail reasons for cautious optimism. One shows that the decline of religion in America has stalled. Another, that Christian giving in America is on the rebound. But first, abuse lawsuits are piling up against Pastor Greg Laurie and his Harvest Christian Fellowship, bringing the total number of lawsuits to 12. The original lawsuit was filed in September by two men claiming that Paul Havsgaard abused them at a children's shelter in Bucharest, Romania. Allegations include children being tied to radiators, being made to kneel down on walnut shells, being touched inappropriately, and being “pimped out” for sex. The number of litigants has now risen to 12. The law firm representing the survivors said in a news release in September that it expects 23 former residents of the children's home to bring complaints. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Daniel Ritchie, Isaac Wood, Bob Smietana, Jessica Eturralde, and Makella Knowles. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, The Skit Guys is calling it a wrap after nearly 3 decades of ministry because one of the co-founders admitted to ‘moral failure.' We'll have details. And, an Arizona church got the green light to resume its food distribution ministry after the city of San Luis had attempted to shut it down, citing zoning violations. We'll take a look. Plus, the results from our fall survey of top ministry executives from some of the largest ministries in the U-S. Many ministry executives fear a recession is on the way. But first, a well-known reformed Baptist pastor resigned from his post. Samuel Renihan has confessed to adultery and resigned from his position at Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in La Mirada, California. He was ordained by the church in 2012. 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 Isaac Wood, Stacey Horton, Kim Roberts, Christina Darnell and Warren Smith. You've been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Duluth Vineyard cleared Interim Pastor John Kliewer of misconduct after an investigation found him innocent…but his wife is crying foul, saying Kliewer was forced to sign an NDA as part of his settlement agreement. We'll have details. And, a look at where the My Faith Votes is today a year after its former CEO Jason Yates was charged with the possession of child sexual abuse materials. Plus, another next installment in our occasional series on radical generosity. But first, the Anglican Church in North America has suspended Archbishop Steve Wood after more than 140 clergy signed an open letter calling for his inhibition.  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 Kathryn Post, Kim Roberts, Isaac Wood, Stacey Horton, Daniel Ritchie, Marci Seither, Tony Mator, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Moody Bible Institute is suing the Chicago Public School system for excluding its students from the student-teaching program due to its religious hiring practices. We'll take a look. Plus, a second woman has come forward claiming ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood sexually harassed her. We'll have details. And, a new partnership shows how artificial intelligence is transforming Bible translation. But first, families of the children who died at Camp Mystic after the July 4 floods have filed a lawsuit against the camp. The lawsuit accuses the camp of negligence, gross negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and liability based on inviting the victims onto the camp property then breaching its duty of care to them. 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, Yonat Shimron, Kathryn Post, Isaac Wood, and Makella Knowles. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, an Oklahoma pastor was fired after reporting missing church funds—this, despite the fact that he followed denominational rules in raising his concerns. Now, his bishop has been arrested for embezzlement. We'll take a look.  And, Gen Z is bringing a new paradigm to traditional missions.  A new report examines what they value—and what they don't. We'll have details. Plus, churches and ministries are working to fill in the gap as SNAP benefits continue to be unpredictable amid the government shutdown. But first, ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood is taking a leave of absence amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Archbishop Steve Wood, who heads the Anglican Church in North America, is taking a voluntary leave of absence in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and plagiarism. Those allegations will be investigated by a 10-person Board of Inquiry, made up of ACNA clergy and laypeople, that will assess whether there are reasonable grounds to initiate a church trial. 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 Kathryn Post, Bob Smietana, Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Shannon Cuthrell, Cheryl Mann Bacon, Daniel Ritchie, Aaron Earls, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to The Christian Chronicle and Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, an Ohio ministry dedicated to addiction recovery is being used for alleged misuse of funds. The Ohio Attorney General says Lamb's House hasn't served any charitable purpose since at least 2017. We'll have details. Plus, with a growing number of children being diagnosed with autism, churches are developing strategies to make their families more comfortable—and their spaces more accommodating. We'll take a look. And, when donors give their money to special programs, they usually expect all their money to be used accordingly. But how much is actually used for overhead costs? But first, Samaritan's Purse is set to play a larger role in Gaza aid distribution as the embattled Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is being phased out. The Rev. Franklin Graham confirmed Oct. 25 that Samaritan's Purse, the international humanitarian relief organization he heads, is ramping up its role in delivering aid to Gaza. 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, Isaac Wood, Stacey Horton, Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Federal officials have declined to file charges against Olivet University. The Christian school in California has faced accusations of human labor trafficking and visa fraud—accusations the school denies. We'll have details. Plus, both news and scandal from the Anglican church. After the Church of England appointed Sarah Mullaly as its next bishop of Canterbury, another network of Anglican leaders have announced they are cutting ties with Canterbury and laying claim to the Anglican Communion. Just days later the archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Steve Wood, faces accusations of misconduct. And, church experts have predicted that 100 thousand churches might close in coming years—we get an update on that number, and ask what it means for churches moving forward. But first, a Christian campus group wins in court after a Texas law tried to ban ‘expressive activities' at night. 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, Jessica Eturralde, Fredrick Nzwili, Isaac Wood, Bob Smietana, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, musician Sean Feucht and pastor Rob McCoy are joining forces for The Courageous Christianity Tour in honor of the late Charlie Kirk. Feucht has been accused in recent months of major moral, ethical, and financial failures. We'll take a look. Plus, Contemporary Christian Music legend Amy Grant and her family have settled a case over her great-grandfather's Nashville church. We'll have details. And, MinistryWatch each month tracks revenue for some of the largest Christian ministries in the country. A record 10-months of flat revenue could signal rough waters ahead for the economy. But first, Daniel Akin announced this week his plans to retire from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary after leading the SBC school for 22 years. 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, Kim Roberts, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Makella Knowles, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Its sister ministry, Samaritan's Purse, joined soon after. Now, both ministries have voluntarily resigned due to a newly added leadership requirement. We'll have details. And, pro-life ministries continue to adjust to a post-Roe world. MinistryWatch senior reporter Kim Roberts took a deep dive into where the pro-life movement stands now. Plus, the Church of England names its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. The appointment was ratified by King Charles III last week. But first, Tony Evans will not be returning to lead his Dallas megachurch after completing a year-long restoration process due to an undisclosed sin.  The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Adelle Banks, Kim Roberts, Isaac Wood, Greg Teffertiller, Daniel Ritchie, Tony Mator, Danika Kirka, Brian Melley, Yonat Shimron, Barry Bowen, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to The Trinity Foundation for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, an investigation dug into abuse allegations at IHOP-KC—and now a pastoral team charged with making recommendations based on that investigation has determined Mike Bickle is ‘permanently disqualified' from church office. We'll take a look. And, a sexual abuse lawsuit against the missionary agency Ethnos360 has been dismissed. Plus, remembering Voddie Baucham, who passed away last week. But first, Camp Mystic has announced plans to partially reopen next summer—and not everyone is happy about it. Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp where 27 campers and counselors died in the July 4 flooding along the Guadalupe River in Texas, has said it plans to host camps next summer. 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, Greg Teffertiller, Daniel Ritchie, Isaac Wood, Bob Smietana, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Christian Index for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, has refused to reveal the salaries of its pastors—even to its own board of elders. But a new whistleblower report shows that at least three of its pastors receive compensation that's raising eyebrows. We'll take a look. Plus, the use of celebrities to promote causes is not new—but ministries are increasingly turning to social media influencers to tout their missions. We look at their uses—and misuses—plus cautions to consider. And, former SBC professor David Sills drops his defamation suit against the late Jennifer Lyell, who accused him of sexual abuse before her death this summer. Meanwhile, other SBC-related defendants in the case are seeking summary judgment. Finally, we'll have an update on the health of popular speaker Christopher Yuan, who was injured in an accident this week. But first, military chaplains are attempting to leave the Anglican Church in North America en masse.  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, Daniel Ritchie, Tony Mator, Diana Chandler, Bob Smietana, Adelle Banks—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, an anti-trafficking group based in North Carolina is being accused of exploiting the very women it is supposed to be helping. We'll take a look. And, World Vision's CEO discusses humanitarian work in a post USAID world. We'll have details. Plus, factors that are forcing pastors to quit the ministry. But first, eight leaders at the House of Prayer Christian Church in Georgia have been indicted for fraud and tax charges for defrauding banks through real estate schemes and funneling veterans' benefits to its seminary. The indictment, unsealed on September 10, revealed that eight men associated with the church were charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and assisting in filing a false tax return. 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, Daniel Ritchie, Makella Knowles, Tony Mator, Stacey Horton, Fiona André, Kenzie James, Aaron Earls—and you, Warren. A special thanks to The Christian Chronicle and Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Al & Val are joined by Al's pal Currie and host of Let's Chat! with Currie & Adrian to go fully zombie mode with Z-O-M-B-I-E-S!Zombies (February 16, 2018)IMDB WikipediaDirected by  Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie's Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, Jump In!, CGOW, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, Let it Shine, How to Build a Better Boy, Cloud 9, Invisible Sister, ZOMBIES 1-4)Written by David Light & Joseph Raso (Zombies 1-4, Sneakerella)Starring: Milo Manheim as Zed (Zombies franchise, Prom Pact, School Spirits)Meg Donnelly as Addison (Zombies franchise, Team Toon, American Housewife, The Winchesters, HSMTMTS, music videos)Trevor Tordjman as Bucky (Zombies franchise, Lost & Found Music Studios, The Next Step, Bunk'd)Kylee Russell as Eliza (Zombies franchise)Carla Jeffery as Bree (Zombies franchise)Kingston Foster as Zoey (Zombies franchise, Prom Pact)James Godfrey as Bonzo (The Swap, Zombies franchise)Naomi Snieckus as Ms. Lee (Wingin' It, The Casting Room, Playdate, The Swap, Firecracker Department, Mr. D, Ollie's Pack, Zombies 1-3)Jonathan Langdon as Coach (Zombies franchise, Run the Burbs) Paul Hopkins as Dale (Vampire High, Zombies 1-3)Marie Ward as Missy (Zombies 1-3, Murdoch Mysteries)Tony Nappo as Zevon (Fugget About It, Zombies 1-3, Strays, Murdoch Mysteries, Ginny & Georgia)Emilia McCarthy as Lacey (Zapped, Max & Shred, Zombies franchise, SkyMed)Jasmine Renee Thomas as Stacey (Zombies franchise)Kim Roberts as Eliza's mom (Get a Clue, Jump In, Cheetah Girls,  Z-O-M-B-I-E-S, Charlie Bartlet, character actor, voice actor)Synopsis: The students of Seabrook High School are thrown when students from Zombietown transfer to their school, and both groups must work together to prove they can embrace their differences to celebrate their community.Fun Facts: There was an unaired sitcom pilot called Zombies and Cheerleaders in 2012 that had the same writers starring Luke BenwardNext Movie: Freaky Friday ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

On today's program, a Texas court is considering sanctions against the South Texas Assemblies of God for refusing to provide documents in a case related to its Chi Alpha college ministry. The denomination has been accused of allowing a convicted sexual predator to continue serving with college students. We'll have details. Plus, anti-trafficking group Unlikely Heroes has been accused of misusing a $100-thousand grant—the private foundation who issued the grant has just acquired the ministry's assets after Unlikely Heroes filed for bankruptcy. We'll take a look. And, anti-gambling groups led by church leaders succeeds in blocking a casino from opening in its Arkansas community. It accomplished that by partnering with another nearby casino who was motivated by a desire to limit competition. But first, Charlie Kirk died after being shot at a Utah college event.  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, Makella Knowles, Tony Mator, Stacey Horton, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, the Assemblies of God South Texas Ministry Network has discovered financial misconduct among its ranks. This is the same Assemblies of God network plagued by Chi Alpha sexual abuse scandals. We'll have details. And, a ministry helping Christians escape ‘high control' churches…the group encourages believers to rebuild—not deconstruct—their faith. Plus, the American Bible Society is issuing thousands of dollars in grants to Christian colleges to fund the development of an A-I assistant and YouTube shows—all to boost Gen Z engagement with the Bible. But first, a Christian school in Tennessee has demoted its newly hired principal after parents discovered he had left his former school for hiring a convicted sex offender to work on school grounds. 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 Stacey Horton, Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Jessica Eturralde, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, Isaac Wood, and Adelle Banks. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, David E. Taylor—the self-appointed apostle of Kingdom of God Global Church and head of Joshua Media Ministries—was arrested this week for forced labor and money laundering. If convicted, he could face more than 20 years in prison. We'll have details. And, a Kentucky church has encouraged their members to check books out of their local library, and not return them—ever. The books, many of them geared toward children, promote LGBTQ lifestyles, and the church is framing the thefts as an act of civil disobedience. We'll take a look. Plus, Dauphin Way Baptist Church used to be the largest Baptist church in Alabama. Now, it is selling its property and plans to downsize. But first, a PCA church in Newport Beach, California, is reeling after one of its elders was arrested for sexual assault. Redeemer Church of Orange County in Newport Beach, California, a 325-member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), informed its congregation last week that one of its elders, Michael Maxwell, had been arrested by Irvine police for sexual crimes against a minor.  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, Daniel Ritchie, Yonat Shimron, Mark Wingfield, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist News Global for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, a former employee sues Liberty University, claiming she was given heavier work loads, less pay, and was passed over for promotions. In the end, she claims she was fired for being a whistleblower. We'll have details. Plus, email scams are targeting churches…in some cases, scammers pose as pastors seeking donations. How can churches and members protect themselves? We take a look. Also, the Southern Baptist Convention launches a new abuse helpline. We'll also have a remembrance of Dr. James Dobson, who died on Thursday. First, a lawsuit leveled against Grand Canyon Education has been dropped. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Daniel Ritchie, Yonat Shimron, Isaac Wood, Jessica Eturralde, Laura Erlanson, and Aaron Earls. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and Baptist Press for contributing material for this week's podcast.   MANUSCRIPT:   FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I'm Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: And I'm Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, and we'd like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today's program, a former employee sues Liberty University, claiming she was given heavier work loads, less pay, and was passed over for promotions. In the end, she claims she was fired for being a whistleblower. We'll have details. Plus, email scams are targeting churches…in some cases, scammers pose as pastors seeking donations. How can churches and members protect themselves? We take a look. And, the Southern Baptist Convention launches a new abuse helpline. We'll also have a remembrance of Dr. James Dobson, who died on Thursday. Christina: But first, a lawsuit leveled against Grand Canyon Education has been dropped. Warren: The Federal Trade Commission first brought the lawsuit during the Biden Administration, claiming Grand Canyon Education—which is the for-profit marketing arm of Grand Canyon University—misled prospective students about how much it would cost to complete their doctoral programs. Christina: Also, in November, Grand Canyon secured another victory after the court found that the Education Department had used the wrong standard when it denied the university's application for nonprofit status in 2019. All that led to last week, when the Federal Trade Commission formally dismissed their case. Warren: That's right. In a statement, the F-T-C said the case presented “consumers very little upside relative to the cost of pursuing it to completion, especially given the developments chronicled above.” They said it would be “imprudent to continue expending Commission resources on a lost cause.” Christina: Grand Canyon Education praised the decision. Warren: They did. Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller—who is also president of Grand Canyon Education—says the accusations against them have always been false. Christina: Still, Grand Canyon University isn't out of the woods yet. A civil case brought by former doctoral students is still ongoing in federal court. Warren: In June 2024, Tanner Smith and Qimin Wang are two plaintiffs—both former students who claim they were lied to about the cost of the doctoral programs. They say they were both required to take continuation courses that added over $8,000 to the cost of their degree programs. Christina: Our next story takes us to Liberty University, who is facing a discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit from a former employee. Warren: Erika Woolfolk, a black woman, worked as a civil rights investigator in Liberty's Office of Equity and Compliance for Title IX. She is a graduate of the school and worked there from 2014 to 2024. She filed a lawsuit on August 12,

On today's program, World Vision prevails in court after it was sued for discrimination. The ruling protects the ministry's right to hire based on its religious beliefs. We'll have details. And, a seminary professor accused of sexual misconduct resigned from Concordia Seminary, and is now hired by an independent seminary…raising questions about what background and reference checks seminaries conduct in its hiring process. Plus, a new study shows that Americans' trust in the church is rebounding—slightly—after dropping to an all-time low in recent years. We'll take a look. But first, a pro-life clinic in Colorado has been cleared by the court to continue offering abortion pill reversal treatments. 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, Daniel Ritchie, Makella Knowles, Christin Fejervary, Aaron Earls—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, a third prosecutor has been appointed in the trial of Anglican Church in North America Bishop Stewart Ruch after the first two resigned. The Bishop is on trial with the denomination for welcoming abusers into the church, and minimizing the needs of abuse survivors. A North Carolina church was the victim of an online scam that stole nearly $800 thousand from their new building fund. That was two years ago—we'll look at where the church is now. Plus, Brent Leatherwood resigns from the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, just one year after being fired…then unfired. Leatherwood led the agency for four contentious years. We'll have details. First, the defense attorney in a lawsuit involving T.D. Jakes has been sanctioned by the court for using artificial intelligence in the preparation of court documents. 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, Kathryn Post, Daniel Ritchie, Bob Smietana, Katie Ruth Bowes, and Isaac Wood. A special thanks to the Biblical Recorder and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I'm Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: And I'm Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, and we'd like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today's program, a third prosecutor has been appointed in the trial of Anglican Church in North America Bishop Stewart Ruch after the first two resigned. The Bishop is on trial with the denomination for welcoming abusers into the church, and minimizing the needs of abuse survivors. And, a North Carolina church was the victim of an online scam that stole nearly $800 thousand from their new building fund. That was two years ago—we'll look at where the church is now. Plus, Brent Leatherwood resigns from the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, just one year after being fired…then unfired. Leatherwood led the agency for four contentious years. We'll have details. Christina: But first, the defense attorney in a lawsuit involving T.D. Jakes has been sanctioned by the court for using artificial intelligence in the preparation of court documents. Warren: The attorney is Tyrone Blackburn, and he was defending Duane Youngblood in a defamation lawsuit filed by TD Jakes. Blackburn has been sanctioned by a federal court because he presented documents that contained material fabricated by artificial intelligence. U.S. District Court Judge William Stickman ordered Blackburn to pay over $76-thousand in fees to cover expenses Jakes had to pay to defend himself against the “AI-generated hallucinations and other misrepresentations in Defendant's motion to dismiss briefing.” Christina: Last year, Duane Youngblood accused Jakes of attempted sexual assault. Jakes has maintained his innocence and filed a defamation lawsuit against Youngblood in November 2024. Jakes noted that Youngblood is on parole after felony convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors. Warren: According to a statement provided to Dallas Morning News, Blackburn said he purchased an A-I program because he doesn't employ paralegals and most of his current clients are pro bono. The A-I program generated its own legal prompts and motions, and contained false quotes and case law. Before he could fix the A-I generated errors, Youngblood asked him to leave the case. Christina: But the judge essentially told him that wasn't an excuse—that he was fully responsible for the accuracy of his legal briefs, regardless of who—or what—contributed to it. It was Blackburn's signature on the document. Warren: Right.

On today's program, conservative leader Jason Yates, who was the former CEO of My Faith Votes, has pleaded guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material. We'll have details. President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill…school choice advocates welcome a provision in the bill that includes a private school tax credit…but the impact on Christian education remains uncertain. We'll take a look. Plus, The King's College in New York City. After years of financial woes and false restarts, the school has shut down—for good, this time. First, a Texas court says a lawsuit against Bill Gothard and the Institute for Basic Life Principles can move forward. The Texas Supreme Court ruled on June 27 that a lawsuit against the Institute for Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and its founder Bill Gothard could continue, despite the defendants' petition to dismiss the lawsuit under the First Amendment and the Ecclesiastical Abstention 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 Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Clemente Lisi, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to the Religion UnPlugged for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, St. Andrew's Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We'll have details. The murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We'll take a look. Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update. First, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Henry Durand, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to the Christian Index for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I'm Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I'm Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we'd like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today's program, St. Andrew's Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We'll have details. And, the murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We'll take a look. Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update. Natasha: But first, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch. Warren: Brady Boyd, who resigned as lead pastor of megachurch New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June, has started a new ministry — Psalm 68 Ministries. Psalm 68 Ministries says its mission is to serve widows, orphans and the forgotten, as well as ministry leaders. Natasha: Boyd had served at Gateway Church, founded by Robert Morris, from 2001 to 2007. He claimed he didn't know that Morris had allegedly abused Cindy Clemishire when she was 12 years old. Warren: New Life elder Scott Palmer told the congregation on Sunday, June 22, that the elders believed Boyd's insistence that he didn't know Clemishire's age was untrue. It is the primary reason the elders asked Boyd to step down. Natasha: Next, St. Andrew's Chapel delays vote on leaving PCA. Warren: St. Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Florida, was scheduled to vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) on Sunday, July 20. Instead, in something of a surprise move, the congregation referred the matter to the church's board of elders, also known as its session, to study the situation and return with a recommendation. Natasha: St. Andrew's was originally formed as an independent congregation in 1997 with Dr. R.C. Sproul as its founding pastor. It then joined the PCA in 2023. Warren: Its pastors are ordained by and members of the Central Florida Presbytery. In June, a judicial commission of the Central Florida Presbytery found St. Andrew's Senior Pastor Burk Parsons guilty of three charges and indefinitely suspended him from the duties of teaching elder in the PCA. He has appealed the judgment. Parsons is also a teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries. The St. Andrew's session is expected to report back about the decision to leave the PCA...

On today's program, St. Andrew's Chapel is facing questions over its lack of financial transparency. Members say church leaders refuse to share budget details. Now, the local presbytery is involved. We'll have details. And, the I-R-S now says churches CAN endorse politicians—this, despite the so-called Johnson Amendment…a law that threatens to remove a ministry's non-profit status if it makes political endorsements. The move comes as the I-R-S hopes to settle a lawsuit brought by the National Religious Broadcasters. We'll take a look. Plus, John MacArthur—megachurch pastor and voice of ‘Grace to You'—has died at the age of 86. But first, a well-known Christian businessman has been charged in heading up a $140M ponzi scheme. 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, Kathryn Post, Tony Mator, Bob Smietana, and Jack Jenkins.

On today's program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school's president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We'll have details. And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members. Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren't ready to use it for everything. Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area. First, a former member is suing John MacArthur's megachurch for how it handled church discipline. 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, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jim Vertigo, John Seewer, Jessica Eturralde, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren:                                                        Hello everybody. I'm Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I'm Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we'd like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today's program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school's president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We'll have details. And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members. Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren't ready to use it for everything. Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area. Natasha: But first, a former member is suing John MacArthur's megachurch for how it handled church discipline. Warren: In a complaint filed Thursday (July 3) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, lawyers for Lorraine Zielinski said she went to leaders at the megachurch in LA's Sun Valley neighborhood, where MacArthur is the longtime pastor, seeking counseling for her troubled marriage and was told her conversations would be kept confidential. According to the complaint, she told counselors she was afraid for her safety and the safety of her daughter, alleging that her then-husband was physically abusive. Her lawyers said church leaders pressured Zielinski to drop her request for a legal separation. When Zielinski tried to resign as a church member, pastors put her under church discipline for failing to follow their counsel, according to the complaint. They also allegedly told her to either come to a meeting with church pastors or details of her counseling would be made public to the congregation. Natasha: What happened? Warren: According to the complaint. “When Plaintiff did not attend the meeting, GCC made good on its threat and shared information gained through confidential communications relating to her marriage with GCC membership,” “GCC also misrepresented parts of these communications, painting Plaintiff as a bad actor in the marriage and the party at fault for the marital dispute. GCC also omitted Plaintiff's husband's desire to remarry and dissolve the marriage.” Natasha: Church members were also allegedly asked to pressure Zielenski to submit to church leaders and to reconcile with her husband, according to the complaint. Warren: Lawyers for Zielenski said the church violated her right to privacy and her right to free association, disclosed private facts, painted her in a false light, breached confidentiality and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. Grace Community Church did not reply to a request for co...