Transparency and accountability are vital to the renewal of the evangelical church in America. Hosts Warren Smith and Natasha Smith highlight the top stories of the week from the unique MinistryWatch perspective and give you a peek behind the curtain to show why and how we do the investigations we do.
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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
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 repo
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 a
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 GraceP
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 Paw
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
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
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 arreste
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 again
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 fi
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 a
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 fi
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 confi
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 des
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 co
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
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. Membe
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 recomme
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
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 Churc
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 Christ
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
