MinistryWatch Podcast

The death of Charlie Kirk has caused a lot of soul searching by those on the left and the right, as it should. Al Mohler, writing for WORLD, said, “Every generation has its own formative moments. Yesterday is now one of those days.” Charlie Kirk changed over the years. His near-permanent scowl, perhaps a young man’s attempt to be taken seriously, was replaced with a nearly perpetual smile, and regular outbursts of laughter. You could see in him joy, and compassion. He had the mind and the quick wit to bludgeon opponents, but a close look at his videos from more recent years shows someone who asks more questions than answers. Many of the videos you can find of Charlie on the Internet end with him smiling at an opponent who had just talked himself into a circle. In a fascinating interview he gave with the Deseret News just weeks before his death, he said, “I could talk about religion all day long.” The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

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, Warren Smith has one of his periodic “lightning round” talks with Michael Reneau of The Dispatch. This time, they dig into celebrity Christians, including Jen Hatmaker, Doug Wilson, Chip and Joanna Gaines, and others. They also discuss how Tim Keller is sort of an antidote to that, the “anti-celebrity celebrity. They also discuss recent articles at The Dispatch regarding artificial intelligence, and a whole lot more.   We mention a couple of articles in the program. Here are links: Patrick McNamara on AI Bonnie Kristian’s article on Private Religion  Joseph Polidoro’s article on Creative Destruction Before joining The Dispatch, Michael Reneau was the editor of WORLD Magazine. He also served as editor of the award-winning paper The Greenville Sun, based in Greenville, Tennessee. He is married and he and his wife have four children. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

Here at MinistryWatch, our mission is to help Christian donors become true stewards. We provide resources to help you become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to you. If you’ve been around MinistryWatch for a while, that means we help you to give wisely and faithfully. But for most Christians, even generous Christians, the amount of money they give away is just a fraction of the amount of money they invest. Christians invest in the stock market, in mutual funds, through their 401-k, and elsewhere. What about those funds? Do they reflect biblical stewardship? Robin John has thought deeply about these questions. He is the co-founder of Eventide, an asset management firm dedicated to honoring God and investing in companies that create compelling value for the common good. He has put some of these ideas in writing in a new book, The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World. To get your own copy of The Good Investor, click here. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, 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.

Catchisms are, quite simply, question-and-answer summaries of the faith. For centuries Christians have catechisms to teach the fundamentals of the faith, and to disciple new believers. The Westminster Catechism, the Heidelberg Catechism, Luther’s Catechism, and others have been used by Christians since the Reformation. But some so-called “low church” traditions – Baptists, non-denominational evangelical churches, and others – don’t have a strong tradition of using catechisms. And even those denominations that have catechisms as part of their tradition – Presbyterians, Anglicans, Lutherans, and others – don’t use catechisms as they have in years past. Trevin Wax and Thomas West want to see a resurgence in the use of catechisms, and they’ve written one that they think can be used by folks who are not used to using the catechisms of the past. They call their new book The Gospel Way Catechism, and it includes 50 basic questions about the Christian faith, provides short direct answers, and then provides a bit of commentary and scripture to help you understand the answer. Trevin Wax is vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. I’ve had Trevin on the podcast before, and I always find myself nourished by what he has to say. His co-author, Thomas West, is pastor of Nashville First Baptist Church and the founder and former pastor of Redeemer Queen’s Park in London. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. 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.   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, 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. Natasha: But first, a PCA church in Newport Beach, California, is reeling after one of its elders was arrested for sexual assault. Warren: 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. Natasha: What are the charges? Warren: Hahne was charged on August 19 with 18 felony counts of sexual assault against the victim over the course of seven years. He is scheduled to be arraigned on September 12, according to the L.A. Times. Natasha: How has the church responded? Warren: Maxwell has been removed from his position as an elder and will no longer be allowed to act in any ministry or leadership capacity at Redeemer. He has also been suspended from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The alleged abuse did not take place at Redeemer nor at any other ministry or event associated with the church. Nevertheless, Redeemer has secured the services of G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment) as it works through the process of dealing with Maxwell and the accusations against him. Redeemer has requested that GRACE perform an independent audit of the church processes, policies, and leadership. Natasha: Next, a forced labor and money laundering case involving a ministry we’ve been covering here at MinistryWatch for the past few years. Warren: David E. Taylor, the self-proclaimed apostle and leader of Kingdom of God Global Church and Joshua Media Ministries, has been arrested in a “nationwide takedown of their forced labor organization,” according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release. Taylor and Michelle Brannon—executive director of Kingdom of God Global Church—are facing a 10-count grand jury indictment “for their alleged roles in a forced labor and money laundering conspiracy that victimized individuals in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri.” Natasha: How did they do it? Warren: Taylor, 53, and Brannon, 56, established call centers in Michigan, then later in Florida, Texas, and Missouri, in which they forced their victims to work long hours in the call centers without pay. They also set unobtainable monetary donation goals. If victims failed to reach fundraising goals, they were subjected to “public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, and eternal damnation,” the DOJ press statement explained. Natasha: According to the DOJ, Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of their victims’ daily lives. Victims slept in the call center facility or in a “ministry” house, and were not permitted to leave without permission. Warren: While Kingdom of God Global Church was taking in millions of dollars in donations and allegedly mistreating its workers, Taylor and Brannon were allegedly using the money to purchase luxury properties, luxury vehicles, and sporting equipment such as a boat, jet skis, and ATVs. Natasha: The ministry has taken in approximately $50 million in donations since 2014. Warren: If convicted, the two face severe penalties. The forced labor and conspiracy to commit forced labor charges each carry up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000, while the conspiracy to commit money laundering charges carry up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000, or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions. MinistryWatch has reported in the past about a civil lawsuit against Taylor and his ministries for not paying for a $2 million stage set he ordered. In the MinistryWatch 1000 database, Joshua Media Ministries has a donor confidence score of zero, meaning donors should withhold giving. It does not file a Form 990 with the IRS. Natasha: And we have another troubling story. Warren: A federal complaint for charges of distributing child pornography has been issued against Michael Deckinga, the vice president of advancement at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana. Natasha: An affidavit referred to in the complaint appears to be under seal with the federal court. Warren: According to its website, Mid-America was founded in 1981 and is “closely associated with confessional Reformed and Presbyterian churches; however, it is not governed by the rules of any denomination.” It is located about 30 miles from downtown Chicago and is a member of The Association of Theological Schools. If found guilty, Deckinga could face between five and 20 years in prison. Natasha: Let’s look at one more story before our first break. Warren: The senior pastor of a Nevada church has been caught in an FBI sting aimed at capturing child predators. Neal Creecy, 46, the pastor of Redemption Church in Las Vegas, has been arrested for allegedly using a computer to lure children for sexual contact. Natasha: For the past few weeks, the FBI collaborated with local Nevada law enforcement officials to catch child predators. Undercover officers posed as children online while carrying on conversations through social media apps. Warren: According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, undercover officials used TikTok and other social media platforms to converse with potential child predators. In-person meetings were then arranged. Seven other men were arrested as a part of the law enforcement operation that apprehended Creecy. Creecy was released on a $10,000 bond. Upon being released, he immediately resigned his position at the church. His first appearance in court will be on September 2. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a Kentucky church has urged its members to check out LGBTQ books from the library and not return them. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: A church in Shelbyville, Kentucky, has encouraged its congregants to check objectionable books out of the public library and not return them … ever. Reformation Church describes itself as “a confessionally Baptist, culturally engaged, and evangelistically zealous fellowship in the heart of Shelbyville.” Three of its leaders confirmed that it has encouraged “civil disobedience.” Natasha: Hunter Baker, provost and dean of faculty at North Greenville University, disagrees with this approach. Warren: He told MinistryWatch that the acts are theft. “With civil disobedience, the classic understanding is that you do it openly and you are willing to accept the penalty as part of committing the act. I would only consider this civil disobedience under those conditions,” Baker explained. “They take the books, make clear their intent not to return them, and suffer any consequences the law imposes,” he added. According to Shelby County Public Library Director Pamela Federspiel, the library has “lost” 16 books to a church member who checked them out last year but has never returned them. The total value of the books exceeds $400. Baker believes the church’s position “would be far better” by “mak[ing] clear the objection to the books and to seek[ing] some kind of change of policy on the part of the libraries.” Natasha: Next we turn to legacy gifts, while asking the questions – are ministries accountable for using bequests as intended? Warren: Iris Hensley knew that her aunt, Merle Jose, planned to leave her estate to In Touch Ministries, the ministry founded and led by Charles Stanley until his death in 2023. Jose had lived in the same neighborhood as Stanley and joined his church, First Baptist Atlanta. Jose also volunteered her time at In Touch Ministries. Natasha: She wrote in her will that she was gifting all of her residual estate to the “Messenger Ministry of In Touch Foundation Inc…for its corporate uses and purposes.” Warren: It’s not uncommon for ministries to advertise that they accept legacy gifts, or for them to have legacy giving departments that provide sample language for donors to use in their will. But after Jose died in March 2025, Hensley grew concerned her aunt’s intentions wouldn’t be honored, and she’s questioning who will hold the ministry accountable to use the designated funds as intended. Natasha: In other words, will Jose’s gift fund the distribution of Messenger devices—or will it be used at In Touch’s discretion toward whatever it deems appropriate? Warren: The Messenger is In Touch Ministries’ flagship solar-powered audio device pre-loaded with scripture and Dr. Stanley’s teachings. It is distributed in countries around the world. At the probate hearing for Jose’s will on August 14, Hensley said Judge Alice Padgett indicated there is no guarantee Jose’s gift will be used for the Messenger devices. On its website, In Touch suggests language to use in making a bequest. That language was reflected almost exactly in Jose’s will. Hensley is concerned that In Touch exercised undue influence on Jose when she wrote her will in 2023 while living in a care home after being ill. David Bea, an attorney who works in many areas of law involving nonprofit organizations, says a general clause like “for its corporate uses and purposes” generally overrides a more specific “Messenger Ministry” phrase in the will. Natasha: He suggested that sometimes general wording like that is used alongside a specific request so that if the initial purpose becomes impossible to fulfill for whatever reason, the ministry can still use the funds for something else. Warren: Bea advises that anyone wanting to make a bequest to a ministry seek good counsel from their own qualified attorney to draft the language in a way that fulfills their desires. While a ministry’s attorneys may want to be helpful, their job is to work in the best interest of said ministry, he said. It’s also better for family members to sit down with the donor before they die to work out details of the gift and how they intend for it to be used, he says. This helps avoid ambiguity and enforcement issues. Natasha: Next, religious liberty in the UK and Europe. Warren: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has long been preaching the Gospel across the world, but now it is taking steps to ensure the message of salvation in Christ can be spread throughout the United Kingdom and Europe without interference or discrimination. The Billy Graham Defense Fund will use money that BGEA won when they were discriminated against several years ago. About $650,000. The ministry will add to the fund, bringing the total to about $1.3 million. Natasha: An organization related to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is Samaritan’s Purse. SP has recently joined efforts in Gaza. Warren: After struggling for months to find partners to help them deliver aid to Gaza, the embattled Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has picked up a collaborator — Samaritan’s Purse, Since July 26, Samaritan’s Purse has sent eight relief flights for Gaza carrying 169 tons of supplemental food packets that have been distributed through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s four Gaza-based hubs. In addition, Samaritan’s Purse has sent a medical team of six nurses and paramedics to provide first aid treatment at these distribution sites. Natasha: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is  a private, Israel-and U.S. backed project staffed with U.S. security contractors and financed with $30 million in U.S. tax dollars, and a matching commitment from Israel. It was created to displace the United Nations’ various humanitarian relief efforts, which Israel has prevented from functioning. Warren: But since the GHF began its operations in mid-May, more than 1,400 unarmed Palestinian civilians have reportedly been killed by Israel Defense Forces while seeking food aid at or near the GHF distribution sites, known as Safe Distribution Hubs, located in remote militarized zones. Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations for Samaritan’s Purse, said he visited several Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites and was impressed with how they were secured and the professionalism of the GHF staff,” Isaacs said. “They are working in a very difficult situation, and I am grateful that Samaritan’s Purse has the opportunity to collaborate with GHF and other partners. We want to help as many people as we can.” Natasha: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: Another church that once was among the largest in the Southern Baptist Convention is selling its 19-acre property and downsizing. The property of Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., is now listed for sale for $28.5 million. Current pastor Lee Merck confirmed to numerous media outlets the sale is part of a strategic plan to rethink the congregation that once was the largest Baptist church in the state of Alabama. Notable former pastors include Jerry Vines, who went on to become co-pastor at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla., and president of the SBC; and more recently Clint Pressley, immediate past SBC president who now leads Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. When Dauphin Way relocated to its current site in 1988, church membership was listed as 8,000. Today, membership is reported as about 600. Natasha: Being part of a local body of believers is something most Christian recognize as a biblically-based directive with far-reaching benefits. Even social scientists have long demonstrated that religious attendance can be good for you. People who go to church are generally healthier, happier and have better social support, according to peer-reviewed research. But do those effects extend to online services? And how do they compare to in-person experiences? Warren: The answer is…not so much. A study of 43 Christian worshippers by Duke University researchers offers some indications. The small study, published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality in July, suggests virtual church services are less effective on some individual measures than in-person worship. The study, titled “The power of presence: Well-being and biopsychosocial effects of virtual versus in-person religious services,” asked volunteers recruited in North Carolina to attend two Sunday church services — one in person and one online, and to wear Fitbit trackers during both. The Fitbits measured their heart rate and the number of calories burned, plus other metrics. Natasha: Volunteers were also asked to complete a questionnaire recording their feelings immediately after each service. Warren: The study found that online services resulted in lower self-reported experiences of transcendence and emotions, shared identity with the congregation and closeness with God, compared with in-person attendance. Well-being scores were similar for both types of services. It also found that on average, people attending church in person had a higher heart rate during the service. In-person worshippers also burned more calories, an average of 161, compared with watching on their devices, which averaged 127 calories. “We’re not suggesting that virtual worship is bad, or that it doesn’t bring any benefits,” Patty Van Cappellen, the lead researcher and an associate research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke, told RNS. “What we’re showing is that it doesn’t replicate exactly the in-person experience. There are differences.” Natasha: What’s next? Warren: In January 2025, at the start of the Trump administration, about 54% of Christian ministry leaders told MinistryWatch they were optimistic about the new administration’s policies having a positive impact. In our August survey, that number fell to 45%, but was up from May when just 39% said they were optimistic. More respondents believe the administration’s policies may have a negative impact than they did earlier this year, up to 25% from 19% in January. Some of the change in outlook may be attributable to a related question about the economic horizon for the United States, which is more optimistic than it was during the last survey in May. MinistryWatch has been conducting its quarterly survey of leaders of the nation’s 1,000 largest Christian ministries since October 2022. We have consistently reported the insights they have provided. This quarter, we received responses from 118 ministry executives, 92% of whom are in the top role at the organization—CEO, president, or executive director. Natasha: And who did Christina Darnell feature in this week’s Ministries Making a Difference? Warren: A team from Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., spent a day during ServeNC serving the residents of one of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina girls’ homes. The team painted bedrooms in the girls’ cottage, cleaned out gutters, trimmed hedges, played games, and cooked lunch. Every Father’s Day weekend, a group from Trinity Assembly of God in Fairmont-Whitehall, West Virginia, breaks a sweat engaging in community service projects, like building decks, putting up drywall, and building home additions so people can adopt. This year, as part of its ministry to foster care families, the outreach partnered with New Vision Village to construct two tiny (15 by 28 feet) homes for young men aging out of the foster care system. At the end of July, 16 men graduated from New Horizons Ministries’ InsideOut Dad class, which helped men wrestle with questions of how to break cycles of incarceration, fatherlessness and abuse. New Horizons helps families in Colorado build healthy homes after incarceration, and supports families affected by chronic imprisonment. FaithBridge Foster Care is celebrating 18 years of recruiting, training and supporting foster care families through partnerships with local churches. In that time, they say they have served over 6,000 children. FaithBridge is Georgia’s largest, Christ-centered child placing agency, according to the ministry. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: 500th episode ad lib Warren Ad-Lib AUGUST Donor Premium. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Webinar yesterday. Natasha: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Yonat Shimron, Mark Wingfield, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Baptist News Global for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

James C. Dobson, a psychologist, political activist, and author who championed Christian pro-family values on his popular radio shows and in his bestselling books, died Thursday. He was 89. Here are a few links I mention in today’s EXTRA episode. In 2022, I wrote an appreciation of Dr. Dobson for MinistryWatch, when he announced his retirement from full time work. Paul Batura, who worked with Dr. Dobson for many years as a senior executive at Focus on the Family, posted a long tribute to him on Facebook. I recommend the entire post (which you can find here). The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. 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, claiming she was subjected to a hostile work environment where coworkers made racially charged comments. She says she was denied promotions and advancement opportunities in favor of less qualified white employees, assigned disproportionate workloads, and denied remote work privileges afforded to white colleagues. Christina: She also claims she was fired for cooperating with federal investigations. In August 2022, she cooperated with the Department of Education about Title IX violations at the school. That investigation resulted in a $14 million fine against Liberty. Then in February 2024, she filed a formal complaint with the Education Department about the school’s alleged discriminatory treatment against her. A few months later, she was terminated. Warren: Her lawsuit says the school’s reason for termination was about vague ‘compliance issues’ with no specific details for her to address or refute. Woolfolk was terminated on the same day as Peter Brake, another civil rights investigator who filed a lawsuit in February 2025 against the school and its leaders for discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. Christina: Liberty University disagreed with Woolfolk’s claims, saying her termination was not based on her race nor her interactions with the federal Department of Education. Warren: Woolfolk was fired for “legitimate business reasons related to Liberty’s continuing effort to provide excellent service in the Title IX investigation function,” according to the university’s statement. Christina: Next, a former youth pastor at an Assemblies of God church has been hit with criminal charges. His arrest comes as the denomination continues to grapple with its handling of sexual predators. Warren: The Baltimore County Police have arrested Thomas Pinkerton. He allegedly committed sex crimes against multiple teenagers while he was a youth leader at Central Christian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, between the years 2006 and 2010. Christina: Pinkerton has been charged with crimes against six teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19. Police suspect he abused his victims with inappropriate touching and kissing at the church and also at his home. They also believe there may be more victims. Warren: According to NBC News, the seven men came forward last fall with the allegations. Christina: This is happening as the Assemblies of God is still grappling with the fallout of a sex abuse scandal in its Chi Alpha college ministry. Warren: At the biennial meeting of the Assemblies of God governing body, leaders defended its actions even as it vowed to do a better job of stopping sexual predators. Christina: In Pinkerton’s case, the church noted that Pinkerton left the congregation more than 15 years ago to start his own ministry. Warren: Lead Pastor Larry Kirk called the allegations “deeply heartbreaking” and said the church is “committed to walking alongside these young men with compassion and support.” Pinkerton, who now lives in Georgia, and recently worked as a traveling evangelist. He claimed to be “completely shocked” by the charges. He is currently being held without bond. Christina: Let’s cover one more story before the break—another youth pastor arrested and charged with sex crimes…plus, lessons for parents and church leadership in protecting children online. Warren: A Virginia youth pastor has been arrested and accused of solicitation of sexual materials from minors. Jacob Ryan Barnett, 34, was arrested by FBI agents in North Carolina. He is accused of grooming minors by contacting them through social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Discord. He allegedly used a fake identity —under the name “Jodie Johnson” — in conversations with a 15 year-old girl in Michigan. The youth pastor sent her nude pictures of himself while convincing her to do the same. Christina: The investigation started after the girl’s mother checked her daughter’s phone, and found the messages and contacted the FBI. The FBI was able to trace the communication back to Barnett. Warren: FBI agents found that Barnett was following thousands of underage girls on TikTok. Their investigation also uncovered that Barnett was using other social media platforms like Snapchat and Discord to solicit sexually explicit material from other children while he continued to pose as a teenage boy. Christina: And this is where we have a warning for parents. Warren: Right. The Department of Justice is encouraging parents to monitor the online activity of their children. Talk to them about the dangers out there and let them know how to report people who try to exploit them. Christina: We also talked to Dr. Kathy Koch, who is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids. Warren: We did. She is also encouraging parents to step into their kids’ social media worlds. She says it’s not intruding, it’s investing. She said: “Curiosity communicates love. Asking about a post or a friend online isn’t about control, it’s about connection.” Scroll through their feeds, ask about the memes and DMs. She says we’re not just protecting them from danger, we’re reinforcing the foundation of trust. Christina: What about churches? What measures can they take to prevent this sort of sin within their own ranks? Warren: Jeff Dalrymple, director of Abuse Prevention & Response for the Southern Baptist Convention, says it is a good idea for churches to provide internet and social media safeguards and accountability for church staff and ministry leaders—things like filters on church Wi-Fi that blocks inappropriate sites. If convicted, Barnett faces a minimum of 10 years in prison with the possibility of life in prison. Christina: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, an online scammer posing as a North Carolina pastor, asks for donations in the form of gift cards. Cases like this are on the rise. I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: On Aug. 13, the rector of the 160-plus member Good Shepherd Anglican Church near Charlotte, N.C., sent an urgent warning to parishioners about an email claiming to be from him. The email requested donations in the form of gift cards — a known tactic used for phishing scams in which criminals deceive victims into revealing sensitive information. “Please know that neither I nor anyone from our church will ever request funds via a gift card or any unconventional methods,” said Rev. David Libbon, noting how the sender’s email address differed slightly from his own. Christina: There was another case, also just last week, in Georgia, where people from multiple churches received an email from someone posing as their pastor, asking for “responses to a request I need you to handle discreetly. And these incidents are far from isolated. Warren: Churches and nonprofits both large and small increasingly find themselves in the cross-hairs of email scammers. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, cyber crimes have steadily risen over the last five years, while financial losses from such crimes have skyrocketed. The FBI reported that in 2024, the most commonly reported cyber crime was phishing/spoofing. The financial impact of these scams has also risen dramatically. In 2023, victims lost $18.7 million. In 2024, that number jumped to $70 million. Phishing losses were even higher in 2022, at $160 million. Christina: Experts say that as organizations have implemented more sophisticated cybersecurity defenses, criminals have resorted to phishing as a workaround. In many cases, those scams target churches. According to IT expert Marcelo Barros, reports show a 58 percent increase in global phishing attacks from 2022 to 2023. Warren: Cybersecurity analyst Dami Olusanya said nearly 43% of North American cyberattacks target ministries and nonprofits…and she warns that it is a mistake for churches to assume they are too small or don’t have the type of data to interest criminals. To the contrary, churches’ lax cybersecurity defenses can make them an attractive target for phishing, malware and ransomware attacks. Christina: The problem, according to Church Tech Today, is that “churches operate in high-trust, low-tech environments.” Email addresses are publicly listed, volunteers handle tech or admin work, and members tend to trust messages purportedly sent by leadership. Warren: But churches can protect themselves. They can provide training, so they won’t be duped by phishing emails or suspicious links. Robust firewalls and filters can stop phishing emails from reaching intended victims in the first place, and a guest Wi-Fi network can meet the needs of visitors without compromising sensitive data. You can find more on this story, including some best practices, by going to our website. Christina: Our next story involves a small North Carolina church that has found a good use for its under-utilized facility. Warren: Four years ago, the Rev. Matt Conner presented his congregation with a stark reality: Newell Presbyterian Church had about 18 months of financial solvency ahead. The time had come to seriously consider its future. Chartered in 1890 in what was then a sleepy part of northeast Charlotte dotted with dairy farms and tobacco fields, the church grew, and then started a slow decline. These days about 50 people attend Sunday morning services and the church has an annual budget of $190,000. Christina: But Newell Presbyterian has one asset increasingly in demand in the now bustling neighborhood of subdivisions and apartment complexes: land. Warren: The church sits on 9.5 acres, accumulated plot by plot by devoted church members who had long since passed on. The church recently voted to sell a 4.5-acre parcel to a nonprofit developer for the construction of 50 affordable townhomes right next to its sanctuary. Christina: As many as 400 houses of worship (mostly churches but also synagogues and mosques) have repurposed their property for affordable housing over the past decade, said Nadia Mian, a researcher at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy who is cataloging those projects. Warren: Newell Presbyterian’s Matt Conner says that even though his church is not growing numerically, it has grown in faith and commitment, and its members speak of a renewed sense of purpose and mission, and a sacred responsibility to neighbor and place. Christina: How did Newell Presbyterian make this happen? Warren: The church turned to DreamKey Partners, a nonprofit real estate development company that has worked with a handful of other churches in the Charlotte area. Christina: One of those is Caldwell Presbyterian Church, just a few miles away. Warren: Eight miles away from the Newell church, another Presbyterian congregation has also committed itself to affordable housing. Caldwell Presbyterian has converted a 14,000-square-foot building that once housed Sunday school classrooms into 21 studio apartments for people coming out of chronic homelessness. After it opens in October, the church will turn the building over to a local nonprofit that will oversee day-to-day operations. Christina: Our next story involves an Atlanta church that is seeking answers after authorities removed 12 foster youth from its basement in the middle of the night. Warren: Now Faith Apostolic Ministries in Clayton County, Georgia, is demanding an explanation from county officials after the fire marshal ordered 12 youth temporarily living in the church basement to leave in the middle of the night due to code violations—despite having nowhere else to go. Christina: On the night of July 29, Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services arrived at the church following a reported incident. Warren: Upon their arrival, the crew discovered that a dozen 15- to 19-year-olds were living in the building, as the church’s basement had been converted into living quarters for the minors without approval or proper safety measures. Fire Marshal personnel then conducted an inspection and issued five citations to the church for issues involving fire safety systems, exit requirements, and “general requirements for board and care.” Because the church was not properly zoned to house the youths, authorities called DFACS to help relocate the teens. Christina: But the church is pushing back, asserting they had authorization to temporarily house the teens after flooding forced the closure of their regular state-approved facility. Warren: Now Faith issued a formal statement calling the news circulating that the foster children were living in the basement “misleading.” The church says it relocated the youth to its basement after unexpected flooding damaged their permanent licensed treatment facility, noting that the site has operated as a state-approved emergency placement location for the past seven years. According to the church, the relocation followed all state protocols, and the teens were under continuous supervision by a professional, 24/7 treatment and monitoring team. The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services also approved the move and, according to the church, expressed no concerns about the safety or legality of the arrangement. Leaders say the children’s well-being remained the top priority throughout the process. Christina: The statement also suggests there may have been another motive behind the teens’ removal, and that is political retaliation. Warren: Senior Pastor C.H. Braddy has publicly criticized Clayton County officials, including raising concerns about governance and the campaign practices of Chairwoman Alieka Anderson-Henry. Braddy alleged that Fire Chief Tim Sweat and Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry had previously campaigned at Now Faith Apostolic Ministries while the church was housing children and were aware of the church’s mission to assist the Department of Human Services. But he says his church became a target when he rejected alleged kickbacks from county officials. The church owners could pay up to $1,000 per violation. The  Clayton County Code Enforcement Board will review the citations on September 9. Christina: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. So why; don’t you start us off? Warren: The Southern Baptist Convention’s Office for Abuse Prevention and Response has launched a revamped helpline for those needing assistance with matters related to sexual abuse. The initiative, a partnership with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), is designed to deliver “Gospel-focused” support for survivors, ministry leaders and others needing advice on preventing sexual abuse or responding to abuse allegations. The helpline can be accessed at 833-611-HELP or by visiting https://sbcabuseprevention.com/helpline. Christina: Next, school is back in session for many students around the country. And if it’s not yet, it will be soon. This week, in the Ministries Making a Difference column, we look at churches and ministries collaborating to give students a strong start to the new school year. Warren: New Horizons of Southwest Florida is celebrating a successful summer of pouring into under-resourced students in southwest Florida through its two primary summer camp programs. Christina: Its Super Kids Reading Camp focused on literacy and creativity for younger students, which included an art camp and fishing workshop. Its Super Teens Leadership Camp engaged older students in team building, mentorship, and community service projects, such as volunteering at a humane society and nonprofit cafe that feeds people in need. Students also received breakfast and lunch, new shoes, and school supplies. Warren: New Horizons of Southwest Florida has an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a high donor confidence score of 95. Christina: Another highly rated ministry we’re following is Mission Arlington, in Texas, That group hosted a dental clinic where volunteer dentists treated 37 teenagers in anticipation of the new school year. They also prepared packs of school supplies to be distributed to students in the Arlington Independent School System. Warren: Mission Arlington has 5 stars and an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 92. Christina: You can read about more ministries in our “back to school” edition of Ministries Making a Difference by going to MinistryWatch.com Warren: And, before we go, I did want to mention a leadership change at Northwest University (NU), a Christian college in Washington state. Northwest has named a new president ahead of the 2025-2026 school year. Jeremy Johnson will take the reins this week, starting August 18, 2025, in the wake of Joseph Castleberry’s retirement from the position. Johnson, an NU alum, has worked as senior pastor of North Point Church for 13 years, and in 2017 helped launch the Springfield Dream Center where he also worked as an executive leader. Christina: Finally, Warren, just as we were getting ready to record this week’s program, we got news of the death of Dr. James Dobson. Warren: Ad-lib Dr. Dobson’s life and career. Christina: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren:  Warren ad-lib Dr. Dobson Warren Ad-Lib AUGUST Donor Premium. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Webinar yesterday. Christina: 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. I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Mooresville, North Carolina. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, also in Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, Frances Fukuyama famously declared that we had reached the “end of history.” He meant that the big arguments, the major ideological struggles, were now all in the past, and that liberal democracy would prevail from then on. The rest would be just cordial arguments about policy. That peaceful kingdom has obviously not come to pass. Some might argue that Fukuyama’s core thesis is still true. Liberal democracy lacks a coherent, universal rival. No alternative ideology has matched its global appeal or institutional resilience. Even authoritarian regimes adopt democratic trappings (e.g., elections in Russia) to gain legitimacy, implicitly acknowledging liberal democracy’s normative power. That said, Fukuyama clearly underestimated internal challenges within democracies—polarization, disinformation, and inequality—evident in events like the U.S. Capitol riot or Brexit. These weaken the system’s appeal and stability. While history may not have “ended,” liberal democracy remains a dominant, yet contested, paradigm. Its triumph is neither inevitable nor complete, as cultural, economic, and political forces continue to shape ideological battles globally. These are some of the issues that Hunter Baker looks at in his new book Postliberal Protestants: Baptists Between Obergefell and Christian Nationalism. And, if you’re not Baptist, don’t be turned off by the sub-title. Baker argues – I think convincingly – that the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest protestant denomination in the country, is in some ways a proxy for all of evangelicalism. I think he’s mostly right, and that’s why I think his book should be read not just by Baptists, but by all Christian leaders who want to have a role in shaping important public conversations in the 2020s and beyond. Also, Hunter Baker’s argument for religious liberty – a cause long championed by Southern Baptists – is one that I think bears particular attention in this era in which we’ve seen a resurgence of religious intolerance both in the United States and around the world. Hunter Baker has both a law degree and a Ph.D., and he’s the provost and dean of faculty at North Greenville University, in South Carolina. He is the author of four books, and you may have seen his byline at WORLD Magazine, where he is a frequent contributor to WORLD Opinions. In a spirit of full disclosure, I should also say that Hunter is a friend, someone I turn to regularly for counsel and fellowship. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.