MinistryWatch Podcast

In today’s secular, post-modern world, many Americans – even Christians – have settled for a transactional relationship with leaders in church, in government, and in our civic institutions. If those leaders give us what we want, when we want it, that’s all we ask of them. But Marvin Olasky believes that character matters when it comes to leadership. He has studied great leaders in American history, from the founding era to today, and he has written about them in a fascinating new book called “Moral Vision: Leadership from George Washington to Joe Biden.” Marvin Olasky probably needs no introduction to many of you. He spent nearly 30 years as editor in chief at WORLD Magazine, he served as the provost – which is the senior academic officer – for The King’s College, he was a tenured faculty member at the University of Texas, and he has served as a mentor to an entire generation of reporters and editors who are now making a difference in publications here and abroad. I should also disclose that I am one of them. Marvin has been a mentor and friend for more than 25 years. I worked for him when he was editor in chief at WORLD Magazine, I helped him revise his classic book “Prodigal Press,” and the journalism that we do here at MinistryWatch is a direct result of what I learned from Marvin. So, with that too-brief introduction, here’s my conversation with Marvin Olasky. FINAL THOUGHTS: Thanks for listening in today on my conversation with Marvin Olasky. His new book is “Moral Vision: Leadership from George Washington to Joe Biden.” The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. We get database, technical, and editorial support from Christina Darnell, Casey Sudduth, Stephen duBarry, and Kim Roberts. Until then, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Calvin University’s president resigns after allegations of misconduct surface. We’ll have details. Also, T.D. Jakes Foundation announces $9 million in grants—we’ll take a look at the recipients, plus take a deeper dive into some of T.D. Jakes other business ventures. And, A-I in the pulpit. As technology advances, pastors are faced with new opportunities…and ethical considerations. We begin today with sad news out of Tanzania. A bus accident claimed 11 of missionaries serving with Youth With a Mission. Leaders of YWAM (Youth With a Mission) are rallying for support to aid logistical arrangements, including medical evacuations, repatriations and funeral arrangements. FINAL THOUGHTS: The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and 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 Fredrick Nzwili, Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Heather Hahn, Jessica Eturralde, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. Special thanks to the United Methodist News for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Today I welcome back to the program Amy McClintock, with the Strategic Resource Group, an organization that funds projects to reach unreached people groups in the Middle East and North Africa, the so-called MENA region of the world. Joining Amy is Al Fadi, who is helping to lead a bible translation project that we have been talking about for a couple of years here at MinistryWatch. More than two years ago, I started reporting on a new initiative by the Strategic Resource Group that – if successful – could have a dramatic impact on the way we do Bible translation. They are using a so-called Translation Service Provider – an organization that normally translates contracts, treaties, movie scripts, books, and all manner of other material – to translate the Bible. I wrote my first article about this process in August of 2021. But one aspect of this project that is different from those undertaken by traditional Bible translation organizations is the remarkable degree of transparency SRG has shown to me in the process. Since this project began, I have been checking in with them every six months to get updates, and to hear lessons learned.  And that’s what we are doing today. Today I talk with Amy McClintock and Al Fadi, who are two of the leaders of this project. The very fact that Amy, Al, and SRG are allowing me to have these regular check-ins is dramatically different from the way the Bible translation industry normally operates.  It’s an industry cloaked in secrecy and layers of bureaucracy.  In fact, for the past three years or so, I’ve written about 40 articles on the industry and its practices, and I’ll have links to some of those articles in today’s show notes.  I encourage you to check them out:  https://ministrywatch.com/bible-translations/  FINAL THOUGHTS: I’d like to remind you that MinistryWatch is donor supported.  We take no money from ministries.  All of our content is free.  No paywall.  That means we couldn’t do what we do without faithful donors.  You guys are the real heroes of this enterprise.  So if you’d like to join that heroic group by pitching in to make sure that MinistryWatch remains a viable endeavor, you can go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the “donate” button at the top of the page. And if you donate in the month of February, we’ll send you, as our thank you, a copy of “Handling Allegations in A Ministry: Responses and Investigations.” The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.   We get database, technical, and editorial support from Stephen DuBarry, Christina Darnell, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth.    Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, SBC leaders met this week in Nashville and announced some significant decisions. We’ll have details.  Plus, a joint report from some big ministries details how persecution against Christians in Iran continues to worsen. We’ll take a look. And, our quarterly list of books worth noting. We begin today with news that the SBC is starting a new nonprofit. Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention’s abuse reform task force announced plans Monday (Feb. 19) to launch a new, independent nonprofit to host a database of abuse pastors called Ministry Check. But they still need the money to run it.  FINAL THOUGHTS: The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and 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 Steve Rabey, Clemente Lisi, Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. Special thanks to the Religion UnPlugged for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s MinistryWatch EXTRA episode, we’re re-airing an episode featuring an interview I had with Theresa Lynn Sidebotham.  She’s an attorney and the author of a new book Handling Allegations In A Ministry:  Responses and Investigations. It’s not clear to me that we are seeing more incidents of sexual abuse in the church than in years past.  But I think it is fair to say that more stories are seeing the light of day.  The #MeToo Movement, which spawned the #ChurchToo movement, means that more survivors are telling their stories, and the way we handle these stories is vital for the health and healing of the survivors and for the church of Jesus Christ. Theresa Lynn Sidebotham is an attorney who focuses on misconduct response, ministry policy, and employment law.  She has helped Christian ministries, churches, and religious organizations of all kinds to protect their members and response to allegations of child abuse, harassment, abuse of power, and other misconduct. I had this conversation with her last week via zoom. We’d like to put a copy of Theresa’s book in your hands.  It’s our thank you gift to you for a gift of any size to MinistryWatch. Just hit the donate button at the top of the page. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.   We get database, technical, and editorial support from Stephen DuBarry, Christina Darnell, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Worship Pastor Aaron Ivey—husband of popular podcaster Jamie Ivey—was fired from his church after they found evidence of explicit text messages with other men, at least one of whom was a minor. We’ll have details. Also, Abilene Christian University in Texas recently reviewed its sexuality policy in response to pushback from students and alumni…and they came back with a decision. We’ll take a look. And we have new information about the shooting at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston. Finally, Bible Study Fellowship has announced a big move, from San Antonio to Dallas. We’ll have details. We begin today with news that another woman has come forward alleging Mike Bickle—the founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City—abused her back in the 1980s when she was a teenager. FINAL THOUGHTS:  The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and 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 Daniel Ritchie, Roxanne Stone, Clemente Lisi, Zach Rivas, Bob Smietana, Bobby Ross Jr., Kim Roberts, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. Special thanks to the Religion UnPlugged and The Christian Chronicle for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s MinistryWatch EXTRA episode, Warren Smith remembers Joel Belz, who died on Feb. 4. His legacy includes his significant impact on MinistryWatch itself. The producers for today’s program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee face two new lawsuits. Also, big ministries often partner with Christian music artists to encourage child sponsorship, but where does the money really go? And we have results from our January survey of ministry executives. It appears that a changing of the guard is underway. We begin today with news that Pentecostal leaders are hitting the road to influence the upcoming election.

Naghmeh Abedini Panahi first made national news when she publicly advocated for the release of her then husband Saeed Abedini, who was imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith. The story of “Pastor Saeed” became a global cause celebre, and Naghmeh was its primary spokesperson. But all was not well with Saeed and Naghmeh. When she finally revealed that she had endured years-long domestic abuse by Pastor Saeed, many Christian leaders who had previously used her to draw crowds at their conferences and events would turn their backs on her. Naghmeh lost confidence in some of the best known leaders in evangelicalism, but her faith in Jesus remained strong. Her new book is I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse. On today’s “Extra” episode we discuss this book and her journey through American evangelicalism. FINAL THOUGHTS Make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of February and receive a copy of Handling Allegations in a Ministry as our thank you gift. Just hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. Thanks to Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh for producing today’s program. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, one of the big healthcare sharing ministries is suing New Mexico. We’ll have details. Plus, popular pastor Alistair Begg—whose radio program was dropped by American Family Radio last week—is standing by his advice about attending an LGBTQ wedding. We’ll explain.  And, the deadline for churches to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church has passed…and the results are in. We’ll look at how many congregations have left. We begin today with news that a Texas dad has sued the Assemblies of God denomination, its North Texas District, and its college ministry Chi Alpha, for negligence that resulted in the sexual abuse and grooming of his son. Stephen Holt sued in a state district court in Harris County, Texas, claiming that the Assemblies of God was negligent in allowing registered sex offender Daniel Savala to have access to children and for failing to warn families about his background and the dangers he posed.  FINAL THOUGHTS I’ll be in California, Colorado, Tennessee, and Texas over the next month, and if you live in those states, I’d like to meet you. Keep an eye on your inbox for invitations to lunches I’ll be holding in cities there. Also note that our donor premium for February is Handling Allegations in a Ministry by Teresa Sidebotham. To get your copy as our “thank you” for a donation in February, click here. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and 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, Steve Rabey, Bob Smietana, Zach Rivas, Bob Smietana, Yonat Shimron, Clemente Lisi, Rod Pitzer, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. Special thanks to Religion Unplugged for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.