MinistryWatch Podcast

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.

Brant Hansen has been a friend of MinistryWatch for a few years now. We’ve had him on the show before to talk about his previous books, and about some of the crazy things going on in Christian radio that we cover here at MinistryWatch. He has a new book out, and I think you’ll find it humorous and helpful – and perhaps even a bit of a “palate cleanser” to go with some of the stories we report on here at MinistryWatch. Brant is a nationally syndicated radio host and podcast of The Brant and Sherri Oddcast. He also works with CURE International, a worldwide network of hospitals that bring healing and the Good News to children with treatable conditions. FINAL WORDS: Make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of February and receive a copy of Theresa Sidebotham’s book “Handling Allegations In A Christian Ministry.” To donate, click here. The producers for today’s program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. Until next time, may God bless you!

On today’s program, another Chi Alpha leader is out at the Assemblies of God college campus ministry. He was director over the regions where convicted sex offender Daniel Savala had access to students. We’ll have details. Joel Osteen is brought to tears during a Sunday service as he announces that his Houston church has paid off a 100-million dollar loan. Also, churches face fines for sheltering the homeless during brutal winter weather. More on that later in the program. We begin today with news that author and pastor Mike Breen has resigned from his role as ‘lead communicator’ at APEX Church in Ohio. FINAL THOUGHTS:  MinistryWatch President Warren Smith will be in California, Colorado, Tennessee, and Texas over the next month, and if you live in those states, he’d like to meet you. Keep an eye on your inbox for invitations to lunches he will be holding in cities there. 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, Bob Smietana, Zach Rivas, Brittany Smith, Steve Rabey, Daniel Ritchie, Adelle M. Banks, Christina Darnell, and Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s episode, I would like to tell you a story. It’s the story of a lunch meeting I had 15 years ago with Mark Dever and Garrett Kell. The lessons I learned that day are lessons that continue to resonate with me and are lessons I believe the church needs to learn. On today’s program I mentioned that Garrett Kell’s daughter Eden is facing severe health challenges. To find out more, please click here. To see a written version of today’s podcast episode, click here. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Doug Wilson—the pastor who leads what some call a Reformed religious empire in Moscow, Idaho—has hired a law firm to protect himself and his organizations from defamation. We’ll have details. Also, Bishop T.D. Jakes has recently been the subject of scandalous rumors—but that hasn’t stopped him from preaching at the annual Maryland revival meetings where he’s been a guest speaker for more than 30 years. We’ll take a deeper look. And, the president of Cru…formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ…is stepping down after just four years in the office. We begin today with news that the faith-based television network T-C-T Ministries is suing four of its board members for abusing their board positions for their own financial benefits. FINAL THOUGHTS:  Last week I promised to give a final accounting for our year-end fundraising. We had a year-end fundraising goal of about $117 thousand, in the months of November and December.  I’m pleased to report today that we met that goal. We now have a final tally, and it is just over $149,000. To those of you who gave to MinistryWatch, let me say thank you. I’m grateful to God, and to you who read, listen to, and financially support our work. 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, Brittany Smith, Adelle M. Banks, Fiona André, Rod Pitzer and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you.