MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, a closer look at a Christian college offering courses to prisoners raises more questions than answers. Plus, a new LifeWay study suggests that prosperity gospel beliefs are on the rise among churchgoers. We’ll have those details later in the program. And thieves swipe a massive air conditioner unit of an Atlanta church…in the sweltering heat of summer. We begin today with news that Virginia Beach Pastor John Blanchard has had his criminal record expunged after he was arrested a couple years back in an underage prostitution sting. Blanchard is the lead pastor of Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, and he was one of 17 men arrested in October 2021. Each of the men corresponded with undercover detectives posing as minors and set up a time and place to meet for sex. They were all arrested on site at those meeting places, including Blanchard.  Just two days after his arrest, Blanchard led worship at his church. It wasn’t until his arrest became public that he stepped away from church duties temporarily. FINAL THOUGHTS: It’s a new month, and we have a new gift for donors. This month, we’ll be sending a copy of my book “Restoring All Things” to you if you make a gift of any size during the month of September. I wrote this book with my friend and former Colson Center colleague John Stonestreet, and I think you’ll find it to be a blessing. It highlights how God is using ministries and individuals to make a positive difference in the world. Just go to the MinistryWatch website and 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 and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Cheryl Mann Bacon, Daniel Ritchie, Kim Roberts, and Marissa Postell Sullivan. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times, The Christian Chronicle, ChurchLeaders, and LifeWay Research for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, the Southern Baptist Convention sees another leader resign in scandal…and names a new interim replacement. Also, Pulse Outreach—an evangelistic megaministry geared to young adults—claims they reached 300 million people with the Gospel…but won’t share how they GOT that number. We’ll get into all that later in the program. We begin today with news that a Christian relief ministry is accusing Bank of America of discriminating against them based on their religious beliefs. 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 Jessica Eturralde, Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Eric Obernauer, Michele Chabin, Christina Darnell, Rod Pitzer—and you, Warren. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Today’s podcast is based on this week’s “Editor’s Notebook” column, which you can find here. In today’s episode I mention Dr. Jean Twenge’s 2017 article in The Atlantic magazine. That article is “Has The Smart Phone Destroyed A Generation?” You can read that article here. I also mentioned Kathy Koch’s book Screens and Teens. You can get a copy of that book here. The producers of today’s program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. We get database, technical, and editorial support from Christina Darnell, Casey Sudduth, Kim Roberts, and Stephen Dubarry. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon, drops its requirement that all students sign a statement of faith. We’ll have details. Also, an update on sexual abuse within the Chi Alpha college ministry—victims are sharing their stories on a newly created website forum…and a church is threatening to sue if some of the comments aren’t removed. Plus, giving to disaster relief organizations working in Maui—we’ll tell you who we recommend…and who we don’t. We begin today with news that the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has terminated the membership of the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute—or A-T-R-I—the producer of the popular apologetics program “The John Ankerberg Show.” 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, Jessica Eturralde, Kathryn Post, Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. Until next time, may God bless you.

A new survey from The Barna Group purports to highlight differences in giving levels between older givers and younger givers. But a closer look indicates that they may just have different priorities. Read the original Barna study here. Read Warren Smith’s reflections on it here.

On today’s program, a judge has upheld Josh Duggar’s conviction on child pornography charges, and a prominent Austin church that had been started by the Anglican Church of North America has decided it’s too liberal for that denomination, and has decided to affiliate with the Episcopal Church. Plus, a couple of new studies indicate that giving to Christian ministries could be down in the coming year. We begin today with news that a former trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is calling for a forensic audit of the school. 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 Paul Clolery, Bob Smietana, BeLynn Hollers, Daniel Ritchie, Kim Roberts, Christina Darnell—and you, Warren. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

The U.S. is debating the reauthorization of PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief. The 20-year-old government program has now spent more than $85 billion. PEPFAR has been championed by evangelicals, and evangelical ministries have been major beneficiaries of funding. But should funding continue? Some conservative and evangelical groups are saying no, and others say that new restrictions should be placed on the program to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not fund abortion or abortion-adjacent programs. In today’s MinistryWatch EXTRA episode, we look at some of the issues. This episode is based on Warren Smith’s “Editor’s Notebook” column that you can find here.

On today’s program, a former president of a Southern Baptist state convention is being investigated for sex crimes. Also on today’s program, Biblica. The organization formerly known as the International Bible Society has seen a remarkable comeback, and we’ll take a closer look. We also examine a ministry in Arkansas that is helping kids who age out of the foster care system. It’s a huge problem in this country, and they may have a solution. We begin today with news that Jerry Falwell Jr. has sued Liberty University…again. FINAL THOUGHTS Just a reminder that MinistryWatch is a donor supported organization, and if you make a gift during the month of August, you’ll receive a digital subscription to WORLD Magazine. A digital subscription to WORLD would cost you more than $50 if you went to their website, but you get decide how much you want to give, though of course we hope you’ll be generous. Just go to MinistryWatch and 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 and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Daniel Ritchie, Paul Clolery, Adelle M. Banks, Jessica Eturralde, Rafa Oliveira, Steve Rabey, Bob Smietana, Jack Jenkins, Christina Darnell, and Rod Pitzer. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Every month or six weeks MinistryWatch President Warren Smith drops a short episode updating our listeners on what’s going on at MinistryWatch. On today’s episode he fills you in on some of our recent initiatives, what to expect in the next month, and he includes a financial update. So if you’re one of those folk who want an “insider’s peek” at what’s happening at MinistryWatch, today’s episode is for you. The producers for today’s program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. We get technical, editorial, and other support from Christina Darnell, Casey Sudduth, Stephen Dubarry, and Kim Roberts. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Tim Ballard—hero of the hit movie ‘Sound of Freedom’—has been removed from two nonprofits, one of which is Operation Underground Railroad. We’ll have details. Also, the Bible translation organization Wycliffe Associates is asking for big donations, but giving few details on how they plan to use the money. And, tips for donors wanting to give to anti-trafficking ministries. We begin today with news from Texas, as the debate over women pastors has now moved to the state level. Delegates to the Baptist General Convention of Texas adopted a statement last week urging its staff to affirm women in “ministerial and leadership roles.” FINAL THOUGHTS: Just a reminder that MinistryWatch is a donor supported organization, and if you make a gift during the month of July, you’ll receive a copy of my book Faith-Based Fraud: Learning From The Great Religious Scandals of our Time as our thank-you gift. Just go to MinistryWatch and hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. We’ve got just a couple of days left in the month, and we’re a few thousand dollars short of our goal, so if you’ve been thinking about a gift, now would be a great time. 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, Jessica Eturralde, Adelle Banks, Steve Rabey, Christina Darnell, Rod Pitzer—and you, Warren. Until next time, may God bless you.