MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, Liberty University is receiving complaints from veterans who use the school’s online program as part of their GI Bill benefits.  We also have the latest in the slow-moving schism in the United Methodist Church.  Plus, a look at Prosperity Gospel preacher Kenneth Copeland.  He’s in the Ministry Spotlight.  We begin today with something you don’t hear Christian leaders do too much these days, and that’s apologize.  That apology came from Andy Wood.  Wood was named as Rick Warren’s successor at Saddleback Church after Warren retires.  He has apologized for inviting Mark Driscoll to speak at the 2021 Echo Leadership Conference. Before we go:  Just a reminder that if you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of August, you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to WORLD Magazine.  We made this offer last year, and got a great response.  But I know that we have a lot of people listening to the podcast today that weren’t with us a year ago – I know that because the podcast has nearly doubled in size in the past year.  So if you’re new, this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a subscription to WORLD and support our work at the same time.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com 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 Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jessica Lea, Alejandra Molina, Alec MacGillis, Bobby Ross Jr., Jessica Eturralde, Shannon Cuthrell, Anne Stych, Kathryn Post, Yonat Shimron, Christina Darnell, Rod Pitzer, and Steve Rabey. Special thanks to Church Leaders, The Christian Chronicle, and ProPublica for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

If you’re a regular reader of MinistryWatch’s daily journalism, or a regular listener to our podcast, you know that we care about integrity.  The personal integrity of Christian leaders, and the integrity of the process and procedures of Christian ministries themselves.  We advocate for transparency and accountability as a way of giving Christian donors the chance to make giving decisions for themselves. But my guest today, Conley Owens, say that is not enough.  He suggests that it’s not just the prosperity gospel preachers who have crossed the line when it comes to financial integrity.  He makes the case that virtually all evangelical ministries – including MinistryWatch – are engaged in fundraising practices that the Bible prohibits and that Jesus and Paul and early church leaders would have found reprehensible. He's written a book about his ideas.  It’s called The Dorean Principle:  A Biblical Response to the Commercialization of Christianity.  He spoke to me from his home office in California. You can get your own copy of Conley’s book “The Dorean Principle” by going to www.thedoreanprinciple.org   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.      I’m Warren Smith, and you’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, in the 1990s and 2000s, radio preacher Harold Camping wrongly predicted the return of Jesus.  The ministry he founded has spent the last decade recovering.  We’ll have an update.  And the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention.  We’ll have the latest.  We begin today with a lawsuit against Hillsong Church by one of its key employees.  The lawsuit says the church misled donors and evaded taxes. Before we go, a reminder:  If you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of August, you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to WORLD Magazine.  We made this offer last year, and got a great response.  But I know that we have a lot of people listening to the podcast today that weren’t with us a year ago – I know that because the podcast has nearly doubled in size in the past year.  So if you’re new, this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a subscription to WORLD and support our work at the same time.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com 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 Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Shannon Cuthrell, Anne Stych, Emily McFarlan Miller, Kim Roberts, Yonat Shimron, Bob Smietana, Dale Chamberlain, Christina Darnell, and Steve Rabey. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, we look at a network of ministries fighting chemical abortions.  We also look at prosperity gospel preachers John and Lisa Bevere and their ministry Messenger International.  We begin today with new leadership for a couple of the nation’s leading Christian publications.  Russell Moore, the former Southern Baptist ethicist, was named editor in chief at Christianity Today. Lynn Vincent, a motorcycle-riding Navy veteran and New York Times best-selling author, was recently named executive editor at WORLD Magazine. Before we go:  a reminder that if you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of August, you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to WORLD Magazine.  We made this offer last year, and got a great response.  But I know that we have a lot of people listening to the podcast today that weren’t with us a year ago – I know that because the podcast has nearly doubled in size in the past year.  So if you’re new, this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a subscription to WORLD and support our work at the same time.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com 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 Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jessica Lea, Riley Farrell, Steve Rabey, Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, Anne Stych, and Warren Smith.  Special thanks to Church Leaders and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Today I welcome back to the program Jane Schoen. Jane is the director of Strategic Initiatives for 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. A year ago I reported 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. The company it is using is called Lingua Linx. I wrote an article about this process back in August of last year.  Earlier this year we checked in with Jane to see how things were going, and today we look in again. The very fact that Jane 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 two years or so, I’ve written nearly two dozen articles on the industry and its practices, and you can find links to these articles below.  I encourage you to check them out. Before we go, 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 August, we’ll send you, as our thank you, a subscription to WORLD Magazine.  That’s a print AND digital subscription, which has a value of more than $100.  That’s for a gift of any size. 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.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Program Here is a list of articles we have written about the Bible translation industry, from oldest to newest:  ECFA Charter Member, Wycliffe Associates, Resigns Membership While Under Review – March 7, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/ecfa-charter-member-wycliffe-associates-resigns-membership-while-under-review/ What Would Wycliffe Fly? – March 19, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/what-would-wycliffe-fly/ Wycliffe Associates Touts MAST, Print-On-Demand – April 15, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/wycliffe-associates-touts-mast-and-print-on-demand-program/ When Is A Bible Translation Not A Bible Translation – May 14, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/when-is-a-bible-translation-not-a-bible-translation/ Bible Translation At A Crossroads – June 30, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/the-bible-translation-industry-is-at-a-crossroads/ American Bible Society Names Robert Briggs As President – June 30, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/american-bible-society-names-robert-l-briggs-as-president-and-ceo/ Key Executives Depart Wycliffe Associates – August 12, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/key-executives-depart-wycliffe-associates/ Bruce Smith Out As President/CEO of Wycliffe Associates – October 13, 2020 https://ministrywatch.com/bruce-smith-out-as-president-ceo-of-wycliffe-associates/ Wycliffe Associates Sees Revenue Decline – March 4, 2021 https://ministrywatch.com/wycliffe-associates-sees-revenue-decline/ Women’s Conference Attendees Pledge $1.5-Million To Bible Translation Efforts – March 17, 2021 https://ministrywatch.com/womens-conference-attendees-pledge-more-than-1-5-million-to-bible-translation-effort/ Bible Translation Organizations Form Alliance (IllumiNations) – April 5, 2021 https://ministrywatch.

On today’s program, we look at spiritual abuse.  At what point is a difference in opinion, or a disagreement with the pastor, real abuse?  It’s a question lots of churches, pastors, and church members are having to grapple with.  Also, we look at an online ministry that started as a hobby, but is now generating more than 100-million page views a year from people wanting answers to tough spiritual questions.  We begin today with news about a Tennessee megachurch that has defaulted on its building payments.  The building that housed Venue Church is set to be auctioned off from the steps of the local courthouse Aug. 24, just six months after a video surfaced allegedly showing its head pastor kissing a woman who was not his wife.  A notice of foreclosure that appeared in The Chattanooga Times Free Press said Venue Church has defaulted on payments on the more than $2 million the church owes on a property at 6401 Lee Highway in Chattanooga, its main campus. A reminder that if you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of August, you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to WORLD Magazine.  We made this offer last year, and got a great response.  But I know that we have a lot of people listening to the podcast today that weren’t with us a year ago – I know that because the podcast has nearly doubled in size in the past year.  So if you’re new, this is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a subscription to WORLD and support our work at the same time.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com 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 Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Jesse T. Jackson, Alejandra Molina, Steve Rabey, Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, Anne Stych, Christina Darnell and Warren Smith. Special thanks to Church Leaders for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, prosperity gospel preacher and Donald Trump supporter Mario Murillo led a crusade in Colorado Springs.  We had a reporter on the scene.  Amy Grant will be one of the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors this year.  And we have an update on the story of the Family Research Council changing its status to an “association of churches.”  FRC President Tony Perkins reached out to us to explain why.  We begin today with news about a Colorado Springs pastor who has had his share of troubles before. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Catherine Pepinster, Emily McFarlan Miller, Michael Sisak, Brittany Smith, Richard Levey, Adelle Banks, Jesse T. Jackson, Christina Darnell, and Steve Rabey.  Special thanks to Church Leaders and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a fast-growing church planting network called simply The Network, is facing criticism by a group of former staff and lay leadership.  We also have the results of an investigation done by Saddleback Church into its new pastor.  The new study finds no evidence of wrongdoing.  We begin today with news that an employee of disgraced Wall Street financier Bill Hwang is suing his former employer.  The employee says he was forced to donate to a Christian Charitable Fund. A few housekeeping items before we go. First, I wanted to mention that I would be in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, that’s July 19.  If you live in Iowa and you’re on our daily email list, you should have already received an invitation, but if not, please shoot me an email and we’ll make sure you get one.  My email is wsmith@ministrywatch.com Secondly, MinistryWatch has been featured recently on NBC’s Nightly News, in Rolling Stone Magazine, at the investigative news site Pro Publica, and in the magazine Government Executive.  All that within the past three weeks.  If you get our daily emails, you can find links to those stories there. Thirdly, next week we’ll be taking some time off from the podcast.  Just one week, so don’t fret, and feel free to get caught up on any episodes you haven’t listened to yet.  But we’ll be back on the 29th.  The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Anne Stych, Bob Smietana, Paul Glader, Paul Clolery, Emily Miller, Christina Darnell, and Warren Smith. Special thanks to Religion UnPlugged and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

An important part of what we do here at MinistryWatch – especially with these “Extra” episodes -- is to bring to you important thought leaders who have important things to say both to donors and to ministry leaders. That’s why I’m pleased to have back on the program Phil Cooke. Before I tell you what we’re talking about today, I should mention that Phil Cooke is a content machine.  He got his start in media working on the television program of Oral Roberts, while he was still a student at Oral Roberts University.  Over the years Cooke has become one of the nation’s experts on the use of media in a Christian context.  He has also been outspoken on the need for men and women of integrity in Christian ministries.  Though he got his start working for one of the most famous televangelists in history, he has also been a thoughtful critic of televangelists.  And even though he is a media and marketing expert, he says that evangelical Christianity doesn’t have a marketing problem.  It has a character problem. Phil Cooke is a working producer in Hollywood who also has a Ph. D. in theology.  He’s the author of a half-dozen books on media and marketing and has been a contributor to Fast Company, Forbes, and The Huffington Post.  He is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as the Producer’s Guild of America. Today we talk about two articles Phil recently posted on his website.  They deal with compensation for church planters.  We also talk about what we should do with the books, videos, and other material from teachers and speakers who have gotten themselves into trouble because of their immoral behavior.  Two vital topics, and Phil has some great insights. You can find the articles we discussed here. Before we go, 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. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.   We get database, technical, and editorial support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Christina Darnell, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. I’m Warren Smith, and you’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, students at Seattle Pacific University end their sit-in for LGBTQ rights, but the controversy at this Christian school is not likely to go away.  And we check in with some prominent pro-life ministries to see how the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, will impact their work.  We begin today with a report that rapidly rising prices are having a significant impact on ministries that provide food and housing for the poor. A few housekeeping items before we go. First, a big thank you to those who gave us a fiscal year end gift last month.  We had nearly 200 donors during the month of June who gave us about $20,000, which barely got us to our goal.  But it was an ambitious goal, and I am grateful for the support. I also wanted to mention that I was in Southern California last week and had the pleasure of hosting a luncheon of MinistryWatch supporters in Newport Beach.  A hearty thank-you to those who came out for that event.  And I wanted to mention that I’ll be doing a similar lunch in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 19.  That’s a Tuesday.  If you live within driving distance of Des Moines and you’d like to attend, shoot me an email and we’ll make sure you get an invitation.  My email is wsmith@ministrywatch.com The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Haley Barker, Riley Farrell, Marika Proctor, Kim Roberts, Alejandra Molina, and Donald Kramer.  Special thanks to The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.