MinistryWatch Podcast

Today’s EXTRA episode is based on Warren Smith’s “Editor’s Notebook” column, which you can find here. To hear Robertson McQuilkin in the YouTube video I mentioned in the podcast, click here. The producers for today’s program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. I’m Warren Smith.  Until next time, may God bless you. Editor’s Note:  This episode and the original “Editor’s Notebook” column are based on an article written by Warren Smith in 2017 for The Colson Center’s Breakpoint.org website.

On today’s program, a former executive at the American Family Association is suing for alleged sexual harassment. We’ll have details. Also, an annual conference founded by the hymn-writing duo Keith and Kristyn Getty pushes back on the spread of megachurch music. We’ll take a look. And tips for Christians wanting to give to disaster relief ministries providing aid in Morocco following a devastating earthquake last week. We include a list of ministries with high ratings in the MinistryWatch database. 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. And we’ll be doing another webinar on Sept. 20. How to Find and Read A Form 990. It’s absolutely free, but you do need to sign up.  Watch your in-box for a sign-up link. 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 Yonat Shimron, Bob Smietana, Steve Rabey, Chris Moon, and Rod Pitzer. A special thanks to the Christian Standard and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Tim Tebow’s foundation is fighting human trafficking, and the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church is responding to allegations that he has not done enough to deal with sexual abuse claims. And the Southern Baptists of Florida have released a report explaining how $700-thousand was stolen. The report finds no wrongdoing on the part of the staff, but recommends safeguards that all Christian ministries should pay attention to. We begin today with news that Sarah Young, the controversial author of the publishing phenomenon “Jesus Calling,” has died at age 77. “Jesus Calling” has sold more than 40 million copies. It’s author diedThursday (Aug. 31) after struggling for years with chronic illness and Lyme Disease. News of the Nashville native’s death, first reported by Christianity Today, came a day after Publisher’s Weekly reported that the author’s health was “rapidly failing.” 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 hit the donate button at the top of the page. And we’ll be doing another webinar on Sept. 20. How to Find and Read A Form 990. It’s absolutely free, but you do need to sign up.  Watch your in-box for a sign-up link. 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 Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Steve Rabey, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Christina Darnell, and Rod Pitzer. Until next time, may God bless you.

For the past four years, MinistryWatch has an annual list of the 50 largest Christian colleges and universities in the nation. This year’s list published today, and you can find it here. In today’s EXTRA episode, Warren Smith discusses this list and explains how we can solve the Christian higher education crisis with one simple fix: Christian parents, don’t send your kids to secular schools. The producers for today’s program are Jeff McIntosh and Rich Roszel. Until next time, may God bless you.

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.