Transparency and accountability are vital to the renewal of the evangelical church in America. Hosts Warren Smith and Natasha Smith highlight the top stories of the week from the unique MinistryWatch perspective and give you a peek behind the curtain to show why and how we do the investigations we do.
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In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” They include: John MacArthur’s replacement has been named. WORLD and other news outlets are reporting that “Grace Community Church in California affirmed a new senior pastor, more than a year after the death of renowned theologian…
Today we’re talking with Pete Peterson, a man who has spent much of his career at the intersection of story, faith, theater, and the arts. Pete is a playwright, publisher, and one of the central figures in The Rabbit Room since its earliest days, working with his brother Andrew Peterson to turn a small online community into a thriving center for books, music, theater, and other arts. The Rabbit…
On today’s program, a federal judge has dismissed the last remaining claim in Johnny Hunt’s defamation lawsuit, marking the end of a contentious legal battle. He had sued the Southern Baptist Convention and others back in 2023. And, a Texas church is sued by the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church over its bylaw changes. Plus, water filters open doors to share the gospel with…
In August of 1801 — 225 years ago this month — a great religious movement swept the country brought with it the phenomenon of the camp meeting. The famous Cane Ridge, Kentucky, meetings of that summer attracted as many as 10,000 people — at a time when Lexington, Kentucky’s largest city, had less than 2,000 people. Today, I’d like to share with you some of my reflections on an event that is having…
On today’s program, the State Department funnels $2 billion to Christian ministries to provide health and humanitarian aid in more than a dozen countries. We’ll have details. And, new regulations make it harder for Christian ministries to operate in India — but one ministry we talked with remains committed to preaching the gospel there. Plus, a cybersecurity breach exposes donor date. But first,…
Here are links to some of the stories mentioned in today’s episode: Christianity Today reports that “after making deep cuts in global health, food assistance, and other foreign aid based on allegations of fraud and abuse in USAID , the Trump administration announced $2 billion in humanitarian-aid funding for faith-based groups, with a consortium of US Christian organizations overseeing $1.4…
Today my guest is Bob Shank, a businessman, pastor, entrepreneur, mentor and author who has spent much of his life helping Christian leaders think differently about what it means to live a significant life. Bob began his career in the construction business, where he spent 14 years as an entrepreneur and executive. In 1984, he made a dramatic career change, leaving the business world to devote…
On today’s program, a fifth person is arrested after a South Carolina church allowed a registered sex offender to work near children, and hid it from parents. We’ll have details. Plus, at least two new breakoff denominations are forming over divisions within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We’ll take a look. And, the 50 largest media ministries in the MinistryWatch database. But first, a…
In today’s extra episode, Christina Darnell and Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” Here are some links to resources mentioned in today’s episode: According to The Conversation, “ A trove of recent articles bemoan the collapse in recreational reading among younger Americans, with COVID-related reading…
For more than two decades, if you wanted to know what was really happening inside America’s megachurches, one name has consistently risen to the top: Dr. Warren Bird. Along with sociologist Scott Thumma, Bird has conducted the most comprehensive longitudinal research ever undertaken on the nation’s largest Protestant churches. Their latest study for the Hartford Institute for Religion Research is…
On today’s program, a Florida mom has been sentenced to prison after impersonating the father of a Camp Mystic flood victim. She used that fake identity to launch a GoFundMe campaign. We’ll have details. Plus, Focus on the Family launches the search for its next president. Jim Daly’s retirement is on the horizon after more than 20 years at the helm. We’ll take a look. And, charitable giving last…
In today’s extra episode, Christina Darnell talks with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” They include: Lancaster Bible College has been reaccredited. Planned Parenthood releases its annual report. You can find the 2024-2025 annual report here. Allen Levi’s book Theo of Golden continues to be a publishing…
On today’s program, a judge sides with Texas megachurch Second Baptist Houston in a lawsuit brought by current and former members. The judge says the constitutional principle of religious freedom shields the church — but the plaintiffs’ attorney says that should not be a get-out-of-jail free card.” We’ll have details. Plus, last month, the United Methodist Church dropped Asbury Theological…
In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” Today, we discuss retirement, biblical generosity, and the legacy of J.I. Packer. If you have not discovered our YouTube channel, check it out here. We now have nearly 200 videos there, and they have attracted tens of thousands of…
