Episodes

On today’s EXTRA episode, Warren and Christina discuss a report that Compassion International failed to act when they had evidence of 25,000 “suspected grooming cases.” They also tackle gambling and prediction markets. Also, new data from the Anglican Church in North America(ACNA) released this past week shows a 2.55 percent jump in churchwide Average Sunday Attendance in 2025, an increase of 2,509 from 96,009 in 2024 to 98,514 in the most recent reporting year. These new data mean that the ACNA...

A quick look at the news will let you know that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are on fire. International observers say that in the past five years we have seen at least 10, and possibly as many as 15 wars or significant armed conflicts in the region. They include wars in Gaza, Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and elsewhere. These conflicts have left at least 200,000 people dead. But these wars are not the whole story. I was in London last week at a conference of church leaders from the regi...

On today’s program, Life Surge is close to reaching a settlement in a wage lawsuit. A former salesperson for the ministry says the company wrongfully classified him as an independent contractor to avoid paying overtime. We’ll have details. Plus, a host of Christian influencers are rallying behind popular blogger and podcaster Samuel Sey after he was detained by ICE. Supporters are blaming a clerical error, but DHS says Sey will likely be deported. We’ll take a look. And, multi-site churches ar...

A couple of years ago, Warren Cole Smith had a conversation with Charlie Peacock. Warren is away on a reporting trip, and Charlie has a new book out, a novel, called Once Concealed, Now Revealed. So we thought it would be the perfect time to have an “encore performance” of that interview. If you heard it the first time, it’s worth a repeat. If this is your first time, enjoy a conversation with one of Christian music’s most thoughtful artists. Here are the original show notes: Charlie Peacock i...

On today’s program, popular megachurch pastor Andy Stanley is stepping down from his role at North Point Community Church, which he’s led for 31 years. He said he’s stepping back from his job — but not from ministry. We’ll have details. And, Liberty University and Bethel University are among Christian colleges offering specialized programs for students with intellectual disabilities. We’ll take a look. Plus, an almost 200-year-old church burned to the ground last week — and investigators belie...

Here are some resources mentioned in today’s podcast episode: You can watch Roland Warren give his melancholy assessment of the current state of abortion in America here. The turmoil at Christianity Today continues. Now, the mess has made its way into the New York Times. Reporter Ruth Graham does not break any news here. Most of what she covers Warren wrote about two weeks ago here. Columnist and provocateur Rod Dreher is always interesting and often helpful. In his latest column he laments t...

Museum of the Bible has faced its share of challenges since opening in Washington, D.C., in 2017. We have chronicled some of them here at MinistryWatch. But under the leadership of Carlos Campo, the institution is writing a new chapter. A veteran of Christian higher education, Campo became the museum’s president and CEO in June 2024. I interviewed him for the podcast then, and in that podcast we covered a lot of his biography and some of the challenges he would be facing in his new role. And…I’...

On today’s program, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa — the original Calvary Chapel — just settled a sexual abuse lawsuit for $12 million. We’ll have details. Plus, a Facebook post is raising questions about Christian radio stations and the ministries they promote. And, Southern Baptist seminaries see a new generation of leaders take the helm. Southeastern Seminary installed a new president earlier this week. But first, a big win for pastors who opted out of Social Security years ago and now wish the...

The following is a transcript of today’s podcast episode: Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. 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.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren Operation Blessing, an international humanitarian organization, is on the ground in Florida providing hot me...

On today’s extra episode, Warren Smith talks about the recent round of layoffs — and other challenges — facing Christianity Today. He also talks about why we should all care about them. The producer of today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, Sean Feucht Ministries faces an amended lawsuit claiming he continued seeking donations for something that was already fully funded. We’ll have details. And, from war zones to politics — the leader of a ministry who has worked in some of the world’s hardest places is now shifting his focus to domestic issues — both in his ministry’s mission and his run for Colorado governor. Plus, scandal-ridden televangelist Jim Bakker, dies at 86. But first, a South Lake Tahoe mayor now f...

On today’s EXTRA episode, Christina Darnell and Warren Smith discuss news of the week that is “MinistryWatch Adjacent,” including Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week. Resources mentioned in today’s episode include: Trey’s Law (SB 30), signed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this year, applies to civil settlement agreements signed on or after October 1, 2026. This new Alabama law now ensures survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking cannot be lawfully silenced in its state’s civil courts. The ...

Bonnie Kristian is a journalist, author and deputy editor at Christianity Today whose work has appeared in publications including The Week, The New York Times and Politico. She came to journalism while studying theology at an evangelical seminary, and that combination of theological training and journalistic experience has shaped much of her work. Her new book, In Defense of Evangelicalism: A Response to Its Cultured Despisers, makes a provocative argument: Evangelicalism has serious problems, ...

On today’s program, Tim Tebow and Pastor Craig Groeschel are among some big names suspending ties with Life Surge amid claims the Christian finance ministry pressured people at their events to take on thousands in debt. We’ll have details. Plus, two Christian media ministries are clashing over the word “Hope” — and are battling their trademark claims in court. We’ll take a look. And, a judge has dismissed most of the claims in former professor David Sill’s case against the Southern Baptist Con...

Here are resources mentioned in today’s episode: Ryan Burge makes a compelling case that Black Protestants and White Evangelicals have much more in common with each other than either group has with other religious traditions. Warren wrote an article last week for Christianity Today. It is the story of one of my friends and mentors, Jim Kilgo, and his humorous first meeting with the writer Annie Dillard, who died on Sept. 15. You can find it here. A new Murmuration survey finds that nearly thr...

In the early 1990s, Mark Whitacre appeared to have everything a young corporate executive could want: an Ivy League doctorate, wealth, prestige and a rapidly rising career at Archer Daniels Midland. By age 32, he was president of ADM’s BioProducts division, and by 35 he was a corporate vice president and a candidate to become the company’s president. Then his life unraveled. On today’s extra episode, Warren Smith shares Whitacre’s story – and lessons we can all learn from it. To read a transc...

On today’s program, the college founded by Doug Wilson is in a zoning battle with the city of Moscow, Idaho — and it may be part of a larger trend. We’ll have details. And, a new credentialing program looks to close the gap in the world of anti-trafficking — equipping survivors to support other survivors. We’ll take a look. Plus, Liberty University reclaims the top spot as the biggest user of private aircraft — it’s our latest edition of Pastors & Planes. But first, a Christian recovery ministr...

Bad behavior comes from all directions. We are, after all, human. So no institution is immune from The Fall. That said, a lot of the stories we cover that include scandal or fraud seem to come from those who advocate for The Prosperity Gospel. Today, Christina and Warren point you to a great resource to learn more about this branch of evangelical Christianity. We also take a close look at Dolly Parton’s philanthropy. A new study by the Independent Sector shows nonprofit organizations remain th...

The uber-rich support the strangest things. Between 2001 and 2004, one of the Home Depot founders, Bernie Marcus, gave $255 million to fund the Georgia Aquarium. Joan Kroc gave $200 million to fund National Public Radio in 2003. Even in the Christian realm, I sometimes scratch my head. Donors to the He Gets Us campaign have spent an estimated $775 million.(Between 2021–2024: $429.8 million spent by the Signatry/Servant Foundation on He Gets Us, according to IRS disclosures. In 2024, the operati...

On today’s program, Southern Baptist seminary leader Al Mohler walks back statements he made in support of blasphemy laws — which would mean punishing people for denying God’s role in the foundation of America. We’ll have details. Plus, Sean Feucht succeeds in getting a lawsuit against him dismissed — for now. We’ll take a look. And, ministry leaders overestimate revenue growth — and underestimate declines. We’ll go over results from our latest survey of ministry executives. But first, Warren...

Below is a script for today’s podcast. Links to resources mentioned in the episode are included in the script. Christina Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. 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.” So, Warren, what’s up first? Warren The trial of Anglican Archbishop Steve Wood concluded ...

Today we’re talking with Dylan Novak, a man who has built an unusual career at the intersection of evangelism, celebrity culture, and social media. Novak is an evangelist who has become known for taking the Christian message into places where traditional evangelism rarely goes—particularly into the world of entertainment. He has developed relationships with actors, musicians, athletes, influencers and other public figures, using those relationships as opportunities to talk openly about Jesus Ch...

On today’s program, the Anglican Church in North America faces its first ever trial of a sitting archbishop. He is accused of abuse of church power and sexual immorality. We’ll have details. And, the Global Methodist Church — who split off from the United Methodist Church four years ago — just wrapped up its second General Conference. We’ll take a look. Plus, a new study finds that Southern Baptist pastor pay has stalled since 2024 — and almost two-thirds of churches don’t provide medical insu...

MinistryWatch has written extensively about the troubles facing Christian higher education. On today’s program, we discuss new data from on college enrollment. Our conclusion: these new data – which show a slight increase in enrollment — are interesting, they do not erase the very real troubles facing higher education in the years ahead. Here are some link to resources mentioned in today’s podcast: “Rumors of Christian higher education’s (CHE’s) demise have been greatly exaggerated,” so says P...