On today’s program, families who lost children at Camp Mystic last year are suing Texas state officials for licensing the camp despite its lack of an evacuation plan. We’ll have details.

And, fundraising on commission—it may seem like a win-win scenario, but experts say the ethical issues outweigh any benefits. We’ll take a look.

Plus, the United Methodist Committee on Relief is closing down one of its central hubs where Methodists have been assembling relief kits since 1996 to send across the country after disasters.

But first, more controversy at Bethel Church in Redding, California.

The producer for today’s program is 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, Stacey Horton, Isaac Wood, David Roach, Diana Chandler, and Makella Knowles.

A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast.

Until next time, may God bless you.

I started getting emails from Elizabeth Carlock Phillips in February of 2021 – five years ago this month. She wanted to tell me about sex abuse and the coverup of abuse at Kanakuk Kamps. That conversation began MinistryWatch’s five-year journey (so far) to cover Kanakuk, Trey’s Law, the use of non-disclosure agreements in Christian environments, and related issues. In today’s episode, Warren Smith talks about the woman behind the movement.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh.

Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, a judge has denied the request of two Gateway Church elders who were seeking to be dismissed from a defamation lawsuit filed by Robert Morris’ sexual abuse victim, Cindy Clemishire. We’ll have details.

Also, three seminaries and one Christian college have partnered with Kanakuk Institute to train Christian leaders—but abuse advocates are crying foul, saying the partnership could send the wrong message, potentially glossing over Kanakuk’s checkered past.

Plus, a new study shows that despite federal funding cuts, most nonprofits are still reporting a revenue increase. And, Best Christian Workplaces champions 310 faith-based organizations.

But first, another Christian college has announced that it’s closing its doors at the end of this school year.

 Until next time, may God bless you.

Two weeks ago, I was in Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay area of California, to attend a meeting about artificial intelligence and missions. I entered the meeting with a lot of questions, and some of those questions remain – plus a few new ones.

But I also got a lot of answers, and I’m excited about what the future holds. Give a listen, and I think you will be too.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh.

Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has sued a small church in California for legal title to its property—but that small church is fighting back. We’ll have details.

 And, a hacker drained $85,000 from an Oklahoma church’s bank account. Then in North Dakota, a woman was indicted for stealing over $600,000 from a church she worked at. Both cases highlight why ordinary access to church finances can equal extraordinary losses—and the need for tightening protocols.

Also, six months ago, Barnabas Aid came under scrutiny for accusations of financial mismanagement. Now, under new leadership, the ministry is working hard to turn things around. Plus, Bible Study Fellowship prepares its new headquarters in Grapevine, Texas.

But first, Agape Flights, a Christian aviation ministry, lost contact with one of its planes last Thursday. The next day, search and rescue teams found the plane crashed in the Haitian mountains. No one on board survived the crash.

The producer for today’s program is 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 Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Scott Barkley, Jessica Eturralde, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell.

A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast.

Until next time, may God bless you.

If you have studied what it means to have a Christian worldview or – for that matter – you have just studied the Bible, you know that it all begins with the creation story. “In the beginning, God created.”

And if we are made in God’s image, that means we are creative, too, and a part of our maturity in Christ is to more fully live into that mandate to be creators. And I don’t just mean what some call “creative” professions, such as music, literature, and other arts. I mean woodworkers, homemakers, entrepreneurs, engineers, and plumbers.

We are hearing more talk about creativity in recent years. Sometimes it takes the form of organizations committed to Christians and the arts. The Rabbit Room, co-founded by Andrew Peterson is an example. The International Arts Movement, founded by Makoto Fujimura is another. Andy Crouch’s work with Praxis also comes to mind.

But I have never heard anyone approach this topic in quite the way my guest today, Jim Edwards, has. His book “To Invent is Divine” examines human creativity as it relates to property rights – all within the framework of a Judeo-Christian principles of stewardship and ownership. He looks at America’s patent system and how laws protecting intellectual property have encouraged creativity. He is also concerned, however, that those laws are eroding and the principles of intellectual property protection are weakening in an era of artificial intelligence.

Jim Edwards has a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. He has had a long career in public policy and intellectual property consulting. He was a Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, and in 2017 was honored with the Eagle Award from the Eagle Forum’s Education and Legal Defense Fund.

I had this conversation with Jim via zoom.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, WaterStone is being sued by a client who claims that the donor-advised fund cut him off from his family’s account. The results of this case could have larger implications for the rights of donors and other donor advised funds. We’ll have details.

Also, the ‘He Gets Us’ Campaign is back for the 2026 Super Bowl—but under new leadership, this year’s ad is less political, more personal. We’ll take a look.

And, a new study shows that American donors think they’re a whole lot more generous than they actually are. Plus, the Christian Broadcasting Network announced job cuts this week as part of a larger ‘workforce realignment.’

But first, The president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod was arrested last week for child pornography.

 The producer for today’s program is 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, Bob Smietana, Isaac Wood, Marci Seither, Stacey Horton, Makella Knowles, and Christina Darnell.

On today’s program, a report reveals past sexual abuse among the Christian scouting program, the Royal Rangers. Now, the Assemblies of God—who heads up the group—is being criticized for not providing adequate safeguards. We’ll have details.

And, the popular Passion Conference attracted some 60-thousand young people to its flagship event earlier this month, bringing in millions of dollars —but a deep dive into the ministry’s financials shows a lack of transparency in how that money is being used. We’ll take a look.

Plus, one week ago, tens of thousands of pro-lifers flooded the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the 2026 March for Life. But just how unified is the pro-life movement? We’ll try to answer that question.

But first, the Jesus Film has become one of the most widely viewed films ever, having been used by missionaries for decades to share the gospel. Now, the Jesus Film Project is shifting away from in-person relationships and is focusing on digital products.

 The producer for today’s program is 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 Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Stacey Horton, Diana Chandler, Jessica Eturralde, Aleja Hertzler-McCain, and Christina Darnell.

A special thanks to Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast.

Until next time, may God bless you.

This is a question that should be vital for Christians, especially since the Great Commission makes growing Christianity one of most important concerns.

But do we really know?

In today’s episode, Warren Smith says we know the answer to this question. It’s hiding in plain sight. It is this:  The church grows when we are fruitful and multiply, and when we raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

It really is as simple as that.

To read a script of today’s podcast episode, click here.

On today’s program, Cities Church in Minneapolis is considering legal options after protestors stormed its church service Sunday in response to the government’s immigration measures in the city. We’ll have details.

And, philanthropists are turning to family offices to manage their wealth—but what are they, why have they grown so much in the past decade, and how will it impact ministries? We’ll take a look.

 Plus, Missouri passed a law to hold boarding schools accountable after several were shut down over allegations of neglect and abuse. Now, another ministry is fighting that law, saying its broad requirements are infringing on its religious freedom.

But first, Apologia Church in Arizona is suing a former member for defamation. The former member made videos, claiming church leadership mishandled confidential marriage counseling information.

The producer for today’s program is 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, Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Christina Darnell, and Warren Smith.

You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.