On today’s program, the Trump administration cancels grants to refugee aid agencies…despite legal battles. We’ll take a look.

And, a staggering 30 percent of nonprofits don’t survive a full decade—but when they go under, what happens to their assets? Our finance writer Shannon Cuthrell digs into the hidden risks and loopholes of nonprofit dissolutions.

And, we’ve released our MinistryWatch list of the 50 Christian ministries receiving the largest government grants.

 But first, the U-S Department of Justice has intervened on behalf of a Pennsylvania church trying to expand.

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, Jack Jenkins, Yonat Shimron, Jessica Eturralde, Shannon Cuthrell, Tony Mator, Bruce Buursma, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT: 

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren:

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Natasha: 

And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Warren:

On today’s program, the Trump administration cancels grants to refugee aid agencies…despite legal battles. We’ll take a look.

And, a staggering 30 percent of nonprofits don’t survive a full decade—but when they go under, what happens to their assets? Our finance writer Shannon Cuthrell digs into the hidden risks and loopholes of nonprofit dissolutions.

And, we’ve released our MinistryWatch list of the 50 Christian ministries receiving the largest government grants.

Natasha:

But first, the U-S Department of Justice has intervened on behalf of a Pennsylvania church trying to expand.

Warren:

On March 3, the Justice Department section for the Western District of Pennsylvania filed a statement of interest supporting the Hope Rising Community Church in its lawsuit against the Borough of Clarion.

The church has outgrown its current facilities and wants to expand using a facility in the city’s commercial district. While Clarion allows nonreligious assemblies in the commercial district, such as theaters, the city would not approve the church’s zoning use variance request. Officials from the city allegedly said they didn’t “need any more churches” because of the loss of property taxes.

Natasha:

Hope Rising Community Church filed its lawsuit in November alleging the city was violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a federal law that protects houses of worship from discrimination in zoning.

When Clarion filed a motion to dismiss the church’s claim, the Justice Department intervened.

Warren:

The city argued the church had not suffered any concrete injury as a result of Clarion’s actions, the DOJ argued that the city’s zoning code has “stymied [the church’s] efforts to buy and develop the only suitable property for the church in Clarion.”

As of March 2024, the DOJ had opened over 155 formal investigations and filed nearly 30 lawsuits related to RLUIPA’s Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) land use provisions, and had filed 36 “friend-of-the-court” briefs addressing the interpretation and application of RLUIPA in privately-filed lawsuits.

Natasha:

Next, The Trump Administration cancels grants to refugee aid agencies.

Warren:

President Donald Trump’s administration is making moves to shutter a decades-old partnership between the government and a group of mostly religious organizations to resettle refugees, with the State Department abruptly canceling grant agreements with all the agencies despite ongoing legal battles.

On Wednesday (Feb. 26), refugee resettlement organizations, such as Church World Service, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, say they received “termination notification” letters from the State Department.

Natasha:

Myal Greene, the president of World Relief, an evangelical Christian ministry said, “With the cancellation of World Relief and other Resettlement Agency agreements, this is effectively ending a 45 year, bi-partisan, refugee resettlement program with the stroke of a pen.”

Warren:

The letters come as the government is involved in two separate lawsuits over the president’s decision to freeze the refugee program via an executive order signed his first day in office.

On Wednesday, Church World Service, HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), and Lutheran Community Services Northwest won a victory over the Trump administration in their lawsuit, known as Pacito v. Trump, with a federal judge blocking the president’s order and calling Trump’s actions a “nullification of congressional will.”

According to The Associated Press, the judge argued from the bench that the president does not have “limitless” authority over refugee admissions, noting the law establishing the program was passed by Congress.

Natasha:

Later in the program, we’ll take a look at Christian ministries receiving the largest government grants. But now, the wife of slain missionary Beau Shroyer, has officially been charged as a “co-author” in his murder.

Warren:

Jackie Shroyer, who was arrested in October 2024 in Angola, Africa, for the alleged murder of her missionary husband Beau Shroyer, has now been formally charged as a "co-author" in his death.

For three years, Beau and Jackie Shroyer and their five children had lived in the "remote bush" of Angola. On October 25, police found Beau Shroyer brutally stabbed to death in his vehicle outside Lubango, where the family lived in a walled compound.

Jackie Shroyer's statements at the scene sparked police suspicion that Beau's slaying was an organized plot involving three men paid to kill him. They began an investigation, alleging that Jackie might have been the mastermind.

Natasha:

What did they uncover in the investigation?

Warren:

During their investigation, detectives gained "strong suspicion" to believe Jackie was having an affair with one of the men—the family’s security guard.

Jackie allegedly offered the men $50,000 to kill her husband by luring him to a secluded location and stabbing him to death.

According to the statement, Jackie will remain in custody and will now face trial before a judge. A court date is expected to take place within the next six months.

Natasha:

Up next, A Kanakuk Kamps sexual abuse survivor can continue his lawsuit, according to a Missouri judge.

Warren:

On February 27, Judge Jessica Kruse denied the motions to dismiss and will allow Andrew Summersett’s case to continue against Kanakuk and ACE Insurance Company.

Summersett filed suit in June 2024 alleging fraud and fraudulent concealment, claiming Kanakuk and its leaders intentionally omitted critical information and made misrepresentations that prevented Summersett from pursuing his claim for bodily injury against them.

Natasha:

Can you give us a little more background to this story?

Warren:

Summersett, now 37, claims he was abused by former Kanakuk camp director Peter Newman in 2001 and 2002. He allegedly told Jamie Jo (Braner) Johnson and Andrew Braner, former directors of Kanakuk Colorado, about the abuse in 2009.

Johnson allegedly told him she did not know about them, while Andrew Braner warned Summersett against making “a mess of this,” and saying “now [was] not a good time to talk.” He also told Summersett to “back off, given the circumstances,” the court filings claim.

Kanakuk asserted that Summersett’s claim for fraud was time barred by the statute of limitations and ought to be dismissed.

Summersett asserted that he is alleging in his lawsuit that Kanakuk concealed its knowledge of Newman’s conduct.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, when a nonprofit closes its doors, what happens to its funds?

I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.

 

BREAK

 

SECOND SEGMENT

Natasha:

Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Next, the story we promised before the break.

Warren:

Despite amassing billions of dollars in charitable contributions every year, a surprising number of nonprofits (about 30%) don’t survive beyond a decade. With 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations operating in the United States today, this churn amounts to thousands of nonprofits dying on an annual basis.

Natasha:

So what’s the legal framework governing nonprofit dissolutions?

Warren:

Tax-exempt organizations are legally required to follow a structured dissolution process, which includes settling their outstanding debts and filing a final Form 990 tax return detailing their asset distribution plans. In notifying the Internal Revenue Service of their closure, nonprofits must disclose a description and fair market value for each disposed asset, the recipient(s), dates, and transaction fees.

​When a nonprofit organization dissolves, IRS Code 501(c)(3) requires that its remaining assets be allocated exclusively to another charitable entity or a federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. Organizations are also prohibited from distributing any property to individuals, including board members, employees, or volunteers, during the dissolution phase. ​In some cases, nonprofits may pay outstanding salaries or debts to individuals before closure, but surplus assets cannot be distributed as a windfall.

Natasha:

In a recent trend, some Nonprofits are Converting Into For-Profit Businesses

Warren:

Some nonprofits choose to restructure as for-profit entities rather than dissolve,...

Bruce Bruinsma believes that 30 years is a long time to do nothing. He also says that this is precisely what a lot of Christian retirees do.

The average lifespan of an American is about 78 years. But if that’s average, many live much longer. About 2 percent of Americans – more than 6 million people – are 85 or older. And more than 50 percent of Americans retire before the age of 65.

Bruinsma believes we need a retirement reformation. We need to create an expectation that older people can make vital contributions to our churches, to Christian ministries, and to our communities. We shouldn’t segregate them in their own Sunday school classes, or send them off on Christian themed bus trips. They should play an active, leadership role in our churches.

Promoting this message is what he has done with his retirement. Bruce Bruinsma is 83 years old, and still full steam ahead with ministry work. It was a pleasure to talk with him about why and how we can create a retirement reformation.

To learn more about his organization, Retirement Reformation, just go to RetirementReformation.org

On today’s program, Dr. Burk Parsons of Ligonier Ministries has been suspended from pastoral duties at St. Andrew’s Chapelwhere he is senior pastor. He is now under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery. We’ll have details.

And, Elevation Church has fired its youth pastor amid allegations of sexual misconduct from a decade ago. We’ll take a look.

Also, after 16 months of wrangling and civil suits, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania has officially left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

But first, a former Liberty University employee is suing the school for discrimination and retaliation.

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, Bethany Starin, Jessica Eturralde, Yonat Shimron, Aaron Earls, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT: 

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren: 

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Natasha:

And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Warren: 

On today’s program, Dr. Burk Parsons of Ligonier Ministries has been suspended from pastoral duties at St. Andrew’s Chapel, where he is senior pastor. He is now under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery. We’ll have details.

And, Elevation Church has fired its youth pastor amid allegations of sexual misconduct from a decade ago. We’ll take a look.

Also, after 16 months of wrangling and civil suits, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania has officially left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Natasha:

But first, a former Liberty University employee is suing the school for discrimination and retaliation.

Warren:

A former professor and investigator at Liberty University has filed a federal lawsuit against the school and its leaders for discrimination and retaliation under Title IX, the Uniformed Services Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Law.

Peter Brake is a Liberty graduate and an attorney who served for over 20 years as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate. He was employed in 2019 as a full-time Civil Rights Investigator in Liberty’s Office of Equity and Compliance/Title IX and as an adjunct professor.

While employed at Liberty, Brake took a 3½-year leave of absence starting in January 2020 to serve active duty with the U.S. Army. He had moved to reserve military duty at this point.

Natasha:

What happened?

Warren:

According to the lawsuit, Brake’s absence was referred to by Liberty administrators as a “problem” because they were required to hold his position while he served in the U.S. Army.

Upon his return in October 2023, Brake claims he suffered discrimination in violation of the USERRA.

Brake also claims he was fired after making “good faith reports” about violations of Title IX and the Clery Act at Liberty.

Natasha:

In November 2023, Brake claims he told Liberty President Dondi Costin about the Title IX office ignoring grievance procedure requirements, noting that some cases had been sitting idle for a year without resolution.

Warren:

In an email exchange with Costin, Costin allegedly assured Brake that “your leadership understands that retaliation is not allowed around here, so don’t give that possibility another thought.”

After Liberty reached a settlement agreement of $14 million for Clery Act violations, Brake said he reported more violations. He was then allegedly subjected to a “humiliating and unusual interrogation” by Liberty’s human resources department and other harassment.

In May, Brake filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education against Liberty and filed a Title IX complaint. Brake was fired in June.

Brake is seeking damages to his physical well-being, and his reputation, loss of career opportunities, lost wages and benefits, plus attorney’s costs and fees.

Natasha:

Next, St. Andrew’s Chapel has suspended its pastor

Warren:

Dr. Burk Parsons, senior pastor at St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, and a teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries, has been indicted by a commission of the Central Florida Presbytery and is currently suspended from his duties at St. Andrew’s as he awaits the resolution of the case.

Natasha:

In January, MinistryWatch reported that Parsons was under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery for potential violations of two ordination vows.

Warren:

Now, the commission has informed Parsons that he was indicted in relation to the two vows. The presbytery commission also suspended Parsons from his duties of teaching, preaching, and administering the sacraments as a teaching elder at St. Andrew’s Chapel, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

In an email to the congregation, the board of elders, known as a session, of St. Andrew’s said it is supporting Parsons through the trial process.

The email did not provide any details about what actions prompted the indictment or when the trial will take place.

Natasha:

Next, news from Elevation church.

Warren:

The Charlotte-based megachurch Elevation Church fired its youth pastor, Tim Somers, in late February for alleged sexual misconduct.

Somers’ accused misconduct is with students in the youth ministry of Oaks Church in Red Oaks, Texas, where he served more than 10 years ago.

A spokesperson for Elevation Church told The Christian Post that, “As soon as Elevation learned about these allegations, we reached out to local Texas authorities and immediately placed Tim on leave. “No charges have been filed.”

It is still an open investigation, local police are still sifting through the case and are not releasing any information.

Natasha:

Next, a prominent Durham, North Carolina, megachurch is suing its local government after county commissioners rejected its rezoning request to build a new regional campus in a rural area.

Warren:

The Summit Church, led by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear, claims Chatham County’s decision violates federal law by discriminating against a religious organization.

In the federal complaint, which spans more than 700 pages including exhibits, The Summit Church alleges the county breached the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by denying its plan to construct an 82,000-square-foot facility on a 100-acre parcel once approved for a retirement community. The proposal included a 1,200-seat auditorium, 500-plus parking spaces, a sports court, a children’s play area, and a large grass field.

Natasha:

Why were they denied?

Warren:

County commissioners and some community members opposed the development, describing The Summit Church as a “megachurch” that clashed with the rural character outlined in Plan Chatham, the county’s official land-use guide.

Natasha:

The documents add that other segments designated by the plan do not mention churches as a desired land use. The church contends the county unfairly relied on these guidelines to reject its rezoning applications, imposing what it calls a “substantial burden” on its mission to place a thriving evangelical church within fifteen minutes of every resident in the Triangle area.

Warren:

The Triad Business Journal reported that Chatham County Attorney Bob Hagemann has denied any hostility toward religious institutions, saying the county will respond to the legal complaint “through normal legal processes.” The county has until March 7 to answer The Summit Church’s motion for a preliminary injunction, which asks a judge to compel approval of the rezoning and site plan.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, after a lengthy battle, a Pennsylvania church splits from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.

 

BREAK

 

SECOND SEGMENT

Natasha:

Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Next, the story we promised before the break.

Warren:

After 16 months and two civil lawsuits, a church in western Pennsylvania has officially split from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).

Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church began its effort to disaffiliate from the EPC in October 2023 with a congregational meeting. It held its final vote on January 26, 2025, with 88% of members voting in favor of disaffiliation. However, the church had to wait until the February presbytery meeting to see if the EPC would acknowledge their removal.

The Presbytery of the Alleghenies, the division of the EPC that had jurisdiction over Beverly Heights, met on Saturday, February 15. It voted to “acknowledge the departure” of Beverly Heights from the EPC once it received confirmation that the civil suits and complaints to the EPC’s general assembly had been withdrawn.

Natasha:

Why was this process so messy?

Warren:

Roger Rumer, chair of the presbytery’s administrative commission involved in the Beverly Heights dispute, called the interactions with the church “very unusual” and said the presbytery found the leaders’ actions to be improper and unconstitutional. Because the presbytery believes Beverly Heights did not follow the proper process for dismissal, the EPC acknowledged their departure but did not “dismiss” them.

Beverly Heights pastor Nate Devlin told MinistryWatch, “We are grieved over this separation, but we believe it was necessary due to the rapid theological and progressive drift of the denomination. More than that, we are appalled that it took two years and two civ

Over the past two weeks I have traveled to Southern California and Colorado Springs – two areas that have long been considered evangelical “hot spots.” Some have even irreverently called Colorado Springs the evangelical “mecca.” That trip impressed on me that even in the arena of ministry headquarters, a sense of place matters.

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

Charlie Peacock is a Billboard chart-topping, six-time Grammy Award-winning music producer whose recordings now exceed 25 million album sales. Billboard named him one of the 500 most important producers in popular music history.

He has held executive positions at EMI and SONY/ATV and he founded the Universal Music Group imprint re:think. He helped launch The Lone Bellow, Switchfoot, and The Civil Wars. And now, he has a new book, Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music.

These credentials make Charlie podcast-worthy in just about any format that is interested in the intersection of Christianity and pop culture. But one of the reasons I wanted to have Charlie on the program today is that he’s one of the most thoughtful guys I know when it comes to issues of fame and its pitfalls, vocation and work, and creativity. It was a special treat for me to get to spend this time with Charlie Peacock, and I hope you find it special, too.

Charlie spoke to me from his studio in Nashville.

He has a new book, Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music. I highly recommend it.

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

On today’s program, another congregation is leaving the Hillsong fold…leaving only 5 Hillsong churches in the U-S. We’ll have details.

And, T.D. Jakes filed an affidavit in response to allegations that he made sexual advances toward two other ministers decades ago. We’ll take a look.

Plus, the Presbyterian Church in America issued an apology and removed a webpage with advice on how immigrants can avoid being detained.

But first, after months of turmoil, Calvary Chapel Cary in North Carolina is closing. Months after Calvary Chapel Cary discovered its lead pastor, Rodney Finch, had secretly listed the church for sale, the 9.8-acre property in Apex, North Carolina, is back on the market, and weekly services have ceased. The real estate scandal was not Finch’s first controversy. Rather, it brought to a boil years of tensions and demands for greater transparency and accountability.

 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 Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, Jessica Eturralde, Adele Banks, Marci Seither, Bob Smietana, and Christina Darnell.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT: 

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren:

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you today from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Natasha:

And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Warren:

On today’s program, another congregation is leaving the Hillsong fold…leaving only 5 Hillsong churches in the U-S. We’ll have details.

And, T.D. Jakes filed an affidavit in response to allegations that he made sexual advances toward two other ministers decades ago. We’ll take a look.

Plus, the Presbyterian Church in America issued an apology and removed a webpage with advice on how immigrants can avoid being detained.

Natasha:

But first, after months of turmoil, Calvary Chapel Cary in North Carolina is closing.

Warren:

Months after Calvary Chapel Cary discovered its lead pastor, Rodney Finch, had secretly listed the church for sale, the 9.8-acre property in Apex, North Carolina, is back on the market, and weekly services have ceased.

The real estate scandal was not Finch’s first controversy. Rather, it brought to a boil years of tensions and demands for greater transparency and accountability.

Natasha:

As MinistryWatch previously reported, Finch hid a years’ long drug addiction and pushed the board to secretly cover $50,000 of a luxury rehabilitation program with church funds.

Warren:

But then he left the program early without telling anyone. Between 2012 and 2017, he aggressively solicited restricted funds to build a new church, but the work was never started, and funds were secretly put toward other purposes.

In addition, Finch has faced multiple abuse allegations by family members.

Natasha:

Next, another church is splitting from Hillsong

Warren:

Hillsong San Francisco is splitting from Hillsong Church and becoming an independent congregation, Hillsong Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley announced during the online broadcast Sunday, Feb. 16.

Natasha:

Since 2020, 11 churches have left the Hillsong fold as scandals have emerged involving multiple Hillsong leaders. Only five Hillsong congregations remain in the U.S.: New York City, Boston, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Orange County.

Warren:

Hillsong founder Brian Houston resigned in 2022 following the discovery of inappropriate texts sent to a staff member and time he had spent in a woman’s hotel room during a conference.

Houston was also accused of lavish spending and misuse of funds. In December 2023, he and his wife Bobbie announced plans to launch a new church.

Carl Lentz, who led Hillsong NYC, was fired in 2020 after he admitted to an extramarital affair. In May 2023, Lentz announced he is “no longer in ministry.”

Another Hillsong pastor, Reed Bogard, who led the Dallas Hillsong Church, was accused of engaging in an extramarital affair with a junior staff member. He resigned in 2021.

Natasha:

Let’s look at one more story before our break – what do you have?

Warren:

On February 10, police arrested four individuals connected with allegations of child abuse at Maranatha Christian School (MCS) in Florence, South Carolina.

The Florence County Sheriff's Office alleges that on January 23, daycare worker Laurin Boyce, 73, “intentionally and repeatedly assaulted a child by slamming the head of the child into the crib, covering the child’s head with a blanket, pressing down on the child’s head for a length of time and also dragging the child out of the room.”

Detectives further allege that nearly a week later, Boyce approached a child on the playground, knocked the child over, and then picked them up by the arm and leg before intentionally dropping them from waist height onto their head.

Natasha:

Who else was arrested?

Warren:

Two nursery workers, Jessica Elmore, 33, and Dawn Kirven, 42, have been charged with Failure to Report Child Abuse/Neglect. Police also charged Lee B. Patrick, 54, pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church — which is affiliated with the school — with Failure to Report Child Abuse/Neglect and Criminal Conspiracy.

Natasha:

Do we know what happened to these individuals?

Warren:

On Tuesday, February 12, a judge set bond at $6,000 each for Patrick, Elmore, and Kirven and prohibited them from supervising schoolchildren. The judge later amended the order, allowing Patrick to preach at First Free Will Baptist Church on Sunday mornings while maintaining his restriction from involvement with the school.

All four suspects have an initial court appearance scheduled for April 2.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, T-D Jakes maintains his innocence after two brothers accuse him of sexual misconduct.

I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.

 

BREAK

 

SECOND SEGMENT

Natasha:

Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Next, the story we promised before the break.

Warren:

Dallas megachurch pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes continued to deny claims by two other ministers who have accused him of sexual misconduct, describing the accusers in a newly filed affidavit as “bullies” and himself as the victim of a scheme to “destroy” him.

Two men, the brothers Duane and Richard Youngblood, allege that Jakes made sexual advances decades ago, when he was pastor of a church in West Virginia.

Natasha:

Jakes’ legal team filed a defamation suit against Duane Youngblood in November.

Warren:

Friday’s filings came in response to a January motion to dismiss the defamation suit by Duane Youngblood, a Pennsylvania man who made his allegations against Jakes in two 2024 interviews on the “Larry Reid Live” YouTube talk show.

Natasha:

How did Jake’s’ respond?

Warren:

Jakes and his legal team responded to the allegations by noting that Duane Youngblood has felony convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors and said Richard Youngblood’s “story surfaced only after I declined to hire him due to his lack of qualifications.” Jakes said the request from Richard Youngblood occurred about 10 years ago.

Duane Youngblood, who described T.D. Jakes as a groomer, alleged that Jakes had offered to take care of the then-teenager financially “for life,” but Jakes and his team maintained that at the time of the alleged incident, the elder minister could not have afforded to make that offer.

“During that period, I was barely keeping my own family out of poverty,” Jakes wrote. “I was not the ‘Bishop TD Jakes’ of today. I was a pastor with no substantial following, and no financial resources.”

Natasha:

The filings also include a Nov. 15 letter in which Duane Youngblood’s lawyer, Tyrone Blackburn, requested an “opening settlement demand of six million dollars” to resolve Youngblood’s claims against Jakes.

Warren:

They also note that Duane Youngblood has created a website where Youngblood may be booked as a speaker, coach or to present webinars on overcoming trauma. Jakes also claims Youngblood has plans for a forthcoming book that is, as Jakes stated, a “‘tell-all’ about me.”

Jakes’ representatives declined to respond to questions from RNS about the legal filings, citing it as “an ongoing legal matter,” but said he is continuing to recuperate from the medical incident.

Natasha:

Next, North Carolina supreme Court Upholds ‘Look Back’ Window of SAFE Child Act

Warren: 

On January 31, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld the state’s 2019 SAFE Child Act as constitutional.

The constitutionality of the law’s “look back” window had been challenged by the Gaston County Board of Education.

Natasha:

The look back period is a two-year window allowing child abuse survivors, who would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations, a chance to sue in civil court. The look back window ended on December 31, 2021.

Warren:

In its opinion, penned by Chief Justice Paul Newby, the court said there is no “constitutionally protected vested right” in the running of a tort claim’s statute of limitations that prohibits the legislature from reviving the otherwise time-barred claim.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in a press statement. “By upholding the SAFE Child Act’s lookback window today, the North Carolina Supreme Court acknowledged what we know to be true: it can take years for people to process the trauma of childhood abuse and victims should have the opportunity to hold their abusers accountable in court,” He said the ruling is “a continued charge to the rest of us to do everything we c

Last week, on my trip to Southern California, I learned about a model for collaboration and funding ministries that is slowing growing across the country.

That model is the brainchild of The Barnabas Group. That’s a group of Christian businesspeople and philanthropists – called “partners” who pay $2100 a year to be a part of the group. Those dues pay for quarterly meetings where the partners gather to hear Christian ministries tell their story. Over the past 25 years, The Barnabas Group has helped more than a thousand Christian ministries learn the power of having a network.

On today’s program, two former leaders from Archegos Capital Management have dropped their financial claims against disgraced Christian philanthropist Bill Hwang. Why did they drop out, and what does that mean for the other staff members hoping to collect $32 million? We’ll have details.

And, the controversial ‘He Gets Us’ ads showcased its message again at Sunday’s Super Bowl game. After critics last year labeled the ads too political, this year’s version was decidedly less so. We’ll take a look.

Plus, Mission Aviation Fellowship co-founder Jack Hemmings dies at 103…in 2024, he became the oldest pilot to fly a spitfire.

But first, a second minister is accusing megachurch pastor and author T.D. Jakes of sexual abuse.

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 Adelle Banks, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Marissa Greene, Mark A. Kellner, Kim Roberts, Zach Rivas, Aaron Earls, Brittany Smith—and you, Warren.

A special thanks to Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week’s podcast.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT: 

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren:

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you today from Newport Beach, California.

Natasha:

And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Warren:

On today’s program, two former leaders from Archegos Capital Management have dropped their financial claims against disgraced Christian philanthropist Bill Hwang. Why did they drop out, and what does that mean for the other staff members hoping to collect $32 million? We’ll have details.

And, the controversial ‘He Gets Us’ ads showcased its message again at Sunday’s Super Bowl game. After critics last year labeled the ads too political, this year’s version was decidedly less so. We’ll take a look.

Plus, Mission Aviation Fellowship co-founder Jack Hemmings dies at 103…in 2024, he became the oldest pilot to fly a spitfire.

Natasha:

But first, a second minister is accusing megachurch pastor and author T-D Jakes of sexual abuse.

Warren:

The Rev. Richard Edwin Youngblood, the brother of a minister who has accused Bishop T.D. Jakes of sexual misconduct, has made his own accusation against Jakes, claiming the Texas megachurch leader climbed into bed with him on a church business trip.

The claims were made in a legal filing responding to a defamation lawsuit Jakes brought in November against Youngblood’s younger brother, Duane Youngblood, a Pennsylvania man who made allegations against Jakes in two 2024 interviews.

Natasha:

What was that lawsuit about?

Warren:

Jakes’ suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, includes denials by Jakes that Jakes tried to groom and sexually abuse him. The suit also said the younger Youngblood is a parolee after convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors.

Duane Youngblood has sought a court’s dismissal of Jakes’ suit.

Richard Youngblood was among six people who signed sworn affidavits included in the January filing that testified that they had heard Duane Youngblood describe the alleged misconduct by Jakes.

Natasha:

Next, a case has been dropped against Bill Hwang.

The hard task of discerning victims from victimizers continues in a fraud case that shook two typically unrelated worlds—Wall Street and Christian ministry.

Warren:

In late January, two former Archegos Capital Management leaders withdrew their bids against company founder Bill Hwang. They were among about 20 staff members seeking to collect $32 million of a more than $9 billion judgment against Hwang.

Natasha:

Bloomberg reports that Archegos’ former co-CEO Andy Mills and trader Daiki Taniguchi dropped out after government prosecutors characterized them and a third claimant, analyst David Park, as participants in, rather than victims of, fraud.

Warren:

Last year, MinistryWatch covered Bill Hwang’s conviction of wire fraud, securities fraud, racketeering and market manipulation that led to massive Wall Street losses. About $100 billion vanished in a week in a stock market fraud. Banks that had given loans to Archegos lost $10 billion, while Archegos itself lost $36 billion.

Natasha:

In November, Manhattan U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein sentenced Hwang to 18 years in prison, plus 3 years of supervised release.

Warren:

The judge declined the defense’s pleas for leniency on account of Hwang’s alleged Christian character and the good work he had done through his charity, the Grace & Mercy Foundation. His charity had supported numerous Christian ministries, such as Prison Fellowship, the Salvation Army and Fuller Theological Seminary, where Hwang served on the board of trustees.

Neither Mills, Taniguchi nor Park were charged with crimes. However, in a Jan. 21 court filing obtained by Bloomberg, prosecutors said, “In the days leading up to Archegos’s collapse, Mills joined numerous other employees in misleading Archegos’s counterparties about its financial condition.”

Mills’ attorney Paul Fishman disputed that characterization, calling it “inflammatory and misleading,” and insisted Mills had chosen to drop his claim “in light of the limited funds available for other ACM employees seeking restitution.”

Natasha:

Wheaton College is in the news:

Warren:

On Friday (Feb. 7), Wheaton College, the evangelical Christian school outside Chicago, publicly congratulated Russell Vought, a conservative activist and architect of Project 2025 who attended the school, for his confirmation by the U.S. Senate as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Within hours, hundreds of Vought’s fellow alumni had complained that Vought’s agenda contradicted the values they had been taught at Wheaton.

By Saturday morning, the college had deleted the post, and a new social media barrage, this time from Vought’s supporters, had begun.

Natasha:

The college has defended its original post, and its subsequent pivot, as “deliberately non-partisan,” as its institutional commitments specify.

Warren:

The now-deleted social media post on Friday said, “Wheaton College congratulates and prays for 1998 graduate Russell Vought regarding his senatorial confirmation to serve as the White House Director of the Office of Management and Budget!”

Natasha:

The comment and deletion caused a stir.

Warren:

In an email to RNS, Wheaton College spokesperson Joseph Moore said, “The social media post led to more than 1,000 hostile comments, primarily incendiary, unchristian comments about Mr. Vought, in just a few hours,” wrote Moore. “It was not our intention to embroil the College or Mr. Vought in a political discussion or dispute. Thus, we removed the post, rather than allow it to become an ongoing online distraction.”

Wheaton alumnus Eric Teetsel, chief executive officer of the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank founded by Vought in 2021 and credited for advising on Project 2025, called the decision an “act of cowardice.”

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, ‘He Gets Us’ ads return to Super Bowl 59.

I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.

 

BREAK

 

SECOND SEGMENT

Natasha:

Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Next, the story we promised before the break.

Warren:

Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, game day food and creative advertising — as well as those just in it for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show — were all invited to think of Christ once again during the 2025 Super Bowl.

The “He Gets Us” ad campaign aired a new commercial during the first half of the Super Bowl on Sunday (Feb. 9), marking the project’s third consecutive year of having a presence in the big game, with the hopes of spurring dialogue and curiosity about Jesus.

The commercials, created by Dallas-based advertising agency Lerma, include a slideshow of photos, ending with the text “He Gets Us. All of Us.”

Natasha:

Tell us about this year’s ad.

Warren:

According to a press release from Come Near, the nonprofit startup that acquired the He Gets Us project in 2024. This ad, Titled “What is Greatness?”, invited the audience to explore “what Jesus showed and said greatness is and the contrast to how culture defines greatness today,”

Ken Calwell, CEO at Come Near said, “In a society struggling with division, loneliness, and a crisis of meaning, Jesus’ life and teachings offer a countercultural path toward healing,”

Natasha:

On Sunday the “He Gets Us” website turned into a hub of content, highlighting “stories of greatness” and offering self-paced resources to “rediscover or learn more about the person and teachings of Jesus.”

Warren:

The “He Gets Us” project was originally overseen by the Servant Foundation, a Christian foundation that launched the project in 2022, with an initial effort of raising $100 million. But by 2023 — when those first Super Bowl ads premiered — the branding firm Haven had taken over the project, and its president told RNS at the time that “the goal is to invest about a billion dollars over the next three years.”

Natasha:

Next, tariffs and their implication on the cost of Bibles.

Warren:

Bible buyers in the U.S. will likely be paying more for copies of Scripture.

Any Bibles printed and bound in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will face a 10% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump.

A White House official, who spoke on background, told MinistryWatch the February 1 tariffs are designed to make the PRC blunt the flow of fentany

Conservatives, Christian conservatives in particular, have always had a troubled and inconsistent relationship with the idea of government funding flowing to non-profits and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh.

Every church should be a safe space for everyone who comes in. Every church should also be equipping people to confront the powers of darkness and help those in trouble. Unfortunately, far too many churches are unsafe internally, which leaves them unprepared to confront external dangers. An unsafe church creates a toxic environment that works against the gospel. A safe church is battle-ready to combat the worst of the world’s problems. Make My Church Safe by respected pastor, Sam Rainer, is designed to be a brief and general overview of the best practices regarding church safety for a broad audience.

Sam Rainer serves as president of Church Answers. He is the co-founder of Rainer Publishing, and he also serves as lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Southwest Florida. Sam has written hundreds of articles for several publications. He is a frequent conference speaker on church health issues. Sam holds a BS in Finance and Marketing from the University of South Carolina, an MA in Missiology from Southern Seminary, and a PhD in Leadership Studies at Dallas Baptist University.

Thanks for joining us today. If you like what you are hearing on the MinistryWatch podcast, please like and rate us on your podcast app. Or, you can go old school, and simply tell a friend.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Warren Smith, and I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for another episode of the MinistryWatch podcast.