On today’s program, the wife of slain missionary Beau Shroyer has been arrested in connection with his death—investigators suspect she hired the man she was having an affair with to kill her husband. We’ll have details.

And, a Pennsylvania church trying to disassociate from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has been charged for sharing information with MinistryWatch. We’ll take a look.

Plus, South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller—whose wife Mica Miller died by suicide earlier this year—has been hit with an assault charge just days after FBI raided his house.

But first, the Church of England head Justice Welby has resigned over his handling of a sexual abuse case. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, resigned Tuesday.

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 Danica Kirka, Jessica Eturralde, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Marissa Greene, Shannon Cuthrell, and Brittany Smith.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren: 

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

Christina:

And I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, also coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. And we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Warren: 

On today’s program, the wife of slain missionary Beau Shroyer has been arrested in connection with his death—investigators suspect she hired the man she was having an affair with to kill her husband. We’ll have details.

And, a Pennsylvania church trying to disassociate from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has been charged for sharing information with MinistryWatch. We’ll take a look.

Plus, South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller—whose wife Mica Miller died by suicide earlier this year—has been hit with an assault charge just days after FBI raided his house.

Christina: 

But first, the Church of England head Justice Welby has resigned over his handling of a sexual abuse case.

Warren: 

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion, resigned Tuesday.

The resignation came after an investigation found that he failed to tell police about serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps as soon as he became aware of it.

Pressure on Welby had been building since Thursday, when release of the inquiry’s findings kindled anger about a lack of accountability at the highest reaches of the church.

Welby’s resignation comes against the backdrop of widespread historical sexual abuse in the Church of England. A 2022 report by the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse found that the Church of England had become “a place where abusers could hide.”

Christina: 

Welby’s supporters had argued that he had been instrumental in changing the culture of the church since he became Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013.

Warren:

But it was an investigation into crimes that began long before that date that ultimately led to his downfall.

The church on Thursday released the results of an independent investigation into Smyth, who sexually, psychologically and physically abused about 30 boys and young men in the United Kingdom and 85 in Africa beginning in the 1970s.

The 251-page report of the Makin Review concluded that Welby failed to report Smyth to authorities when he was informed of the abuse in August 2013, soon after he became Archbishop of Canterbury.

Christina:

Our next story is a sad and strange tale involving American missionaries in Angola.

Warren:

Investigators suspect the wife of a slain missionary in the West African country of Angola was the "mastermind" of his killing and was having an affair with one of the men she hired to kill him. She allegedly promised him thousands of dollars in exchange for slaying her husband.

For three years, Beau and Jackie Shroyer, both 44, 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 resided in a walled compound.

Christina:

A spokesperson for Angola's Criminal Investigation Service called Jackie the "mastermind" behind his murder, which CIS discovered was an organized plot involving three men paid to kill the missionary.

Warren:

Furthermore, the spokesperson added that investigators have "strong suspicions" Jackie was having an affair with one of the men, 24-year-old Bernardino Elias, who the family had employed as a security guard.

According to police, Jackie allegedly promised to pay three men around $50,000 to kill her husband. The statement says the three men lured Beau to a remote area by pretending they were having car issues and stabbed him to death. In her statement, Jackie claimed she had stepped into the woods to use the bathroom at the time of the attack.

At the crime scene, detectives reportedly recovered an American-made knife belonging to the bodyguard. The knife had been a gift to Elias from Beau Shroyer.

Authorities suggest the alleged motive for the crime was driven by Jackie Shroyer's romantic relationship with Elias and a desire to remain in Angola, where Beau Shroyer was nearing the end of his missions work.

Beau and Jackie Shroyer have been longtime members of the Lakes Area Vineyard Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. In 2021, the couple moved to a remote Angolan village with their five children to conduct youth outreach with the evangelical mission organization SIM USA.

Lakes Area Vineyard and SIM released statements expressing sadness and grief.

Christina:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a Evangelical Presbyterian Church faces a trial later this month for talking with MinistryWatch.

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

 

BREAK

 

SECOND SEGMENT

Christina:

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

Next, the story we promised before the break.

Warren:

A congregation in western Pennsylvania is continuing its fight to leave the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) because of disagreements over “certain theological, social, and religious issues,” but the presbytery has now indicted the pastor and the elders and scheduled a trial for November 23.

Christina:

And MinistryWatch has become a part of this controversy.

Warren:

After MinistryWatch published an article about the EPC, the administrative commission (AC) of the Presbytery of the Alleghenies filed additional charges and an indictment against Pastor Nate Devlin and the Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church session (or board of elders). The trial could result in punishment ranging from admonition to excommunication.

Devlin is accused of contempt for refusing to comply with actions ordered by the AC, of slander in his social media posts calling the presbytery “tyrannical,” and of an intent to sow division and disparage the EPC when he forwarded communications to MinistryWatch to aid our reporting.

Christina:

The complaint cites Devlin’s sharing an email from the AC with MinistryWatch as “improper and a breach of the principles of I Corinthians 6.”

Warren:

MinistryWatch inquired how Devlin had violated I Corinthians 6, and AC representative Roger Rumer replied with a lengthy letter the commission sent to the presbytery’s churches explaining the ongoing charges against and interactions with Beverly Heights.

In the letter, the AC reiterated Devlin’s alleged violation of I Corinthians 6:1 as “unbecoming a pastor of the church of Jesus Christ,” but provided no explanation of how Devlin’s actions violated the verse.

The session and Devlin maintain their innocence and are preparing to plead not guilty at the trial.

Christina:

Our next story is a follow-up to the story of John-Paul and Mica Miller.

Warren:

Months after the suicide of Myrtle Beach Pastor John-Paul Miller’s wife sparked a public outcry and criminal investigation, police have filed their first charges.

But the charges don’t have anything to do with the original death. Rather, the alleged crime: tapping a protester’s hat with his cell phone.

Local news WBTW reports that on Wednesday (Nov. 6), the Solid Rock at Market Commons pastor was arrested after confronting a woman who chased him down outside his church while calling him names.

The woman, Sandra Karon, had been participating in a “Justice for Mica” protest against Miller, 44, who many blame for the April death of his wife, 30-year-old Mica Miller. She died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The protesters have been gathering every Sunday outside Solid Rock since May.

Video footage obtained by WBTW shows Miller turn around, approach Karon and point his phone in her face.

The protesters called police, who charged Miller with “assault / assault and battery 3rd degree” and released him the next day on $776 bond with a hearing scheduled for Dec. 10.

The altercation came just four days after the FBI raided and removed items from Miller’s Myrtle Beach home.

Christina:

Up next is the story of congregants at Gateway Church in Dallas. Some of them are asking that their financial contributions be returned following scandal in that megachurch.

Warren:

Katherine Leach has been attending the nondenominational North Texas congregation for the past three years. She said she tithed to the church.

Then, on June 18, Gateway’s founder and senior pastor, Robert Morris, resigned after accusations made by an Oklahoma woman named Cindy Clemishire,...

Randall Goodgame is one of my favorite people. For one thing, he is unfailingly nice, one of the nicest guys I know. And he’s enormously talented. He began his musical career while still an undergraduate in the 1990s playing keyboards for a southern rock band called Black Creek that had regional success and developed a cult following even though it released only a single live album. But, man, that album rocks. Randall’s senior thesis at Birmingham Southern College was an account of his year on the road with the band.

From there he released a couple of independent solo albums before finding success as a songwriter for such Christian artists as Andrew Peterson, Caedmon’s Call, and Jason Gray. As an artist, he toured with these artists as well as Jars of Clay.

His career took yet another turn when he collaborated with Andrew Peterson to produce a children’s album called “Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies.” This album led to more “Slugs and Bugs” albums, albums that combine a high artistic sensibility with solid biblical teaching. His album “Sing The Bible with Slugs and Bugs” takes Bible verses – not paraphrases, but word for word Scripture – and sets them to music.

The success of that album led to his latest project, “Scripture Hymnal.” Scripture Hymnal contains more than 100 Bible passages set to music. The book has sheet music, and a link to fully produced versions of every song in the book. It’s really a massive project, and one that is sure to have a big impact on the church and take its place in a growing movement of modern hymn writing we are seeing today.

It was a pleasure to talk with Randall Goodgame. We had this conversation last week, via zoom. He joined me from his studio near Nashville.

That brings to a close my interview with Randall Goodgame. His newest project is ”Scripture Hymnal.” I’ve got a copy of it myself, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

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

Article Topics

An Interview with Randall Goodgame: The Man Behind 'Scripture Hymnal'

From Southern Rock to Scripture Songs: Randall Goodgame’s Musical Evolution

On today’s program, Jason Yates—the former president of the Christian advocacy group My Faith Votes—has been charged with possession of child pornography. We’ll have details.

Plus, Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA is rallying young people to become active in politics by establishing chapters on Christian college campuses. We’ll take a look.

And, results from our quarterly survey of ministry leaders—revenue decline remains the top ministry challenge.

But first, Gateway Church has removed four of its elders over former pastor Robert Morris’ sexual abuse scandal. Four elders at Gateway Church, whose senior pastor Robert Morris stepped down earlier this year, have been removed after the results of a law firm’s investigation of sexual abuse allegations against the pastor were announced in a sermon on Sunday (Nov. 3).

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, Kathryn Post, Tony Mator, James Russell, 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 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, Jason Yates—the former president of the Christian advocacy group My Faith Votes—has been charged with possession of child pornography. We’ll have details.

Plus, Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA is rallying young people to become active in politics by establishing chapters on Christian college campuses. We’ll take a look.

And, results from our quarterly survey of ministry leaders—revenue decline remains the top ministry challenge.

Natasha:

But first, Gateway Church has removed four of its elders over former pastor Robert Morris’ sexual abuse scandal.

Warren:

Four elders at Gateway Church, whose senior pastor Robert Morris stepped down earlier this year, have been removed after the results of a law firm’s investigation of sexual abuse allegations against the pastor were announced in a sermon on Sunday (Nov. 3).

The removals are the latest responses by one of the country’s largest evangelical Christian churches to allegations brought by Cindy Clemishire in June that Gateway’s founding pastor, Robert Morris, 63, had molested her in the 1980s, when Morris was in his 20s and she was 12.

Natasha:

Soon afterward, also in June, the church retained law firm Haynes and Boone to conduct an investigation, what did they find?

Warren:

Church elder Tra Willbanks announced on Sunday, the investigation found that all but three elders had been aware of Morris’ history with Clemishire, now 54, and her age at the time of the alleged abuse.

While Willbanks declined to identify the elders who were removed, the names of elders Jeremy Carrasco, Kevin Grove, Gayland Lawshe and Thomas Miller no longer appear on the church website, according to multiple news accounts.

Natasha:

The investigation’s results also prompted reforms to Gateway’s leadership structure and bylaws.

Warren:

Church staff will no longer serve as elders. Willbanks said, “We must bring this level of independence and objectivity to our eldership, and it has been lacking in the years past,”

The summer’s allegations prompted state legislators to call for changing the statute of limitations for sexual assault, harsher penalties for mandatory reporters who fail to follow up on accusations and reforming nondisclosure agreements for sexual abuse survivors. Secular and religious advocacy organizations have been pushing for such reforms, as well as the elimination of the use of nondisclosure agreements in sexual assault cases.

Natasha:

Next, Former MY Faith Votes CEO has been charged with serious crimes.

Warren:

Jason C. Yates, the former CEO of My Faith Votes, has been charged with eight felony counts of possession of child pornography.

Each of the eight charges, filed in McLeod County, Minnesota, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Yates has a prior conviction and is a registered predatory offender.

According to court records, Yates was released on his own recognizance on November 4. As a condition of his release, he is to have no contact with persons under the age of 18.

Natasha:

How did this come to light?

Warren:

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension began its investigation into Yates’ alleged crimes on July 31.

The probable cause statement also includes descriptions of eight of the images, which allegedly include children between 5 and 7 years of age.

In September, officers met with Yates, and he admitted to having a prior conviction for child pornography that had been expunged.

Natasha:

Sadly we have a similar story from Texas.

Warren:

A former volunteer youth leader at Beltway Park Church, a multi-site large Southern Baptist congregation in Abilene, Texas, has been charged with possession of child pornography.

Natasha:

What’s has happened since?

Warren:

At the time of reporting, Goff was being held in the Taylor County jail on $100,000 bond.

Beltway learned about Goff’s actions in June 2024 and immediately contacted the proper authorities, according to the letter sent to the congregation by the lead pastor.

Goff had been a youth volunteer for about three years, starting in 2022. He passed a routine background check before he became an active volunteer, the letter said, and again in 2024 as part of the routine background check protocol.

“[W]e currently have no indication that any minors from our church were involved in any inappropriate activity with this former volunteer,” Beltway Park’s letter stated. “We have tremendous grief for any children in any location who may be proven to have been harmed by this person’s actions.”

Natasha:

Let’s look at one more story before our break.

Warren:

The principal of a now-closed Missouri boarding school that has been the subject of abuse allegations has been charged with sex crimes involving a former student.

Craig Wesley Smith Jr., who was the principal of Lighthouse Christian Academy in Piedmont, was charged with forcible sodomy and attempted forcible rape, according to ABC News.

According to allegations in the probable cause statement, Smith told the girl he would kill her and “make it look like she committed suicide” if she told anyone about the abuse.

Natasha:

And this isn’t the first time Smith has been accused.

Warren:

A 2009 federal lawsuit also accused Smith of sex acts with an unnamed female student, but it isn't clear if that alleged victim is the same one involved in the present criminal case.

Natasha:

Multiple people at that school have been accused of abuse.

Warren:

In March 2024, the Musgraves were arrested on first-degree kidnapping and abuse charges. However, on October 15, a Wayne County judge dismissed the charges.

Caleb Sandoval, son of the school’s director Julio Sandoval, was also charged with abuse of a child for injuring a 15-year-old boy while boxing. In July, he pleaded guilty and was given five years of probation.

ABM Ministries closed Lighthouse Christian Academy in March after the Musgraves’ arrests and the Missouri Department of Social Services began investigating whether the boarding school effectively addressed calls to an abuse hotline about the facility in the past.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, the next in our series highlighting a group engaged in the ‘new paradigm’ of missions…training local missionaries to reach their own people.

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:

This is another in the MinistryWatch series highlighting groups engaged in the “new paradigm” in missions: equipping near-culture missionaries to reach their own people.

Christians are operating a general store in northern Nigeria “under the nose” of terrorist group Boko Haram, reaching their neighbors with the Gospel and hosting a worship service in their store’s back room.

They are indigenous or near-culture disciple makers who have been trained under a model developed by Global Disciples.

For 28 years, Global Disciples has been committed to training indigenous or near-culture leaders to make Christian disciples among their own people.

Natasha:

How do they do that?

Warren:

Founder Galen Burkholder said that rather than sending western missionaries to plant churches, Global Disciples works with a local cluster of churches to develop a training program for their own people to be near-culture disciple makers. Then the new converts want to gather and grow spiritually so they establish churches.

According to Global Disciples, 2,500 disciple makers were trained around the world by the nearly 3,500 active training programs operating in 76 countries around the world last year. More than 69,000 new believers were reached with the Gospel based on the efforts of the over 25,000 disciple makers that have been trained in these programs.

Natasha:

That’s amazing! What areas are they serving?

Warren:

Some of the most active discipleship training programs are in Africa and South Asia, often in some of the least-reached areas. For instance, Global Disciples has 231 training programs across the country of Myanmar and are reaching people with the Gospel in remote villages.

In the MinistryWatch database,...

If you’ve been around me for a while, you know that I’m a fan of Roland Warren.

He’s been the president of Care Net, the nation’s largest network of pregnancy resource centers, for more than a decade. He’s been an advocate for the unborn for much longer than that. Roland Warren has also helped bring fathers into the pro-life conversation, in part because of a tenure as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative, a post he held before coming to Care Net.

I’ve interviewed Roland Warren many times over the years, including twice for my “Listening In” podcast, a podcast I did for a decade for WORLD News Group. I’ll include links to those interviews in today’s show notes.

Those links are here and here.

I have gone back to Roland again and again because…well…he always has something interesting and provocative to say. And that’s certainly the case today. We’re discussing his new book The Alternative to Abortion: Why We Must be Pro Abundant Life. I found this book to be challenging and encouraging and I think you’ll find our conversation to be so, too.

Roland Warren has degrees from Princeton University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and he’s the author of many books on fatherhood and the prolife movement. We had this conversation via zoom last week.

Thanks to Jeff McIntosh for producing today’s program.

Until next time, may God bless  you.

On today’s program, a lawsuit against Hillsdale College has been dismissed after students alleging they were raped sued the college for Title 9 violations. We’ll have details.

And, the nonprofit Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment—known as GRACE for short—turns 20 years old. We’ll look back at where they started—and where they’re going.

Plus, those subscriptions you forgot your paying for?...A new law will make it easy for you to unsubscribe, but it could also impact the recurring gifts to Christian ministries.

But first, Operation Underground Railroad…who continues distancing itself from its embroiled founder Tim Ballard…is moving its headquarters. Operation Underground Railroad Rescue is moving its headquarters from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to reporting by Twin Cities Business.

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, Paul Clolery, Richard Levey, and Christina Darnell.

A special thanks to The NonProfit Times 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 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, a lawsuit against Hillsdale College has been dismissed after students alleging they were raped sued the college for Title 9 violations. We’ll have details.

And, the nonprofit Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment—known as GRACE for short—turns 20 years old. We’ll look back at where they started—and where they’re going.

Plus, those subscriptions you forgot your paying for?...World Vision is encouraging donors to cancel those and give to people in need around the world. They’re calling it Subscribe to World Change. We’ll take a look.

Natasha:

But first, Operation Underground Railroad…who continues distancing itself from its embroiled founder Tim Ballard…is moving its headquarters.

Warren:

Operation Underground Railroad Rescue is moving its headquarters from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to reporting by Twin Cities Business.

Tammy Lee, OUR Rescue CEO said about Minneapolis. “There is such a strong foundation here, in the legal community as well as the philanthropic community and the survivor support community,”

The global headquarters’ relocation is planned for January 2025. Lee also said the mission of the organization will adjust to focus more on domestic trafficking and rescues.

Natasha:

How do they plan to do that?

Warren:

Lee said, “In this coming year, we’re going to be building out direct services for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation,” “We’re also looking at supporting key populations that are really underserved, looking at the indigenous populations and partnerships with other non-governmental organizations to do that work.”

Lee joined OUR Rescue as CEO in February 2024 with the task of rebuilding and rebranding the organization.

OUR Rescue was founded by former homeland security agent Tim Ballard in 2013 as Operation Underground Railroad. In April, Lee and the board renamed the group OUR Rescue.

In the MinistryWatch database, Operation Underground Railroad has a 1-star financial efficiency rating, a C transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 45, meaning donors should exercise caution when giving to this group.

Natasha:

Next up, A lawsuit against Hillsdale college has been dismissed

Warren:

Last October, one present and one former student of Hillsdale College filed a federal lawsuit alleging the institution failed to adequately investigate their claims of rape and misrepresented how safe they would be on campus.

Hillsdale prevailed in getting the lawsuit dismissed by U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering last month.

According to the lawsuit, Grace Chen, a current Hillsdale student, claimed she was raped by a fellow student in November 2021 in a Hillsdale dormitory. Danielle Villarreal, a former Hillsdale student, claimed she was raped by a fellow student in August 2021. Both women reported the assaults to members of Hillsdale administration.

Natasha:

What happened next?

Warren:

Well, Chen and Villarreal asserted that Hillsdale had failed to comply with Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any program that received federal funding. Hillsdale argued that it is not subject to Title IX because it does not accept federal funds at the school.

The plaintiffs asserted that Hillsdale receives a federal benefit by way of its tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code and therefore ought to be subject to Title IX.

Natasha:

How did the court respond?

Warren:

The court disagreed, however, concluding that “Defendant’s § 501(c)(3) status does not implicate the terms of Title IX’s proposed contract with educational institutions” and dismissed the claims under Title IX.

Because the plaintiffs had already amended their complaint once, the court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning they cannot bring the claim again.

The plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

In the MinistryWatch database, Hillsdale College has a 1-star financial efficiency rating, a C transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of only 30, meaning donors should withhold giving.

Natasha:

Our next story is also in the world of Christian academics.

Warren:

After what Fuller Theological Seminary called “a comprehensive and deliberate review of alleged misconduct,” it has fired associate professor Vince Bantu.

According to Christianity Today, Bantu’s termination came five months after members of his accountability group reached out to the seminary with claims that Bantu was secretly married to a second wife and had engaged in sexual misconduct.

Fuller hired an outside investigator to conduct the inquiry, but the seminary did not disclose the results.

Natasha:

When was his termination?

Warren:

On Wednesday, October 23, Fuller President David Emmanuel Goatley sent an email to its students announcing Bantu’s termination.

The seminary’s message did not include the exact reasons for Bantu’s termination, but said, “Fuller Seminary has high expectations and standards of conduct for all members of our community, especially for those in positions of authority.”

Bantu has taught church history and Black theology through Fuller’s online program and at its Houston campus since 2019.

The accountability group also contacted Meachum School of Haymanot where Bantu serves as president. According to a statement on the school’s website, Bantu has been placed on leave.

“We, the Meachum community, have been disheartened by these allegations, yet we take them seriously. As promised, investigations are under way,” the statement says.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return GRACE celebrates 20 years of equipping the church to prevent and properly deal with abuse.

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, GRACE celebrates 20 years.

Warren:

Attorney and sexual abuse advocate Boz Tchividjian founded the Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) in 2004 to equip faith communities to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse more effectively. According to the GRACE website, the organization "exists to equip the Church with a vision for authentic community, where responsibility, accountability, and compassion are second nature and caring for children and adult survivors of abuse are non-negotiable."

As part of its anniversary, GRACE held an online panel, bringing together the original GRACE visionaries to discuss its mission and impact over the last two decades.

Natasha:

What were some highlights?

Warren:

Tchividjian recounted how he and others came together with a vision to address abuse within faith communities. Tchividjian, grandson of famed evangelist Billy Graham, described how he experienced a significant disconnect between the ideal of a faith community as a place of refuge and the reality he observed as a prosecutor, where faith institutions often failed to protect victims of abuse.

Natasha:

Tchividjian stepped down as executive director of the organization in 2019 to return to full-time law to directly assist survivors of sexual abuse, but has remained supportive in the ministry.

Warren:

Boz Tchividjian also noted a shift in the church's approach to abuse, with some progress in recognizing child abuse issues but a widespread lack of awareness around adult clergy abuse

Tchividjian said many are leaving traditional church institutions due to perceived corruption and lack of accountability, making it crucial for GRACE to adapt its mission to reach these communities outside formal church settings.

The conversation closed with a call for the church to "convert to Christianity" by embracing Jesus' radical message of caring for the vulnerable.

Natasha:

Next, new FTC rules could aid donors in opting out.

Warren:

Nonprofit managers are scrambling to get clarity on how to proceed regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new “click to cancel” provisions requiring businesses to make it easier for consumers to cancel enrollment in recurring billin

In an era of celebrity and platform, it’s easy to forget that God uses the “least and the lost” to advance His Kingdom.

The men and women I discuss in today’s podcast are not media celebrities. They don’t have “platforms” or book deals. But they have been quietly going about the business of the Kingdom of God. At MinistryWatch we often report on Christian leaders behaving badly. Sometimes it’s right and proper to pause and recognize those men and women who have quietly been engaged in what Eugene Peterson calls “long obedience in the same direction.”

May we all be encouraged by their lives and – more importantly – may be all go and do likewise.

To read this story, click here.

On today’s program, Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard sues for defamation after six women accuse him of sexual assault. We’ll have details.

And, MinistryWatch reporter Marci Seither visits Joni & Friends in Tennessee as the ministry ships off hundreds of donated wheelchairs. They head to a prison, where inmates are repairing the equipment, even as they work to repair their own lives.

Also, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference announces the launch of new health initiatives, including mental health and financial health. We’ll take a look.

But first, relatives and scholars of Dietrich Bonhoeffer have issued a warning to Eric Metaxas and others, accusing them of misusing his legacy for political reasons.

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, Kim Roberts, Marci Seither, Aleja Hertzler-McCain, and Brittany Smith.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren:

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from our nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

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, Operation Underground Railroad founder Tim Ballard sues for defamation after six women accuse him of sexual assault. We’ll have details.

And, MinistryWatch reporter Marci Seither visits Joni & Friends in Tennessee as the ministry ships off hundreds of donated wheelchairs. They head to a prison, where inmates are repairing the equipment, even as they work to repair their own lives.

Also, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference announces the launch of new health initiatives, including mental health and financial health. We’ll take a look.

Natasha:

But first, relatives and scholars of Dietrich Bonhoeffer have issued a warning to Eric Metaxas and others, accusing them of misusing his legacy for political reasons.

Warren:

In recent years, author and radio host Eric Metaxas and other conservative Christian supporters of Donald Trump have compared themselves to the famed German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer — who was put to death, in part, for participating in a plan to assassinate Adolph Hitler.

In a recent interview on Flashpoint, a Christian television talk show on the Victory network, both Metaxas — author of a bestselling biography of Bonhoeffer — and the show’s host called the current election a “Bonhoeffer moment” and urged Christians to rise up and oppose evil.

His newest book, “Religionless Christianity” — a phrase used by Bonhoeffer — describes America’s current politics as a spiritual war and sign of the end times.

Natasha:

A group of Bonhoeffer scholars — and the theologian’s descendants — have had enough.

Warren:

In a statement issued Friday (Oct. 18) members of the International Bonhoeffer Society called on Metaxas and others to stop comparing the current election to the rise of the Nazis. The statement, in particular, called out Metaxas for social media posts featuring a gun and a Bible and his support of Jan. 6 rioters.

“This portrayal glorifies violence and draws inappropriate analogies between our political system and that of Nazi Germany,” the scholars said in a statement, which has been signed by more than 800 Bonhoeffer scholars and other Christian leaders.

Natasha:

What prompted the statement?

Warren:

In part by the upcoming release of a new Bonhoeffer biopic, which will be out in theaters in late November. One of the posters for the film shows Bonhoeffer with a gun, and a trailer for the film shows his involvement in the plot to kill Hitler. Some of the early social media tweets about the film included messages about the “battle against tyranny” and a line from the trailer, “My country was invaded from within.”

During Metaxas’ Victory Channel interview, the trailer for the movie — which is being distributed by Angel Studios, was shown and afterward Metaxas and other guests urged Christians to wake up to the evil of their political enemies.

Natasha:

But Bonhoeffer’s family has come forward about the film

Warren:

In an interview for a German news publication, relatives of Bonhoeffer criticized that depiction of the theologian. Relatives also released a statement Friday rejecting the idea that Bonhoeffer would have embraced Christian nationalism.

Family members said in a statement passed on by Bonhoeffer scholars. “He would never have seen himself anywhere near the right-wing extremist, violent movements that are trying to appropriate him today. On the contrary, he would have criticized these very attitudes.”

Natasha:

Next up, OUR founder Tim Ballard sues for defamation.

Warren:

Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad and subject of the anti-trafficking movie “Sound of Freedom” has filed a defamation lawsuit against six women who accused him of sexual misconduct and assault.

In his lawsuit, Ballard, who is married with nine children, calls the women’s accusations a “vicious onslaught of false allegations.”

Natasha:

What happened?

Warren:

Five women filed suit against Ballard in October 2023, accusing him of sexual assault and claiming he used psychological and spiritual manipulation to coerce them into sexual contact.

Ballard claims he waited for nearly a year for his accusers to “withdraw their false claims” and now “reluctantly” brings the lawsuit.

The lawsuit addresses each of the women’s allegations against him.

Ballard is no longer with Operation Underground Railroad. He left the organization before “Sound of Freedom” was released, and moved his anti-trafficking efforts to the SPEAR Fund.

According to its most recent IRS Form 990, the SPEAR Fund had about $1.25 million in revenue and $1.39 million in expenses, meaning it operated at a deficit of nearly $150,000.

Natasha:

Next, a Michigan based youth & music director has been fired and arrested for Child Sexual Abuse Crimes.

Warren:

Zachary Radcliff, 29, the former youth and music director at Oakwood Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, was arraigned on October 20 for 11 felony charges, including criminal sexual conduct, child sexual abuse, and the use of a computer or the internet to commit a crime.

Radcliff, the son of Oakwood’s Senior Pastor Frank Radcliff, had served at the church for almost eight years, the elder Radcliff told MinistryWatch.

Natasha:

What was the churches’ reaction to the news?

Warren:

In a statement, the church said it was recently made aware of “disturbing news” about Zach Radcliff. “We realized while talking to him that there was more to the situation than was being expressed. He was suspended with pay on October 3rd, pending further investigation.”

Immediately after the church was provided with “more information,” Frank Radcliff said, “Zach was terminated from his job, without pay effective Saturday, October 12th.”

The church said it alerted state police alongside other families involved. Leaders also said they are not fully aware of the extent of Zach Radcliff’s alleged crimes, but they are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.

If Zach Radcliff is found guilty of first degree criminal sexual conduct, he could face life in prison.

According to the Michigan Courts website, Zach Radcliff is being held on a $3 million bond. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for October 31.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return…the American Dream encourages us to seek and hoard wealth. But one couple has rejected that notion, and embraced a counter cultural approach to generous living.

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, a couple who has taken the principle of compounding interest and applied it to generosity.

Warren:

It’s the story of David and Keelie Luttrell. And it’s the next story in our series on radical generosity.

For as long as he could remember, David was fascinated with money and how to grow what you had, earn more of it, and invest it in order to have more in the future.

David was not new to the world of finance. David’s dad, D. Scott Luttrell, was a successful money manager who founded the LCM Group in Dallas, Texas, over 30 years ago with a mission statement emphasizing “being a good steward of our God given resources and manag[ing] them with excellence.”

David is the co-founder of Dallas-based Christian giving collaboration, the Ambassadors Club. There’s a lot to this story that we can’t explore here, but if you are interested in giving cooperatives, or if you want to see other stories in the “Generous Living” series, hit MinistryWatch.com or look for a link in today’s show notes.

Natasha:

Next, a story of how wheelchairs are impacting the world.

Warren:

Volunteers for Joni and Friends in Knoxville, Tennessee, waited on Monday, September 30 outside the commercial building where donated wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches had been stored.

A group of young men from University of Tennessee’s Sigma Chi Fraternity lifted equipment into the truck and carefully arranged the load that would soon be heading to the South Central Correctional Facility in Clifton, Tennessee.

Natasha:

Since 1979, Joni and Friends, the organization started by Joni Eareckson Tada after a diving accident left her a quadriplegic, have advocated for those living with disabilities and their families....

Most Christians who are active in church have been in this situation before. You’ve just listened to a compelling presentation about a need in some far-away corner of the world. Or perhaps it was a television program, or a commercial on your favorite Christian radio station. The need seems so great, and the story tugs at your heart strings. I’ve never heard of this organization before, but maybe it’s the Holy Spirit prompting me to give. What should I do?

Hello, everyone, I’m Warren Smith, the president of MinistryWatch. And I think it is biblical to test the spirits, to make sure that the spirit moving you is actually the Holy Spirit. That’s why an article I saw in Christianity Today magazine by my guest today, Anthony Sytsma, caught my attention. It’s called “God Calls Me To Give. But to Everyone?” He has some guidance for us on how to test whether that tug we are feeling is actually from God…or from some clever advertising executives.

Anthony Sytsma is himself a missionary, so he’s not trying to discourage giving. In fact, he believes, as do I, that when we have confidence in our giving decisions, we’ll actually give more.

If you’d like to read his article in Christianity Today, click here.

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

On today’s program, Cru will stop using its current LGBTQ training program for staff by the end of this year. The change comes after facing accusations that the long-time campus ministry is compromising on biblical sexuality. We’ll have details.

Meanwhile, United Methodist churches in Liberia face protests and unrest as it deals with the fallout of the global denomination’s shift on LGBTQ issues. We’ll take a look.

And, American pastors are burned out and exhausted—but experts say that can change.

But first, a group of people affiliated with Morningstar church in South Carolina are calling for founder Rick Joyner’s resignation—and Joyner is not having it. A group of former MorningStar church members, students, and staff members have signed an open statement calling for MorningStar founder Rick Joyner to resign, among other accountability measures.

Until next time, may God bless you.

 

MANUSCRIPT

 

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren:

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you this week from Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, where I’m attending a conference on Bible translation.

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, Cru will stop using its current LGBTQ training program for staff by the end of this year. The change comes after facing accusations that the long-time campus ministry is compromising on biblical sexuality. We’ll have details.

Meanwhile, United Methodist churches in Liberia face protests and unrest as it deals with the fallout of the global denomination’s shift on LGBTQ issues. We’ll take a look.

And, American pastors are burned out and exhausted—but experts say that can change.

Natasha:

But first, a group of people affiliated with Morningstar church in South Carolina are calling for founder Rick Joyner’s resignation—and Joyner is not having it.

Warren:

A group of former MorningStar church members, students, and staff members have signed an open statement calling for MorningStar founder Rick Joyner to resign, among other accountability measures.

The statement, published by MorningStar Accountability Now on September 23, follows the filing of three lawsuits by victims who alleged child sexual abuse by Erickson Lee during MorningStar programs. The lawsuits also seek to hold the ministry liable for not preventing the alleged abuse.

Natasha:

How has the founder responded?

Warren:

In an email on October 5 to Emily Elston, a leader of the MorningStar Accountability Now group, Joyner said, “I am the one God gave to raise up MorningStar, and I will not abandon my post except by His clearly revealed will.”

The accountability statement has over 200 named signatories, some of whom are former teachers at the church’s Comenius School for Creative Leadership, as well as church attendees, Morningstar staff, and others affiliated with the Morningstar School of Ministry.

Natasha:

In addition to calling for Joyner’s resignation, the statement also calls for an independent audit of the MorningStar board, the credentials of its members, and its policies and procedures.

Warren:

MorningStar does not file an informational Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service where the board members’ names would be listed, nor does it have them easily accessible on its ministry website.

The accountability statement also calls for an independent audit of the ministry’s child protection policies and for the audit results to be released publicly.

The statement says MorningStar should implement mandatory training on sexual abuse against minors for all staff and volunteers who interact with children.

Natasha:

On September 24, MorningStar’s leadership released a statement saying they “stand with the victims” and are “fully committed to their healing and restoration.”

Warren:

The statement claims MorningStar is working with independent third-party investigators to examine its policies and practices. It does not name the investigators.

The ministry also claims to operate with “strong safeguards, including mandated training and compliance with legal standards.”

In response to criticism of its leadership, MorningStar said it is committed to accountability, integrity, and learning from past “challenges and failures,” but added that it will “resist unjust or unfounded accusations.” Again, no specific “unfounded accusations” were identified.

Natasha:

Next, Cru discontinues LGBTQ training program for staff.

Warren:

Battered by months of criticisms for controversial staff guidance on how to handle LGBTQ-identifying students, Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) will be removing its Compassionate and Faithful curriculum by the end of the year, according to reporting by WORLD.

In a leaked recording of a Sept. 26 staff meeting, Keith Johnson, Cru’s director of theological education and development, said “Our plan going forward is to integrate our LGBT+ equipping into existing developmental venues. Going forward, we think it’s increasingly important for us to speak in our own theological voice.”

Later, Johnson told WORLD that weaving sexuality training into Cru’s Institute of Biblical Studies for new staff and interns is the logical next step now that most current staff have already completed the training.

Natasha:

What was their curriculum like?

Warren:

Development of the Compassionate and Faithful curriculum began in 2021 in response to the skyrocketing number of college students identifying as LGBTQ. At one time, it reportedly included at least 13 videos by author and podcaster Preston Sprinkle. While Sprinkle affirms biblical marriage, he also advocates addressing LGBTQ individuals by their preferred pronouns and supports the “gay Christian” label for believers who struggle with same-sex attraction.

Natasha:

But critics were quick to respond.

Warren:

Ex-lesbian women’s studies professor Rosaria Butterfield and two former Cru employees, Uriah and Marissa Mundell, are among those who have spoken out.

The Mundells lost their jobs after publicly criticizing the training program and its push for “pronoun hospitality.” Butterfield called out Cru by name as a moral compromiser during her convocation address to about 10,000 Liberty University students in November 2023.

In the leaked audio, Johnson reiterated Cru’s commitment to the Gospel and biblical sexuality, but still did not explain the training changes and mixed messages that followed the public condemnation from Butterfield, or what the new lessons might look like.

Natasha:

Our next story involves Christian refugees.

Warren:

The U.S. resettled more Christians fleeing persecution in fiscal year 2024 than it has since 2016, Open Doors and World Relief said in a report unveiled Oct. 14 as insight for policymakers and voters weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential elections.

The nonpartisan groups reported the numbers of refugees and asylum seekers the U.S. has accepted in recent decades, including Christians and others fleeing religious persecution, and explored how U.S. presidential platform policies will impact the ability of those persecuted for their faith to find refuge here after the November elections.

Natasha:

And what are their thoughts on that?

Warren:

World Relief President and CEO Myal Greene said, “President Trump has pledged to suspend the refugee admissions program, but we also hope that this report will be something that raises voices and attention to this issue, and will persuade him to change his mind if he’s elected.”

Natasha:

We have also seen that the Biden-Harris administration implemented very significant restrictions on the asylum program.

Warren:

That’s right. Both groups were clear in emphasizing that the report remained nonpartisan. Both administrations had done some things well, and both administrations had fallen short in significant ways, according to the report.

Open Doors U.S. President Ryan Brown pointed out the increasing need for the U.S. to provide a safe haven for Christians fleeing persecution, as the organization’s annual World Watch List has noted a multiyear trend of increasingly violent persecution that forces Christians to flee their homelands.

He encouraged voters not to confuse the issue of border security with asylum and refugee access.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, unrest breaks out in Liberian churches as they struggle to determine where they stand with a denomination they disagree with over gender and sexuality.

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, unrest breaks out in United Methodist churches in Liberia.

Warren:

The United Methodist Church in Liberia has been roiled in recent days over its position on marriage for same-sex couples after the global denomination, based in the United States, voted to strike a 40-year-old condemnation of homosexuality from its governing document.

Clergy and lay members of the 150,000-member Liberian church have been calling for a special session of the annual conference to take a vote on the U.S. church’s decision, but Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, the resident bishop of the Liberia Area, has refused, citing the importance of maintaining unity in the Liberian church.

Natasha:

Last week, Quire suspended a number of pastors and elders who have persistently asked for the special assembly.

Warren:

The tensions escalated Sunday (Oct.13), when protests broke out at the New Georgia United Methodist Church in Monrovia over the suspension of the Rev. Leo Mason,...

Christian ministries and other non-profit organizations have played a huge, positive role in American culture. If you don’t believe me, just read Benjamin Franklin, Alexis de Tocqueville, Robert Bellah, Rodney Stark, Arthur Brooks…the list goes on. Because of the positive influence in our culture, our laws encourage their work. They are not required to pay taxes on revenue, and donors to them get tax advantages as well. In exchange for these advantages, we ask only a couple of things: First, that they actually do the good work they promise to do, and – secondly – that they disclose enough details about their work so that the donor public can confirm that. That disclosure is a Form 990, which all tax-exempt bodies except churches must file with the federal government.

However, churches are exempt from that requirement. That exemption makes some sense, since most churches are small and all of the donors to a local church were members of the church. Today, however, we live in an era of mega churches that are often the center of an ecosystem of related entities – both profit and non-profit. We also have religious advocacy groups that are claiming to be churches even though they don’t have regular services, don’t ordain clergy, don’t marry or bury their members, don’t do anything that we think of as the normal activity of a church. This state of affairs have led some – including those of us here at MinistryWatch – to believe that we need a new regimen of regulations and laws that update those written in another era.

Sharing some of these views is Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a professor of law at the University of Notre Dame. He and his coauthor Ellen Aprill have written a new paper outlining changes that need to happen to fix – or at least to bring a bit more up to date – the current situation.

Links to articles mentioned in today’s program.

https://ministrywatch.com/law-professor-advocates-changing-irs-definition-of-church-association-of-churches/

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4346286

https://theconversation.com/how-the-us-government-can-stop-churches-from-getting-treated-like-real-churches-by-the-irs-237922

That brings to a close my interview with Dr. Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a professor of law at the University of Notre Dame. We’ll have links to the articles we discussed today in the show notes for today’s program.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.