Best Churches Conservation Trust Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 509: A Few Thoughts on the Life and Legacy of Charlie Kirk 13:38

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44m ago13:38

13:38

The death of Charlie Kirk has caused a lot of soul searching by those on the left and the right, as it should. Al Mohler, writing for WORLD, said, “Every generation has its own formative moments. Yesterday is now one of those days.” Charlie Kirk changed over the years. His near-permanent scowl, perhaps a young man’s attempt to be taken seriously, w…

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Ep. 508: Charlie Kirk, Assemblies of God, Unlikely Heroes, and Arkansas Gambling 32:06

13h ago32:06

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On today’s program, a Texas court is considering sanctions against the South Texas Assemblies of God for refusing to provide documents in a case related to its Chi Alpha college ministry. The denomination has been accused of allowing a convicted sexual predator to continue serving with college students. We’ll have details. Plus, anti-trafficking gr…

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Ep. 507: Michael Reneau of The Dispatch on Doug Wilson, Jen Hatmaker, and More 42:17

1h ago42:17

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On today’s program, Warren Smith has one of his periodic “lightning round” talks with Michael Reneau of The Dispatch. This time, they dig into celebrity Christians, including Jen Hatmaker, Doug Wilson, Chip and Joanna Gaines, and others. They also discuss how Tim Keller is sort of an antidote to that, the “anti-celebrity celebrity. They also discus…

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Ep. 506: Eventide’s Robin John on Biblically Responsible Investing 33:34

6d ago33:34

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Here at MinistryWatch, our mission is to help Christian donors become true stewards. We provide resources to help you become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to you. If you’ve been around MinistryWatch for a while, that means we help you to give wisely and faithfully. But for most Christians, even generous Christians, the a…

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Ep. 505: Assemblies of God, American Bible Society, America’s Largest Christian Colleges and Universities 32:20

4d ago32:20

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On today’s program, the Assemblies of God South Texas Ministry Network has discovered financial misconduct among its ranks. This is the same Assemblies of God network plagued by Chi Alpha sexual abuse scandals. We’ll have details. And, a ministry helping Christians escape ‘high control’ churches…the group encourages believers to rebuild—not deconst…

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Ep. 504: Trevin Wax and Thomas West on the Power of Catechism 34:11

7d ago34:11

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Catchisms are, quite simply, question-and-answer summaries of the faith. For centuries Christians have catechisms to teach the fundamentals of the faith, and to disciple new believers. The Westminster Catechism, the Heidelberg Catechism, Luther’s Catechism, and others have been used by Christians since the Reformation. But some so-called “low churc…

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Ep. 503: David E. Taylor Arrested, Kentucky Church Encourages Members to Take Library Books, Flagship SBC Church Sells Property 33:22

11d ago33:22

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On today’s program, David E. Taylor—the self-appointed apostle of Kingdom of God Global Church and head of Joshua Media Ministries—was arrested this week for forced labor and money laundering. If convicted, he could face more than 20 years in prison. We’ll have details. And, a Kentucky church has encouraged their members to check books out of their…

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Ep. 502: Remembering Dr. James Dobson 12:33

13d ago12:33

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James C. Dobson, a psychologist, political activist, and author who championed Christian pro-family values on his popular radio shows and in his bestselling books, died Thursday. He was 89. Here are a few links I mention in today’s EXTRA episode. In 2022, I wrote an appreciation of Dr. Dobson for MinistryWatch, when he announced his retirement from…

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Ep. 501: Liberty University, SBC’s New Abuse Hotline, Remembering Dr. James Dobson 33:11

23d ago33:11

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On today’s program, a former employee sues Liberty University, claiming she was given heavier work loads, less pay, and was passed over for promotions. In the end, she claims she was fired for being a whistleblower. We’ll have details. Plus, email scams are targeting churches…in some cases, scammers pose as pastors seeking donations. How can church…

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Ep. 500: Hunter Baker on “Postliberal Protestants” 37:30

25d ago37:30

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When the Soviet Union collapsed, Frances Fukuyama famously declared that we had reached the “end of history.” He meant that the big arguments, the major ideological struggles, were now all in the past, and that liberal democracy would prevail from then on. The rest would be just cordial arguments about policy. That peaceful kingdom has obviously no…

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Ep. 499: Don’t Let Exvangelicals Drive Your Ministry 10:51

29d ago10:51

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On today’s EXTRA Episode, Warren Smith discusses new research from Ryan Burge on “exvangelicals.” Burge’s conclusion: The movement is “way overblown.”To read a transcript of today’s episode, click here.The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.By Warren Smith and Natasha Smith

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Ep. 498: World Vision Prevails, Seminaries Should Examine Faculty Screening Process, and Trust in Churches Rebounds…Slightly 34:13

1M ago34:13

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On today’s program, World Vision prevails in court after it was sued for discrimination. The ruling protects the ministry’s right to hire based on its religious beliefs. We’ll have details.And, a seminary professor accused of sexual misconduct resigned from Concordia Seminary, and is now hired by an independent seminary…raising questions about what…

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Ep. 497: How Do You Measure Ministry Effectiveness? A conversation with True Charity's Nathan Mayo 23:57

1M ago23:57

23:57

Here at MinistryWatch we measure a lot of things. We measure financial efficiency. Simply explained, that’s the amount of money that goes to ministry vs. the amount of money. We grade ministries based on their transparency. Our Donor Confidence Score takes into account more than a dozen factors before providing an overall score designed to help you…

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Ep. 496: “Shiny Happy People” Grows Dull 14:51

28d ago14:51

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The producers of the new season of “Shiny Happy People” have taken a page out of the Geraldo Rivera School of Journalism.To read a transcript of today’s podcast, click here.The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.By Warren Smith and Natasha Smith

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Ep. 495: ACNA and Stewart Ruch, T.D. Jakes, the ERLC 31:40

1M ago31:40

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On today’s program, a third prosecutor has been appointed in the trial of Anglican Church in North America Bishop Stewart Ruch after the first two resigned. The Bishop is on trial with the denomination for welcoming abusers into the church, and minimizing the needs of abuse survivors.A North Carolina church was the victim of an online scam that sto…

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Ep. 494: Remembering Bob Case and His Impact on MinistryWatch 12:47

1M ago12:47

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If you are a regular reader of MinistryWatch, and you appreciate our approach to the news, you should know about Bob Case.In fact, if you read WORLD Magazine, or Christianity Today, or The Dispatch, or any of dozens of other news outlets, you have – whether you know it or not – been influenced by Bob Case.Robert Allen Case II is one of the unsung h…

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Ep. 493: My Faith Votes, Christian School Tax Credits, The King’s College, and Bill Gothard 32:52

2M ago32:52

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On today’s program, conservative leader Jason Yates, who was the former CEO of My Faith Votes, has pleaded guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material. We’ll have details.President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill…school choice advocates welcome a provision in the bill that includes a private school tax credit…but the impact on Christian …

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Ep. 491: Burk Parsons and St. Andrew’s Chapel, Church Security, Child Evangelism Fellowship Pursues Ambitious Goal 32:03

2M ago32:03

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On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We’ll have details.The murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more v…

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Ep. 490: Will Repeal of the Johnson Amendment be Good or Bad for the Church? 11:45

2M ago11:45

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In a recent court filing, the IRS said the-so called Johnson Amendment, which bars all nonprofits from being involved in political campaigns, should not apply to political speech during religious services.The IRS decision still awaits a judge’s approval, but – if it comes – it will be a major victory for the Trump Administration and the fulfillment…

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Ep. 489: Amanda Ripley on Why and How We Get Trapped in Conflict 42:10

2M ago42:10

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Have you noticed that we live in contentious times? I certainly have. Our politics is polarized. Even our church life is too often contentious and ideological, with positions being driven as much by tribalism as by Scripture or a principled theology. Why is there so much conflict today, and is there a way out of it?Amanda Ripley thinks there is. Sh…

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Ep. 488: John MacArthur, the Johnson Amendment, and a Giant Ponzi Scheme in Georgia 32:30

2M ago32:30

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On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel is facing questions over its lack of financial transparency. Members say church leaders refuse to share budget details. Now, the local presbytery is involved. We’ll have details.And, the I-R-S now says churches CAN endorse politicians—this, despite the so-called Johnson Amendment…a law that threatens to remov…

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Ep. 487: Is Traditional Religion Obsolete? Christian Smith Says “Yes” 39:05

2M ago39:05

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If you are listening to this podcast, I’m guessing religion plays an important role in your life. It certainly does in mine. That’s why I was a little put off by the title of Christian Smith’s new book Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America. Religion is certainly not obsolete in my life.But I must say: After reading …

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Ep. 486: Baylor University, The Church and AI, and How To Help Texas Flood Victims 29:43

2M ago29:43

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On today’s program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school’s president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We’ll have details.And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and…

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Ep. 485: Conflict Entrepreneurs, David Platt, and McLean Bible Church 15:30

2M ago15:30

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In this week’s “Extra” episode, Warren discusses the history of McLean Bible Church and the tenure of David Platt. Does he deserve the criticism he has received? Warren’s answer: Platt is not perfect, but the “conflict entrepreneurs” at his church have produced more heat than light.A few links mentioned in today’s program:Stories about McLean Bible…

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Ep. 484: Dana and Bill Wichterman: “Stewards, Not Owners” 44:54

2M ago44:54

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The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them.With a mission like that, it’s easy to see why Dana and Bill Wichterman’s new book got my attention. The book is Stewards Not Owners: The Joy of Aligning Your Money With Your Faith. Over the years, I’ve read a lot of boo…

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Ep. 483: How Charisma Shaped Both American And Church History A conversation with Molly Worthen 45:34

3M ago45:34

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Here at MinistryWatch, we have become all too familiar with the allure and the dangers of celebrity preachers. One of the things you will here me say often is that we humans are not meant to be celebrities. We’re not wired for it. Celebrityhood is a condition that wars against the health of our soul.And yet…we Americans, and American evangelicals i…

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Ep. 482: Dave Ramsey, Brady Boyd, and Kris “Kdub” Williams 30:09

3M ago30:09

30:09

On today’s program, Brady Boyd resigns from New Life Church. Boyd was on staff at Gateway during Robert Morris’ tenure, and Elders now believe he misled the congregation about his knowledge of Morris’s alleged abuse. We’ll have details.Also, a court ruled that a lawsuit filed against Dave Ramsey can move forward. A former employee who was fired for…

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Ep. 481: Glenn Packiam: What Is a Christian, Anyway? 34:40

3M ago34:40

34:40

Sometimes, in the midst of the nuance, complexity, and confusion of everyday life, it’s good to return to first principles.That’s exactly what Glenn Packiam has done with his new book What Is A Christian, Anyway? The title of this book poses a simple and obvious question that the modern (post-modern? Post-postmodern?) church sometimes forgets. Pack…

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Ep. 480: Gateway Church, Trinity Broadcasting, Burk Parsons and the PCA 26:52

3M ago26:52

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On today’s program, sexual abuse victim Cindy Clemishire has filed a civil lawsuit against Gateway Church and its founding pastor Robert Morris. She claims church leaders knew she was 12 years old when Morris began abusing her, and defamed her when they tried to cover it up. We’ll have details.And cuts to federal funding are sending some nonprofits…

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Ep. 479: What an Obscure Itinerant 19th Century Preacher Can Teach Us Today 11:41

3M ago11:41

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Michael Tait. Robert Morris. Mark Driscoll. Ravi Zacharias. Are you tired of celebrity preachers?I am, and I think that’s why the story of John Dyer fascinates me. My guess is that you’ve never heard of him. But I have come to learn that he played a significant role in the spread of the Gospel in Colorado and throughout the Mountain West, and his l…

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Ep. 478: Brad Edwards and “The Reason for Church” 41:17

3M ago41:17

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The evangelical church is a mess. If you believe the surveys, more than forty million Americans have “de-churched” in the past 25 years. That is why it is a good thing Brad Edwards reminds us why the Body of Christ still matters. Trevin Wax, whose opinion I value in such matters, has called The Reason for Church “one of the most important books of …

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Ep. 477: Michael Tait, Southern Baptists Meet, Truett McConnell President Suspended 29:01

3M ago29:01

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On today’s program, Christian music artist Michael Tait admits to living a “double life” after accusations surfaced that he had sexually groomed and assaulted multiple young men over the course of a decade. We’ll take a look.And, Southern Baptist abuse survivor died last week after a brief illness, sending shock waves through the community of abuse…

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Ep. 476: Megan Rose is Disrupting the Foster Care System in Florida 36:09

3M ago36:09

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A couple of months ago I attended the True Charity conference in Huntsville, Alabama. One of the speakers there was my guest today, Megan Rose, the founder and CEO of a Florida-based ministry called Better Together.Megan got my attention almost right away because of her personal story. I’m not going to give it away here except to say that you have …

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Ep. 475: Sean Feucht, Doug Wilson’s Empire, Christianity Today, and Robert Morris 32:18

3M ago32:18

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On today’s program, ministry leader Sean Feucht is being accused of moral, ethical, and financial failure by former leaders of his various nonprofits. The accusers issued a formal statement this week detailing their accusations and are calling for an independent investigation.And, with the construction of a new school campus, Pastor Doug Wilson’s e…

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Ep. 474 : A Conversation with Kim Roberts About MinistryWatch’s Ministry Executive Survey 10:30

4M ago10:30

10:30

WarrenHello, everyone. I’m Warren Smith and I’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.On today’s episode, I’m pleased to have Kim Roberts on the program. If you are a regular reader of MinistryWatch, you know Kim’s name. She is MinistryWatch’s most prolific contributor, and – more to the point today – she is also the manager of MinistryW…

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Ep. 473: Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa Say We Are “Scrolling Ourselves To Death” 37:59

4M ago37:59

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In 1985, Neil Postman published Amusing Ourselves to Death. That means this year is the 40th birthday of this landmark book.And in that 40 years, Postman’s troubling prophesies have mostly come true. Screens have reshaped our minds, our relationships, and our culture. Ivan Mesa and Brett McCracken say that “social media and smartphones have brought…

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Ep. 472: Gateway Church, Doug Wilson’s Christ Church, Fuller Seminary

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On today’s program, Gateway Church has named a new senior pastor. The appointment comes a year after child sexual abuse accusations surfaced against founding pastor Robert Morris. We’ll have details.And, the Department of Justice is suing a city in Idaho for discriminating against Christ the Redeemer Church—a church plant of Doug Wilson’s Christ Ch…

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Ep. 471: S.D. (Sam) Smith on Rabbits With Swords And Staying Put in West Virginia 34:53

4M ago34:53

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I was recently trying to remember the first time I met S.D. (Sam) Smith, the creator of the wildly popular Green Ember books. I think it was at a homeschool conference a decade ago, back when I was working at The Colson Center. I noticed that one of the booths in the exhibit hall was crowded with kids and their parents. It was Sam’s booth, and the …

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Ep. 470: Liberty & Falwell Settlement Terms Released, Bob Jones University, Kay Arthur, and Daystar 33:41

4M ago33:41

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On today’s program, Liberty University reached a settlement with disgraced former President Jerry Falwell Jr. last year, but the terms of that settlement were only disclosed this week. We’ll have details.And, Bob Jones University names a new president just a month after its current leader announced he is stepping back. Many alumni aren’t happy with…

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Ep. 469: A Conversation with Michael Reneau, Managing Editor of The Dispatch 29:39

4M ago29:39

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On today’s program, Warren Smith talks with Michael Reneau of The Dispatch about his new column “Dispatch Faith.” They also unpack the mission of The Dispatch, his role there, the state of American journalism, and a whole lot more.Before joining The Dispatch, Michael Reneau was the editor of WORLD Magazine. He also served as editor of the award-win…

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Ep. 468: Calvin Robinson Offers Opportunity for Anglicans 10:07

4M ago10:07

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If you are a conservative, Bible-believing Christian, there’s a lot to like about the Rev. Calvin Robinson. Raised in England, he stood up to the liberalism of the Church of England and, as a result, that church would not ordain him. He is a powerful communicator who puts his gifts in service of pro-life causes, the sanctity of marriage, and other …

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Ep. 467: Calvin Robinson, The Episcopal Church, Josh Buice and G3 30:23

4M ago30:23

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On today’s program, Calvin Robinson was dismissed by the Anglican Catholic Church earlier this year after making a nazi-like salute at a pro-life summit. This week, another denomination has restored him to service…but not without pushback. We’ll have details.The Episcopal Church is ending its partnership with the U.S. after refusing to settle refug…

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Ep. 466: In Praise of Flyover Country 12:27

4M ago12:27

12:27

I went on a road trip this week from my home in Charlotte, N.C., through Nashville to Branson, Mo., where I spoke at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Press Association. From there I drove home through Terre Haute and Indianapolis, Ind., and Beckley, W.Va. In 72 hours, I put in more than 1800 miles.It wasn’t all windshield time. I stopped for m…

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Ep. 465: Roland Warren on the Merger of CareNet and ICU Mobile 20:07

4M ago20:07

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You don’t see a lot of mergers in the Christian ministry space, but one recent merger caught our eye here at MinistryWatch. That merger was between CareNet and ICU Mobile. We thought it would be good to have Roland Warren back on the program to explain why and how this merger occurred.Regular listeners to the program will remember that we had Rolan…

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Ep. 464: Cross Timbers Church, Evangelical Leaders Petition Trump, Donations Increase While Donors Decline 30:57

4M ago30:57

30:57

On today’s program, Milestone Church in North Texas announced this week it is expanding its campuses by absorbing Cross Timbers Church in nearby Argyle. Cross Timbers has faced a series of challenges in the past year, including the forced resignation of its senior pastor. We’ll have details.Plus, prominent evangelical leaders petition President Tru…

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Ep. 463: Conservatives Divided on Government Funding of Religious Charter Schools 10:42

4M ago10:42

10:42

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. If the Supreme Court decides their way, St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.We should note …

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Ep. 462: Dr. Michael Brown, Wycliffe Bible Translators, TD Jakes, and More 33:18

5M ago33:18

33:18

On today’s program, a team of elders is recommending Dr. Michael Brown return to public ministry in spite of a recent report concluding that he engaged in sexual misconduct. We’ll have details.And, the Presbyterian Church USA—historically, very involved in evangelistic efforts—is now closing its missions agency. Theologians say they are not surpris…

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Ep. 461: Dordt University’s Aaron Baart on “Missions Upside Down” 35:45

5M ago35:45

35:45

In the Great Commission of Matthew 28, Jesus plainly told his disciples to go to all parts of the world and make disciples. And for 2000 years, Christians have done that, and God has blessed that work. Today, mature Christian believers on every continent in the world.That’s why some Christian leaders are re-thinking what it means to “go.” My guest …

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Ep. 460: The Great Wealth Transfer – Tips for Giving 12:46

5M ago12:46

12:46

If you don’t live day-to-day in the world of finance or philanthropy, you might not have heard of the Great Generational Wealth Transfer. It’s the notion that in the next 20 or so years, as much as $90 trillion will transfer from the current generation that holds these assets to the next generation.MinistryWatch provides a database of the largest m…

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Ep. 459: Dr. Michael Brown, Bob Jones University, The Salvation Army 29:21

5M ago29:21

29:21

On today’s program, Dr. Michael Brown of The Line of Fire was the subject of an independent investigation late last year. The findings of that report have now been released, allegedly finding that Brown DID engage in misconduct with two women who were not his wife. We’ll have details.And, is Bob Jones University facing closure? The school’s preside…