Wall Watchers Lists 30 Top Ministries

Wall Watchers recently released a report highlighting 30 ministries it believes exemplify stewardship.

According to the report, posted on its website, MinistryWatch.com, Wall Watchers "has often been asked to identify the 'best ministries." The recent list is a report on what MinistryWatch.com believes are "Shining Light Ministries."

Admitting that such a task is "quite difficult," Wall Watchers believes the list will be "helpful to many."

The list includes ministries serving in relief and development, foreign missions, fellowship evangelism, evangelism support, evangelism, educational media, community development, Christian growth, and advocacy ministries. All have in common one thing: an identity as a evangelical Christian ministry.

Ministries with evangelism and Bible teaching as its focus include Ankerberg Theological Research Institute, Bible Study Fellowship, EvanTell, The Jesus Film Project, New Tribes Mission, which evangelized unreached peoples, World Help, and Ravi Zacharias International Ministrie s.

Those that focus on youths and children include Compassion International, a child development ministry, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Young life, a high school ministry, and Children's Hunger Fund alleviates hunger.

A good number of relief organizations are on the list including Operation Blessing, Northwest Medical Teams International, and Voice of the Martyrs, who help the persecuted.

Healthcare is another group present on the list, including Care Net, Christian Medical and Dental Association, International AID.

Other ministries target the community and family, such as Family Research Council and Josh McDowell Ministries. Two prison ministries are also included: Prison Fellowship Ministries and Good News Jail.

For the complete list, visit MinistryWatch.com.

Some have objected to the value-injected ranking system used by the ministry.

Paul Nelson, President of The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability said, "We disagree with the rating method. We don't rate ministries."

"That doesn't make Wall Watchers bad," he quickly added, but "By the nature of what they do, it makes them controversial."

Along with the thirty groups, Wall Watchers has also included a set of seven criteria useful to donors.

Besides urging donors to look for ministries that hold the basic moral values, such as truthfulness, efficiency, and effectiveness, Wall Watchers also to evaluate based on the ministry's worldview.

"Ministries represent values, but do they represent your values? Are they Christian in name only? What is their message? Have they strayed from theological beginnings?" These are just some of the questions they urge donors to consider.

The best bet is to "gather information" and "think before you give," the report concluded.