2008 Salary Review for the Top 20 Christian Media Ministers (Part 1 of 10)

by Bernie Dehler, 1-27-08

Update 2-10-08: Two errors are noted in the following article. One, these are not the top 20, but the top 31. Second, they are more specifically the top Christian media ministries. These are all peers. Relief organizations, such as World Vision and Compassion International, are not listed; as they are in a different peer group. These were all found by way of CharityNavigator.org, which suggests peer organizations for each specific organization. These are all self-described Christian groups; I filtered nothing based on theology.

I just finished a quick salary review of the top 20 Christian ministry leaders. What is a "top leader?" It is defined as one of the top 20 leaders of a ministry that brings in the most money (revenue). A list of these ministries is at the end of this article.

The following is a summary screenshot. To see a picture that is much larger, click here. To see the actual data in a Microsoft Excel, click here. To see it as a pdf file, click here. (You can freely download these and pass them around.)

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Click here to see my previous salary survey on 1-16-05, and here for the survey on 12-23-06.
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I'll write my analysis of this survey in future blog articles. For now, I'm just getting the data out. The primary source for the data is www.charitynavigator.org, and more detailed info from the actual tax returns (form 990) can be found at www.guidestar.org (both are free websites). The ministries make their tax forms available to the public because they are required by law. By the way, my own finances for FreeGoodNews.com is published online; click here to see (this ministry pays no salaries; 100% volunteer).
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List of Christian Ministries mentioned here:
Andrew Womack Ministries
Back to the Bible
Bible Broadcasting Network
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Christ for all Nations
Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Research Institute
Coral Ridge Ministries
Dayspring International
Educational Media Foundation
Eternal World Television Network
Family Radio
Far East Broadcasting Company
Focus on the Family
Grace to You
In Touch Ministries
Insight for Living
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
Jack Van Impe Ministries International
Jewish Voice Ministries International
Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef
Ligonier Ministries
Love Worth Finding
Luis Palau Association
New Life Ministries
Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association
Peter Popoff Ministries
Relevant Radio
Thru the Bible Radio Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
Turning Point

Comments

[James C. Widdoes]

Bernie,
Recommend you include churches in your list,
not just charitable organizations. I know the information might not be available, but
you can did it out by contacting the ministry, contacting Senator Grassley, or getting it off the WWW using google.com.
You have left out John Hagee, and the
"Grassley Six" (like the Hole in the Wall Gang, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Eddie Long, and Creflo Dollar, they each are in the million dollar range with Benny Hinn probably leading the pack with $1.5 million).

[Bernie of freeGoodNews.com]

Hi James-

All those you mentioned, including the Grassley 6, do not provide public information. They are hiding under the rules of "a church." That is how they are able to conduct and continue their financial abuse. Sen. Grassley needs to be commended and encouraged to prosecute his war on this church financial abuse.

You say their church finances are available on the web. If you can find one, let me know; I may blog about it. I'm pretty certain you won't find any salary info for T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, and John Hagee. (The stuff I wrote about John Hagee was before he shifted his TV ministry into his church, San Antonio's Cornerstone Church, in order to hide his finances.) The congregation of San Antonio's Cornerstone Church still need to wake-up. A few have contacted me, but none have followed through. I guess they are either in awe of Pastor Hagee, or are simply too afraid to make waves... so Pastor Hagee continues to use that church for a base of operations.

...Bernie

[Jared]

I sent you back an email, when you asked me about your friend "Jared", but for some reason it kicked back at me. I've been having some email issues lately. I've had a spam attack on the servers and all, and i've been changing things around. i still havn't tested it all. but anyways i want to let you know that i am not your friend from Intel :( Oh well anyways, thanks for putting all that info together. I understand the work involved in keeping a website up to date, and appreciate your effort.

[Fr. G.J.]

Bernie,

Thank you for the salary survey. The information you provide is eye opening.

May Christ our God bless you and your ministry.

In Christ,

Fr. G.J.

[B.R.]

We feel that you are providing a great service in your survey of Christian executives salaries.

We copied one of your charts into our web site at: http://www.religioustolerance.org/relsalary.htm and linked it to our morality/ethics menu.

We make three recommendations to persons interested in supporting para-church groups financially. One of them is to support your organization.

-- Regards
Bruce Robinson
ReligiousTolerance.org

[Daniel]

I think this is an in-house debate in the Christian church and we will clean this up as we always have in the past. But pro-islamic organizations like religioustolerance.org have no place in this debate as they have other sinister motives. They would be better off teaching radical muslims to be tolerant of other faiths.

[Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com]

Hi Daniel-

I agree that it should be an in-house debate, but it seems to me that Christians have been unwilling to face it. Outrageous pay was an issue with the Jimmy and Tammy Bakker PTL scandal, but nothing happened... and that was what, 20 years ago? I wrote a critical piece of ECFA, then searched Google, and found that no one else has (yet others have told me via email of their issues with ECFA). Because this hasn't been faced in-house, it is now out-house. That's why Sen. Grassley is now involved. At this point, the info just needs to get out in the open, and I welcome any source that will help expose it. Maybe all this public attention will finally force an in-house debate.

...Bernie

[B.W.]

Hi Bernie,

Just curious, you have been inveighing quite thunderously recently about the compensation of high-profile, TV, Radio Evangelists (Palau, Hagee, et als).

Well, in your conception of [orthodox] SBGA, all of the above have "accepted Christ and ergo, are therefore saved", why should they not go for broke in gaining as much of this world's wealth as possible?? Everything they do is done "in the name of Christ", so why are you spending so much energy in thrashing them?? "Once saved, saved forever" I believe the mantra states.

Lays bare the sandy foundation of the doctrine (SBGA0 n'est-ce pas??

-BW

[Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com]

Hi BW-

From previous discussion, I know that you are a Mormon. However, believing "once saved always saved" (not that I believe that) does not mean that one can sin and get away with it. Logically, if that were true, then those who believe it would be the worst in society (raping, killing, stealing, etc. because they have their "fire insurance").

When it comes to Christian CEO pay, it is really simple. All job pay, even for CEO's, are determined by peer surveys. That's why school teachers, for example, pretty much make the same amount of money no matter where they live, except for maybe cost-of-living adjustments. It is no different for CEO's.

The only problem is, some people confuse CEO's with entertainment celebrities, and think they should get paid like Hollywood stars.

...Bernie

[DZ]

Hi Bernie,
I haven't written for quite awhile although I read all your e-mails. I do agree with you that many ministries are over paying some of their ministers and are not being held accountable. For the past couple of years I have stopped giving to a church ministry and have opted to give to local charities and to organizations like feed the children, Voice of the Martyrs, Micheal Youssef, Charles Stanley, Focus on the family, and several others and was wondering if you had a list of reputable charities and christian ministries that are worth supporting. I have been so disappointed by my local churches especially the non-denominational (CEA) on their lack of accountability. The pastors of some of these churches have gone as far as disbanding the elders in order to have full control without accountability of all church affairs. They use the excuse of being accountable to God therefore they don't need to be accountable to man. I am glad that someone is trying to shed light on this situation.

-DZ

[Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com]

Hi DZ-

There's no way I could make a list of all the good charities-- too many charities and too much work. Just look for those that are doing work you want to support, and ask to see their form 9900 tax return (they are required to publicly make it available, unless they are a church).

I recommend www.gfa.org (Gospel for Asia)as one noble enterprise for evangelism. Go to their website and get their free book; you'll learn about their mindset and work, and it is truly exceptional, I think. They are fantastic role-models. Medical Teams International (formerly called NW Medical Teams) is also one I highly recommend. I also think every Christian family should sponsor at least one child from a relief organization such as Compassion International (www.compassion.com). I also like how Focus on the Family (Dr. Dobson) is ran, and they actually have quite a ministry responding to people who call and write in, looking for help.

...Bernie

[B]

I noticed on Dr. Russ Kelly's tithing website that among the rich preachers he has Wes Stafford listed. I'm wondering if you have info on Wes Stafford that he is with in guidelines for proper pay.

My wife is an advocate for Compassion and she thinks the world of Wes, the most godly man she has every met.

I think he's ok and I wouldn't want him to be tarred and feathered by anyone since he gives much of his own income to charity.

-B

[Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com]

Hi B-

I'm not aware of Russ Kelly's remarks on Wes... couldn't find it in a google search. I know Russ well, and he's on the FGN Board of Directors.

Compassion is also one of my favorites. I've sponsored (and still do) numerous kids for many years.

Here's the summary financial info for them:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3555

Compare it to a peer, World Vision:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4768

World Vision is about 3x bigger, but the CEO seems to be paid too much... though still, not as bad as the top abusers that I write about.

I think Wes' pay is ok; I'd certainly say it doesn't seem abusive (from judging his peer data).

By the way, a few years back I got to know Wes pretty well. I went on a Compassion tour trip and traveled with him (along with about 6 others) for a few days in the Philippines, eating a few meals with him and sharing conversation. As I look back, I remember he's the strongest Christian role-model I ever met in person, and still is today. He had amazing stories of growing up in the African bush, and years as a missionary, forsaking all for Christ, and having a few ministry miracle stories. I don't think I personally know anyone who impressed me more.

When considering CEO pay, consider how big the organization is, per revenue. The bigger the ministry, the more critical it is to have someone at the helm who knows what they are doing, otherwise there could be a huge ship-wreck. The bigger the org revenue, the bigger the CEO compensation.

So in summary, I think his salary is ok; certainly not in league with the obvious abusers.

...Bernie

[C.]

Hi Bernie,

I heard about your website through the Frank Pastore show this past Friday. I just wanted to encourage you and your ministry as a fellow follower of Christ. This is something I believe strongly in. I think CEO's of non-profits in general make way more than they should -- off the donations of good-hearted people. However, to see pastors -- supposedly Kingdom workers -- taking so much money is even more disheartening. I feel like the Church in America has been tainted with money and greed. Jesus constantly talked about that and warned the Pharisees at the time. I commend you for being a prophetic voice in our day and age just like Amos was in his. I know it's easy to fall into judgment, but that's why we need to constantly check our hearts and make sure our motivation is in line with God's (which it is, from what I can tell from reading your articles and posts). We need more prophets doing this kind of stuff.

I appreciate your boldness and persistence in getting the word out and advocating for change in behavior as well. I have signed your John Hagee petition. I like how it is a petition to repent. This truly is an injustice. To know that there are so many people who live in poverty and have Christian Pastors hoard so much money is definitely not pleasing to God. Having spent two weeks living in the slums of the Philippines (pictures at http://ckao.net/manila/index.html) gives you a totally different outlook on the Church, God's heart, the Bible, and how we view money here. My friend also sent me info on an amazing ministry: http://tradeasone.com/who-we-are/Watch.html. As someone who cares deeply for the poor, I encourage you to not only fight against those who are stealing from the church, but also for the cause of the poor.

In Christ,
C.

[Evan. Gabriel F. Matawee]

Dear Sir/ Madam:
I write in quest of some information and that is I will love to know how can a youth group from another country work with your organization or be your partner in ministry? My name is Gabriel F. Matawee, Director of the group Christian Youth In Action Liberia (CYAL), CYAL is a Liberian Christian youth group, We are involve in evangelism, also helping other youth who were affected by the 15th years war which was in our country Liberia, telling them about Christ Jesus, Reaching to other’s in Hospitals, Communities, High Schools, Prison compounds and other war affected youth who lost their parents, even those who do not have the means of going to school. We are also involved in youth peace building program like youth conflict resolution.
Sir/ Madam we really love to work with your youth organization to give these children a new hope in Christ Jesus.
As we wait to hear from your Office, God bless us all.
Yours
Evan. Gabriel F. Matawee
Director, Christian Youth In Action Liberia

[Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com]

Hi Gabriel-

I wish you all the best. My ministry is too small to partner with other ministries such as yours.

To readers-

You'd be surprised at how many of these emails I get. I suppose they send them to all the churches in the USA that have an online presence. I guess it is good to see the attempt at cooperation for kingdom building. With the internet, our world has shrunk so much!

...Bernie

[G Jones]

I'm wondering if you have investigated Greg Laurie's Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA?

I remember reading in the LA Times quite a few years ago that he was raking in around $250,000 personally in a given year (and heard from friends attending his church that Greg was mad about the revelation to the rest of the world).

[Bernie of FreeGoodNews.com]

Hi G. Jones-

I think Greg Laurie is one of those many minsters that has all his expesnes under a church, so his salary info would not be publicaly available (it is secret). I couldn't find the story at LA Times... this was the closest I got:
http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-me-lostfaith21jul21,1,6745960.story?page=3

...Bernie

[G Jones]

Thanks.

The article in the Times (I think it might have been in the OC Register, too) was from around 15 or so years ago (that can give you a rough idea of just how much this guy is over paid, since his salary goes up EVERY year).

The fact that Greg was so upset that the people could know his earnings tells me a lot, too (I used to attend there, but left after several years because of these kinds of things - no accountability at all from the "ministers").

I told a pastor who was at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa at the time and he was completely astounded that Greg was getting that huge of a salary, because according to him, Chuck Smith never allowed that kind of exorbitance at CCM.

I wonder how the papers got the info?