The Religion Business — A New 7-Part Docuseries Set to Premiere July 10th
Get ready for an eye-opening experience as *The Religion Business* flips the tables to expose church corruption and the potential misuse or theft of billions of dollars! Transparency is about to have a bold new look and the era of unchecked nonprofit and church spending ends with this series.
In 2021 alone, it's estimated that $53 billion was stolen from churches by staff members.** This stark
reality contrasts with a recent survey revealing that **over 50% of U.S. churchgoers feel their church focuses too much on money.**
In a powerful move towards financial accountability through radical transparency within nonprofit organizations, Emmy-winning filmmaker Nathan Apffel and serial entrepreneur/OIF veteran Chris Ayoub will be launching the [***The Religion Business***] on TheReligionBusiness.com July 10thas well as on Amazon and other streaming networks shortly thereafter!
The current legal framework in the U.S. does not mandate religious nonprofits to disclose their financial details to the IRS or the public. This lack of transparency has understandably fostered an environment of mistrust and skepticism among members of faith-based communities.
The community-driven *The Religion Business* initiative is not only exposing wrongdoing but also is pioneering the future of financial accountability, aiming to rebuild and strengthen the trust between donors and organization leaders.
As lifelong Christians with deep personal faith journeys, along with the docuseries Apffel and Ayoub have developed a groundbreaking app as a cornerstone of their efforts. This app curates religious organizations and nonprofits based on their transparency, accountability, and alignment with their stated missions, effectively reversing the traditional top-down dynamic often found in the nonprofit sector, giving power back to the donor and congregant.
“While many current and former churchgoers are openly skeptical and increasingly critical about giving practices and money management, we don’t believe limiting generosity is the solution,” explained Apffel. “We intentionally designed this app to enable informed giving through a real-time feedback loop between donors and organizations. It’s a call for long-overdue transparency.”
Complementing the app, the company will release a [7-part docuseries - ***The Religion Business***] – the result of over 12 years of research, development, and interviews with both secular and religious authorities. This series will shed light on the various decisions, pathways, and loopholes that have contributed to the current climate, including:
* The rise of the modern megachurch and celebrity pastor culture
* The IRS nonprofit loopholes utilized by both small churches and billion-dollar ministries
* The blurred lines between church and state, from the Johnson Amendment to modern lobbying efforts
* The impact of the absence of oversight on community trust, humanitarian outcomes, and donor confidence
***The Religion Business*** isn’t about singling out bad actors; it’s about addressing a flawed system. The educational tone aims not to place blame or irreverently undermine religious organizations but rather to outline a more transparent and impactful way forward.
“It was incredibly important to us that we offered solutions to the existing challenges in financial giving within the church today. We deeply value the church and are committed to its flourishing,” Ayoub stated. “We often reflect on the question, ‘When has greater accountability ever been detrimental?’ We are now at a pivotal moment in the U.S. where we can usher in transparency regarding giving and spending. For us, this means removing the barriers of skepticism surrounding financial practices by encouraging organizations to prioritize transparency, allowing even more individuals to thrive within their chosen religious community.”
Broken Shepherds™ app is available for beta testing for churches and nonprofits to integrate with their communities and will be available on both iOS and Android platforms. The Religious Business docuseries is scheduled to premiere July 10th 2025, and will be accompanied by national panel discussions featuring thought leaders in theology, economics, ethics, and more. Apffel and Ayoub also encourage dialogue with religious leaders, donors, and skeptics to ensure all perspectives are included in the ongoing conversation about the financial future of the church in America.
For more information, please visit [www.thereligionbusiness.com]. To arrange an interview with Nathan Apffel and Chris Ayoub regarding *The Religion Business*, please contact Cathy Cardenas at Cathy@CathyCardenas.com.
