ECFA Membership Rising Among Parachurch Ministries, Churches
 
Contact: Ty Mays, 770-256-8710, tmays@inchristcommunications.com
 
WINCHESTER, Va., March 2, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Membership in ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) has risen to 1,500, a milestone that reflects unprecedented growth for the organization.
 
Each of the past three years ECFA has accredited 100-plus members, growth that continues with the latest membership of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, a McLean, Va.-based nonprofit involved in orphan care, advocacy and adoption. 
 
"Word is spreading that membership in ECFA is of tremendous value to faith-based nonprofits, parachurch and church alike," said Dan Busby, ECFA president. "The 1,500-member milestone demonstrates that faith-based nonprofits are taking a proactive approach to positioning themselves as accountable and transparent."
 
"Ministry without accountability is like a roller coaster without seatbelts," said Jedd Medefind, president of Christian Alliance for Orphans. "ECFA brings a confidence, safety and wisdom to Christian organizations and helps them hold fast to integrity amid the pressures and unexpected curves that ministry always brings."
 
Medefind describes ECFA's work as "indispensable" and will further empower the ministry he leads to hold high, God-honoring standards for fiscal integrity and good governance. "This partnership elevates both the character and quality of the entire realm of Christian adoption and orphan care ministry," Medefind said.
 
More than 20 million givers annually provide in excess of $13 billion of gifts to ECFA members.  These donors trust churches and charities displaying the ECFA seal as an evidence of the organization's commitment to good governance, sound financial practices and truthfulness in stewardship practices Busby said.
 
ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ecfa.org or call 1-800-323-9473.

To schedule an interview with Dan Busby, Jedd Medefind or an ECFA staff member, contact Ty Mays at 770-256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com.