The Audit Trail from The LGBTQ Grant Organization, Arcus Foundation, to North Point Church

During a podcast with Allie Beth Stuckey, discussing the allegations against Evangelicals who have sold out the Church for culture in her book, Shepherds for Sale, Megan Basham levied an accusation against Andy Stanley and North Point Church for receiving funding from groups like The Arcus Foundation.

The Arcus Foundation is a secular LGBTQ grant-making organization that funds different projects, including Evangelical and religious projects, to advance the LGBTQ movement. Basham accused North Point Church and a parachurch “ministry” that sits under the leadership of North Point Church, called “Embracing the Journey,” of receiving such funds.

Here’s the clip:

Apparently, North Point and Andy Stanley, as well as Embracing the Journey, have all denied these allegations. My purpose here is to clarify exactly how these connections from The Arcus Foundation are tied to North Point, as we all know that these radical leftist organizations funnel money through multiple front organizations in an effort to disguise the money trail.

Note: This is kind of like that time when the ERLC published a propaganda piece at the Baptist Press claiming they didn’t take money from George Soros, but we then showed how Soros’ money was funneled through the National Immigration Forum, which funneled money through its front group, the Evangelical Immigration Table, of which ERLC head, Russell Moore, sat on the board, using his platform at the ERLC to push Soros immigration propaganda.

While it may be technically true that The Arcus Foundation isn't making out checks directly to North Point Church or Andy Stanley, it is undeniable that The Arcus Foundation's influence reaches North Point Church through the organizations it supports, particularly through its funding of The Reformation Project. Let’s break down the connection.

The Arcus Foundation and The Reformation Project

The Arcus Foundation, as noted, is a powerful secular organization with a clear mission to advance LGBTQ causes, particularly within religious communities. One of the key beneficiaries of Arcus's funding is The Reformation Project, led by Matthew Vines. Between 2014 and 2018, The Reformation Project received substantial grants from Arcus—amounting to $550,000—for the purpose of “reforming” church teachings on sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically targeting conservative and evangelical communities.

Embracing the Journey, Justin Lee, and The Reformation Project

Greg and Lynn McDonald, the founders of Embracing the Journey, are deeply intertwined with Matthew Vines' Reformation Project. The McDonalds have not only participated in events organized by The Reformation Project but have also played significant roles in shaping and leading programs that align with the project’s goals.

This partnership is critical because it highlights how Embracing the Journey is effectively an extension of The Reformation Project’s mission. By working closely with Vines, the McDonalds are, in practice, operating under the larger umbrella of the Arcus-funded initiative.

Also tying North Point to The Reformation Project is a man named Justin Lee. Lee was one of the featured speakers at North Point’s 2023 “Unconditional Conference”—a conference dedicated to normalizing homosexual behavior within the Evangelical Church. Lee is a board member of Vines’ Reformation Project.

Lee himself openly promotes homosexual behavior and gay sex. According to Lee’s own biography, The following is an excerpt from Justin Lee’s website, he explains how his views have shifted from non-affirming to affirming over the years, and that he now believes gay sex is okay:

“As many of you know, I’m fairly conservative in my theological views.  I believe that the Bible is morally authoritative, that sex is for marriage, and that promiscuity is harmful to everyone involved.  For many years of my life, I also believed that all homosexual behavior was wrong – whether it consisted of anonymous hookups or committed relationships.  I believed, based on what I had read in the Bible, that even the most loving and monogamous of same-sex relationships was evil in God’s eyes.  But as I studied the Bible, my view on that subject changed.  I now believe that homosexual behavior is appropriate within the confines of a committed, loving, monogamous, lifelong, Christ-centered relationship.  Essentially, I’m arguing that a Christ-centered marriage is a good thing, regardless of the gender of the people involved.”

North Point’s Connection to Arcus Funding

Here’s where the connection to North Point Church becomes irrefutable. North Point has hosted conferences and events featuring Greg and Lynn McDonald and their ministry, Embracing the Journey, Justin Lee, and others who are closely tied to The Reformation Project. These ministries and events have been designed to target evangelical parents and church leaders, offering them guidance on how to navigate LGBTQ issues in a way that aligns with the affirming theology promoted by Vines and The Reformation Project.

While North Point might not directly receive funds from The Arcus Foundation, it is clear that by platforming and endorsing Embracing the Journey, North Point is benefiting from the work and influence of Arcus-funded initiatives.

In essence, when North Point Church platforms an organization like Embracing the Journey—an organization that works closely with and for Matthew Vines and The Reformation Project—it is undeniably tied to Arcus Foundation funding. The funding from Arcus to The Reformation Project trickles down through the programs and leaders supported by this initiative, which then finds its way into churches like North Point, where these programs, behaviors, and aberrant sexual ideologies are promoted and normalized.

Therefore, while the money might not flow directly into North Point’s bank account, the influence and resources funded by Arcus undeniably permeate the church through the ministries and programs it hosts and endorses. This indirect funding is a classic example of how radical organizations like The Arcus Foundation operate—strategically funding front organizations that in turn influence larger, more mainstream entities, all while keeping the original source of funding obscured from direct scrutiny.

Andy Stanley and North Point Church may deny receiving direct funds from The Arcus Foundation, but the evidence clearly shows that they are deeply intertwined with organizations that do. The Reformation Project, heavily funded by Arcus, partners closely with Embracing the Journey, which North Point supports and promotes.

Through these connections, North Point’s ministry, while perhaps not directly cashing its checks, is directly benefiting from the resources and influence of one of the most prominent LGBTQ grant-making organizations, thereby playing a role in advancing the very agenda that Arcus seeks to promote within evangelical churches.