Following a sexual scandal involving the founder of church youth curriculum Orange, a newly-formed Texas ministry has announced it’s merging with Orange and giving it “a fresh start.” But watchdog groups are calling out “red flags” in Orange’s past financial documents. And it’s unclear if Orange’s former disgraced leaders will continue to influence the new, merged company and benefit from longstanding, lucrative royalty arrangements.
Dallas-based ministry Amazing Life Foundation and the ReThink Group, the nonprofit parent company of Orange, announced what was described as a “merger” in a joint press release Jan. 8. Amazing Life CEO Chris Heaslip stated his group will “build on (Orange’s) legacy of equipping churches and families with practical, Gospel-centered, and world-class resources.”
Last May, the former CEO of Orange, Kristen Ivy, accused Orange founder Reggie Joiner of “clergy sexual abuse” in what was initially called an “inappropriate relationship” the two engaged in, as previously reported by The Roys Report (TRR).
Both Orange leaders resigned, and a law firm was hired to conduct a third-party investigation, which is “ongoing,” according to a statement Orange provided to TRR last week.
This breach of trust by Orange, the leading provider of church Sunday school materials, prompted “evaluation of various opportunities for Orange’s future” and led to the new merger, stated Orange Board Chair Joel Manby.
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However, an analysis of Orange’s 990 tax filings by TRR shows Manby, Joiner, and Ivy received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Orange in annual royalties and rent, related to another companies they owned. Manby, Joiner, and Ivy also led a nonprofit, Core Essentials Inc., which annually received six-figure amounts from Orange.
On top of this, Manby received tens of thousands for consulting for Orange. And Joiner and Ivy received salaries topping $300,000 each for their executive positions.
From 2019—2022 (the most recent 990 available), Orange paid Manby $1.2 million in royalties and consulting fees. During that same time, Orange paid Ivy more than $1 million, and Joiner $3.9 million.
Barry Bowen, lead analyst at nonprofit religious watchdog group The Trinity Foundation, told TRR the reports reveal “a pattern of double-dipping” by Orange’s executives and Board Chair Joel Manby.
“It should be a lot more transparent that Manby, Joiner, and Ivy’s varied organizations had these direct relationships with Orange,” said Bowen. “And I would question whether that is appropriate.”
Regarding Joiner’s significant compensation, an Orange spokesperson responded to TRR: “The figures referenced are from nearly two years ago. Mr. Joiner is no longer associated with ReThink or Orange.”
It is unclear if the royalty arrangements, related to Orange’s years-long relationship with Manby’s, Ivy’s, and Joiner’s nonprofit and their LLCs will transfer to Amazing Life Foundation.
Amazing Life Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Moore responded to TRR via email, “We believe in Orange and its mission, and though we acquired much of Rethink’s assets, team, and intellectual property, we did not acquire all of it.”
An Orange spokesperson, however, told TRR: “Royalty obligations remain with Orange.”
When asked to clarify, based on Orange’s response, Moore declined to comment.
‘Red flags’ in Orange financials
TRR’s analysis shows Orange regularly paid large sums to Manby and Joiner for royalties related to the company they co-owned, Character Revolution LLC.
From 2008—2022, Orange paid Joiner between $203,437 and $520,200 annually in royalties and rent related to Character Revolution. In 2017, Orange began paying Joiner another $131,500 to $390,000 in other royalties.
This was in addition to Joiner’s annual salary, which topped $300,000 in 2022.
From 2008—2022, Orange also paid Manby significant income related to Character Revolution—between $96,005 and $249,900 annually. Orange also started paying Manby up to $123,000 annually for consulting in 2019.
Orange began paying Ivy six-figure royalties related to The Phase Project in 2017. This was in addition to her salary, which in 2022 was $364,820.
All three executives—Joiner, Manby, and Ivy—are also listed on the 990 tax returns for Core Essentials Inc., a separate nonprofit that Orange has paid annual, six-figure amounts for the past decade.
Bowen noticed other “red flags” in Orange’s 990 documents, namely the large number of related persons who worked for Orange.
An analysis of Orange’s 990 reports back to 2008 shows a half-dozen Joiner family members benefiting from Orange, several with six-figure salaries.
“It was being run like a family business, while bringing in $27 million dollars annually,” he said.
Another nonprofit watchdog group, MinistryWatch, echoed governance concerns in its analysis of ReThink Group/Orange. Specifically, it cited a lack of independent board members—most notably Chairman Manby.
Giving Orange a “D” rating for transparency, MinistryWatch highlighted the group’s use of non-disclosure agreements for staff and its failure to make available any annual financial review.
Regarding the lack of financial disclosure, Orange responded to TRR: “It’s important to note that ReThink is not donor supported and is self-supporting.”
Since its inception, ReThink Group/Orange has filed as a public charity, meaning most revenue must come “from public donations or government entities.” Some years, less than 1% of Orange’s revenue came from donations and grants.
‘Refocusing Orange’
Tech-financial entrepreneur Chris Heaslip formed Amazing Life Foundation last year, but the nonprofit has not yet been approved by the IRS as a 501(c)3. U.S. tax law permits such organizations to operate as if they’ve been approved.
A spokesperson for Orange declined to disclose the terms of Amazing Life Foundation acquiring Orange’s assets, stating, “Details of this merger are confidential.”
But the multi-million-dollar ministry later acknowledged that funds changed hands.
When asked how the revenue from the sale of Orange will be utilized, the spokesperson said, “The funds will be used to meet fiduciary responsibilities, including resolving financial obligations and completing the ongoing investigation.”
Since 2019, Amazing Life founder Heaslip has developed multiple apps geared to church leaders—including Tome and Bside, which feature Christian teaching, and Leadr, designed to improve team performance.
“The church deserves the same quality and care as the corporate world—if not more,” states Amazing Life President Malachi Boyuls in his online bio.
Amazing Life Foundation also includes Amazing Kids, a children’s ministry curriculum provider started by Tyler Bates and his wife, Connie.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Tyler Bates previously served as Gateway Church Pastor of NextGen Content for nearly three years, prior to leaving the megachurch’s staff in spring 2023.
Despite potential duplication between Orange and Amazing Kids, ministry spokesperson Ryan Moore stated, “We offered every Orange staff member the opportunity to join the Amazing Life Foundation with their same title, benefits, and compensation.”
An unspecified number of former Orange staff in Georgia have become employees of Amazing Life, which will continue to be based in Dallas.
But Moore indicated that Amazing Life will be redirecting Orange, which he said has veered from its biblical grounding.
“As he steps into leading Orange as well as the Amazing Life team, Chris is passionately committed to refocusing Orange back to a biblical foundation,” stated Moore.
Investigation findings will be made public
Both entities confirmed that no members of The ReThink Group board are joining the board of Amazing Life Foundation “at this time,” according to Orange.
Amazing Life CEO Heaslip and President Boyuls are currently the only members of the board, Moore said. This means the group’s board doesn’t have even one independent member.
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability requires its member nonprofit groups to have a minimum of five board members, with the majority of them being independent.
Amazing Life Foundation plans to “invite new board members that are passionate about the local church (and) our mission as an organization,” stated Moore.
Previously, Orange told TRR that findings of the investigation into Joiner and Ivy’s “inappropriate relationship” would remain internal. “Findings will be shared with our staff and those affected,” a spokesperson stated last summer.
Now ReThink says it will publicize the findings. “ReThink will . . . finish the investigation and share the findings so other organizations might benefit.”
Bowen said reviewing the curriculum ministry’s financials underline to him how “church has become big business.”
“There’s a lot of money to be made through ancillary business conducted with churches.”
Julie Roys contributed to this report.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in central Florida.
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6 Responses
Yes, a church having a “Merger” with an LLC with clearly what appears to be questionable accounting financials does generate more than a few “Red Flags”. We are seeing more than a few “interesting” and possibly questionable payments.
Please read carefully. There’s no church involved–just Orange, which is a nonprofit, and Amazing Life, which is another nonprofit. However, Orange has lucrative royalty agreements with LLCs and a nonprofit run by its former executives and board chair.
The arrangements have certainly been profitable for a number of people!
Maybe the word “nonprofit” should be omitted from the descriptions of these kinds of
organizations that pay their people so much money.
Is there a website that lists “Christian” non-profits with the money the big-shots receive?
I just wish there would be more conversation around the whole plural part of Reggie Joiner’s “past inappropriate relationshipS.” THAT’S a story worth talking about.
Amazing Life is about to secure an impressive paycheck. According to inside sources, Hannah Joiner (Reggie’s daughter) was directly involved in this deal, ensuring she’ll play a significant role in aligning with her father’s vision. Whenever someone labels something as “confidential,” it’s often a sign they’re hiding information—and Amazing Life is no exception.
It’s curious how Amazing Life plans to return to its biblical foundations, especially considering that Tripp Crosby, Hannah’s husband, is a close friend of Rob Bell. The dynamic is intriguing—Amazing Life appears to lean conservative, while Orange is decidedly more progressive.
It wouldn’t be surprising if they start having Hannah and Tripp collaborate on kids’ curriculum videos, much like Tyler and Connie.
At the end of the day, Amazing Life is no different from Orange—both are chasing dollar bills, trying to sell kids’ curriculum to Baptist churches. The whole situation feels like a calculated effort to save face while maximizing profits for top executives. Amazing Life and Orange seem to believe that outsiders buy into the narratives they’re spinning, but it’s all just a transparent game.
I wish there was more conversation around the reporting that Reggie Joiner had “past inappropriate relationshipS” plural. THAT feels like a story worth talking about.