Franklin Graham has long had a reputation for being larger than life and going his own way. His 1997 memoir, Rebel With a Cause, chronicled his prodigal period and his return to God. Eventually, he made it to the top spots at both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan's Purse (SP), a Christian relief organization ministering to the needy around the world.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-After the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's hometown newspaper, The Charlotte Observer, on Friday devoted more than 3,000 words to the controversy over the compensation packages of Franklin Graham, the younger Graham announced he will give up his salary with the association (BGEA). As son of evangelist Billy Graham, Franklin Graham heads both the relief organization Samaritan's Purse, which is based in Boone, N.C., and BGEA, where he became CEO in 2000 and president in 2001.

A tiny ACORN has grown into a huge mess.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has received more than $54 million in federal funding since 1994. But that federal funding is likely to end following scandal, allegations of illegal activity-and an overwhelming Sept. 17 vote by both houses of Congress to defund the group: 345-75 in the House and 85-11 in the Senate.

When church leaders want to raise money for building programs, they often turn to companies like Indiana-based Alanar, which trains these leaders to sell bonds to fellow church members. In Alanar's training is advice to open meetings with prayer, quote Scripture during the sales call, and "never sell the facts, sell warm stewardship and the Lord."

World Relief is

the compassion and benevolence arm of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). "We're not the mouth of the NAE, but we are its arms and legs," said Don Golden, the group's senior vice president of church engagement.

"In down economic times, charities complain about money, but a lack of money is a symptom, not a cause," said Bob Shank, one of the founders of the Barnabas Group, a network of business leaders who help Christian ministries. "The cause of the problem is more often a lack of creativity and collaborators. That's where we can help."

A quiet revolution has taken place over the past 30 years in corporate America. Driven by such groups as the pro-gay Human Rights Campaign and the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood, large corporations such as JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America have become major funders of liberal social action. And since 1973's Roe v. Wade decision, more and more healthcare companies are directly involved in the abortion industry.