LifeWay's New Leader Focused on Tools, Resources for Evangelism
by Allie Martin
March 7, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Staying true to biblical principles while being relevant in the culture -- that's the goal of the new president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Thom Ranier took the helm of LifeWay Christian Resources last month. One of the first initiatives Rainer announced as LifeWay's new president is the creation of a new entity for research. And while he acknowledges it is not the "most humble goal in the world," he says LifeWay's ambitious objective is to become the "go-to organization" for people who want to "find out what is happening in the Church in America, what's happening in culture, and what's happening in the unchurched world."
The new LifeWay leader has high hopes. "I think by doing so we're going to be an incredible resource for the local church and for evangelical Christianity," says Ranier, who was appointed to his new post late last year in the wake of Dr. Jimmy Draper's retirement as LifeWay's president.
Ranier says he intends to serve the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention while emphasizing a greater boldness for evangelism. "We have got to find a way to let our congregations and our Christian brothers and sisters know that by mere obedience, [when] they get out there and share the good news there's going to be a significant receptivity to it," he shares.
The new chief executive of the multi-million-dollar organization believes there are many challenges and opportunities for Christian retail. And while the growth of Christian bookstores has slowed in recent years, he also believes there is a huge market for Christian specialty stores.
"Many of the giant retailers are going to carry about a handful of the array of products that a LifeWay or some other Christian store can offer, whether it's a chain or independent," Ranier observes. So he encourages believers to look to the Christian stores as the full-service opportunity -- "and I hope that we can prove ourselves so that Christians will want to come into our stores to be able to see the breadth of our products and the commitment of those who work in each of our stores."
Ranier is the ninth president of Nashville-based LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the world's largest providers of Christian products and services. The retail outlets totaled 125 at the end of 2005. Ranier has served previously as dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky); and is founder of The Ranier Group, one of the country's largest church and denominational consultant organizations.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
