NASHVILLE (BP) — LifeWay Christian Resources celebrated two historic milestones in 2016, but remains focused on the future of the organization.
In April, LifeWay held a chapel service to commemorate its 125th anniversary, then held a groundbreaking and prayer service on the downtown Nashville property that will house its new headquarters in 2017.
http://bpnews.net/46615/lifeway-holds-125th-anniv-and-groundbreaking
Earlier, LifeWay announced plans to build a nine-story 250,000-square-foot office building in a new mixed use development located only a few blocks from the current location that was sold last year.
Construction on the new headquarters continues according to plans with the goal of moving in by the end of next year.
http://bpnews.net/46621/lifeway-moves-swiftly-toward-new-headquarters
Thom S. Rainer also celebrated his 10th anniversary as LifeWay president and CEO in 2016. A special chapel service was held in February to recognize Rainer for his service.
http://www.bpnews.net/46277/lifeway-celebrates-thom-rainers-10th-anniversary
Also during 2016:
B&H Publishing Group continued to earn critical acclaim and popular success. Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae’s autobiography “Unashamed” became a New York Times Bestseller. Perennial best-selling author Priscilla Shirer published her first fiction book, “The Prince Warriors,” a young adult fantasy trilogy addressing spiritual warfare. In response to pastors seeking advice, Rainer wrote “Who Moved My Pulpit? Leading Change in the Church.”
http://bpnews.net/46696/priscilla-shirers-new-journey-tackles-spiritual-warfare
http://www.bpnews.net/46892/rainer-shares-roadmap-to-helping-pastors-lead-change
New training resources were added to aid churches. LifeWay launched “Disciples Path: The Journey,” a new long-term study designed to help “make disciples who make disciples.” The one-year small group study focuses on helping both new and existing believers understand and apply core Christian doctrines to become more mature disciples.
http://www.bpnews.net/47662/lifeway-adds-new-discipleship-resource
To help students better understand how to minister in urban environments, LifeWay Students announced Infusion, a six-day event that helps participants approach issues likes poverty, racism, lack of education and health care with a gospel motivation.
http://bpnews.net/47246/lifeway-adds-student-events-in-urban-ministry
Popularity of “The Insanity of God,” a feature documentary produced by the International Mission Board and Cooke Pictures and distributed by LifeWay Films, spurred an encore showing in theaters and pushed box office receipts to $1.1 million. Based on the B&H bestselling book by the same name, the film highlights the persecuted church and how faith in God makes a difference in difficult places.
http://bpnews.net/47558/insanity-of-god-ticket-sales-top-1-million
http://bpnews.net/47659/behind-the-scenes-of-the-insanity-of-god
http://bpnews.net/47867/2nd-insanity-simulcast-nov-13-dvd-release-nov-21
When floods ravaged Louisiana in late August, LifeWay worked to help pastors and churches recover. Pastors and churches impacted received help in restoring Bible study materials and pastoral libraries lost in the floodwaters. World Changers teams also helped in the cleanup and local LifeWay Stores sent volunteers and served as collection spots for donations.
http://www.bpnews.net/47490/lifeway-providing-assistance-to-floodravaged-louisiana
In his August report to the trustees, Rainer said, “LifeWay’s future is as bright as ever.” He highlighted the hiring of Connia Nelson as the new senior human resources director. She was previously the senior vice president of HR at Verizon. Trustees also heard about a redesign of LifeWay Stores to help costumers find resources more easily and a nearly $2 million redesign of the kids’ areas planned next year for stores nationwide.
http://bpnews.net/47485/trustees-lifeway-budget-approved-new-facility-reports-shared
In October, LifeWay leadership held their first Pipeline conference. Designed to encourage and challenge, the conference featured 10 respected church leaders and drew more than 1,000 in attendance and 3,000 who participated online.
http://www.bpnews.net/47746/raising-up-church-leaders-focus-of-pipeline-conf
With the sale of LifeWay’s downtown property, the larger-than-life Billy Graham statue that had called Nashville home for 10 years found a new home at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in the North Carolina mountains. The new location near the main entrance of Ridgecrest is only a few miles from Graham’s mountaintop home.
http://www.bpnews.net/48045/billy-graham-statue-finds-new-home-at-ridgecrest
LifeWay Research
In 2016, Scott McConnell was named as executive director of LifeWay Research. McConnell had been part of the research firm since its formation 10 years ago.
http://bpnews.net/47125/scott-mcconnell-to-lead-lifeway-research
This year, LifeWay Research surveyed thousands of pastors, Christians and Americans to discover their thoughts on subjects ranging from the election to the end of the world. Among the studies released by LifeWay Research this year:
— Lack of support reason pastors leave pastorate
No sabbatical. No help with counseling. No clear picture of what’s expected. In the study, hundreds of former pastors said these were the crucial elements missing from the final churches they led before quitting the pastorate.
http://www.bpnews.net/46126/study-lack-of-support-reason-pastors-leave-pastorate
— Unchurched will talk about faith
Americans who don’t go to church are happy to talk about religion and often think about the meaning of life, the study showed. They’re also open to taking part in community service events hosted at a church or going to a church concert.
http://bpnews.net/47138/study-unchurched-will-talk-about-faith
— Americans love God & Bible, fuzzy on details
Americans apparently don’t know much about theology, the study showed. Most say God wrote the Bible. But they’re not sure everything in it is true.
http://www.bpnews.net/47628/study-americans-love-god-and-bible-fuzzy-on-details
