Posted on Jun 7, 2009 | by Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--James T. Draper Jr., retired president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, is showing signs of improvement after being admitted Thursday, June 4, to Baylor Regional Medical Center in Grapevine, Texas.

Draper remains in the intensive care unit but was able to sit up and speak over the weekend, according to family members. The preliminary diagnosis is that he had a severe allergic reaction to a recent myelogram procedure.

In a report circulated Sunday, June 7, on behalf of the family, it was noted that Draper was "much improved as of this morning.... He is awake and alert.... The family thanks every one for their prayers and concern."

LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer on June 5 had called on fellow employees and friends of LifeWay to pray for Draper, his wife Carol Ann and the Draper family. "We are asking the Lord to give him strength, the doctors wisdom and the family courage in the days ahead," Rainer said.

Draper was president of LifeWay from 1991-2006 and president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1982-84.
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Reported by Baptist Press staff and LifeWay Christian Resources' communications office.