Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist leaders welcomed indications from the U.S. Trade Ambassador on Aug. 13 that a so-called “Bible tax” will be avoided.
Bibles and religious literature currently are no longer subject to the upcoming 10 percent tariff hike set to be imposed on goods imported from China beginning Sept. 1. Previously, Bibles were among the items that would see a price increase as part of the growing trade war between the U.S. and China. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner
Baptist and Reflector
NASHVILLE — Despite concerns and rumors, current retirees of LifeWay Christian Resources over the age of 65 are not losing their pensions or medical benefits. However, the Nashville-based, publishing division of the Southern Baptist Convention will freeze its LifeWay Pension Plan effective Jan. 1, 2020 for current pension-eligible employees.
LifeWay Christian Resources announced changes to its retiree life insurance and pre-65 retiree medical benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Most of the changes affect current employees and those who retired before age 65. LifeWay shared the changes in letters to current and future retirees on June 29. The changes were approved by LifeWay trustees at their February meeting. [Read more…]
By Carol Pipes
LifeWay news office
Ben and Lynley Mandrell were presented Bibles from LifeWay Christian Resources trustees after Ben Mandrell’s election as president and CEO on June 28, 2019. — Photo by Greta Reynolds
ATLANTA — LifeWay Christian Resources trustees unanimously elected Ben Mandrell as the organization’s 10th president during a special-called meeting June 28 in Atlanta.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead in such an important season for LifeWay,” Mandrell told trustees during the plenary session. “My first priority is to get our family to Nashville and begin loving the people at LifeWay. There is already an amazing team in place, and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and work alongside them.” [Read more…]
By Carol Pipes
LifeWay Christian Resources
Ben Mandrell, 42, will be nominated by LifeWay Christian Resources trustees’ presidential search committee as the entity’s 10th president. The vote is scheduled for a June 28, 2019 board meeting in Atlanta. —Photo courtesy of Storyline Fellowship
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The presidential search committee of LifeWay Christian Resources’ trustees has unanimously recommended Ben Mandrell become the entity’s next president and CEO. LifeWay’s board of trustees will vote on the recommendation during a special-called session Friday, June 28, in Atlanta. Mandrell is a former Tennessee Baptist pastor.
If elected, Mandrell will become the 10th president of the 128-year-old organization.
Mandrell, 42, serves as lead pastor of Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colo. He and his family moved to the Denver area in 2014 to plant Storyline Fellowship in partnership with the North American Mission Board and First Baptist Church Orlando. The church launched in February 2015 with 250 people and has grown to 1,600 in weekly attendance, with over 2,800 this past Easter. [Read more…]
LifeWay News Office
NASHVILLE — The 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found few Protestant churchgoers say they strongly agree they are personally taking actions that indicate a life of service to God and others.
Fifteen percent of Protestant churchgoers strongly agree they intentionally give up certain purchases so they can use that money for others. Including those who somewhat agree, 41 percent say they practice that type of intentional generosity.
Among 18- to 34-year-olds attending a Protestant church once a month or more, 22 percent strongly agree they give up purchases to use that money for others.
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
LifeWay Building
The March 20 headline splashed across Christianity Today, The Tennessean and National Public Radio was one few in Southern Baptist life thought they’d ever read. There were variations, but in effect they all communicated the same thing: “LifeWay Christian Resources, the largest Christian retail chain in America, plans to close all 170 stores this year and shift its offerings entirely online.”
It was a sad day that revealed the lifelong emotional attachment many Southern Baptists have had with the bookstore. Frankly, generations of us have never known a world without a Baptist Book Store or a Lifeway Christian Store. Many expressed their anger with statements about how the bookstore was more than just books. It was the people who worked there — who ministered there — who made the stores what they were. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
LifeWay Christian Resources’ decision to close their “brick and mortar” stores by year end has caused some angst among Tennessee Baptists.
And, I admit, I’m one of them.
I understand their reasoning. According to their news release, LifeWay Christian Stores has experienced a decline in customer traffic and sales. Business is business, but in LifeWay’s case, it also is a ministry to the thousands upon thousands of Southern Baptist churches across our convention. [Read more…]
By Carol Pipes
LifeWay Christian Resources director of corporate communications
LifeWay Building
NASHVILLE — LifeWay Christian Resources is charting a new course in 2019 marking a strategic shift of resources to a dynamic digital strategy. As part of the transition, LifeWay will close its 170 brick-and-mortar stores in 2019. [Read more…]
By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Americans are expected to wager more than $8 billion on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but don’t bet on many pastors joining in.
A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found most pastors believe it is morally wrong to bet on sports, while few agree it should be legalized nationwide. [Read more…]
By Carol Pipes
Lifeway director of corporate communications
Brad Waggoner
NASHVILLE — LifeWay Christian Resources board chairman Jimmy Scroggins announced today that trustees have asked Executive Vice President Brad Waggoner to serve as acting president and CEO of LifeWay until a new president is named.
Waggoner will serve in the role previously held by Thom S. Rainer who announced his retirement in August 2018. [Read more…]
