Lifeway Christian Resources
Lifeway Christian Resources is the Southern Baptist Convention's nonprofit publishing, distribution, research, and church-services organization.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Lifeway Christian Resources is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. It develops, publishes, distributes, and sells Christian educational and ministry resources, while also providing research and operational services for churches and other religious organizations. The organization was founded in 1891 as the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention by pastor James Marion Frost. Its original purpose was to supply Sunday-school literature and educational materials for Southern Baptist congregations, but its activities gradually expanded into book publishing, Bible publishing, retailing, church supplies, conferences, research, and digital commerce. For much of the twentieth century, Lifeway was known through its Baptist Book Store and later LifeWay Christian Store network. These stores became one of the largest physical retail channels for Christian books, Bibles, music, curriculum, gifts, and church supplies in the United States. The retail network was rebranded under the LifeWay name during the 1990s. Changing consumer behavior, competition from online retailers, and pressure on physical-store economics led the organization to announce store closures in 2019 and end its company-operated physical retail presence later that year. Lifeway subsequently emphasized e-commerce, direct publishing, subscriptions, digital resources, and services aimed at churches and ministry leaders. Publishing remains central to the organization. Its B&H Publishing operation includes B&H Books, B&H Academic, B&H Kids, B&H Español, and Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Bible Publishers publishes the Christian Standard Bible, which succeeded the Holman Christian Standard Bible, as well as Bible-study materials and commentaries. Lifeway also produces Bible studies, Sunday-school curriculum, discipleship resources, student and children's materials, leadership content, and resources for small groups and church administration. It distributes selected products created by outside publishers and suppliers, including communion materials, church furnishings, and other congregational supplies. Lifeway Research conducts surveys and analysis concerning Protestant and evangelical church life in North America. Its work covers church attendance, congregational health, pastoral leadership, church growth, public opinion, and ministry trends. The division publishes findings through reports, articles, podcasts, books, and collaborations such as the Outreach 100 church rankings. It also offers custom research and assessment tools for churches, ministries, and parachurch organizations. The organization is self-funded rather than financed through the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program. Its revenue comes primarily from the sale and licensing of products and services. Although it serves a broad Christian market and distributes works from outside organizations, its editorial and merchandising approach is associated with conservative Southern Baptist theology and the denomination's doctrinal statements. Lifeway therefore operates both as a ministry-support organization and as a specialized Christian media and services enterprise.
History
Lifeway traces its institutional history to the 1891 creation of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. James Marion Frost established the board to provide educational literature and other resources for Baptist congregations. After Frost's first term, T. P. Bell defended the board during its early years, and Frost later returned for a longer period that helped stabilize its mission. Under I. J. Van Ness, the organization strengthened its emphasis on Christian education. It began operating bookstores in 1925 under the Baptist Book Store name, building a retail channel that eventually became one of the most recognizable parts of the organization. Presidents T. L. Holcomb and James L. Sullivan continued to connect the board's publishing work with local-church ministry. Sullivan, who led from 1953 to 1975, oversaw a period of substantial institutional development. The LifeWay name began appearing on selected materials and stores around 1971, reflecting an organization that was selling a broader range of products, including resources produced outside Southern Baptist publishing operations. Later presidents Grady C. Cothen and Lloyd Elder led during periods of technological and denominational change. James T. Draper Jr. became president in 1991. During the 1990s, the retail network was progressively rebranded under the LifeWay name, and the organization formally adopted the LifeWay identity. In 2002, Lifeway acquired Serendipity House, a publisher known for small-group Bible-study materials. Thom S. Rainer became president and CEO in 2006 and emphasized church research, revitalization, and adaptation to changing ministry practices. Lifeway also expanded its digital capabilities and moved from the Draper and Sullivan towers to new headquarters in Nashville's Capitol View area in 2017. Rainer announced his retirement in 2018 and left the organization in February 2019. Brad Waggoner served as acting president before Ben Mandrell was selected as president and CEO in June 2019. That same year, Lifeway ended its physical retail strategy. It initially announced staff reductions and selected store closures, then decided to close the full company-operated network and focus on online commerce and other direct channels. The decision marked a major transition from a bookstore-centered public identity to a publishing, digital-resource, and church-services model. The COVID-19 pandemic brought further disruption. Lifeway's World Changers youth construction program ceased operations in 2020, and the board voted to place the Ridgecrest Conference Center up for sale. In 2021, the organization introduced a redesigned logo and continued evaluating its real-estate needs as remote work became more common. Lifeway remains a self-funded nonprofit connected to the Southern Baptist Convention. Its current activities center on B&H and Holman publishing, curriculum and Bible studies, online distribution, church products, research, and services for congregational administration and ministry development.
- 2021
New logo introduced
[1]Lifeway launched a redesigned logo as part of its continuing organizational and digital repositioning.
- 2020
World Changers operations cease
[1]The youth volunteer construction program stopped operating during the coronavirus pandemic.
- 2019
Physical retail network closed
[1]Lifeway announced the closure of its company-operated stores and shifted emphasis toward e-commerce and direct digital channels.
- 2017
Headquarters move to Capitol View
[1]Lifeway moved from the Draper and Sullivan towers to new headquarters in Nashville's Capitol View district.
- 2002
Serendipity House acquired
[1]Lifeway acquired Serendipity House, expanding its small-group Bible-study publishing capabilities.
- 1996
Retail rebranding begins
[1]The bookstore network began moving from the Baptist Book Store identity to LifeWay branding.
- 1993
Broadman Press and Holman Bible Company combine
[1]The two publishing operations merged as Broadman & Holman, later shortened to B&H.
- 1979
A. J. Holman acquired
[1]The Sunday School Board acquired Bible publisher A. J. Holman, strengthening its Bible-publishing operations.
- 1971
LifeWay name begins appearing
[1]The LifeWay imprint began appearing on selected materials and in parts of the retail network.
- 1925
Baptist Book Store retail operations begin
[1]The organization began operating bookstores under the Baptist Book Store name.
Products and positioning
A conservative Protestant publishing, distribution, research, and ministry-services organization serving Southern Baptist and other evangelical churches.
Bible translation
Christian Standard Bible
The Christian Standard Bible is Lifeway's principal modern English Bible translation and is published through Holman Bible Publishers. It succeeded the Holman Christian Standard Bible and is distributed in multiple print and digital editions for personal reading, study, teaching, and church use.
Christian publishing
B&H Publishing
B&H is Lifeway's main general Christian publishing operation. Its catalog includes books for theology, ministry, discipleship, church leadership, family life, children, and popular Christian reading. Related imprints include B&H Books, B&H Academic, B&H Kids, B&H Español, and Holman Bible Publishers.
Church education
Lifeway Bible studies and curriculum
Lifeway produces curriculum and study materials for Sunday schools, small groups, discipleship programs, children, students, and adults. These resources are designed for structured congregational teaching and are distributed in print and digital formats.
Research and data services
Lifeway Research
Lifeway Research studies Protestant and evangelical trends in North America. It publishes surveys, reports, articles, podcasts, and church assessments, and provides custom research services to churches, ministries, and parachurch organizations.
Church business services
Lifeway Church Services
Lifeway provides selected operational resources and business services intended to help churches manage ministry administration, congregational development, church planting, revitalization, and related organizational needs.
Youth mission program · 1990
World Changers
World Changers was a youth volunteer program that organized week-long construction projects for homes in need. It began in 1990, expanded internationally in 1992, and later operated as part of Lifeway Student Ministries before ending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Controversies
2016
Removal of Jen Hatmaker publications
Lifeway removed works by author Jen Hatmaker from its retail and distribution channels after she publicly endorsed same-sex marriage. The decision reflected Lifeway's conservative editorial and merchandising policies and generated public discussion about religious bookselling and inclusion.
Brand decisions
2021
Organizational identity and workplace redesignOtherBackground
Lifeway continued adapting to digital commerce, remote work, and reduced demand for large office facilities.
Action taken
It introduced a redesigned logo and considered selling its building while moving toward a smaller office footprint.
Aftermath
The changes reinforced Lifeway's transition away from a store- and facility-centered model.
2020
Ridgecrest Conference Center put up for saleStrategyBackground
The coronavirus pandemic disrupted conferences, group travel, and other in-person ministry activities.
Action taken
Lifeway's board voted to seek a sale of the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
Aftermath
The decision formed part of Lifeway's broader reassessment of physical assets and in-person operations.
2019
Exit from company-operated physical retailStrategyBackground
Lifeway faced changing shopping habits, online competition, and pressure on the economics of a large bookstore network.
Action taken
It first announced staffing reductions and selected store closures, then decided to close all company-operated LifeWay Christian Stores and concentrate on e-commerce and other direct channels.
Aftermath
The decision ended Lifeway's long-standing physical retail presence and repositioned the organization around publishing, digital resources, distribution, research, and church services.
Recent events
LifeWay announces budget and workforce cuts[3]
Reported:
LifeWay Christian Resources announced it would reduce its operating budget by roughly 10 percent through staff reductions, a hiring freeze, and salary cuts, after five consecutive weeks of steep revenue decline.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lifeway-christian-resources · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled