LEADERSHIP

Well the big news is out. Dr. Thom S. Rainer has been named the next president of Lifeway Christian Resources. According to Baptist Press, Rainer will begin the new job Oct. 17 to work alongside President James Draper to ensure a smooth transition.

A proven leader as dean of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth in Louisville, Ky., Rainer is also a prolific author and consultant in the areas of church health and growth and president of Church Central.

LifeWay is one of the world's largest providers of Christian products and services, including Bibles, church literature, books, music, audio and video recordings, church supplies and Internet services through www.LifeWay.com. 

Church Health?

An increasing number of North American churches are taking their business of saving lives more physically and even medically, getting into the game that was once restricted to only doctors. While automated external defibrillators, medical devices capable of shocking the heart and restoring its rhythm after a sudden cardiac arrest, may not replace pulpits in churches anytime soon, they are a resource more churches are considering.

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge, La., both opted for a defibrillator. According to a story on 2TheAdvocate.com, the churches hope they never have to use the machine, but want to be proactive in case of emergencies.

Another church in Lexington, Ky., is taking proactive steps to insure the health of their believers through exercise. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, believers at Christ-Centered Church undertook The Apostles' Journey Walking Challenge, to walk an average of 3.3 miles a day -- about 7,000 steps.

Their goal is to walk as much as St. Paul on his first missionary journey -- about 425 miles. Now nearly 50 walkers from Christ-Centered are challenging believers from other congregations to walk the walk.