Welcome

Welcome to the Christianity Today International 50th Anniversary Channel!

We're delighted to celebrate with you our rich heritage by looking back for a half century. We're reminded how faithful God has been from the creation of Christianity Today magazine in 1956 to the new, exciting horizons of this international communications ministry.

A Rich History

You may be surprised to learn that Christianity Today magazine was founded by Billy Graham. Its beginnings can best be described in his own words:

About two o'clock one night in 1953, an idea raced through my mind, freshly connecting all of the things I had seen and pondered about reaching a broader audience. … A couple of hours later, the concept of a new magazine was complete. I thought its name should be Christianity Today.

I thought it should have the best news coverage of any religious magazine. I wanted it also to be a focal point for the best in evangelical scholarship, for I knew that God was already beginning to raise up a generation of highly trained scholars who were deeply committed to Christ and his Word.

My idea that night was for a magazine, aimed primarily at ministers, that would restore intellectual respectability and spiritual impact to evangelical Christianity; it would reaffirm the power of the Word of God to redeem and transform men and women."

Graham's early morning vision became a reality when the first issue of Christianity Today rolled off the presses and into the hands of 285,000 pastors—free of charge, thanks to the generosity of oil magnate J. Howard Pew.

Over the next 50 years, Christianity Today magazine helped shape the profile of the American church, as well as the church worldwide. Committed to Graham's original vision, CT magazine continues to influence and guide theological, social, and cultural thought and discussion. It has earned the reputation of being one of the most trusted voices of Protestant Christianity.

CTI Today

As the "flagship" periodical, CT magazine is one of 12 award-winning publications published by CTI. Other titles include Leadership journal, Campus Life's Ignite Your Faith, Marriage Partnership, Today's Christian Woman, Christian History & Biography, Your Church, Today's Christian, MomSense, Men of Integrity, Church Law & Tax Report, and Books & Culture. CTI periodicals reach over 2.5 million readers.

Complementing these periodicals is ChristianityToday.com, a growing internet ministry that attracts over 2 million unique visitors per month. This website features a considerable variety of content channels and downloadable resources. In addition, some 34 e-newsletters, with a combined circulation of over 1.2 million subscribers, are sent to electronic subscribers on a regular basis.

Not surprisingly, "print-plus" has become the organizational watchword; and together, print and print-plus carry CTI Christian content in all its various forms to over 4.5 million readers.

The Future

What are the challenges facing Christianity in the 21st century? Who are the leaders whose voices need to be heard? What churches and individuals—known and unknown, small and large—are models for faithfulness and effectiveness for the upcoming generation?

In 2006, CTI's CHRISTIAN VISION PROJECT will begin to answer these questions in a three-part series—The Church and Culture, The Church and Mission, The Church and the Gospel. Working with a carefully selected group of Christian scholars, pastors, and lay leaders, the Christian Vision Project will spend the next three years stepping up to the big questions facing the church in the next 50 years.

Complementing the CV Project is an exciting new plan to take Christ to the culture. Called RAPID RESPONSE, this program is just that—a responsive information resource for editors and reporters working within both Christian and secular media. Facing the moment-by-moment reality of broadcast and print deadlines, these individuals desire expert insight on fast-breaking events vitally important to the church and the culture in a time-sensitive manner. CTI's Rapid Response network of thoughtful and media-savvy spokespersons from within the Christian community will become their major resource.

A Vision Fulfilled

CTI's vision to engage, encourage, and equip the church worldwide is just as true today as it was when Billy Graham first framed the Christianity Today magazine dream more than 50 years ago.

I hope you'll watch the video and peruse some of the other material throughout CTI's 50th Anniversary Channel. We'll add new material each month, highlighting all of our publications throughout the year. Check back regularly to learn more about the rich heritage of Christianity Today International.

Once again, we thank God for his faithfulness and thank you, our readers, who make this all possible.

Back to Anniversary Home.

For more information about CTI, visit the Help & Info Channel.