News

Passages

Focus on the Family eliminates jobs, American Bible Society president chosen, and other transitions.

Elected • Paul J. Maurer, as the 11th president of Sterling College in Kansas. Maurer previously served as senior vice president of institutional advancement at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.

Died • The Rev. Louis H. Evans Jr., organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, at age 82. Evans also pastored National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

Hired • Mark Bright, as president and CEO of Word Entertainment, based in Nashville. Bright is a veteran record producer for platinum-selling country and CCM artists, and previously served as vice president of EMI Music Publishing.

Eliminated • 202 jobs at Focus on the Family. Citing a weak economy and cash-strapped donors, the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit announced 149 layoffs and cut 53 vacant positions in its 1,150-member local workforce this November. Donations set a record high in fiscal 2008, but Focus anticipated a bleak holiday giving season.

Promoted • R. Lamar Vest, as president of the American Bible Society. Vest, currently executive vice president of ABS’s Global Scripture Ministries, replaces Paul Irwin, who was placed on leave after The New York Times revealed Irwin had paid $5 million to a website consultant with ties to pornography and gambling.

Appointed • Doug Lockhart, as president and CEO of Christian publishing giant IBS-STL North America; and Scott Bolinder, as president of IBS-STL Global Publishing. Both were formerly top executives with Christian publisher Zondervan.

Copyright © 2009 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

See Christianity Today‘s news section, liveblog, and newsfeed for more news updates.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Jesus Is Not a Brand

Tyler Wigg-Stevenson

Review

'The Blue Parakeet' Faces Inconvenient Verses

Philip Tallon

PhotographyWatch

Gary Gnidovic

News

Memphis's Other Graceland

Tim Stafford

Pivoting Toward the Faraway Neighbor

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman

What Is a Spiritual Director?

Richard Foster

What Is Spiritual Direction?

Richard Foster

Spiritual Formation Agenda

Richard Foster

News

Managing Your Money

Rusty Leonard, CEO of Stewardship Partners Investment Counsel

News

A Surefire Investment

Groans Too Deep for Words

Joel Hartse

Faith-based Super Bowl Parties

The Evolution of Darwin

There Goes the Neighborhood

News

Books Uncommon and Offbeat

John Wilson, editor of 'Books and Culture'

News

The Greatest Social Need

A Christianity Today Editorial

Review

Jacaranda

Andy Whitman

News

Evolve or Die

Annie Frisbie

News

Popcorn in the Pews

Ruth Moon

Bush's Envoy's Advice: 'Raise Cain'

Interview by Timothy C. Morgan

News

Building a Peace Beyond Understanding

Isaac Phiri with additional reporting from Jonathan Fitzgerald

Review

Everyday Lord

Mary M. Veeneman

News

Better Than a Bailout

Tony Carnes

News

Battle Fatigue

Sarah Pulliam

Editorial

Don't Let Them Die Alone

A Christianity Today Editorial

How to Help Orphans

Roger Olson

Our Priorities for 2009

News

Go Figure

News

Black Flight

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

News

Second Thoughts

Compass Direct News

News

Emergent's Divergence

Brandon O'Brien

News

Microfinance, Now More Micro

Ken Walker

News

News Briefs: January 01, 2009

News

Quotation Marks

News

Up for Debate

Glenn T. Stanton

View issue

Our Latest

Analysis

Republicans and Democrats Clash on Epstein File Release

The Bulletin with Nicole Martin

The newest documents remind Christians to support sexual abuse victims.

Evangelicals Confront a Revolutionary Age

A Catholic on the campaign trail and the “possibly catastrophic character of what is happening under our eyes” caused deep concern in 1960.

News

Hindu Nationalists Attack Missionaries in Northern India

One victim describes the mob descending on their bus, a rare occurrence in Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir.

News

Armenia Holds Inaugural Prayer Breakfast Amid Church Arrests

Some see the crackdown as persecution, others challenge the national church’s ties to Russia.

Review

A New Jesus Horror Movie Wallows In Affliction

Peter T. Chattaway

“The Carpenter’s Son,” starring Nicolas Cage, is disconnected from biblical hope.

The Bulletin

Israeli Settler Violence, Epstein Emails, and BrinGing Back Purity

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

West Bank skirmishes, Congress releases Epstein documents mentioning Trump, and Gen Z reconsiders purity culture.

News

Christians from 45 Countries Call for Zion Church Pastor’s Release

Meanwhile in China, the house church continues to gather and baptize new believers.

News

Kenyan Clergy Oppose Bill Aimed at Regulating Churches

Moses Wasamu

Pastors say the proposed law could harm religious freedoms.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube