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

News

Iranian Christian Freed Nine Months After Border Patrol Arrest

Video of agents arresting him and his wife in Los Angeles went viral, and their church has been praying for his freedom.

Public Theology Project

Why John Perkins Stood (Almost) Alone

The civil rights leader treated love of God and love for others as inseparable.

The Russell Moore Show

Doug McKelvey on Rites of Passage and the Sacredness of Ordinary Life

Every Moment Holy author Douglas McKelvey on writing prayers for the moments both sacred and mundane.

From a Galaxy Far, Far Away to Carol Stream, Illinois

CT tracked cultural changes while going through several of its own.

What Loving South Africa Taught Me About Patriotism

Christina Stanton

Attachment to another country didn’t diminish my affection for America. It showed me God’s love for all peoples.

Wonderology

Owner’s Manual Part One: The Instructions

What if our bodies came with operating instructions—and we could finally read them?

Some Israelis are Turning to Faith Amid Ongoing War

Studies show a renewed interest in Judaism, and pastors report an increase in baptisms.

The Bulletin

IDF and Lebanon, Ukraine’s Fears, AI Data Centers, and a Korean Messiah

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Israel fights Hezbollah, Ukraine left behind, US builds data centers, and North Korea’s Evangelical roots.

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_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube