Christianity Today has hired author, artist, and innovator Amisho “Sho” Baraka to serve as the editorial director of its Big Tent Initiative.
“I cannot tell you how excited we are to have Sho on the team. His creativity and entrepreneurialism are exactly what we need to catalyze the important work of advancing the Big Tent Initiative,” said Christianity Today’s chief impact officer, Dr. Nicole Martin.
“You must have a unique calling from God to navigate between differences and elevate voices we might only hear on the margins. Sho has spent his life doing just that; bridging between cultures and ideas to frame the redemptive story of Christ in the world. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to fill this role at this critical time in our history.”
Christianity Today was founded in 1956 by the late Billy Graham to “express evangelical Christianity to the present generation.” The evangelical church in the United States has grown increasingly diverse, and the Big Tent Initiative aims to help the ministry represent that diversity. It also aims to build bridges of conversation and common cause across political and racial divides.
“Historically, Christianity Today has not represented minority and immigrant churches as well as it might have,” said president and CEO Dr. Timothy Dalrymple. “We’ve been working to change that. Sho is a transcendent talent who has earned enormous respect for his thoughtfulness and faithfulness. He has our full blessing to bring new kinds of stories and storytelling to Christianity Today that go beyond what we’ve typically done.”
Baraka has spent the last 17 years traveling the world as a Christian recording artist, writer, speaker, and consultant. He brings a wealth of media experience, with four solo albums, three feature film appearances, and a book, He Saw That It Was Good.
He was a founding member of Reach Records, the internationally known hip-hop consortium known as 116 Clique, and the AND Campaign, which focuses on weaving together biblical conviction and compassion. Baraka has also served as visiting professor at Wake Forest University and Warner Pacific University and has worked alongside his brother Dhati Lewis to coach leaders in minority-majority contexts.
Baraka will build on initiatives started by Ed Gilbreath, who paved the way with Big Tent partnerships and events that embodied the rich diversity of the kingdom.
“As the Big Tent director,” said Baraka, “I’m passionate about the ambitious work to expand CT’s voice and audience. We have an opportunity to spotlight a more accurate and beautiful mosaic of the North American church. I’m even more excited about creating the space for God-glorifying hospitality that will turn estranged neighbors into family.”
Baraka lives in Atlanta with his wife of 21 years, Patreece, and their three children, Zoë, Zaccai, and Zimri. They have two boys on the autism spectrum and have become ambassadors and advocates in the autism community.
For media inquiries pertaining to this story, please contact media@christianitytoday.com.
Christianity Today was founded by Billy Graham in 1956. In the nearly 70 years since, it has served as a flagship publication for the American evangelical movement, equipping the church with news, commentary, and resources. An acclaimed and award-winning media ministry, CT advances the stories and ideas of the global church. Each month, across a variety of digital and print media, the ministry carries the most important stories and ideas of the kingdom of God to over 4.5 million people around the planet.
Related
