It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it willSam Cooke
Today marks a turning point at Lifeway Pastors. After three years of highly capable leadership from Jonathan Howe, I begin my tenure as Executive Editor of Lifeway Pastors (LifeWayPastors.com). Jonathan has done a great job and will continue to excel with new opportunities and responsibilities at Lifeway.
Jonathan will continue to serve as a Contributing Editor at Lifeway Pastors, as will Mark Dance who will continue coordinating Pastor Roundtables and Date Nights.
Dr. Thom Rainer, President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, publisher of ThomRainer.com blog, and driving force behind the category leading Rainer on Leadership podcast, continues as the Publisher of Lifeway Pastors.
About me
My name is Marty Duren, and I come to Lifeway Pastors from being the Manager of Social Media Strategy at Lifeway and the Content Manager for The Exchange (the blog of Wheaton’s Ed Stetzer). I’m both excited and grateful for the opportunity to engage with so many pastors and leaders.
My first pastorate began in 1989 (I know, I know, that’s before some of you were born). God has blessed me to serve in various sized churches, in various roles, both full- and part-time since then. He’s allowed me to participate in and/or lead mission trips to every continent except Antartica—and I’d go there if given the chance.
I love encouraging pastors and other church leaders, helping them complete the mission God has set before them and staying sane while doing so.
I’ve been an active blogger for many years, and a heavy social media user since my then college-aged daughter hated to see me get on Facebook. I’m convinced these can be dynamic tools for the Kingdom.
Some of what’s happening
Over the next month you’ll notice a few gradual changes at Lifeway Pastors, hopefully to make better an already solid site. The base of contributing writers will expand both in number and representation. Pastors and church leaders from large, medium, and small churches, from many different geographic areas, of different races and ethnicities. Church planters and pastors with tenures of 20+ years will be a part of the lineup.
We all can learn from each other. Pastors in urban areas can both learn from and teach pastors in rural areas, and vice versa. Pastors in the majority culture can both learn from and teach pastors in minority cultures, and vice versa. The same goes for pastors and church leaders in heavily/lightly evangelized areas, east/west coast, Deep South/Pacific Northwest, Plains States/New England, and virtually every other configuration. No one pastor, leader or type of church has a monopoly on Kingdom truth, sound theology, or ministry effectiveness.
My goal is to grow the existing team of Lifeway Pastors contributors who will provide solid, encouraging content that can be beneficial to all other pastors and church leaders.
Books, books, books…
It’s also my goal to expand the breadth of book reviews at Lifeway Pastors. This will take longer than a month to implement, but it’ll happen over time. History, biography, leadership and a few helpful business volumes will join the normal fare of theology and practical ministry.
Also, look for a new monthly feature, Who’s Reading What, with recommendations from any number of Christian leaders, thinkers, pastors, and professors. These will include a wide variety of books including fiction and non-fiction. None of these will be de facto recommendations, but it is instructive and formative to know what others are reading. Some of the best books I’ve ever read were on someone else’s reading list.
How you can help
My goal is for Lifeway Pastors to become the destination point for pastors and church leaders seeking ministry help. You can help by spreading the word.
Follow Lifeway Pastors on Twitter: @LifewayPastors
Like Lifeway Pastors on Facebook: Lifeway Pastors
Subscribe to Lifeway Pastors emails in the sidebar (this weekly feature will become a daily email alert in September).
Tell others about Lifeway Pastors and share helpful posts on social media. Add Lifeway.com/pastors to your Feedly or other reader.
Finally, I would appreciate your prayer for me and the ministry of Lifeway Pastors, that God would be glorified in this effort.
