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LifeWay Cutting Jobs – Bad Economy or Wrong Direction?
Posted by Geoff Baggett in Baptist Life
A recent report in The Tennessean, LifeWay Christian Resources is in the process of eliminating approximately one hundred of its employees, primarily in the Nashville area. This level of job cutbacks amounts to approximately 5% of LifeWay’s current 2000-employee workforce. In addition to cutting jobs, LifeWay will be trimming expenses in other areas. LifeWay officials reported that those whose positions have been deleted will get severance pay, some benefits and outplacement services.
Agency leaders are attributing the cutbacks to the current sluggish economy. Indeed, most Christian retailers have experienced serious loss of revenues. Fierce competition from retailers like Wal-Mart and on-line booksellers such as amazon.com are also being blamed for reduced sales. Rob Phillips, a LifeWay spokesman, said: “We’re experiencing what every other Christian publisher, retailer and conference center operator is facing. That’s just the reality of lower discretionary spending by our customers.”
However, the Associated Baptist Press reports that this same Rob Phillips recently stated that the agency’s $458.7 million revenue last year was higher than expenditures. Indeed, he said income this year is ahead of last year’s pace, but below projections on which the budget is based. Furthermore, according to SBC Life (as reported by ABP), a publication of the SBC Executive Committee, LifeWay provides income over its expenses to the SBC. Last year, LifeWay contributed $790,000 to the SBC operating budget.
But in a response to the report in The Tennessean, a reader under the pseudonym Hwy70, made this very interesting observation:
It’s not just the economy that has affected this firm. I have many friends who have worked for BSSB/LifeWay over the years. A decision was taken in the early 1990′s to walk away from its distinctive Baptist identity (the renaming from Baptist Sunday School Board to LifeWay), and identify itself as a generic provider of product to the evangelical marketplace. It abandoned its core loyal following in the attempt to to chase after a market it did not know, and which did not know it after it attempted to change its identity. This approach proved unsuccessful, to state it mildly.
Several reorganizations followed, consolidations and downsizings, as it attempted to recover from this blunder. Amongst the executives fired was the guy who susequently oversaw the marketing of one of the best selling books of the past twenty years, in any market. He had attempted to place the book at Lifeway, and they would have none of it.
Economies go through cycles, and we’re definitely heading through the down cycle just now. But this firm’s woes run much deeper.
An interesting hypothesis, indeed.
So … what do you think? Is the current situation at our Southern Baptist publishing agency, at its root, an economic problem or a philosophical one?
Furthermore, should a “not for profit” agency be in a position to provide $790,000 to the funding of Southern Baptist Convention? When is the magic line of “profit” crossed?
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I can only speak from experience; however, as the former Sunday School Director for our church, I found LifeWay never proceeded past the “milk” stages of its lessons. Indeed, many lessons would equally appeal to a RC, JW, LDS, etc.
So we did something out of the ordinary, we used the Word. In addition to some commentaries from time-to-time. I think it was Piper who said: “If you rake, all you get are leaves, you need a shovel to dig deep.”
Would I go back? It would be a disservice to the very ones that I strive to serve.
I have no problem with the material, but then I view it, and use it, only as a guide to help me prepare a lesson. I have, however, heard enough teachers simply reading out of the leader’s guide, to think my approach is very common.
And what John says about the “milk stage” is absolutely true, IMO. The lesson material comes nowhere near close to suiting a class of serious Christians seeking to mature in the faith, and largely ignores (my opinion, again) the biblical admonition to go beyond the milk, to the meat of the Word.
Guys,
Thanks for your input on the SS materials. But let’s not get too bogged down in that area, since it is only a “drop in the bucket” of the real income of LifeWay.
What do you think is the real cause for the cutbacks? Economy … direction … or both?
Geoff,
A lack of solid doctrine in the material, leads to a lack of subscriptions, which leads to a lack of money, which leads to a lack of staff. I don’t think we’re getting “bogged down.” Maybe we diagnosed the problem too early in the comment thread
You may be right …
Geoff,
If they’re giving 790,000 dollars to the SBC at the end of the year, then why in the world would they be laying people off? And, for what they charge for materials and books and cd’s, I dont see how in the world they could be losing money. They’re making a mint off of thier high prices.
IMHO, people shouldnt be laid off of work by a Christian organization that’s able to give $790,000 to SBC causes at the end of the year. That money should have gone to employees….to keep them.
Also, who is being laid off? Is it one department? Is it all over the company? Has the Research Dept. been let go, or about to be let go? Who are the layoffs affecting the most, if there is a most?
David
Something else….to yall who are saying that the material is for baby Christians, or that it’s very elementary stuff. This could be because of a different perspective about what SS is all about. There are many people out there who believe that SS is the outreach arm of the Church. Thus, the lessons would be very elementary stuff. They dont look at SS as a discipleship type class. They look at it as a reach new people type of thing.
I, too, wish that they would be more meaty.
David
it’s both I’m sure. I’m never not amazed at the books Lifeway hawks…selling THE SHACK did it for me…I’ve been avoiding Lifeway ever since I saw that.
Geoff,
“Not for profit” does not mean than an entity is duty-bound to lose money every year. There is no “magic line” because being “not for profit” really has nothing to do with the amount of net surplus or deficit shown in an entity’s operations. If Lifeway nets a billion dollars next year, that money will not belong to any individual or any set of shareholders as their own personal possession. It is the inability for any individual to profit from corporate proceeds that makes something “not for profit.”
I think you know that, and were simply being witty, but just in case any of your readers were confused on the matter…
David,
I don’t know the answers to those questions. I suspect that the lay-offs are from various areas.
As far as SS being the “outreach arm” of the church … I tend to think that the “outreach arm” switched to the worship gathering quite some time ago. Just my opinion.
Bart,
Yeah … I know all about profit/non-profit status. But when nigh-on $800K is available to shift to the convention … it just seems a bit high, that’s all.
I’m a Lifeway customer simply because I like books about God and Christian life. Kind of the same way I am about the public library – I don’t read EVERYTHING they have there.
I think the direction of trying to sell to something besides Baptists is a good thing.
I think they would be well advised to look at Amazon’s online presence and make their business more web friendly, especially as gas costs climb out the roof. I’ve been to Lifeway less lately simply because I don’t have any money left over to spend on unnecessary stuff.
Christian literature and products is a very competitive market. Our church is not brand-loyal to LifeWay or anyone else and so LifeWay is just one of many choices that we might choose to use. Most of the books and resources that we might use are purchased through Amazon or CBD. We sometimes purchase through our local Christian book retailer. The closest LifeWay store is too far away to be convenient. We don’t even buy communion bread from LifeWay–there are cheaper options (Does that make our Lord’s Supper observance invalid?…lol). If there is a downturn at LifeWay, it could simply be that SBC churches are less brand-loyal.
Did I mention that I’m still sore over perceived “text-book gouging” at the LifeWay store at SWBTS?
Dave S.,
We are much the same in our approach. I buy the vast majority of our resources through CBD or Amazon.com. As far as the LifeWay site being user-friendly … it’s something of a bear. One of the slowest sites for ordering materials that I have ever encountered … then there’s the obsession with the old-fashioned order form ordering system.
Most of my seminary classes were at the LifeWay Building (SBTS extension campus). I only bought my textbooks at the LifeWay store once … then it was Amazon.com for me. I could save 50% (at least0 every single time.
I agree that there is astronomically less “brand loyalty” in the churches today … too many other great products and publishers out there.
Brother Geoff,
My wife worked for BSSB/Lifeway for 22 years… and this is fairly typical of how operations reduce undesirables and mitigate longer term retiree payout. Lifeway is not projecting shortfalls and is for the most part successful according to a good friend in accounting.
So, my feel is that this is typical downsizing at the employee’s expense and some philosophical removal of undesirables. The beat goes on….
Blessings,
Chris
THIS is flabbergasting! An outrage! Unheard of! And I don’t mean the subject, or the comments. My reference is that David volfan007 and I agree on something! (What’s next? That Jesus is the savior, and the only way for salvation? That the Bible is the inspired, infalliable, written Word of God?)
I used to get a little upset that I could go into a Cokesberry (Methodist) bookstore, tell them I was a minister, and get an automatic discount, but couldn’t at a Baptist Bookstore. They said the discount was already in their pricing structure, but I couldn’t find a nickel’s worth difference in the two at retail. But that was a minor irritant, and the plus was a good selection of books. Go in a LifeWay store now, and it seems half their floor space is given over to trinkets, pictures, and assorted “junk.” Then there is Sunday school literature. Most of our Sunday school classes and teachers–even the senior citizens, the most “brand loyal” of them all–are less than satisfied with LifeWay stuff. Personally, I find it shallow, but I have not influenced the class’s decisions, who now want other options.
John Daly and Bob Cleveland are on target, I think.
Is the economy partly to blame for LifeWay’s decision? Certainly; there is less discretionary spending, BUT part of that is that people are having to become more savy customers, and want the most bang for their scarce, hard-earned buck. They recognize that LifeWay is not giving them that. Like Bro. Daly said. . . .
John Fariss
John,
David
Don’t get me started on Lifeway. With respect to my Christian brothers/sisters their and Dr. Ranier – the organization has lost it’s way. Too bloated, too much overhead, high prices, caters to the money makers (materials) despite lack of adherence often times to Baptist principles and doctrine, and panders to the large buyers of material rather than the churches (particularly small poor ones). – besides which for the last two years have held inventory of Sunday. So…this does not surprise me in the least. I hope the clarion call goes out, and things change course sooner rather than later.
Rob
John,
Indeed, today’s date and the convergence of your views with Worley have been noted upon the sacred, super-secret IMPACT calendar!
Rob,
I, too, have noticed that items are “out of stock” when we need them. We were thrilled with the G-Force curriculum … perfect for our combination of large and small groups for kids. But, alas! LifeWay elected to produce only three years of the undated material. Three years short for moving a child all the way through the program. Very short sighted thinking, from my point of view.
I would agree that I am not all that surprised about difficulties. I know for sure that the web site is slow as molasses…
Could it possibly be that Lifeway’s powers at hand are using the falling economy as an excuse to get rid of those who aren’t like them. To answer someone’s question above, no, Stetzer and the research department has not been cut. It is my understanding that everyone who is being cut is 50+. Cut the old guys and make room for the young Southern grads and Rainer’s research dept. Just a guess. What do you think, anyone?
I think this incident is a picture of the bloated and declining state of our denimation. I still remember the Lifeway store at SEBTS selling text books at retail prices and learning that the same books could be purchased for less in many other places. (This is a ministry?) I think Lifeways downturn is due to people waking up to the reality that there is life outside the SBC kingdom. I further think many Baptists are looking outside the SBC to buy their books and literature. I was in Lifeway this week to pick up the SS literature we needed but couldn’t find any Puritan literature that I wanted to read.
I have been warning people about LifeWay’s move to the “center” for a number of years now. Below are two articles I wrote about materials they sell. Please take time to read them and share with me your comments. Thanks, Donnie Guy
Weekly Devotion
89½ Minutes on Mars!
Presently I’m working on a manuscript about my recent visit to Mars, which I soon hope to get published. Then maybe I can get a book into Christian Bookstores. The storyline of course is completely fictional but that’s what sells now days so I’ve decided to abandon writing anymore books based on doctrine, the Bible or historical biblical facts. Who wants to read that stuff anyway? Tabloid Christianity is where it’s at today! I’m positive because Bookstores shelves are filled with that stuff.
The title of my new book is – 89½ Minutes on Mars, Where I Learned the Driven Purpose for Lucre, While Visiting The Shack. Man, am I excited about this book. It’s sure to captivate readers because, in it, I detail my first out-of-body experience, one where I fell into a trance and was caught-up to Mars. There I was greeted by what I thought was a Martian Welcoming Committee. Turns out it was just people I had known on earth. Two people were very familiar to me. My grandma, who was probably the greatest Christian I’d ever known and Mr. J. E. Brown who was my Sunday School teacher at age 10. Their godly instruction helped me tremendously after I became a Christian. I thought both had gone to Heaven but here they were on Mars. Why were they not in Heaven? I was perplexed. For a moment I felt like Opie Taylor: “I sure was confused Paw.”
I noticed that the welcoming committee had a hazy green glow about them, which made them look like little green men and women. That’s why I thought they were Martians. When I asked about the strange green glow, grandma said it was because of the smelly swamp gas that surrounds The Shack where one Young man said God dwells. Sure enough, when I looked down at myself, I too looked green. I learned later that green people on Mars can go back to Earth occasionally to check on their loved ones. So what men have thought for years were little green men, were simply their relatives checking up on them.
As we walked towards The Shack, I asked grandma another question, “Why are you living on Mars?” Without hesitation she replied, “Oh, we’re not quite good enough to get into Heaven yet. You see Heaven is where God lives and is called third heaven so, because we’re not quite ready to be in His presence, we were dropped off in the realm of second heaven, which consists of the stars and planets. You know, outer space, where Charismatics often visit dear.” Grandma’s statement shocked me but it didn’t answer my question. Now my mind was whirling. Grandma not good enough for Heaven? Mr. Brown not good enough? What’s was going on here? My visit to The Shack though would clear-up my distorted view of Christianity.
Once we reached The Shack, the answer to my question came. There I saw a sassy black woman who the Young man said was God. This too came as a shock because I always believed what the Bible taught about God: “That God is Spirit.” I had no idea God was a black woman. Nevertheless, there she sat and boy did she enlighten me about Christianity. It seems that some people have to go to Mars before they can enter Heaven, people like my grandma and Mr. J.E. because they failed to read the Driven Purpose for Lucre, which has now replaced the Bible. So for their final cleansing, such people must remain on Mars until they’ve memorized this book and reformed their view of Christianity. While on Earth, they spent too much time studying the scripture, sharing the Gospel, teaching a Bible class, witnessing to a lost world or supporting missions and evangelism. None had abandoned these silly things to work with the United Nations or join hands with atheists to help bring P.E.A.C.E to the world or help find a cure for Aids. Not a one of them had ever been to a political rally in church or spent hours campaigning for a political candidate. What’s even worse is those green goons gave their time and money to the local church to support evangelism. What were they thinking? But that’s not the real shocker. I learned that not a person living on Mars had ever taken time out of their busy church schedule to make a More of Beth Study or attend a Fail to Keep Your Promises Meeting. Not a one had been to a Presidential Forum at the Backwards Saddle Church either so I began to wonder if any of them even deserved to go to Heaven. I’m sure glad for my 89½ minutes on Mars. It wised me up to such misled folks.
I got a good look at that bunch alright and realized what a bad influence people like them had been on me, especially grandma and that fundamental, Bible-thumping, Mr. J.E. I can’t believe they caused me to waste 38 years of my life doing what they did; studying the Bible, preaching the Gospel, adhering to sound doctrine, winning the lost and serving the Church. And what did it get me? Nothing but heartaches and criticism from professing Christians who treated me like I was from Mars. That’s when a voice from Heaven told me: “Write a book about visiting Mars because adhering strictly to the Bible or preaching the Gospel is too old-fashion. Nobody wants to hear it anyway.” So I’m going the New Age Contemporary route.
Visiting Mars for 89½ minutes sure changed my mind about Christianity. Grandma and Mr. J. E. were wrong. I know now that they were just a couple of Bible-thumping fundamentalists back on Earth; narrow-minded folks who had believed every word in the Bible. Neither one had ever read new age contemporary books or listened to preachers who questioned the validity of Scripture or denied the deity of Christ. What a couple of rubes! No wonder they were on Mars instead of being in Heaven.
Normally, if one has an out-of-body experience like me and spends 89½ minutes on Mars, he must keep silent for 20 years. This gives him plenty of time to fabricate a story. After all, writing a best selling fictional book takes time but I can’t wait 20 years. What I learned on Mars is too important. People’s minds must be changed concerning that old stale Christianity stuff.
I’m confident my new book will be a best seller because professing Christians today feed off of such new age boloney. They prefer touchy-feely stories to truth from the Scripture. Case in point: Nine of the top ten so-called Christian books today are fiction. Others are psycho-babble or based on someone’s personal experience, like claiming to visit Heaven. Only one of the top ten is biblically based. Paul warned of a time when people would “turn from the truth to fabricated stories.” (2Tim.4:4)
The reason I chose to write about visiting Mars rather than Heaven is because several have already fabricated that story, which is pretty risky. After all, man may never get to Mars in my lifetime so my fictional story may never be refuted. Christians though will one day live in Heaven and if Heaven is not as the others described it in their books, they’ll have all eternity to contemplate the errors of their ways but it may not be in Heaven. Donnie Guy – August 2008 – http://www.donnieguy.org
90 Minutes in Heaven?
Several people have asked me to share my opinion of the new book 90 Minutes in Heaven written by Don Piper and co-authored by Cecil Murphy. There are so many red flags about this book that I really don’t know where to begin so I simply did what John taught believers to do in situations like this. I applied the “spirit test” (1Jn.4:1) to Mr. Piper’s book, and so I compared it to God’s Word.
My first concern arose when I discovered that Mr. Piper’s book deals with him and his life experiences more than his supposed 90 minutes in Heaven. Only one chapter deals with his visit to Heaven, which I find odd. John was caught-up into heaven but he managed to write 22 chapters about his experience so if you want to know what Heaven is truly like, I would suggest you read chapters 4 and 5 of his Revelation.
Another concern was that Mr. Piper used a co-author to help him write his book. “Oh, Donnie, a lot of people use co-authors to help them write their books.” Sure they do, if their intention is to write a book but when one receives such a vital message or vision from God, you would think that God could help that person write what he saw. After all, He helped Ezekiel, Daniel, Paul and John and their visions were perfectly clear. Mr. Piper’s is at best sketchy.
My greatest concern came when Mr. Piper said that he didn’t see Jesus. (p.22) That’s odd also because, when John arrived in Heaven, the first person he saw was Jesus. “Come up here…and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one (Jesus) sat on the throne.” (Rev.4:1-4) The absence of Jesus didn’t seem to bother Mr. Piper. He seemed more enamored with what he called a “celestial welcoming committee.” Not me! Let me tell you how I feel. If I ever get a pre-shot at Heaven, the first person I’m looking for is Jesus. I’ll have all eternity to visit with loved ones. I want to see my Savior!
The use of the word awesome in the NIV Bible is in error: “He was afraid and said: How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” The word awesome is never found in scripture so dreadful is used in Genesis 28:17. Dreadful comes from the Hebrew word yare and translates: fear, afraid, frightful or dread. The word awe can be found three times in scripture but it’s never translated from the Hebrew word yare. So Jacob’s experience was not one of delight, as was Mr. Piper’s. He was gripped with fear when he realized he was in God’s presence, as was Isaiah and John. Neither felt the sense of joy that Mr. Piper said pulsated through him. (p.21)
Also, this is the only time “gate of heaven” is used in scripture. In fact, the Bible never speaks of the gates of Heaven like we hear in songs or like Mr. Piper described in his book. The Bible does speak of gates into New Jerusalem but Mr. Piper didn’t happen to see that beautiful city either, as big as it is. One important thing to remember here, Jacob was not in Heaven when he saw a gate. He was awake and standing on the ground, looking up at the sky. (v.16) What Jacob saw was an opening (shaar) in the sky or clouds (shameb) not the gates of Heaven. So once again it’s odd that Jacob saw an opening in the clouds and John saw a door in the clouds but Mr. Piper saw an “ornate gate” (p.22), an “adorned gate”, in Heaven. So the question arises: Where was Mr. Piper when he saw an ornate gate?
Mr. Piper goes on to talk about the music that he heard in heaven. This is another thing that I found odd because again the Bible never speaks of the type of music he heard. First he said that he never saw what produced the music (p.30) but John did. (Rev.5:8) John saw only harps but Mr. Piper speaks of hearing many instruments. He goes on to say that there were hundreds of songs being sung at one time but John heard only one song and all of heaven was singing it in unison. Mr. Piper tells us that he heard many of the old songs and hymns being sung (p.31) but John tells us this: “And they sang a new song.” (Rev.5:9) Scripture mentions nothing of old hymns or choruses so, once again, Mr. Piper makes a gross error. This one though hinges on blaspheming God’s Word, especially in what he says next. (P.30)
He said that he didn’t hear any songs about the sacrificial death of Jesus, especially sad songs because there are no sad songs in heaven. (P.31) Well, let’s compare this to what John said he heard. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels, round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” (Rev.5:11-12) In Heaven, the sacrificial death of Jesus is not a sad song but a glorious praise to the Savior for dying for our salvation. So, I must ask: Why didn’t Mr. Piper hear what John heard?
Here’s the main question that needs to be answered: “Why wait almost twenty years to write about such an important experience?” Mr. Piper’s accident occurred in 1989 and yet his book is fairly new to the market. But one would think that such an important message from God would have been proclaimed immediately. After all, today this book is being recommended to people who have recently lost loved ones and is being heralded as truth by some TV preachers so why wasn’t this all-important book published back in 1989?
I believe I can answer that question because I was around in 1989. Back then; such a story would have met with scorn and laughter from the many godly preachers who knew the Bible and adhered to truth. They would have put this book in the New-age section of the Bookstore under fantasy just like the many other I went to heaven tales that were showing up, especially in Supermarket Tabloids. Acceptance of this book is just a reminder of how far off course the Church has strayed from biblical truth. It appears to be just another book about an out of body experience, even though that’s not how it’s titled. But the immediate problem that arises is that the Bible doesn’t confirm people going to Heaven and returning.
Some people have attempted to use Paul’s episode where he was caught-up into third heaven to substantiate Mr. Piper’s visit to Heaven but they manipulate scripture. Unlike Mr. Piper, Paul played down his experience. He would not even talk about what he saw or heard: “And heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2Cor.12:4) Also, unlike Mr. Piper, the men who did get a vision of Heaven talked about Jesus not themselves or their loved ones. This book reminds me of new-age teaching and will confuse the minds of believers since it is being sold in Christian Bookstores. If Mr. Piper’s tale is true, it will stand in the Judgment. If not, I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes when he actually visits Heaven to stand before Jesus.
Written by Donnie Guy March 2008 – http://www.donnieguy.org
Bro. Donnie – I would love to read your thoughts on the Bill Wiese “23 minutes in Hell” book if you have ever explored that one. I’ve never read it but I don’t think it has a Scriptural foundation, from what I know of it. Thanks. Email me at nards656 at gmail dot com if you don’t mind, just to keep from taking this thread too far off track.
Bart thanks for the clarification on non profits. From the history of the Sunday School board and its financial dealings from years ago, I for one am tickled the bottom line for last years was in the black and maybe the layoffs will help it remain in the black. Multiply the criticisms here times 100 if Rainer had to come asking for CP money for a bail out.
Could it be one reason the SBC seems to be faltering in some areas is because we are becoming an ungrateful lot. I have met some from other denominations who can but wish their denominational publishing houses could produce a mere fraction of what LifeWay turns out. Count me as one that is appreciative to Dr. Draper’s leadership while there and look forward to the directions Rainer and company lead LifeWay in the days to come.
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
My heart is sad to read all of the above comments regarding LifeWay. I have worked in partnership with them for many years, and have been blessed and spiritually groomed by their mission-minded focus. Certainly, they have expanded their market to include material in order to reach a larger market, including those to whom the traditional approach wouldn’t appeal. The message of Christ hasn’t been changed; the means of delivering it has. Did Jesus not minister to people in terms they could understand? The tax collector would understand a financial parable, a fisherman a parable about fishing, and so on. It’s about reaching people where they are, and that requires providing resources to reach the otherwise unreachable. What is most concerning to me is the tearing down of Lifeway. Friends and family have come to know Christ because of resources from Lifeway. Lives have been changed because of Christ being shared through their ministry. No one person is perfect, no organization is perfect, no church is perfect, because there are imperfect people (you and I) involved. We’re not in heaven yet! Thus, my suggestion to stop letting Satan monopolize your thoughts and words by tearing down part of the body of Christ – LifeWay – and recognize positive things they have done and continue to do. Pray for this ministry instead of tearing them down. Is that not what you would want brothers and sisters in the Lord to do for you? Let’s choose to do the right thing, and build up the body of Christ. Satan has enough allies to tear it down without Christians adding to the cause.