BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) — Lifeway Christian Resources experienced another banner year in 2024, highlighted by the fourth consecutive year of revenue growth, the 100th year of ministry through Vacation Bible School (VBS) and the largest camps missions offering in recent years. This year, Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell announced Lifeway’s 2030 vision to clarify what the organization hopes to accomplish in the next five to 10 years.

“This past year was another fantastic year for Lifeway,” Mandrell said. “The business continues to grow, and our team is becoming increasingly conversant with church leaders, which lies at the heart of what we do.”

In January, Mandrell shared Lifeway’s 2030 vision to “empower 300,000 church leaders with research and resources to reach the nations.” Mandrell called this vision statement Lifeway’s “North Star,” a steadfast marker that will steer Lifeway into the future on a unified course.

“This year, we unapologetically announced that our goal is to triple the number of church leaders we’re serving,” Mandrell said. “While we hope we scatter seed that touches millions, we realize it’s essential to our mission to know and equip the staff serving on the front lines of the spiritual battle.”

He continued, “We must design all our products and experiences with local church leaders in mind. That’s where we’re headed. And so far, it’s working. Lifeway had another huge year of growth.” 

The 2024 fiscal year was Lifeway’s fourth consecutive year of revenue growth. Lifeway saw revenue growth in several categories, including ongoing Bible study curriculum, which returned to pre-COVID levels after experiencing a 30% drop in 2020. Additionally, Bible sales have more than doubled compared to 2019.

Lifeway resources serving needs of the church

New resources contributed to the financial success Lifeway experienced in 2024. One of these was the “Grace Bible for Kids,” a first-of-its-kind Bible for readers with dyslexia. A version of the “Grace Bible” for teens and adults is also available. This Bible offers readers an inclusive and accessible approach to Bible reading through innovative and academically tested typeface, layout and design principles.

Other resources from Lifeway include materials for the movie “The Forge.” Lifeway teamed up with filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick to provide a suite of assets to accompany their latest film, which released on August 23. B&H Publishing Group and Lifeway offered five related resources that address discipleship, including a book by the Kendrick brothers titled “Devoted to Jesus” along with “I Surrender All” by Priscilla Shirer, who stars in the film. “I Surrender All” is Shirer’s first book release in five years.

Another milestone for Shirer was her live and simulcast event, “Going Beyond Live,” drawing the largest post-pandemic crowd for any Lifeway event. The event and simulcast on Aug. 24, 2024, drew around 5,600 in-person attendees, with an estimated 50,000 who joined live or registered for the simulcast.

B&H Publishing Group and Holman Bible Publishers celebrated a few milestones this year, including the CSB “She Reads Truth Bible” achieving a Platinum Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) for selling more than one million copies. B&H Publishing Group also released the “CSB Men’s Daily Bible,” a resource designed to help close the gap in men’s discipleship by encouraging men to engage with Scripture each day.

In 2024, Lifeway, B&H and Holman received more than 20 awards and recognitions for newly published books, Bibles and Bible studies. Notably, in May, B&H announced “You Are a Theologian” by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English received the Christian Book Award in the Christian Living category from the ECPA. Additionally, Lifeway, B&H and Holman were recognized by Christianity Today, the Southwestern Journal of Theology, the Spanish Evangelical Press Association and The Gospel Coalition. For the sixth year in a row, Lifeway.com was named to Newsweek’s Best Online Shops, ranking no. 2 in the media category (e.g., books, CDs, DVDs, software).  

VBS and camps hit milestones

This year, Lifeway celebrated 100 years of ministry through VBS. Vacation Bible School began in New York City in 1898, championed by Virginia Hawes. In 1924, the Baptist Sunday School Board (now Lifeway) created the Vacation Bible School department. Led by Homer Grice, a Georgia pastor, the department began publishing VBS manuals for churches that same year.

Today, 100 years later, more than 2.5 million kids engage with Lifeway’s VBS curriculum each summer across more than 25,000 churches. VBS remains one of the largest outreach efforts for Southern Baptist churches, leading to nearly 60,000 salvation decisions each year.

Lifeway camps (including FUGE Camps, CentriKid, Student Life Camp and Student Life Kids Camp) hosted more than 114,000 campers representing over 4,200 churches across 220 cumulative weeks. More than 3,700 kids and students made professions of faith and over 1,500 surrendered their lives to ministry or missions through Lifeway camps last summer. Together, these campers collected a missions offering totaling $678,283.32. In September, Mandrell presented checks totaling that amount to International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood and North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell. This was the highest amount given to missions through Lifeway camps since 2017.

Lifeway’s commitment to the next generation extends beyond its ministry areas. In 2024, Lifeway continued its internship program, as 15 college students and recent graduates spent the summer gaining hands-on experience and learning the ins and outs of Lifeway’s ministry. Internship descriptions and applications for 2025 are now posted at Lifeway.com.

God’s favor key to Lifeway’s success

When asked what he thinks has been the key to Lifeway’s fruitful year of ministry and growth, Mandrell responded, “It may sound overly spiritual, but the right answer here is clear: God’s favor.

“Our history has proven the best products we’ve made were not the result of long meetings and strategic thinking,” Mandrell continued. “God has seen fit to ‘anoint’ the work of our authors, our designers, our teams. And we continue to believe the best years are ahead.”

He added, “I believe in our team. I believe God preserved us through a global pandemic, when many churches didn’t gather, and pulled us out of it leaner and laser focused. 2025, here we come!”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Myriah Snyder is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources.)