Rainer installed as LifeWay head

Alabama was well represented as LifeWay Christian Resources’ new president, Thom Rainer, was inaugurated Feb. 6 in Nashville.
   
Rainer, a native of Union Springs, began his role as the ninth president of LifeWay Feb. 1. Before coming to LifeWay, he served as the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. 
   
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Rainer earned his master of divinity and doctorate degrees from Southern Seminary. He also served as a pastor of churches in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Indiana prior to joining the staff at Southern in 1994. 
   
He is the author of 16 books and founder of The Rainer Group, a national church and denominational consultant organization. He and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three sons.
   
Rainer told several stories about growing up in Alabama as he laid out his plans for leading LifeWay.
   
“We are given but a precious few years in this adventure called life,” Rainer said. “Will we lead that life with boldness, trusting a God who is sovereign and omnipotent? … I will lead with boldness in the brevity of life.”
   
Also part of the inauguration ceremony, which attracted about 1,500 people, was Alabama Baptist pastor Rick Evans, who served as chairman of the presidential search committee. 
   
“We believe this is God’s man to lead LifeWay,” said Evans, pastor of Dalraida Baptist Church, Montgomery.
   
Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and Alabama-native Bobby Welch, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, also brought words of encouragement during the ceremony.