LifeWay marks 75th anniversary

LifeWay marks 75th anniversary

LifeWay Christian Stores is celebrating 75 years of service and ministry. LifeWay Christian Stores President Mark Scott listes various highlights of the stores’ 75-year history during a recent chapel service at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville:

1925- The then-named Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention purchased the Baptist Book Concern in Louisville, Ky.

1930s- Difficult situations with the United States economy made some people question the wisdom of keeping the stores, but the bookstores survived.

1940s- The stores continued to grow and added film rentals to their product mix in what would be a forerunner of the stores’ video sales.

1952- The chain had grown to 44 stores.

1972- In an experiment, the Sunday School Board opened two new concept stores called LifeWay Stores (with small w). While the stores closed a few years later, the Sunday School Board had ownership of and later registered the LifeWay name (with capital w).

1992- The chain had grown to 63 stores.

1999- The stores changed names from Baptist Book Stores to LifeWay Christian Stores, conducting business through retail stores, online, catalog, and direct sales.

2001- LifeWay Christian Stores will open its 100th store this summer. (BP)