Christianity Today Marks 70 Years With Special Issue on AI, GLP-1 Drugs, and the Future of Faith

Christianity Today, the flagship evangelical magazine founded by Billy Graham in 1956, marked its 70th anniversary with a special September/October 2026 issue that looks back at the publication's history and forward at the challenges facing the church.

The anniversary issue tackles two of the most pressing questions in contemporary Christian life: how artificial intelligence is changing ministry, worship, and discipleship, and what the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy means for Christian ethics and the theology of the body.

On AI, the issue features reporting on churches experimenting with AI-generated sermon outlines, AI-powered pastoral care chatbots, and the growing debate over whether AI can or should serve in worship leadership roles. Theologians and pastors offer a range of perspectives, from cautious optimism to sharp concern about the displacement of human relationship in ministry.

The GLP-1 coverage examines how rapid adoption of weight-loss medications is prompting new conversations in churches about body image, gluttony, self-discipline, and the relationship between physical and spiritual health. Some pastors report that congregants are asking for theological guidance on whether using these drugs is consistent with Christian values.

The issue also announced a new editorial leadership team for Christianity Today, though specific names were not disclosed in advance of the formal announcement.

Christianity Today was founded in 1956 by Billy Graham as a counterpoint to liberal Protestant publications of the era. It has grown into one of the most widely read Christian publications in the world, covering theology, culture, and church life for an evangelical audience.

The magazine's 70th anniversary comes at a moment of significant change for American Christianity, with church attendance declining in many denominations and new questions about the role of faith in public life.