LifeWay Christian Resources Names Ryan Blackwell as New President and CEO

LifeWay Christian Resources named Ryan Blackwell as its 11th president and CEO in April 2026, placing new leadership at the helm of one of the country's largest Christian publishing and resource organizations.

LifeWay serves churches across multiple denominations, providing Bibles, curriculum, books, and ministry tools to congregations throughout the United States and internationally. The organization operates retail stores and a major online platform.

Blackwell's appointment comes as Christian publishers face a shifting landscape, with digital resources growing in demand and church attendance patterns continuing to evolve post-pandemic. LifeWay has been working to expand its digital offerings while maintaining its core print and retail operations.

The organization, founded in 1891 as the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, has long been a central resource provider for Baptist churches. Under recent leadership, it has broadened its reach to serve congregations beyond its Southern Baptist roots.

Blackwell's background and specific plans for the organization were not immediately detailed in the announcement, but LifeWay said the transition would be smooth and that the organization's mission to serve churches would remain unchanged.

The announcement was reported by The Christian Post, which covers news across evangelical and broader Christian communities.