ORLANDO, Fla. – Speaking to messengers at the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Lifeway Christian Resources’ new president and previous interim CEO both reaffirmed the entity’s commitment to equipping churches to make disciples with resources built on Scripture.
Joe Walker, Lifeway executive vice president and COO, who served as interim president, announced DisciplesPath, a new, free resource that allows churches to better evaluate discipleship within their congregations and construct a plan for growth unique to their specific context.
Blackwell’s first address
Ryan Blackwell, Lifeway’s newly elected president and CEO, introduced himself to Southern Baptists and shared three guiding convictions as he steps into his new role.
“First and most importantly, I believe with all my heart that when you combine the inerrant, infallible, all-sufficient Word of God with the all-powerful working of the Holy Spirit of God, lives are changed,” he said.
“Southern Baptists do not need less of the Word of God or less dependence on the Spirit of God. We need more. And that is the foundation Lifeway must continue to build on in the days ahead.”
Second, Blackwell expressed his love for the local church and shared his experience ministering across the United States in a small, traditional church, a church plant, an urban church revitalization and a multi-site megachurch. “Here’s what I can tell you from those amazing experiences. I love Jesus’ bride in all its different forms. And Southern Baptists need Jesus’ bride in all its different forms,” he said.
Finally, the new president said he felt the “weight of the stewardship” entrusted to him. Blackwell shared some of the breadth of Lifeway’s ministry impact: 3 million people discipled through curriculum every Sunday, 120,000 students attending Lifeway summer camps with many professing a new faith in Christ or a call to ministry, nearly 3 million participating in Vacation Bible School and millions of copies of the Bible published and put in the hands of people around the world.
“I step into this assignment humbled, grateful, excited and fully aware I am stewarding something I did not build, something I do not own and something that will long outlast me,” Blackwell said.
“Lifeway belongs to the churches,” Blackwell told Southern Baptists. “We are here to serve you, to listen to you, to protect the doctrinal and theological trust you put in us and to help you make disciples who make disciples for the glory of God.”
Walker’s report and other business
Walker focused on the importance of one of Lifeway’s most enduring resources and one of its newest. “This year marks the 135th anniversary of Lifeway’s founding,” he said. “From the very beginning, Lifeway’s focus has been and continues to be on helping churches as they reach people with the Gospel and strive to make healthy, growing disciples.”
He noted that ongoing curriculum has been Lifeway’s most widely used resource among churches because congregations “find our resources to be trustworthy, to be true to God’s Word.”
Having attended two Southern Baptist churches for his whole life – one a small church with one pastor on staff and the other a large church with several pastors – Walker said pastors at both congregations chose Lifeway curriculum because they found it biblically trustworthy. “Lifeway’s curriculum can be used in every church context, regardless of size or setting, from bed babies to senior adults like me,” Walker said.
He also introduced DisciplesPath, a free resource to assist churches in discipleship. “We all know success in the local church is not measured by worship service or small group attendance alone but by transformed lives,” Walker said.
Lifeway Research’s recent State of Discipleship study shows pastors overwhelmingly agree that making disciples is central to their churches’ mission, but they often struggle to make that a reality. “While discipleship is affirmed as being critical to the health of the local church, it is often not clearly defined, intentionally planned or consistently measured,” he said.
With that in mind, Walker said, “DisciplesPath is a free resource that gives churches clarity and alignment. It will help leadership teams honestly assess where their church is strong, where gaps may exist and possible next steps to take.” He said the free resource will help congregations build a unique discipleship plan for the people in their context.
“Lifeway exists to serve your church, as it lives out the calling of leading people to Jesus and discipling them to be more like Him,” Walker said. “We want to be your partner in your church’s discipleship ministry, because we believe the church flourishes when disciples are being formed.”
After the report, Walker fielded a question concerning homeschool materials. He referred those interested to Lifeway.com/homeschool to see all the resources the organization offers homeschool families.
Another messenger asked about resourcing bivocational pastors. Walker said Lifeway was committed to walking alongside and equipping those church leaders. He encouraged those with ideas to visit the Lifeway Village during the Annual Meeting to speak with Blackwell and Lifeway team members about how the organization can best serve bivocational pastors.
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