Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected
| PentecostalTheology.com
LifeWay Christian Store, the retail arm of the Southern Baptist Convention’s publishing company, plans to close all 172 of its outlets by the end of 2019. LifeWayChristian Stores plans to close all of its locations by end of the year and move all of the company’s retailing online.
“The decision to close our local stores is a difficult one,” said acting president and CEO Brad Waggoner, who is succeeding longtime LifeWay president Thom Rainer.
“LifeWay has developed close connections with the communities where our stores are located, and we have been honored to serve those communities. We will continue serving local congregations as they meet the spiritual needs of their neighbors.”
The Southern Baptist affiliate announced in January initial plans to reduce its locations this year due to declining sales and financial pressures, but ended up deciding it wasn’t viable to keep any stores open past 2019. Rainer saidthey did all they could to save the stores, which span across 30 states.
Brian Roden
This was announced a couple of months back. Our local store has been doing store closing discounts since April at least.
Although I get most of my books from Amazon (when I know the book I want ahead of time), I still like having a local physical store for browsing when looking for a men’s study, or seeing what is on sale in music.
At least we still have two Mardel locations here.
Varnel Watson
amid all this church growth of yours Steve Maxwell
Steve Maxwell
The Baptist, this is what a declining church looks like, Troy Day. Pentecostals are still growing.
Varnel Watson
Pentecostals are still growing but NOT in America You shoudl be able to calculate that %-wise AG is declining faster than SBaptist in 2019 Sad to say it
Steve Maxwell
I’m still waiting for proof of that claim, Troy Day
Varnel Watson
Steve Maxwell Proof was given several times should you be able to recognize it from the official AG source
Steve Maxwell
Troy Day this great decline you speak of, is not there. It may be there in 2019, it may be there in 2020, but it’s not there in 2018. I showed you that in the tables.
Louise Cummings
I haven heard anything except their crowds are getting smaller. I only know about our church. And it’s growing.
Louise Cummings
So am I. But people are not looking to come and sit in church for an hour or two. They are hungry for a move of God. People can tell times are changing. And they feel it changing. But not Willing to spend time in prayer and let God move.
Louise Cummings
It’s been going a long time. If I remember correctly. Of course I went to the missionary Baptist. Their beliefs might be different. I joined the Church Of God when I was a young teenager.
Louise Cummings
Well it’s hard to say, when you Knowing they are growing in some places. But I would say as a per cent age wise , a large per cent age I can’t see why. Knowing the times. I feel like the falling away has bee in part, in our Churches. But I truly believe that is changing. Because I believe we are fixing to have a great out pouring. To get people ready for the Rapture. I don’t know what it will take for America. But I believe the Holy Ghost rain is about to fall and the sound of Wind is coming. I had the Lord gave me the message at least a moth before Camp Meeting. And at Camp Meeting. Preachers preached all around what the Lord gave me. Not just like what the Lord gave me. He gave me one word. Sound. I came home from church and started looking up words on sound. I believe I’ve got what the Lord gave me. But they didn’t get right on it. But all around it.
Louise Cummings
All I know to do is to pray , God give them Revival in each heart and church.
Daniel J Hesse
It is just a season. Classical Pentecostal churches seem to be in decline. I have wondered why?
Daniel J Hesse
What about former AG folks who now minister in more modern contemporary churches? Or former AG churches?
Varnel Watson
shutting down Steve Maxwell should check the new 2018 stats instead of just repeating old info
Steve Maxwell
Troy Day there’s your 2018 growth. Small but definitely not shrinking like the Baptist
Varnel Watson
old news? or just fake news again?
Steve Maxwell
Troy Day right from the AG page that you keep referring to. There it is, a gain of thirteen churches. It’s definitely not declining faster than the Baptist, no matter how much you want it to.
The other thing to consider is that Independent Pentecostal churches are popping up all over the place and I’ve provided statistics to prove it. The same can’t be said about Baptist like independent churches.
The AG church may decline in future years, but nothing like the mainline churches and Pentecostal churches are growing in America.
Varnel Watson
Steve Maxwell you keep on showing OLD data Have you not the new one yet? The projected 2017 growth was over despite the push to promote it 2018 was a low low year 2019 will be even more so I am starting to think you ignore the data I showed just to buy time hoping 2019 will posts with higher stats but evenmore so you will be largely surprised for 2019 too
I remember when you were boasting for some un existing growth in NM now you moved to Ca 🙂 What next – Canada eh?
Steve Maxwell
Troy Day that’s that’s the newest data ….2017-2018. I suppose you have a crystal ball and can tell us what’s going to happen in 2019, but I just have the most recent data. Look neer to top right hand corner and you’ll see the dates.
RichardAnna Boyce
AOG are literally cut in half in Philippines in last 5 years.
Varnel Watson
youve said this before but Steve Maxwell was no where to be found at that time Of course we are talking about decline the in the US in 2018 as I brought those stats out and we discussed them with Daniel J Hesse in debt
Steve Maxwell
Steve Maxwell
Btw, the Philippines is being dominated by Oneness Pentecostals but that’s still Pentecostals.
Varnel Watson
Steve Maxwell do you know or have you ever heard that church growth is not considered by simply numbers? Though your numbers are all wrong again and dont reflect the current count would you say the spiritual quality of church folk today compare to any saved 30-40 years ago
Daniel J Hesse
Stop it.
Daniel J Hesse
?
Joshwa Bedford
LifeWay is not closing, just the stores. Their will still be an online store.
Varnel Watson
this is actually to be decided in the future They just buying time for now just like Steve Maxwell is