Surrounded by close friends, family and leaders from across the Southern Baptist Convention, Ryan Blackwell expressed feelings of both gratefulness and humility — and also being a little overwhelmed in the moment — as he was installed as the 11th president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources on Monday evening (Aug. 24).
The service, held at Grace Community Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, took place amid Lifeway’s board of trustees meeting Aug. 24–25.
“This is an overwhelming night honestly,” he said during the service. “It’s a weird look for me — it’s like all my worlds from all of my history converging in one place, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
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Blackwell, who began his new role on June 1, described the moment as “a marker … for my family, my wife, my three kids to do what God’s called us to do. I never expected to be standing on this stage in this role. I never aspired to it — but I’m so grateful that the Lord has entrusted the leadership of Lifeway to me in this season.”
Earlier this year, Blackwell was serving as executive pastor and teaching pastor at Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas. Nick Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church, and also one of Blackwell’s close, life-long friends, spoke during the service and expressed excitement and sadness as his ministry partner begins this new season.
While Floyd has known Blackwell since childhood, he also touted his recent accomplishments, “exceptional leadership,” his “mind for finance,” and being what he described as a “people Jedi,” someone who could handle “sticky” situations that needed just the right touch. Above all of that, Floyd noted Blackwell’s commitment to “do what God calls him to do.”
Focus on the mission
Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, followed Floyd’s words by challenging Blackwell to keep the focus on the mission amid the many distractions that are sure to follow.
“There will be hard days,” Iorg said. “You will be challenged in ways you can’t imagine tonight.”
But in leadership, he added, the answer to those challenges is “keeping Lifeway focused on its mission” to serve the Lord and His church.
“It is the same answer for every CEO in every organization,” Iorg said. “Maintaining mission discipline is the greatest challenge of executive leadership. You must know why Lifeway is here, what it exists to accomplish, and what you are asking people to expend their lives to fulfill.
“Maintaining mission discipline requires more than coining a catchy missions statement and publicizing it widely,” he added. “It requires decision-making, disciplined by the mission. It means you allocate resources, make employment decisions, choose programmatic approaches, determine locations and even design facilities based on mission.” All of this, he said, must be done while while remaining vigilant to avoid distractions from Lifeway’s mission.
It also means doing all of this with his wife and three children alongside him.
As he began his message, Blackwell turned to his family and thanked them for their “courage and your obedience to God.” He referred to his wife Rachel as “God’s greatest gift to me and ultimate ministry partner … and I’m so grateful for you.”
Recognizing past presidents
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, Blackwell also took time to recognize accomplishments and the challenges Lifeway has faced in past years. He commended the commitment and leadership of past presidents — specifically mentioning Jimmy Draper, Thom Rainer and Ben Mandrell.
Blackwell thanked Mandrell, who attended the service with his wife, Lynley, for leading “Lifeway through one of the most challenging seasons in its history, in the wake of store closings and the disruption of (COVID-19). Ben made difficult decisions that restored financial health, rebuilt the culture and positioned Lifeway for a new growth and impact.”
He added, “The truth is I stand up here today as a product of what I’ve now been entrusted to lead. … Every part of my life is a result of faithful discipleship.”
During his message, Blackwell presented his parents with two Bibles. “I want those Bibles to represent the gift that you gave me … as you poured the Word of God into (your family) in a church that loved the Word of God, you put us into a school that loved the Word of God. … Thank you for your investment in my own discipleship from a young age.”
