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Thom S. Rainer
Thom S. Rainer is president and chief executive officer of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the world’s largest Christian resource providers. He became LifeWay’s ninth president on Feb. 1, 2006.

•	See "LifeWay Trustees Approve Rainer as President-Elect"

•	See "Rainer’s Inauguration Emphasizes Commitment to Local Church"

“I stand on the shoulders of giants,” Rainer said at his inauguration, acknowledging the leadership of James T. Draper Jr., his predecessor, and the other LifeWay presidents before him. At the same time, he cast a vision for LifeWay to take a stronger leadership position in evangelism, research, and ministry bridge building. The launch of LifeWay Research in 2006 has vaulted LifeWay to the forefront of cutting-edge issues such as why young adults drop out of church, how teenagers view heaven and hell, and what makes churches most effective at reaching people for Christ. In addition, Rainer has led LifeWay to forge new and unprecedented collaborative efforts with the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board.

Rainer also is engineering significant growth in LifeWay ministries in curriculum development, outreach to minorities, LifeWay Christian Stores, conference center events, academic publishing, and much more. “Our vision,” said Rainer, “is to help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek His Kingdom by providing biblical solutions that spiritually transform individuals and cultures.”

In addition to authoring or editing numerous books, Rainer writes a bi-monthly commentary related to LifeWay Research in Facts & Trends magazine, and authors a periodic devotional column. He also is a highly sought-after conference speaker and preacher.

Click here for a link to LifeWay’s executive management team page and a downloadable, high resolution photo of Rainer.

Previous positions
Academic ministry

Before coming to LifeWay, Rainer served as the dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. (1994-2005). During that time, he also was professor of evangelism and church growth at Southern Seminary. From 1990-94, he was adjunct professor of evangelism and church growth at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University. And from 1988-90 he served as associate professor of evangelism at Tampa Bay Theological Seminary, a branch of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Pastoral ministry

Rainer served as interim pastor at: First Baptist Church, Kettering, Ohio (2003-04); First Baptist Church, Mount Washington, Ky. (2002-03); Northside Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind. (2001-02); Lakewood Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. (2000-01); Bedford Baptist Church, Bedford, Ky. (1999-2000); Far Hills Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio (1997-99); Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. (1996-97); Highview Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. (1995-96).

He served as senior pastor at: Green Valley Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. (1990-94); Azalea Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, Fla. (1988-90); Hopewell Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky. (1986-88); Hopewell Baptist Church, Madison, Ind. (1984-86).

Corporate experience

Rainer served in the business world as: Vice president of Pinnacle Publishers, Inc. (2001-05); President of Church Central Associates, Inc. (2001-05); Chairman of Rainer Research, a division of The Rainer Group (1999-2005); Founder, president and CEO of The Rainer Group (1988-05); Vice president of corporate lending at SouthTrust Bank, Alabama (1980-83); Cash management officer at Trust Company of Georgia, now SunTrust (1977-80)

Organizational activities

Rainer is the former president of the American Association of Church Consultants. He also served as a board member of Romanian-American Missions; Ephesians 4 Ministries; and the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board, which later became the North American Mission Board. In addition, he was a member of the Society for Advancement of Consulting, a secular organization in which he served as the only member providing church and denominational consultations; and the American Consultants League, another secular organization in which he served as the only member providing church and denominational consultations.

He has served as a church growth conference speaker for several years and is in frequent demand as a speaker today.

Other activities

Rainer is a featured columnist for Outreach magazine. He is a Gold Medallion finalist for two books; former publisher of Church Health Today, a bi-weekly church-health newsletter; recipient of more than a dozen awards related to work in church health and church growth; and he has provided consultation to numerous periodicals including USA TODAY, Time, Associated Press, Religion News Service, and others.

Education
Rainer holds a Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1988, Major: evangelism. Minors: Christian missions and preaching); an M.Div. from Southern Seminary (1985, Major concentration: evangelism); and a B.S. from the University of Alabama (1977, Major: corporate finance. Minors: economics and statistics).

Publications
Rainer is author or editor of:

•	Raising Dad, co-author (2007, B&H Publishing Group)

•	Simple Church, co-author (2006, B&H)

•	The Unexpected Journey (2005, Zondervan)

•	Breakout Churches (2005, Zondervan)

•	The Unchurched Next Door (2003, Zondervan)

•	Surprising Insights from the Unchurched (2001, Zondervan)

•	High Expectations (1999, B&H)

•	The Everychurch Guide to Growth, co-author (1998, B&H)

•	The Bridger Generation (1997, B&H)

•	Encyclopedia of Evangelism and Church Growth, co-editor (1997, Regal)

•	Effective Evangelistic Churches (1996, B&H)

•	Biblical Affirmations for Evangelism, co-author (1996, Worldwide)

•	Giant Awakenings (1995, B&H)

•	Eating the Elephant (1994, B&H)

•	The Book of Church Growth (1993, B&H)

•	Evangelism in the Twenty-first Century, editor (1989, Shaw)

Personal / Family
Rainer was born July 16, 1955, in Union Springs, Ala.

He married the former Nellie Jo King in 1977. He and Nellie Jo have three grown sons: Sam, Art and Jess, who are married to Erin, Sarah and Rachel, respectively.