Jimmy Draper: 10 years at LifeWay, 50 in ministry

by   Linda Lawson                                                                                                                                        Vol. XIV, No. 3, March 2001

Jimmy Draper was lauded as friend, father, pastor and statesman during a celebration of his life and ministry Feb. 12 at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Draper, president of LifeWay since 1991, was honored for completing 50 years in the ministry in September 2000, celebrating his 65th birthday in October and serving in his 10th year at LifeWay. The celebration, initiated by LifeWay trustees, was held in connection with their Feb. 12-13 semiannual meeting.

LifeWay Christian Resources is among the world's largest publishers of religious materials, producing approximately 180 monthly and quarterly products and almost 900 undated products each year.

While owned and operated by the Southern Baptist Convention, LifeWay has never received Cooperative Program funds from the SBC, but is self-supporting through the sales of literature, books, music, films, recordings, video tapes, Bibles and church supplies. Because LifeWay is a non-profit organization, income above the operating expenses is reinvested in LifeWay's ministry assignments.

LifeWay employs 2,168 full-time and regular part-time employees. Of that number, 1,527 work in its Nashville facilities. The remaining 528 work in the 95 LifeWay Christian Stores and at LifeWay's two conference centers, Glorieta and Ridgecrest.

LifeWay's Nashville facilities encompass more than a million square feet of floor space. A new warehouse and distribution center opened in Lebanon, TN, 30 miles east of Nashville in April 2000. The 250,000-square-foot facility houses the Undated Service Center.

LifeWay Church Resources Division Customer Service Department received 620,000 telephone calls and processed 438,378 mail, telephone and fax orders last year. Dated literature orders placed on the Internet totaled 86,663, along with 12,541 orders for undated materials. An additional 5,247 orders were placed through the automated Customer Service Access number at 800-376-1140.

A total of 59.3 million pieces of church literature were shipped last year. More than 2.15 million packages weighing 28.8 million pounds, were shipped to churches, trade outlets and retail customers. LifeWay spent more than $10 million for postage and freight for church literature and all other products. LifeWay Christian Stores handled more than 5.2 million transactions.

For more information about LifeWay, go to www.lifeway.com.