Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the July-September issue of Good Faith Magazine, GFM’s print publication. Good Faith Magazine is available free of charge to all Good Faith Advocates.
The Good Faith Media (GFM) governing board has named John Pierce as Editor Emeritus of Good Faith Magazine. Board chair Michael Cheuk said this honor is a “heartfelt expression of our deep gratitude for Pierce’s decades of service to Baptists Today, Nurturing Faith, and Good Faith Media.”
After a distinguished early career in student ministry, Pierce turned to journalism, becoming a preeminent voice in reporting stories from across the religious landscape. In 2000, he became the editor of Baptists Today, later known as Nurturing Faith Journal (NFJ). This year, NFJ became Good Faith Magazine. During his time with the organization, Pierce won numerous awards and made even more lasting relationships through his writing and editorial work. He retired from Good Faith Media at the end of 2023.
Pierce recently reflected on his tenure with the organizations that would become Good Faith Media. “The way I would describe it was being at the fast-changing intersection of a fast-changing culture and a fast-changing technology,” he said. “I learned that long-range planning doesn’t work. I didn’t think I could set out, even from five years out, [and say] ‘This is what the publication will be.’ I just knew we needed to be alert and see opportunities that come along.”
Among those opportunities Pierce seized upon was asking Tony Cartledge to write Bible studies for the publication and, later, publishing books under the Nurturing Faith imprint. Pierce also procured numerous interviews with luminaries such as Will Campbell, John Claypool, and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.
Pierce wrote extensively about former President Carter’s Baptist faith, including a memorable reflection on Carter’s life upon his death in December 2024. In addition, through a partnership with Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where Carter was a longtime Sunday School Teacher, visitors were given copies of Nurturing Faith Journal to learn about the particular kind of Baptist the Carters were.
Throughout his career, Pierce noticed that Christians who spoke incessantly about a “biblical” or “Christian” worldview rarely spoke about Jesus. This observation led to the creation of the Jesus Worldview Initiative, a work he has carried into retirement through the Belmont University Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership. This fall, the Jesus Worldview Initiative will host its first Life Through a Jesus Lens conference in Nashville. The event will feature speakers and musicians exploring what a Jesus-centric life can look like.
Upon his retirement in 2023, Good Faith Media CEO Mitch Randall called Pierce “one of the greatest faith-based journalists of our time.” Randall added, “During a very difficult and confusing time in Baptist life, Johnny’s insightful, challenging, and informative style educated and inspired readers across the world.”
Pierce joins his predecessor at Baptists Today, Jack Harwell, as the second Editor Emeritus of the organization.
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Senior Editor at Good Faith Media.
