Admission from President and CEO Thom Rainer hailed as ‘step toward healing’

LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer apologized for a decade-old Vacation Bible School (VBS) program published by the company that was perceived as offensive by many Asian-Americans. Rainer’s apology at the Mosaix conference in Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 6 addressed the controversy around the Far Out Rickshaw Rally—Racing Towards the Son program, which was derided by critics as promoting racial stereotypes.

“Ten years ago, LifeWay’s Vacation Bible School material used racial stereotypes that offended many in the Asian-American community,” Rainer said in a video apology played at the gathering of more than 1,000 multiethnic church leaders. “I wasn’t part of LifeWay then, but I am now. And I’ve recently learned that decade-old offense is still a point of hurt for some.”

“As president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, I want to apologize,” he added. “I am sincerely sorry stereotypes were used in our materials, and I apologize for the pain they caused.”

Several Asian-American leaders responded to the apology, including Paul Kim, pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cambridge, Mass.

“I want Dr. Rainer to know I accept his apology with deep gratitude on behalf of our Asian community and desire we move forward for the kingdom’s service together,” Kim said. Kim and a group of Asian-American pastors will meet with LifeWay’s leadership in early 2014 to discuss next steps.

Asian leaders who attended the conference included Ray Chang, pastor of Ambassador Church in Brea, Calif., and Asian-American coordinator for the Evangelical Free Church who agreed that “LifeWay’s apology is a step toward healing.”

Soong-Chan Rah, professor of church growth and evangelism at Chicago’s North Park Theological Seminary, told attendees the apology allows the wounds to start healing.

”I am so thankful for LifeWay, in their words this morning, in a public setting, to say we were wrong,” he said. “I am so thankful because now the healing can begin and the reconciliation we have not been able to have can begin.”

LifeWay also pledged to continue to train its staff in being culturally sensitive.

“I will lead our executive leadership staff to engage in dialogue and conversation with ethnic leaders that we might go forth together to strengthen believers and reach people in North America and around the world,” Rainer concluded in his apology.