The Baptist Paper Marks Five Years in Print
As faith papers fade from print nationwide, The Baptist Paper expands its reach with family content and children’s editions
Five years after launching its national print edition, The Baptist Paper is celebrating a milestone many religious newspapers no longer reach.
The Birmingham-based publication, operated by TAB Media Group, published its first national print issue on May 13, 2021. Since then, the paper has expanded beyond traditional denominational coverage into family resources, Bible study content and children’s publications aimed at keeping readers engaged in print media during an increasingly digital age.
The anniversary comes as many longtime Baptist newspapers across the country continue scaling back or ending print operations altogether. Publications in North Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia have either shifted or announced plans to shift toward digital-only formats in recent years, citing rising costs and changing reading habits.
Jennifer Davis Rash, President and Editor-in-Chief of TAB Media Group, said the idea for a national Baptist print newspaper had circulated for years before the organization finally moved forward.
“I always hesitated for fear of looking like we were competing with our peer publications,” Rash said. “As the years rolled along and more and more State conventions stopped printing and mailing papers, and some even stopped providing a news element, it became more of a possibility.”
She said many church members were losing access to denominational news because they still preferred reading printed newspapers.
“Many Baptists were basically left out of the loop regarding news and information important to their world simply because they preferred reading a hard-copy print newspaper,” Rash said.
The publication now includes Bible study resources tied to Lifeway curriculum materials, puzzles and feature stories alongside denominational reporting. Last fall, TAB Media Group also launched a monthly Kids Edition designed to provide children with a low-tech, faith-based reading experience.
The children’s section grew from internal conversations about giving families an alternative to screen-heavy entertainment and educational material. According to TAB Media Group Managing Editor Carrie Brown McWhorter, the publication intentionally blends puzzles, activities and Christian teaching.
“Scripture, science, jokes, art, baking, crafting, puzzling — there’s something to engage mind, body and spirit on each page,” McWhorter wrote in a first-person column announcing the project.
The Kids Edition also mirrors broader concerns among educators, parents and faith leaders about declining reading habits among children. A recent report by ALPolitics.com highlighted the publication’s effort to encourage reading through printed material rooted in Christian values.
“In a world full of screens, this printed resource offers something special — a chance for kids to slow down, engage with real pages, and build a lifelong love of reading and reflection,” the publication states on its website.
The Baptist Paper has also gained attention for longer-form reporting projects. In 2025, staff members reviewed and reported on previously sealed audio recordings from meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. The recordings had remained sealed for 15 years.
Shawn Hendricks, Director of Content for The Baptist Paper, listened to dozens of compact discs from the 2009 and 2010 meetings to help produce a series of articles examining internal SBC discussions surrounding missions funding and denominational structure.
The publication has also partnered with Baptist papers in other states as local print outlets have declined. Former Tennessee Baptist Editor Lonnie Wilkey said those partnerships have become necessary for survival.
“We formed a partnership with The Baptist Paper,” Wilkey said. “We used each other’s articles and collaborated on articles that benefitted both publications.”
Wilkey later wrote that only a handful of Baptist State newspapers still maintain traditional print editions.
Even with industry pressure, Rash said the mission remains focused on serving churches and readers rather than chasing trends.
“It’s about associations resourcing, equipping, training, listening, guiding when appropriate, showing up with support when needed, encouraging, connecting and continually learning,” Rash said.
