CAROL STREAM, ILLINOIS, March 15, 2007 — Newly appointed editor-in-chief and chief executive officer Harold B. Smith succeeds the leadership team of Harold Myra and Paul Robbins as head of Christianity Today International (CTI), publisher of magazines, Internet periodicals and websites, and church resources based in the Chicago suburbs. Smith was elevated to the new position by the CTI board of directors March 1, 2007.

"With the publishing industry in such transition, grappling with the relationship of print to the web to an ever changing array of electronic delivery systems, I'm grateful our strong past has positioned us to take advantage of exciting new possibilities in the days ahead," Smith said. "We will build on that strength as a multi-media communications ministry, resourcing churches and reaching people around the globe."

Smith joined the staff of Christianity Today magazine as special projects editor in 1984, and was promoted through various positions. Most recently he served six years as executive vice president. With this appointment, he becomes only the fourth top executive in the company's 50-year history.

Smith, 56, a resident of Carol Stream, Illinois, is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He holds a BA in history from the University of Michigan and studied and taught journalism at Michigan State University. Smith and his wife, Judy, have two adult sons, and they are active members of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. Smith's resume includes service with the National Association of Evangelicals prior to joining CTI.

Myra and Robbins announced their retirement after three decades at the helm of the publishing concern. Myra was named publisher in 1975, when the company, which then published a single magazine, was based in Washington, D.C. Robbins joined him as executive vice president in 1977 when the ministry relocated to Carol Stream. The pair, often recognized for their unique team leadership, concluded their service with Myra as executive chairman and Robbins as president and publisher.

Christianity Today magazine was founded by evangelist Billy Graham in 1956 in an effort to give the fledgling evangelical movement coverage of faith news and the changing Christian culture. Today CTI publishes 13 print magazines including Today's Christian Woman, Leadership journal, and Ignite Your Faith (formerly Campus Life), operates an award-winning website with more than 30 channels for men, women, teens, and church leaders reaching more than 2-million unique visitors monthly, and produces more than 40 electronic newsletters reaching 1.4 million subscribers.

Lyle Schaller, the dean of church consultants, called CTI's growth "one of the most remarkable success stories in American Christianity during the second half of the 20th century."

"Our industry is in a state of redefining itself," Smith said. "Rather than intimidating, this recasting is freeing, in that we now find ourselves with multi-media opportunities unforeseen even a half dozen years ago."

"The question is how willing are we to grab hold of these opportunities," Smith continued, "and how wise can we be in determining which of these opportunities God would have us pursue."

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For more information, contact:
Eric Reed
Media Relations Director
Phone: (630) 260-6200 x4371
E-mail address: ereed@christianitytoday.com

Headshot of Harold B. Smith available on request