Christianity Today’s board has tapped Dr. Nicole Martin as the organization’s new president and CEO, a historic selection that makes her the first woman to lead the flagship evangelical publication. Martin steps into the role after serving as Christianity Today’s chief operating officer, and the announcement marks a pivotal moment for a ministry that reaches millions every month.
Her appointment follows the departure of Dr. Timothy Dalrymple, who left Christianity Today earlier this year to become president of the John Templeton Foundation — a move that set the stage for this leadership transition. The Templeton announcement confirmed Dalrymple’s new role, and Christianity Today had announced a formal search back in May as the organization prepared for the next chapter.
For patriotic conservatives who have long seen Christianity Today as a bulwark of evangelical thought, this moment is both encouraging and cautionary. Billy Graham founded the magazine in 1956, and over decades it became a trusted voice for believers; now that legacy needs a leader who will defend biblical truth rather than bow to the cultural currents sweeping secular media.
Dr. Martin brings extensive ministry and academic experience to the post — she founded Soulfire International Ministries, has served at the American Bible Society, and has held leadership roles on influential evangelical boards. Her theological training and years in Christian nonprofit leadership give her the credentials to steward Christianity Today’s influence, but credentials alone won’t satisfy conservatives hungry for clarity and courage.
Let there be no mistake: this is a test of conviction, not identity politics. Conservatives should applaud doors opening for capable women in Christian leadership, yet we must insist that rising leaders remain unwavering in upholding Scripture, religious liberty, and the pro-life ethic that made evangelical witness credible in the public square. If Dr. Martin intends to lead Christianity Today faithfully, she will use her platform to challenge cultural orthodoxy, not accommodate it.
America’s cultural institutions are under pressure from a left-leaning media and corporate class that seeks to silence dissenting Christian voices. Christianity Today has an outsized role in shaping evangelical engagement with politics, policy, and public morality, so its leadership matters to every person of faith who wants to see a renewal of common-sense, God-centered values. Support, scrutiny, and prayer from the grassroots will be crucial in the months ahead.
This appointment is a chance for Christianity Today to recommit to the convictions that made it indispensable to generations of believers. Hardworking Americans and faithful Christians should watch closely, hold leaders accountable, and rally behind any effort to preserve a Bible-centered witness in American life. If Dr. Martin honors that calling, she can unite a fractured evangelical movement and help restore a robust Christian voice in our nation’s conversation.
