~ Christian Activities Magazine celebrates 30 years of providing the latest Christian music and entertainment news to readers ~
History of Christian Activities
In 1992, Nashville native and entrepreneur, Kathryn Darden, launched a new publication for Music City’s growing Christian music scene. While several major denominations had publications for their churches that listed events going on for their denominations, there was nothing in circulation meant to cross denominational lines to let people know about the variety of Christian music events going on in Music City.
Working at historic Koinonia Coffeehouse on Music Row at the time, Darden was already copying a handout for customers with local Christian concerts on it. Seeing the need for something broader based, Darden turned her one-page handout into a 4-page newsletter called Christian Activities Nashville.
The premiere issue of Christian Activities Nashville featured singer David Mullen on the cover along with a tongue-in-cheek interview.
In May of 1996, the name of the print publication changed to Christian Activities Tennessee, a 24-page publication with its signature duotone cover. The free magazine was distributed at churches, Christian bookstores, colleges and coffeehouses across Tennessee. Eventually separate versions were printed for Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky to help readers find faith-based events and concerts at local churches and colleges.
Happy 30th anniversary to Christian Activities! Thank you for representing the Gospel so well for all these years. ––
Perry LaHaie, Singer/songwriter/recording artist and morning drive-time radio host
The year before, in 1995, Christian Activities Online was launched. This led to Christian Activities eventually becoming a webzine. Since then the popular website has been read on the internet by viewers in almost every country in the world.
“Christian Activities has a place in the history books with Christian Music! With Nashville being the hub of CCM and with Christian Activities being based here, I was always anxious to see the latest updates and stories and news. When there were ‘hard copies’ we would distribute them around the office for our own reading and so that our friends and visitors could read the issues as well. Many times in the ‘pre-internet’ era, Christian Activities would be the first to break a story or provide an update. Congratulations to Kathryn for her vision and for the place she holds in the history of CCM music!”
Charles Dorris, Charles Dorris & Associates, LLC; DR Artist Management, LLC
After its humble beginnings in 1992, Christian Activities has covered Christian entertainers and personalities ranging from Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Skillet, to Billy Graham, Kirk Cameron and Lauren Daigle, to Whitney Houston, Randy Travis and Michael Jackson. The online magazine has published articles that have dealt with national and international news as well as book, movie and music reviews, and of course, concerts and entertainment.
I want to wish Christian Activities a happy 30th anniversary! I have been honored to be represented in your magazine over the years. Thank you for all you do for the kingdom.
John Chisum, Internationally acclaimed worship leader, music publisher, singer/songwriter, and Contemporary Christian music industry executive
Some highlights in the history of Christian Activities Magazine include being honored with a Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Phil Bredeson on its Fifth Anniversary, serving as the official church liaison publication for Tennessee 200 during Tennessee’s Bicentennial, sponsoring numerous Christian festivals and concerts, hosting Sunday nights at Bellevue Station, earning a gold record for support of Michael W. Smith’s ”I’ll Lead You Home” album, and being featured in an article in The Tennessean in 2003.
