With accessibility, enjoyability, and relevancy for its readers in mind, Matthew Barrett, Midwestern Seminary associate professor of Christian theology, relaunched Credo Magazine on May 24.
The publication, which one endorser noted as having “an embarrassment of theological resources,” was founded by Barrett in 2011 to bridge the gap between the evangelical church and the academy in the field of theology.
As Credo’s readership and influence have grown over the ensuing years, Barrett began thinking of ways to keep the magazine up-to-date and accessible to readers. This is where the recent revamping became a clear choice.
“I could not be more thrilled to announce that Credo will have a fresh look with many new resources,” Barrett said. “While Credo always has, and continues to be an independent ministry, we are delighted to form a partnership with Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Mere Agency to bring our readers resources that have never before been available to us.”
Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen noted that promoting Credo serves the school’s mission of existing for the local church.
“Credo Magazine is an excellent resource for any person desiring to learn more about the topic of theology,” Allen said. “Dr. Matthew Barrett has honed-in on a very practical need in today’s culture and continues to meet this need through the content he produces in the magazine.
“I am grateful for Dr. Barrett’s drive and desire to bring the truth of God’s Word to bear through Credo Magazine, as he does in the classroom as well. Credo is truly another fine resource that serves the local church at every level.”
The newest resources available to Credo’s readers include a website, a podcast, and a video element.
According to Barrett, Credo will have a new website that will not only be fresh in its look but accessible in the resources offered and enjoyable to navigate as readers browse the latest content.
Powered by Mere Agency, who has created sites like Getty Music, For the Church, Challies.com, Core Christianity, and others, the new website will allow visitors to search a wide range of Credo resources and quickly transition across the site to read, listen, and watch new material.
Additionally, a new and improved magazine will result from the relaunch.
“For the first five years, the magazine was offered to the public free of charge as a pdf and digital book,” Barrett said. “But with the new website, this online platform will bring new issues of the magazine to readers with a simple click. No cumbersome downloads, no endless scrolling and searching, but articles, interviews, and reviews that are easy on the eyes and readily connected to social media outlets.”
Another new element of Credo is a podcast that is devoted solely to the topic of theology.
“With the release of the Credo podcast, listeners will have the opportunity to eavesdrop on theological conversations between today’s top theologians,” Barrett explained. “As the host, I will be asking difficult theological questions and having conversations with our listeners’ favorite theologians to help them better understand theology and, in the end, be better equipped to live the Christian life.”
Upcoming podcast guests include Fred Sanders, James Dolezal, John Frame, Thomas Weinandy, Michael Kruger, Scott Swain, Michael Allen, and Thomas Schreiner. New episodes of the podcast will release every other week.
“Whether you are washing dishes, stuck in traffic, running on the treadmill, or sitting down with a hot cup of coffee, this is a podcast that will give you theological meat you can chew on and digest,” Barrett added.
The last new element added to Credo is a monthly video in which some of the most important theological questions are answered by Barrett and other theologians. The intent of the videos is to provide a resource that can be passed along to friends who may be curious about the topics and then providing questions they’ve always wanted answered.
Over the course of the next year, longer videos – which will include brief talks on a variety of topics as well as roundtable conversations and dialogues between today’s sharpest thinkers – will also be available on the site.
Barrett said his impetus for starting the magazine originated as he increasingly noticed that the church was suffering from theological drought. He noted that numerous churchgoers knew little theology, and pastors and ministry leaders were overwhelmed by the demands of ministry and unable to find the time or resources to keep studying theology.
Then the thought came, “What if there was a publication that was neither watered down nor über academic but was somewhere in between – accessible and clear, yet convictional and theologically challenging, stretching the thinking lay person and pastor? What if there was a resource that helped Bible-minded churchgoers, students, and pastors think theologically? And what if this publication drew from top-notch scholars and pastors to demonstrate just how much theology matters for the church today?” And so, Credo Magazine was born.
“I don’t think I ever could have imagined Credo Magazine becoming as well-read and influential as it has been in the last seven years,” Barrett said. “I am grateful to God for the way he has used it around the world to help Christians understand just how much doctrine matters.”
Credo Magazine remains free of charge and can be accessed at credomag.com