New to CT?

Subscribe and save 50%
Books

CT’s 2021 Cover Stories, Ranked

CT Editors

Our online readers’ favorite cover stories from last year.

Christianity Today December 21, 2021

In this series

Christianity Today’s print magazine cover stories represented many themes of the past year—topics that are not new but reached a fresh urgency or climactic moment in 2021. From Christians in Afghanistan to multiethnic churches to empty pews, we hoped to remind readers of gospel hope in the midst of difficult times. Here are CT’s cover stories ranked in reverse order of popularity online.

9. December

Joseph’s Simplicity Was Actually Spiritual Maturity

Acher Niyonizigiye

8. January/February

When A Word Is Worth A Thousand Complaints (and When It Isn’t)

Jordan K. Monson

Why There Are So Many ‘Miraculous’ Stories of Bibles Surviving Disaster

Maria Baer

COVID-19 Hurts. But the Bible Brings Hope.

Adam MacInnis

7. July/August

Whispered Prayers, Hidden Bibles, Secretly Scribbled Verses: Inside the Resilient Faith of the #BringBackOurGirls Hostages

Joe Parkinson and Drew Hinshaw

6. October

What’s True About Christian Fiction

Daniel Silliman

5. April

Christian Singles Aren’t Waiting for Marriage to Become Parents

Kara Bettis

4. May/June

Why Defining Gossip Matters in the Church’s Response to Abuse

Kate Shellnutt

3. November

Empty Pews Are an American Public Health Crisis

Tyler J. VanderWeele and Brendan Case

The Riddle of Church Loneliness

Susan Mettes

2. March

The Multiethnic Church Movement Hasn’t Lived up to Its Promise

Korie Little Edwards

Why the Children of Immigrants Are Returning to Their Religious Roots

Erin Chan Ding

Paul’s Letter to a Prejudiced Church

Michael J. Rhodes

1. September

What Christian Aid Workers Want You to Know About Afghanistan

Rebecca Hopkins

Heather and her son, Hawal, in 2009 (left) and at his graduation in 2018 (right).

She Was Captured by the Taliban in 2001. But God Gave Her a Bigger Story.

Rebecca Hopkins

Check out the rest of our 2021 year-end lists here.

Also in this series

Introduction
Christianity Today in 2021: Our Top News, Reviews, Podcasts, and More

CT Editors

Top 10 CT News Stories of the Year

CT Editors

13 CT News Stories That Made Us Happy in 2021

CT Editors

Christianity Today’s Top Testimonies of 2021

CT Editors

Christianity Today’s 15 Most-Read Book Reviews of 2021

CT Editors

CT’s Top 10 Articles for Pastors in 2021

CT Editors

CT’s Top 20 Stories of 2021

Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2021

Gordon Govier

CT’s Stories of 2021 That You May Have Missed

CT Editors

Our Favorite Christianity Today Podcasts from 2021

12 Leaders Evangelicals Lost in 2021

Daniel Silliman

The Global Church in 2021: CT’s Top 20 International Articles

Morgan Lee

Our Latest

View All

Black woman behind a ripped blue paper

The Black Women Missing from Our Pews

Sarita Lyons

America’s most churched demographic is slipping from religious life. We must go after them.

A foggy image of a deer and trees.

The Still Small Voice in the Deer Stand

Brian Reisinger

Since childhood, each hunting season out in God’s creation has healed wounds and deepened my faith.

Rend Collective standing with instruments in the forest

Play Those Chocolate Sprinkles, Rend Collective!

Haley Byrd Wilt

The Irish band’s new album “FOLK!” proclaims joy after suffering.

Bill Hwang, founder of Archegos Capital Management, arrives at federal court in New York, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. He is a grey-haired man wearing thick glasses and a suit with a purple tie.

News

Wall Street’s Most Famous Evangelical Sentenced in Unprecedented Fraud Case

Emily Belz in New York

Judge gives former billionaire Bill Hwang 18 years in prison for crimes that outweigh his “lifetime” of “charitable works.”

A skeleton holding hands with a man

Public Theology Project

How a Dark Sense of Humor Can Save You from Cynicism

Russell Moore

A bit of gallows humor can remind us that death does not have the final word.

Rina Seixas

News

Died: Rina Seixas, Iconic Surfer Pastor Who Faced Domestic Violence Charges

Franco Iacomini

The Brazilian founder of Bola de Neve Church, which attracted celebrities and catalyzed 500 congregations on six continents, faced accusations from family members and a former colleague.

Laura Ingalls Wilder in front of coverd wagons and a church door

Review

The Quiet Faith Behind Little House on the Prairie

Monika B. Hilder

How a sincere but reserved Christianity influenced the life and literature of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

A still from the movie depicting Bonhoeffer sitting and thinking at his desk.

‘Bonhoeffer’ Bears Little Resemblance to Reality

Myles Werntz

The new biopic from Angel Studios twists the theologian’s life and thought to make a political point.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube