''Guideposts'' is a spiritual non-profit organization publishing inspirational magazines, books and online material. Founded in 1945 by
Norman Vincent Peale, Raymond Thornburg, and Peale's wife,
Ruth Stafford Peale with just one inaugural magazine, Guideposts has since grown to publish annual devotionals, books about faith, Christian novels, periodicals and a website.
The Guideposts organization is currently headquartered in
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury ( ) is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located approximately northeast of New York City. Danbury's population as of 2020 was 86,518. It is the third-largest city in Western Connecticut, and the seventh-largest ...
, with additional offices in New York City.
The ''Guideposts'' magazine
The March 1945 issue of ''Guideposts'' magazine was distributed to 10,000 households. There were four short articles, one for each week of the month. That inaugural issue contained a story by a World War I Ace,
Eddie Rickenbacker, entitled ''I Believe In Prayer'', which told of a plane crash during World War II that left eight men, in three life rafts, stranded on the Pacific Ocean.
Although a fire destroyed the magazine's circulation files in 1947, the publication was saved thanks to publicity from radio broadcaster
Lowell Thomas, and an article in ''
Reader's Digest
''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wi ...
''. By 1952, there were 500,000 subscribers to the magazine and in 2018 circulation was more than 2,000,000 subscribers and receivers of the outreach gifting programs in the United States. The magazine is non-denominational, avoids politics and controversy, and for many years did not accept advertising.
Frequency of magazine issues
For much of its history, ''Guideposts'' published twelve issues a year. Starting in 2019 the periodical was published ten times a year, with the June/July and December/January issues being two-month editions. Starting with the June/July 2021 issue ''Guideposts'' became a bimonthly magazine, with six issues being published each year. Each issue was expanded to 100 pages, an increase of 30 pages from earlier issues.
Other Guideposts publications and website content
In addition to ''Guideposts'' there are now five other bi-monthly spiritual magazines, including ''Angels on Earth'' and ''All God's Creatures''.
Guideposts publishes several genres of books, prayer guides, daily devotionals, and inspirational novels. The organization also provides daily devotions on their website.
Writing contests
''Guideposts'' sponsors two writing contests. The annual ''Guideposts'' Young Writers Contest awards scholarship funds to high school juniors and seniors whose personal stories are chosen for publication in the magazine.
Hamilton, Denise, Grandson’s Essay on Alzheimer’s Wins Contest, ''Los Angeles Times'', March 2, 1986 (online reprint)
/ref> The Guideposts Writers Workshop Contest, held every other year, offers winners a free writing clinic with established authors in Rye, New York.
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Christian magazines published in the United States
Magazines established in 1945
Magazines published in Connecticut
Non-profit organizations based in Connecticut
Christian organizations established in 1945
Companies based in Danbury, Connecticut