Guideposts

Guideposts

Guideposts
Guideposts Company Logo
Formation	1945 (1945)
Founder	Norman Vincent Peale Raymond Thornburg Ruth Stafford Peale
Founded at	New York City
Type	Non-profit
Registration no.	20-3779200
Legal status	501 C3
Purpose	To Inspire Lives & Encourage Wellbeing
Professional title	Religious Organization
Headquarters	Danbury, CT
Location	39 Old Ridgebury Rd Ste 27, Danbury, CT 06810-5122 110 William Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY
Products	Books Spiritual Magazines Daily Devotionals E-books Christian devotional literature
Services	Community outreach Military Outreach Comfort Kits Prayer groups Support groups
CEO & President	John Temple
Subsidiaries	Guideposts Foundation, Inc OurPrayer Guideposts Outreach Ministries
Website	Guideposts.org

Guideposts is a spiritual non-profit organization that encourages wellness through inspirational content creation. Founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Raymond Thornburg, and Peale's wife, Ruth Stafford Peale^[1] with just one inaugural magazine, Guideposts has since grown to publish annual devotionals, books about faith, Christian fiction novels, five spiritual magazines, prayer content, as well as a content-rich website for daily inspiration.^[2] Guideposts has outreach programs to encourage wellness and help lifts the spirits of those in need – including military personnel, military families, support groups, hospitalized children, etc.

The Guideposts organization, which also maintains an outreach ministry service, is currently headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, with additional offices in New York City.

The Guideposts magazine[]

The March, 1945 issue of Guideposts magazine,^[3] 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 World War I Ace, Eddie Rickenbacker entitled I Believe In Prayer, which told of a plane crash during World War II which left eight man, in three life rafts, stranded on the Pacific Ocean.^[4]

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. 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.^[5]

Each monthly issue of Guideposts magazine contains articles by people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, recounting how their faith in God, or the wisdom of an older relative or mentor, helped them through personal challenges. These can include grief, poverty, relocation, serious personal or family illness, unemployment, health issues, caregiver stress and strained personal relationships. Surviving natural disasters, accidents, and becoming stranded on wilderness adventures are also frequent topics. Most articles contain a snapshot of the author, along with an artistic illustration showing the situation. Monthly lead cover articles often feature the story of a noted entertainer, professional athlete, or other celebrity who rose from poverty. The magazine also judges and awards monetary awards for stories by teenage authors. Guideposts is nonsectarian and welcomes Protestant, Catholic, Jewish writers, and more. A separate youth edition, published for several years, has been discontinued.

List of Guideposts Books[]

Guideposts curates and authors multiple genres of books, all of which are uplifting and spiritual. The books range from religious prayer, to daily devotionals, to one-off inspirational novels and full cozy mystery fiction series.

Devotionals[]

Guideposts provides free daily devotions on their website to help those seeking inspiration, comfort, and closeness to their faith. Guideposts also releases annual devotional books and magazines for purchase, or donation.

Bible Resources[]

Guideposts provides free daily devotions on their website to help those seeking inspiration, comfort, and closeness to their faith. Guideposts also releases annual devotional books and magazines for purchase, or donation.

Writing contests[]

Guideposts Magazine sponsors two writing contests. The annual Guideposts Young Writers Contest awards a total of $25,000 in scholarship funds to high school juniors and seniors whose personal true stories are chosen for publication in the magazine. The Guideposts Writers Workshop Contest, held every other year, offers winners a free writing clinic with established authors in Rye, New York, for five days, all expenses paid.

References[]

External links[]

• Guideposts website