The True Joy of Positive Living Ch:13

• The chief goal is to communicate the practical Gospel of Jesus Christ as widely as possible.
• Approximately twenty million people are reached monthly through Guideposts magazine and the Foundation for Christian Living.

Sermon Publications

• In 1940, visitors at the church requested printed copies of Sunday sermons.
• Sermons were delivered without notes, so they were captured stenographically, then later by recording.
• Several hundred mimeographed copies were distributed and a mailing list was started.
• Merce E. Boyer and William "Bill" Groll formed a publication committee.
• Sermon Publications began as an activity of the church's Christian Endeavor society, with volunteers handling envelope stuffing.
• The operation expanded from the church basement to other rooms and eventually to an office building.
• The enterprise moved to a room over the garage on the farm; Ruth Peale took charge.
• The mailing list grew to 1,200 and then to 20,000, necessitating a move to a larger residence on Quaker Hill.
• A building was erected on Route 22 in Pawling to accommodate the growing enterprise.
• Sermon Publications was transferred to Dr. and Mrs. Peale by the church.
• Attorney Gerald Dickler incorporated it into a non-profit Christian publishing organization.
• The organization became a church corporation under New York law.
• John M. Allen of Reader's Digest became president of the board of directors.
• The name changed to the Foundation for Christian Living.
• The main publication became a pocket-sized magazine called Plus: The Magazine of Positive Thinking.
• The mailing list grew to nearly one million in every state, Canada, and 120 foreign countries.
• The original building expanded five times to over 60,000 square feet with computerized mailing equipment.
• The Foundation for Christian Living became the largest direct-mail enterprise for spreading the Gospel, with 130 dedicated employees.
• The organization is financed by voluntary giving, without fixed charges for materials.
• The Foundation operates on the principle of Christian volunteerism and prayer.
• Hundreds of prayer requests are received daily, with workers praying for each one.
• Special prayer services are held on Good Friday, receiving as many as 60,000 requests.
• Common prayer requests include health, job, money, youth, and marriage.
• The Foundation offers support and prayer through long-distance calls.

Ruth Peale's Role

• Ruth Peale is the actual founder and director; she built the Foundation for Christian Living through her faith and skills.

Guideposts Magazine Origins

• In 1944, Raymond Thornburg suggested a spiritual letter service for businessmen.
• A dinner party led to the idea of a publication focusing on faith in everyday life and motivating youth.
• Despite being "elected" editor, initial funding was lacking.
• Frank Gannett provided a contribution to purchase a mailing list.
• An appeal letter raised approximately $7,000, launching Guideposts as a nonprofit publication.
• Early issues were small four-page folders, later stapled into a 24-page magazine.
• The size was increased to 7 1/4 by 4 7/8 inches, and later to 7 1/2 by 5 1/8 inches with 48 pages in full color.
• Positive thinking and imaging were crucial in Guideposts' development.

Financial Struggles & Solutions

• The magazine almost failed several times.
• J. Howard Pew contributed $5,000 to pay a printer's bill.
• Tessie Durlach suggested subscribers loan money to Guideposts at 6% interest, raising over $100,000.
• Lenders were given the option to donate the principal, resulting in $50,000 in donations.

Tessie Durlach's Creative Principle

• In 1950, Tessie Durlach advised the board to address a financial crisis by changing their thinking.
• Tessie emphasized that thinking in terms of lack creates a condition of lack.
• She urged them to command destructive thoughts to leave their minds.
• The concept of displacing negative thoughts with positive visualizations was introduced.
• The board visualized 100,000 paid subscribers to change the situation.
• She thanked Him in advance for everything, including the needed subscribers; then quoted Matthew 21:22.
• The directors generated valuable ideas, leading to bills being paid.

External Support and Growth

• DeWitt Wallace of Reader's Digest showed interest in the interfaith publication and asked Fulton Oursler to guide the publication.
• Wallace made available stories and selected Guideposts stories for the Digest, increasing the magazine's visibility.
• Guideposts moved from a grocery store to a house on Quaker Hill, which later burned down.
• The organization acquired the Drew Seminary property in Carmel, New York, with a modern building for business operations.
• The editorial department is located in New York City.
• Ruth and the author served as editors-in-chief and publishers.

Editors of Guideposts

• Grace Oursler
• Leonard E. LeSourd
• Arthur Gordon
• Van Varner (since 1982)
• Under their leadership it had the most spectacular development in the history of religious publishing in the United States.

Wendell Forbes' Leadership

• Wendell Forbes, former circulation director of Life magazine, became deputy publisher, coordinating activities.
• Under his leadership, the magazine's circulation grew significantly.
• Forbes attributes the growth to the superior quality of the editorial product.

Recognition and Achievements

• In 1983, Guideposts celebrated reaching four million paid subscribers.
• The four millionth subscriber, Mrs. Vauncile Bell, was honored.
• The key to success is to "find a need and fill it."
• It is currently the twelfth largest magazine of any kind from the standpoint of circulation in the United States.
• Guideposts is the most widely read religious inspirational magazine in the world.
• The editorial group is viewed as a spiritual fellowship, contributing to the magazine's growth.
• Both Guideposts and the Foundation for Christian Living are considered major contributions.