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Guide (Adventist magazine)
Encyclopedia
Guide magazine is a Seventh-day Adventist
weekly periodical published by Review and Herald
. It is a Christian
story magazine that uses true stories to illustrate Bible
passages and is targeted to 10 to 14 year old youth.
Guide is often distributed to "Earliteen" and "Junior" Sabbath School
students at the end of class and provides a Bible study guide for the week. Since its beginning, Guide has been popular reading during the church service for young people.
The magazine is published in a 32-page full-color 6x8" format.
In the years following World War II
, the Adventist church had two magazines for children – Our Little Friend for children preschool to preteen and Youth's Instructor for older teenagers. A magazine for junior-age youth was originally proposed at the 1951 Autumn Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
and voted in Spring Council on April 9, 1952 designating the Review and Herald
as the publisher. A relatively young 27-year-old pastor from Northern California
, Lawrence Maxwell became the first editor.
The magazine was announced in an ad
in the Youth's Instructor in 1953 promising a magazine "Packed with stories, pictures, games, puzzles, camp craft, Junior Sabbath School lessons, and interesting Pathfinder
activity"
in a 16-page weekly publication. A contest to decide the name of the magazine was advertised in the Youth's Instructor magazine and drew 16,000 entries. Of those entries 225 suggested Junior Guide which became the original name of the magazine.
At the launch of the magazine, there were complaints that it looked much like Youth's Instructor. Another complaint was that the margins were too wide. In January 1953 the format of the magazine was changed to a smaller size, page margins were reduced and the number of pages increased to 24 per issue.
Beginning in 1954 color ink was used for three issues a month. The entire magazine would be printed in green, brown or blue tint, including the illustrations. The magazine included a steady formula of stories of worldwide missionary activities, crafts, stories of inventions, conversions and life lessons. The magazine cover always included a photo of children engaging in wholesome activities reflecting the times. Subscriptions reached 28,000 after one year and 43,000 after 10 years.
With the segmentation of the church into "junior" and "earliteen" divisions the name of the magazine was changed from Junior Guide to Guide as of January 1, 1964 and it was focused on elementary school
grades 7-8.
With the changing times of the 60s and 70s and the advent of a new editor, the Guide changed also. Multi-ethnic images in non-mission stories were featured as well as placed on the cover of the magazine. Stories against racial prejudice and segregation appeared and circulation reached a record of 60,000 subscriptions, based partly on the demise of the Youth's Instructor. By this time the magazine had expanded to 32 pages.
In the 1980s a new feature was introduced – Guidelines question and answer column written by Madeline Johnson.
Another introduction was the "Guide Dog" mascot who first appeared in 1985 at the international Pathfinder camporee in Colorado
and since at campmeetings, camporees and conventions where Guide readers congregate.
Guide Dog is often mobbed by Guide readers and has trouble keeping his tail attached from so many fans pulling on it.
At least one predatory incident in the 1990s put an end to a four decade Guide tradition of penpals
. Circulation also began to decline during this period.
In 2000 Guide switched to a four-color format as production costs declined and circulation began increasing. During 2002–2003 Guide celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Authors for the Guide range from church workers to housewives and come from all parts of the world. They are devout Christians, including Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Seventh-day Adventists. They are aged from under nine to over 90 years old.
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
weekly periodical published by Review and Herald
Review and Herald Publishing Association
The Review and Herald Publishing Association is one of two major Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses in North America and is the oldest institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The organization publishes books, magazines, study guides, CDs, videos and games for Adventist churches,...
. It is a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
story magazine that uses true stories to illustrate Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
passages and is targeted to 10 to 14 year old youth.
Guide is often distributed to "Earliteen" and "Junior" Sabbath School
Sabbath School
Sabbath School is a function of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Seventh Day Baptist and some other sabbatarian denominations.-Program Context:...
students at the end of class and provides a Bible study guide for the week. Since its beginning, Guide has been popular reading during the church service for young people.
The magazine is published in a 32-page full-color 6x8" format.
History
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Adventist church had two magazines for children – Our Little Friend for children preschool to preteen and Youth's Instructor for older teenagers. A magazine for junior-age youth was originally proposed at the 1951 Autumn Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
and voted in Spring Council on April 9, 1952 designating the Review and Herald
Review and Herald Publishing Association
The Review and Herald Publishing Association is one of two major Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses in North America and is the oldest institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The organization publishes books, magazines, study guides, CDs, videos and games for Adventist churches,...
as the publisher. A relatively young 27-year-old pastor from Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, Lawrence Maxwell became the first editor.
The magazine was announced in an ad
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
in the Youth's Instructor in 1953 promising a magazine "Packed with stories, pictures, games, puzzles, camp craft, Junior Sabbath School lessons, and interesting Pathfinder
Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist)
The Pathfinder Club is a worldwide program organized and directed by the Youth Department of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church...
activity"
in a 16-page weekly publication. A contest to decide the name of the magazine was advertised in the Youth's Instructor magazine and drew 16,000 entries. Of those entries 225 suggested Junior Guide which became the original name of the magazine.
At the launch of the magazine, there were complaints that it looked much like Youth's Instructor. Another complaint was that the margins were too wide. In January 1953 the format of the magazine was changed to a smaller size, page margins were reduced and the number of pages increased to 24 per issue.
Beginning in 1954 color ink was used for three issues a month. The entire magazine would be printed in green, brown or blue tint, including the illustrations. The magazine included a steady formula of stories of worldwide missionary activities, crafts, stories of inventions, conversions and life lessons. The magazine cover always included a photo of children engaging in wholesome activities reflecting the times. Subscriptions reached 28,000 after one year and 43,000 after 10 years.
With the segmentation of the church into "junior" and "earliteen" divisions the name of the magazine was changed from Junior Guide to Guide as of January 1, 1964 and it was focused on elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
grades 7-8.
With the changing times of the 60s and 70s and the advent of a new editor, the Guide changed also. Multi-ethnic images in non-mission stories were featured as well as placed on the cover of the magazine. Stories against racial prejudice and segregation appeared and circulation reached a record of 60,000 subscriptions, based partly on the demise of the Youth's Instructor. By this time the magazine had expanded to 32 pages.
Another introduction was the "Guide Dog" mascot who first appeared in 1985 at the international Pathfinder camporee in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and since at campmeetings, camporees and conventions where Guide readers congregate.
Guide Dog is often mobbed by Guide readers and has trouble keeping his tail attached from so many fans pulling on it.
At least one predatory incident in the 1990s put an end to a four decade Guide tradition of penpals
Pen pal
Pen pals are people who regularly write to each other, particularly via postal mail.-Purposes:A penpal relationship is often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships...
. Circulation also began to decline during this period.
In 2000 Guide switched to a four-color format as production costs declined and circulation began increasing. During 2002–2003 Guide celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Authors for the Guide range from church workers to housewives and come from all parts of the world. They are devout Christians, including Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Seventh-day Adventists. They are aged from under nine to over 90 years old.
Editors
- 1953–1970 Lawrence Maxwell
- 1970–1983 Lowell Litten
- 1983–1986 Penny Estes Wheeler
- 1986–1994 Jeannette Johnson
- 1995–1997 Carolyn Sutton
- 1997–1999 Tim Lale
- 1999— Randy Fishell
Mission statement
The mission of guide is to show 10 to 14-year-old readers, through stories that illustrate Bible truth, how to walk with God now and forever. Each week the 32-page, full-color magazine features true stories that show how following Jesus makes a positive difference in kids' lives. Puzzles and games challenge readers to think and learn in a fun way. A weekly Bible study helps young people understand how God works in our world.Contents of a Guide
- Stories
- Editorials
- Factory Facts
- Games Unplugged
- Listen Up!
- Cartoons
- You Said It!
- Explore God's Word
- Junior Sabbath School Lesson
- Earliteen Sabbath School Lesson
See also
- List of Seventh-day Adventist periodicals
- Review and Herald Publishing AssociationReview and Herald Publishing AssociationThe Review and Herald Publishing Association is one of two major Seventh-day Adventist publishing houses in North America and is the oldest institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The organization publishes books, magazines, study guides, CDs, videos and games for Adventist churches,...
- Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...