Guideposts
Encyclopedia
Guideposts is a Christian-faith based non-profit organization
founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
, Raymond Thornburg, and Peale's wife, Ruth Stafford Peale
. The Guideposts organization is headquartered in Carmel, New York
, with additional offices in New York City
, Chesterton, Indiana
, and Pawling, New York
. The primary activities of the Guideposts organization are publishing Guideposts magazine and maintaining an outreach ministry service.
The first issue of Guideposts was a four-page leaflet containing a story by World War I Ace
Eddie Rickenbacker
. 10,000 copies were printed. In 1947, a fire destroyed the magazine's circulation files, but its circulation was saved thanks to publicity from radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas
, and an article in Reader's Digest
. Over the years, the magazine size has increased considerably. Each monthly issue contains numerous short articles by ordinary Americans of all ages, races, and backgrounds, recounting how their faith in God, or remembering the wisdom or example of an older relative or mentor, has comforted them through some personal difficulty. These can include bereavement, poverty, relocations, serious personal or family illness, career failure, immigrating from war-torn countries, being adopted, and strained personal relationships. Natural disasters, vehicle accidents, and becoming stranded or disabled 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. Guideposts also sponsors a writing contest for teenagers to tell their personal stories, with various monetary prize awards. The magazine is nonsectarian and welcomes Protestant, Catholic
, and Jewish writers.
Guideposts for Kids, a bimonthly magazine for younger readers, was spun off in 1989. In 2001, it became a web-only publication. Guideposts for Teens, also bimonthly, began in 1998. In 2004, it was renamed Guideposts Sweet 16, and re-oriented specifically toward teenage girls, but ceased publication in September 2007.
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Norman Vincent Peale
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
, Raymond Thornburg, and Peale's wife, Ruth Stafford Peale
Ruth Stafford Peale
Ruth Stafford Peale was an American writer, editor, and speaker. She was the wife of The Power of Positive Thinking author, Norman Vincent Peale, and co-founder of Guideposts magazine and the Peale Center....
. The Guideposts organization is headquartered in Carmel, New York
Carmel, New York
Carmel is a town located in Putnam County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 36,465.There are no incorporated villages in the town, although the hamlets of Carmel and Mahopac each have populations sizable enough to be thought of as villages.The Town of Carmel...
, with additional offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton is a town in Westchester, Jackson and Liberty townships, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,068 at the 2010 census. The three towns of Chesterton, Burns Harbor, and Porter are known as the tri-towns or the Duneland area....
, and Pawling, New York
Pawling (town), New York
Pawling is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,521 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Catherine Pauling, the daughter of Henry Beekman, who held the second largest land patent in the county. A misprint caused the U to change to a W and the name...
. The primary activities of the Guideposts organization are publishing Guideposts magazine and maintaining an outreach ministry service.
Magazines
Guideposts publishes five magazines that have a combined paid circulation of close to 4.5 million. The organization's flagship publication, Guideposts magazine, is among the top 30 largest magazines in the United States with a circulation of 2.3 million. Other magazines include Positive Thinking (launched in 2005) and Angels on Earth, both published bimonthly.The first issue of Guideposts was a four-page leaflet containing a story by World War I Ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
. 10,000 copies were printed. In 1947, a fire destroyed the magazine's circulation files, but its circulation was saved thanks to publicity from radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas
Lowell Thomas
Lowell Jackson Thomas was an American writer, broadcaster, and traveler, best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous...
, and an article in Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
. Over the years, the magazine size has increased considerably. Each monthly issue contains numerous short articles by ordinary Americans of all ages, races, and backgrounds, recounting how their faith in God, or remembering the wisdom or example of an older relative or mentor, has comforted them through some personal difficulty. These can include bereavement, poverty, relocations, serious personal or family illness, career failure, immigrating from war-torn countries, being adopted, and strained personal relationships. Natural disasters, vehicle accidents, and becoming stranded or disabled 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. Guideposts also sponsors a writing contest for teenagers to tell their personal stories, with various monetary prize awards. The magazine is nonsectarian and welcomes Protestant, Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, and Jewish writers.
Guideposts for Kids, a bimonthly magazine for younger readers, was spun off in 1989. In 2001, it became a web-only publication. Guideposts for Teens, also bimonthly, began in 1998. In 2004, it was renamed Guideposts Sweet 16, and re-oriented specifically toward teenage girls, but ceased publication in September 2007.