Christianity Today International (CTI) and Cook Communications Ministries in April started a "strategic partnership," under which CTI assumes ownership and operation of Cook magazines Virtue and Christian Parenting Today.

The Colorado Springs- based Cook Communications abruptly shut down both publications on February 20, just after the March/April issues had gone to press. The new publications bring to 12 the number of magazines published by CTI, based in Carol Stream, Illinois (www.ChristianityToday.com). Existing CTI magazines have a combined circulation of 1.5 million.

"Both magazines are viable and show solid growth potential in the CTI environment," says president Harold L. Myra.

Christian Parenting Today, launched 20 years ago, has a circulation of 120,000. Virtue, which has been published for 10 years with the purpose of "helping women build Christ-like character," has 100,000 subscribers.

Most of the 14 employees of the two magazines had found other jobs by the time of the purchase. In the interim, before new editorial staff is hired, some of CTI's 140 employees will produce the publications. The purchase accelerates building expansion plans that CTI already had in the works.

Under terms of the agreement, Cook will develop book clubs using CTI's subscriber data base.

CTI also has announced a three-year partnership agreement with Promise Keepers to develop a bimonthly devotional publication, Men of Integrity, beginning in July. The company does not expect recent Promise Keepers financial difficulties (CT, April 6, 1998, p. 18) to impede the plans.