Dozens of people work year-round to ensure that one thing happens: you are strengthened.
LEADERSHIP Journal has a clear vision. Our vision statement hangs framed in the hallway near my office; if you stop by our offices someday, you’ll see it:
“To strengthen church leaders by producing an honest and practical journal that encourages biblical faithfulness and pastoral effectiveness.”
That vision was borne in 1979 when Paul Robbins and others began visiting pastors. At each church, they asked, “What are your greatest practical needs, and how can we effectively speak to them?” Paul got an earful–more than 100 article suggestions in a few weeks.
To make sure LEADERSHIP stays just an honest and practical, we editors continue to visit pastors regularly, sometimes in conferences, but mostly one-on-one in their offices and homes. We ask, “What has been keeping you awake at night?” The answers guide what we publish and how.
In fact, dozens of people–editors, art directors, promotion managers, printers–work year-round to ensure that one thing happens: you are strengthened. If, as you read LEADERSHIP, you find yourself encouraged to be ever more biblically faithful and pastorally effective, then we have succeeded. If you don’t find that, then we have not fully achieved our vision. Either way, we like to hear from you.
You can drop me a letter (or yes, fax: 708-260-0114) or e-mail screename LeaderJ. I promise that I and other staff members will read what you send, consider it thoughtfully, and respond. Often the most powerful ideas and articles have come that way.
One person who has greatly helped LEADERSHIP achieve its vision is art director Joan Nickerson. When LEADERSHIP was founded in 1980, Joan determined its look and feel–the cover, seal, logo, layout, and placement of Cartoons. With the exception of a handful of issues, she has designed every issue since. What’s truly amazing is that she has done this in her spare time–during the day, she works full-time to design our sister publication Christianity Today.
A few months ago Joan announced that she would retire in June; this is her last issue.
Joan just received her 35-year service anniversary award; it was in the ’50s that she began working for Youth for Christ magazine (today’s Campus Life). Along the way she has mentored a host of writers and editors, including Philip Yancey, Tim Stafford, and our organization’s president, Harold Myra. When Harold presented Joan with her award–a pewter desk sculpture of Christ washing Peter’s feet–he noted that she has beautifully imitated Christ’s life of service to others.
One example: Joan and her husband, Alden, have welcomed into their home countless young people over the years. Some were in trouble with the law; many were in rebellion against their parents. Joan and Alden patiently listened to and counseled these youth and pointed them to Christ. Today, several dozen adults will tell you that Joan and Alden became spiritual parents for them when they needed that most.
Now Joan and Alden head to Colorado to begin a well-deserved retirement from the demanding pace of editorial deadlines. But they won’t retire from a life of ministry to others.
Taking on Joan’s big task will be Raymond (“Rai”) Whitlock, who shares her commitment to visual excellence and to Christian ministry. Rai is an insider to the difficulties and delights of Christian service. He grew up on the mission field, in Italy, and has worked for Greater Europe Mission and Tyndale House Publishers. Most recently, Rai has served as art director for award-winning Christian History magazine and for the popular The Christian Reader. His wife, also named Joan, directs children’s ministry for Wheaton Bible Church. I know you’ll appreciate Rai’s work to make LEADERSHIP clear, graceful, and easy to read.
Longtime readers may be wondering, Where’s Marshall? Is Marshall still with LEADERSHIP?
Happily, yes. After twelve years with the journal, five as editor, Marshall has been promoted to executive editor. He continues to give overall direction to the journal, while now being free to develop other resources for church leaders, such as a forthcoming newsletter for church boards.
I’m pleased to announce that beginning with the next issue, Marshall will be one of two regular columnists on our back page. He will share that responsibility with Ben Patterson, a veteran pastor whose articles have won high marks from LEADERSHIP readers.
Perhaps most important, Marshall will continue to help select the cartoons you’ll find in LEADERSHIP. He said something about its being a thankless job that he would, out of the goodness of his heart, volunteer for.
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Kevin A. Miller is editor of LEADERSHIP.
Copyright (c) 1994 Christianity Today, Inc./LEADERSHIP Journal
Copyright © 1994 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
