Reaching the high goal

John Sparkman

For the past three years the Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society, the editors, and the managing publisher for The Christian Science Journal, Sentinel, and Herald (JSH) have embraced Mary Baker Eddy’s statement, “The discoverer of Christian Science finds the path less difficult when she has the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she counts her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 426).

The high goal for JSH is being reached, but not by focusing on a particular financial outcome. Rather, the focus is on understanding the purpose of these precious periodicals, striving to serve humanity one reader at a time, putting on record, holding guard over, and making universally available the Science of the Christ. And we trust that each reader, in his or her own way, will see and share the magazines’ value in the service of all mankind—healing the sick and elevating the race.

This desire to serve the reader and to respond in an easily accessible way to readers’ specific interests and needs has led the CSPS to offer the new digital resource JSH-Online.com. In turn, JSH-Online has demanded that we gain a higher understanding of the purpose of our periodicals, and how the format of the print editions of the Journal, Sentinel, and Herald can help support their spiritual missions. This insight into the unique nature of the print editions and their purpose to “put on record,” “hold guard,” and “proclaim the universal” Science of Truth is our guide as we take the individual steps to reach the world with Christ’s message (see Mary Baker Eddy, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 353).

Each step we have taken to serve the reader has brought us closer to reaching financial sustainability (see the Treasurer’s Annual Meeting report, in the September 2012 issue of the Journal, p. 31).

In conjunction with the Christian Science Board of Directors and the Trustees of the CSPS, we have completed a major redesign of the print editions of the Journal, Sentinel, and Herald. Beginning in January 2013, the print edition of all these magazines will be seven inches wide and ten inches tall. This new size is the same as the National Geographic, with which many readers around the world are familiar.

The focus is on understanding the purpose of these precious periodicals, striving to serve humanity one reader at a time.

In addition, all three periodicals will get new cover designs and new interior formatting. All of these new design elements focus on visual simplicity and enhanced readability. Editorially, the new print editions will bring fresh insight to each periodical’s unique purpose.

Every month, the Journal will continue to express its primary role as an organ of the Church, putting on record—with professional focus and visual elegance—the current demonstration of Christian Scientists around the world. Though the Sentinel will be slightly shorter, allowing the reader to finish the current issue before the next one arrives, every issue of the Sentinel will have bonus links to selected articles on JSH-Online, which they will be able to access even if they are not a subscriber to this digital edition. And each month the print editions of the Herald will bring to humanity a unified editorial message in German, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

More specific details about the redesign of the Journal, Sentinel, and Herald will be included in this column next month. We thank you for your prayers and support of these priceless periodicals, especially during this redesign process. Your subscriptions and your contribution of articles and testimonies are evidence of your understanding and appreciation of their mission.

As our thoughts about these magazines evolve and deepen spiritually, the products themselves will progress and conform to this fresh and inspired vision. We feel so privileged to partner with you in publishing the message of the Comforter to the world.

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