wfn.org | Lutheran Woman Today Magazine Celebrates 100th Issue

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 6, 1996

LUTHERAN WOMAN TODAY CELEBRATES 100th ISSUE
96-25-078-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Woman Today, a magazine developed
by the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the
women's organization of the ELCA, celebrates its 100th issue
November 1996.
     "I feel the Holy Spirit in the magazine," said Nancy J.
Stelling, editor for Lutheran Woman Today.  "As a community of
women, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow
in faith and mission," said Stelling.
     "The magazine provides inspiration and information, comfort
and challenge," she said.  Each year the 64-page magazine carries
and supports the Women of the ELCA's Bible study, "the most used
Bible study in the ELCA," said Stelling.  "Women grapple
seriously with the study of Scripture, and gain tools for Bible
study so they can sense God's power and guidance in an extremely
complex world," she said.  The Bible study is probably used by
more than 220,000 people, according to Stelling.
     Lutheran Woman Today has been published monthly except
August "It has a pass-along rate of three -- every issue that is
read is passed to three other people," said Stelling.  Along with
the Bible study, the magazine provides stories of inspiration,
devotions, articles, meditations and Women of the ELCA
information.  It was first published in Jan. 1, 1988.
     "The stories make people feel good, and they gain strength
from hearing about other people's faith life," said Stelling.
"The writers willing to share their stories are such faith-
filled people.  I am always amazed at the things the articles can
do," she said.
     "'The Holy Spirit Takes Heart,' a story in the June 1996
issue, is an example of how a reader received life-saving
information," said Stelling.  The story told of a three-day old
boy born with life-threatening pulmonary defects.  The parents
consented for doctors to perform a type of surgery known as the
Norwood Procedure.   When the reader learned of this procedure,
she sought information through the Women of the ELCA office and
was able to help her own child.  "The Spirit uses the words and
'The Word' and takes it from there," said Stelling.
     Readers of Lutheran Woman Today are invited to participate
in the centennial celebration by answering a reader survey and
cast their favorite cover "vote" in the November issue, said
Stelling.  "Through this informal survey, we will try to learn
how people use the magazine, how well it's meeting the needs of
people, how the Bible study is used, and whether the magazine is
used for evangelism," she said.
     "The magazine needs to challenge people about their faith.
We continue to invite them to reflect on aspects of their faith,
as we comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable," said
Stelling.
     "We have found our voice, and that voice is a good balance
of challenge and comfort, inspiration and information," said
Susan Edison-Swift, managing editor.  "That rootedness is giving
us a chance to do some exploring in learning what 'growth, faith
and mission' really means for us," she said.
     "Many people have preconceived notions of what this women's
magazine is, and they be surprised by what they would find," said
Edison-Swift.  "They would find cutting-edge theology, life and
faith issues, and stories of lives lived in faith.  It's not just
for your grandma anymore," she said.
     Lutheran Woman Today comes in three forms -- a digest
format, a big-print format and audiotape.  Lutheran Women Today
is published by Augsburg Fortress publishers, the publishing
house of the ELCA, based in Minneapolis.

For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958 or AHAFFTEN@ELCA.ORG; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir.,
(312) 380-2955 or FRANKI@ELCA.ORG