Church Resource and Curriculum Writer's Guidelines | Submitting a Resource Proposal | Writing Group Books | Writing Group Curriculum | Rev. Magazine Guidelines | Children's Ministry Magazine Guidelines | Group Magazine guidelines

Writer's Guidelines
Group Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539
(970) 669-3836

contacts:
Kerri Loesche (for church resource or curriculum resource submissions)
Carmen Kamrath (for Children's Ministry Magazine submissions)
Kathy Dieterich (for Rev! Magazine submissions)
Scott Firestone IV (for Group Magazine submissions)

Church Resource and Curriculum Writer's Guidelines

Group Publishing' s mission is: To equip churches to help children, youth, and adults grow in their relationship with Jesus. To that end, Group publishes more than 30 titles each year:

Group Publishing, Inc.
Resources for Christian education in local churches, including youth, childrens, adult, and pastoral ministry. Both single-author royalty books and multiple-author compilations assigned on a work-for-hire basis.

Church Resources
Resources for Christian pastors and leaders, including family ministry. Both single-author royalty books and multiple-author compilations assigned on a work-for-hire basis.

Submitting a Church or Curriculum Resource Proposal
If you have a submission that meets the criteria just listed, we' d like to know about it. You' re welcome to submit a resource proposal that includes:

• A cover letter briefly summarizing your resource idea and telling about your background.

• An outline of how you' d structure the resource.

• An introduction to the resource explaining how it can be used easily in a ministry setting and why people need or want your resource (write this as if the buyer were reading it while he or she browses in a bookstore).

1. two sample chapters (written and formatted in such a way that any average church leader could read, understand, and implement your ideas with his or her group);
2. two sample sessions or studies (if it' s a resource Bible Study, events, meeting ideas, and so on);
3. about a dozen sample experiences/ideas (if it' s a resource of short ideas, worship, devotions, skits, or the like);
4. a CD/DVD clearly labeled to match a manuscript with a Web link, if applicable (for media proposals). If you send in a media piece without the other bulleted items listed above, it will likely be rejected.

What We' re Looking For
(All R.E.A.L. and church leader/Sunday school teacher-oriented)

We do not publish fiction, games, children' s books, autobiographies, or any type of poetry. All of our materials are leader/teacher-oriented (they are not expressly directed toward children or families).

Children' s...
• sermons & worship ideas
• service project ideas
• Bible lessons & Bible-based activities
• crafts
• object lessons
• creative Bible story presentations (no fiction)
• devotions
• game ideas or books (not puzzles, R-bits, board games, or coloring books)
• plays & skits (as a book, not individually)
• leadership

Youth & young adult...
• administration/leadership (includes spiritual growth)
• Bible studies/lessons (includes Bible study programs)
• Bibles
• counseling
• devotions
• electronic/media
• events
• foundational
• games
• high-profile
• ideas (includes discussion starters)
• messages
• music/songbook
• retreats
• skits
• small groups
• teenage
• worship

Adult/Pastor...
• practical ideas for pastors, speakers or church leaders regarding everyday church ministries
• foundational books on adult ministry
• relationship-building ideas
• family ministry ideas
• small group studies or other programs
• out front thinkers with a mind & heart for ministry, tell us something we don' t already know

Writing Group Books

Group Publishing, Inc. receives hundreds of resource proposals each year. These questions are designed to help you evaluate your own idea the way our editors would.

• Is it original? Is the idea for the resource yours alone? What makes you the best person to provide this resource for ministry leaders?

• Is it practical? Group publishes resources that our readers, youth workers, parents, Sunday school teachers, and Christian education directors can pull off the shelf and use immediately.

• Would its sales benefit from your ministry influence or special efforts? How are you uniquely positioned to market this resource? What kind of platform do you have that would help its sales?

• Is it need-oriented? People buy ministry resources that meet their needs. What needs does your proposal address? Why would people feel compelled to buy and use it?

• Does it reflect biblical principles? Group is an interdenominational Christian publisher and everything we produce reflects that perspective.

• Is there anything else out there like it? Is there any competition for this resource? What else has been published that is similar to your idea, and how will your be superior and unique enough that people will buy it over anything else? Tell our readers something they don' t already know in a way that they' ve not seen before.

• Is it clear and easy to use? Does it make its point concisely? Are instructions easy to follow?

Writing Group Curriculum
We' re always looking for good writers who know kids, understand active learning, and have the ability to write lessons that help kids apply the Bible to their lives.

Check out and read Why Nobody Learns Much of Anything at Church: And How to Fix It, The Dirt on Learning, and The 1 Thing® by Thom and Joani Schultz. These will give you the best example of our philosophy.

Check out our various curriculum lines at your local Christian bookstore.

Your submission will be logged and forwarded. We will try to respond to your inquiry or submission as quickly as possible (based on current project/editor deadlines and the number of submissions which were received ahead of yours), but the turn-around can take six months plus.

DON' T FORGET TO SEND A POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SUBMISSION RETURNED. ANYTHING NOT RETURNED 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE ON YOUR RESPONSE LETTER WILL BE RECYCLED.

Mail your submission to:

Church/Curriculum Resource Proposal
Group Publishing, Inc.
ATTN: Kerri Loesche, E.A./C.C.
P.O. Box 481
Loveland, CO 80539

E-mail your submission to: kloesche@group.com

Group Publishing' s mission is: To equip churches to help children, youth, and adults grow in their relationship with Jesus. To that end, Group publishes more than 30 titles each year under the following imprints:

Group Publishing, Inc.
Resources for Christian education in local churches, including Christian pastors and leaders (includes family ministry), youth, and children' s ministry. Both single-author royalty books and multiple-author compilations assigned on a work-for-hire basis.

Curriculum Resources
Sunday school, midweek, and children' s church Christian education resources for infants to adults. All programs incorporate active and interactive-learning techniques and are assigned on a work-for-hire basis.

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Purpose:

Provides innovative and practical ideas for pastors. Rev! is a practical easy-to-digest bimonthly magazine for senior pastors and church leaders'the primary decision makers who provide vision and cultivate the spiritual life of the church. Rev! is packed with innovative problem-solving ideas for all areas of church life that pastors can use immediately.

Needs:

Full-length articles that provide quick-depth-easy-to-read but meaty content. Features focus on meeting the needs of pastors and where they have pain points. Must be thoughtful, provide current research, and most important, practical ideas for dealing with the issue or problem presented. No fiction, devotional, or polemic doctrinal material.

Brief articles in 8 areas: Catalysts - New thinking on the current issues in pastoral ministry. Leadership & Administration - How to motivate staff and people to get things done well in ministry. Culture News and trends in North American culture of interest to pastors. Equipping Volunteers - Finding, nurturing, training, and coaching the non-paid staff of the church. Outreach - Ideas for helping church members reach out to their world, and how to bring new people into the church. Worship & Preaching - Practical ideas for involving church people in active learning experiences in worship. Children, Youth, & Adults - Ideas for helping the senior pastor know how to reach people in various life stages. Personal Stuff - Ideas to help pastors with their “inner game,” their families, their health, and their finances. Word count and payment: Features 1,000-3,000 words - $250 - $500 Departments 100-600 words - $40 - $150 Payment is on acceptance. We buy all rights.

Preparation of copy:

Manuscripts should be typewritten or printed from a computer, double-spaced, on one side of the paper. Please include a brief cover letter with information about the author and article. Your name, address, phone number and e-mail address should appear on the cover letter and the upper right corner of the first page. Each page should be numbered and include the title or your name. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for return of unaccepted manuscripts. Our normal response time to manuscript submissions is eight to ten weeks. We are working nine to ten months ahead of distribution. Please keep that in mind if you are submitting dated or seasonal material. Send your submissions to ATTN: Kathy Dieterich, Rev! Magazine, P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539-0481, or e-mail them to kdieterich@group.com.

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Children's Ministry Magazine GuidelinesPurpose: Children' s Ministry is the premiere magazine for those who serve children in the church. Each bimonthly issue is packed with dozens of ideas and inspirational articles to help leaders encourage children to grow spiritually. Each issue also contains helpful pages to photocopy and send to parents and teachers to give them new ideas and insights into today' s kids. Needs: CHILDREN' S MINISTRY needs practical articles covering topics such as working with volunteers; discipline; and communicating with children about faith, morals, money, friends, grades and choices. Articles on understanding children are also regularly featured. Each issue features regular columns on age-level development, outreach, family ministry, leading volunteers, special needs, and discipline. CHILDREN' S MINISTRY publishes ideas, activities, crafts and tips for different ages. No fiction, prose, or poetry. Word Length and Payment Feature articles 1000-2200 words - payment $75 to $400 Teacher and Parent Tips 200 words - payment $40 Games, crafts, and activities 200-500 words - payment $40 Payment is on acceptance. We buy all rights. Preparation of copy: Manuscripts should be typewritten, double-spaced, on one side of the paper. Please include a brief cover letter with information about the author and article. Your name, address, phone number, email address and word count should appear on the cover letter in the upper right corner of each page. Include an SASE for return of unaccepted manuscript. Our normal response time to manuscript submissions is eight to ten weeks. We work nine to ten months ahead of distribution. Please keep that in mind if you are submitting dated or seasonal material. Children' s Ministry is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. Guidelines for submissions: 1. Format - Articles should be typewritten and double-spaced. 2. Sources - Complete and return a source list, including the names and pertinent information of every person you quote or refer to. 3. Facts - Include photocopies of every printed source you quote or refer to. Highlight the information used. If the source is a page in a book, include photocopies of the book title page. 4. Submission - You may send your submission to ATTN: Carmen Kamrath, Children' s Ministry Magazine, P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539 or e-mail it to ckamrath@cmmag.com

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GROUP Magazine Writers Guidelines What we believe:
Young people learn best by doing...The key to spiritual growth is biblical truth learned and applied in real-life situations...Relationships form the best context for kids' growth...Young people can do the work of ministry - they can think, lead, and handle significant responsibilities...Effective youth leaders are well-trained coaches, teachers, and spiritual mentors who are passionate advocates of young people...Parents and other faithful adults are crucial to kids' spiritual growth...Youth ministry is a high calling, worthy of a life commitment. Needs:
GROUP needs articles on successful youth ministry strategies, including youth-led ministry ideas, understanding kids and youth culture, recruiting/training/keeping adult leaders, family ministry, staff issues, serving and training parents, professionalism, and self-nurture. How-to articles on personal spiritual growth, time management, issues vital to working with young people, leadership skills (listening, discussion-leading), worship ideas, handling specific group problems, fun and experiential programming ideas, and active-learning meeting plans and retreats.
- Try This One - section needs short ideas for group use. These include games, fund-raisers, crowdbreakers, Bible studies, helpful hints, outreach ideas, and discussion starters.
- Hands-on Help - section needs mini-articles (up to 200 words) that feature tips for youth leaders on working with youth, adult leaders, and parents. Word length and payment:
GROUP Articles
500 to 700 words $150
800 to 1,100 words $175
1,200 to 1,700 words $200
2,000 and up words $250-350

Department:
- Try This One - (up to 300 words) $50
- Hands-on Help - (up to 175 words) $50

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