News Release| Purpose Driven Connection Magazine Hits National Newsstands With Timely Content: | Life-Changing Stories, Expert Insights and Practical Tools Connect and Equip Readers for Spiritual, Emotional and Relational Growth During Tough Times
PLEASANTVILLE, NY, January 26, 2009 – Purpose Driven Connection (PDC), a personal growth network of multimedia resources produced through a creative collaboration between The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. (RDA) and Dr. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of the worldwide bestselling book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” officially launches this week with the release of the premier issue of the “Purpose Driven Connection” quarterly magazine.
“Purpose Driven Connection,” a 146-page magazine plus a 52-page study guide and DVD, is available to consumers as part of a full-platform annual subscription membership of $29.99. The magazine is also on sale starting this week on newsstands and in Christian bookstores and national retail outlets, including Wal-Mart, for a price of around $10. Subscription members will receive four quarterly magazines, DVDs and small-group workbooks along with behind-the-scenes access to the interactive Web site. For additional information or to buy a subscription membership, visit www.PurposeDriven.com.
The debut issue of the magazine, which is the index and cornerstone of the PDC suite of tools, includes a small group workbook and DVD of Warren’s newest study, “40 Days of Love.” These resources, along with the robust and highly interactive Web site scheduled to fully launch on Feb. 15, were created to provide relevant content to assist readers in discovering and living out God’s purpose for their lives.
“Purpose Driven Connection is a network for nurturing healthy relationships; a framework for focusing one’s time and energy; a pathway for discovering one’s life purpose; a gateway to opportunities for making a significant impact with one’s life; and a library of useful tools to accelerate one’s spiritual, emotional and relational growth,” Warren said.
A project two years in the making, PDC was developed to give hope to people who may feel financially stressed, emotionally overwhelmed, physically exhausted and spiritually disconnected. According to Warren, who serves as editor-in-chief, the magazine is the reader’s connection to “an exciting new world of personal growth experiences.”
“We are delighted to be working with Rick Warren and the Saddleback team,” said Alyce Alston, who is responsible for the venture for RDA and is president of its Home & Garden and Health & Wellness affinities. “This is one of our company’s most important and far-reaching ventures ever. Together we will create a category-busting multimedia suite that will help millions of people in their daily lives, including those who already follow the Purpose Driven principles as well as seekers everywhere looking for greater fulfillment.”
Articles that readers will find in the premier issue include an exclusive interview by Warren with President Barack Obama as well as: “Embracing Good in Hard Times;” “God Gave Me Hope to Keep Going;” “25 Bible Promises for Financially Tough Days;” as well as a feature on a star football quarterback giving his all to tackle poverty, and a remarkable story of forgiveness from one of the world’s most notorious mass killers. Throughout the magazine, Warren also provides insights on such topics as life missions, resentment, evil and failure.
“The magazine is consistent with our highest editorial standards,” said Frank Lalli, RDA’s Vice President of International Editions and Magazine Development. “In the best traditions of RDA, we are commissioning extraordinary photographers, illustrators and writers to travel the world and capture real-life stories that will change how readers think and inspire them to take action to improve society.”
The content focuses on the five biblical purposes of knowing, relating, growing, serving and sharing, which also make up the five sections of the magazine. Within each are inspiring stories of people excelling and sometimes struggling at living out God’s purpose for their lives, along with articles from some of today’s leading Christian pastors, authors and speakers, including Kay Warren, Lee Strobel, Bill Hybels, Max Lucado and Anne Graham Lotz.
Additional PDC elements are scheduled to roll out over the next several months including plans to offer PDC courses, retreats, WORD2U cell phone daily texts, coaches, weekends, summits, PEACE projects and podcasts.
Warren is a pastor, author, global strategist and innovator, being called “America’s Most Powerful Religious Leader” and listed among the “100 Most Influential People in the World” (TIME); “15 People Who Make America Great” (Newsweek); “One of America’s 25 Best Leaders” (U.S. News and World Report); and “America’s Pastor” (“USA Today”). Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., with one family in 1980, and today it is one of America’s most influential congregations with over 100,000 names on the church roll, a 120-acre campus, and more than 300 community ministries.
Purpose Driven Communications helps church leaders establish, transform and maintain healthy, growing congregations built around the God-given purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and missions.
The Reader’s Digest Association Inc. is a global multi-brand media and marketing company that educates, entertains and connects audiences around the world. The company uses its editorial and content-delivery skills to serve communities. With offices in 45 countries, it markets books, magazines, music, video and educational products reaching more than 100 million households in 79 countries. It publishes 92 magazines, including 50 editions of Reader’s Digest, the world’s largest-circulation magazine; operates 65 branded Web sites generating 18 million unique visitors per month; and sells approximately 68 million books, music and video products across the world each year. Its global headquarters are in Pleasantville, N.Y.
Note to Editors: To schedule an interview with Alyce Alston or Frank Lalli, please contact Kristin Cole at 615.289.6701 or kristin@alarryross.com.
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
William Adler (914) 244-7585 william.adler@rd.com
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