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Introducing the first magazine to explore life through a theology of the body lens
THE CHALLENGE
• There are dynamic TOB speakers who put on inspiring local events, if one comes to your area. An easier entry is needed.
• There are excellent books on TOB, but some are too intellectual and philosophical in nature for the average reader, plus there are many people who just won’t read a book;
It has been over 35 years since St. Pope John Paul II delivered the last of his 129 weekly addresses that have come to be known collectively as the theology of the body (TOB). As pope, he laid out for the world what has been called an adequate anthropology in which the human body reveals God, that the body is “capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and divine.”
• There are week-long courses, which, though they provide rich, wonderful experiences, can be logistically challenging, expensive, and too in-depth for many who are just interested in learning more;
The Issue
In the four decades following the pope’s series of lectures, theologians have begun unpacking the rich meaning and insights St. John Paul II gave us. Inspiring books have been written, excellent ministries have sprung up, and hearts have been renewed, healed and inflamed by the profound truths of the depths of God’s love for us and his desire to draw us to Himself so that we can learn to love as He loves. It has been said that the message of TOB creates “raving fans,” that once the kernel of truth finds a tiny place in a heart it fans a flame that craves to know more, to understand more and to learn how to love more like God does. TOB ministries are making great headway. Popular evangelist Christopher West travels the world sharing the message of TOB to audiences who are often left wanting for more. Indeed, a recent virtual conference hosted by the Theology of the Body Institute drew over 70,000 registrants. TOB is gaining attention.
The challenge today is two-fold: First, there are a growing number of people being exposed to TOB who need an introduction to it; for instance, through their children learning about it in school, or hearing about it through a friend. Second, those whose interest has already been sparked and want to learn more have somewhat limited options:
What does it mean to be human? How do I live my life in a way that brings fulfillment?happinesstrueand 2 Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
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The Solution
from
accessibility A magazine subscription is inexpensive and is delivered right to their mailbox. Very accessible to all; less intimidating than a book or other entries to TOB.
As a beautifully produced magazine with engaging content on contemporary issues, Embodied witnesses to what life looks like when we love as God loves. With inspiring content developed for readers from their teens to their nineties, it fills the gap that exists in bringing the message of TOB to the masses. Seeing what TOB looks like in action has the power to drive conversions.
WHY A AdvantageMAGAZINE?1:Incredible
Advantage 2 : Completely experiential Embodied has the unique ability to make TOB come alive through engaging stories that use beautiful design, imagery, story-telling. God designed us to be drawn to the beautiful and uses creation to speak to us. Readers hold the print version in their hands and experience it physically—an integral component of TOB that is harder to deliver electronically.
Advantage 3 : TOB for the masses
for
There are other TOB ministries that unpack the deep mysteries of St. John Paul II’s catechesis. Embodied targets those largely unfamiliar with TOB or who have had only a brief introduction to it. It provides support and ongoing development for people who are trying to live out TOB in their lives, and serves as a resource to share with others and introduce them to TOB. By skillfully showing what TOB looks like lived out, it gently stirs the flames hidden by God in each heart and inspires more seeking, leading more people to other TOB programs and ministries.
A magazine that witnesses to what is true, good, beautiful. Embodied follows the lead of St. John Paul II by evangelizing through witness. It tells the stories of those who are living the truths of TOB to remind readers who they are and inspire them to also live their lives from a place of divine, self-giving love.
• An unexpected healing during Covid
• How TOB helps a seminarian feel open toward others
• The challenge of the Catholic single life • A wellness practice that links body and soul
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Laura M. Devick ness, yet from the very beginning, Adam longed for something more. not so much in the moment of nion,” St. John Paul wrote in his theology of the body. The longing to en to and for others—is part of God’s beautiful and wise design. with God, it was still not good that of Fargo, North Dakota, an evangelist who has shared TOB for many years. Northrop, 45, of Dallas, Texas, to “Are singles, then, somehow not as good? I’ve realized, no, absolutely When she became the director of Catholics, Anastasia wouldn’t have predicted that she would delve into member of demographic that cov singleAndadults.for26 years of his life, this had to wrestle with living and under standing truth that has become sia as well: “Man…cannot fully find of himself Gaudium et Spes, 24).” Single and in her 20s in 2004, around the country. It also uniquely prepared her for her new challenge: was sparked by a conversation with about age 35, the Church really doesn’t have anything for singles.” ful message needed to reach single Catholics who hungered for support felt forgotten. In an era before wide capacity—with waiting list! event inspirational, prayerful and energizing for Catholic singles, inviting them to come closer to Christ. All are welcome: those who age; those who are divorced or who have received an annulment; and ‘Walking a tightrope’
Catchingup EMILYwithSTIMPSONCHAPMANWhenGodmovesquickly The Rome ClassroomBoysConversionsTheCultureofDistraction embodied_winter22_fnl.indd 4 Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
• Vocation story: marriage Home organization and inner peace
Matt and Lisa Martinusen first bond Now the Minnesota-based couple are successful entrepreneurs and the 2018, which now provides full-time natural family planning to share some of the JPII-wisdom they learned during Let’s start with the tattoos. They provided Lisa: was sitting outside my class room, sketching tattoo was going and Matt has four, all with Catholic imagery. Memento Mori [“remember that you must die”] with St. Philomena artwork closer to the Lord. They’re remindMatt: And I’m headed that way. Do some Catholics judge them? Catholics, who embrace them. We’ve never received harsh judgement. women. It’s raised an eyebrow. But when you tell the story or it opens up Paul the Great Catholic University San Diego and took classes together that drew way to enrich your marriage prep. Matt: Yes, talk about great timing! The courses took us through Scripture in both “Love and Responsibility” and the Theology the Body. His writings ROAD TRIP changed everything. Not just her body, but her heart. vester. When was time to unload the tank, she wanted to auger—and ultimately, had be amputated. The accident is her earliest memory. of the accident never subsided, and as Mirijam matured into young woman, her soul ached. perfect, beautiful and attractive to others,” she said. As she went into her teen years, she struggled more. “My feeling ty, cutting suicidal tendencies and temptations toward drug and alcohol abuse.” fect body and soul, but the topic of the resurrection of body and soul wasn’t really matter of faith in the Protestant Theology of the Body changed everything. Not just her mind, but her heart. It dispelled the despair that had taken First she learned about new community called the Little Poor Friars and Poor Nuns of Jesus and Mary. She pull. They dress and live like St. Francis Assisi: in How a hitchhiking nun learned to love herself byChristinaRies
• The beauty of male/female complementarity
• Helping children bring meaning to suffering
gifts windingstraightAandroad
The challenge of single Catholic life 2022 National Conference for Catholic Singles (Northern nationalcatholicsingles.com/Virginia) Follow them on social media funnybusiness
The Magazine
• St. John Paul II’s “marital” view of the world
That decision changed everything. But to understand how Reform Wellness came to be, Jackie Mulligan, 35, the sixth of seven children in woman and aunt to 14, Jackie always knew she was peo ple person. She was good at helping and connecting with Her journey to founding Reform was, in her words, “a straight and winding road.”
Embodied is unique because it delivers inspirational witness through the lens of TOB via a distinctive, beautiful and compelling magazine. It highlights empowering and practical solutions to tough moral and relationship questions from all seasons of life. SUBJECTS COVERED IN YEAR ONE Gift Issue • Women and societal pressure regarding beauty • Importance of rest • Balancing faith and work and family • Making peace with a disfigured body Winter 2022 • TOB provides the whole story of God’s plan • Vocation story: consecrated virgin • How to battle the culture of •distractionTalkingto children about death • The impact of a TOB curriculum in grade school • Wakefulness vs wokeness • Newlyweds adapt after a tragic accident • One woman’s experience: singlehood to marriage to infertility to adoption Spring 2022
Jackie Mulligan’s story of founding Reform Wellness byKateBasi On New Year’s Eve 2016, Jackie Mulligan was praying before the Tabernacle near her home in California. She successful health-and-wellness practice in California, in Yet she felt called to move back to New York, where Finally, Jackie surrendered. From that moment for ward, she resolved, Jesus would be her business coach.
• The call of creativity and using our
The theology of the old body during her final years was to share how delighted in the the difficult—and often comical—moments. In Facebook vignettes referred to my mother as BAM, or Beloved Aged Mother, and to myself as BAD, or Beleaguered Aging Daughter. There are few other char acters who would show up in the stories; for instance, TOO BAD, The Other (Ornery) Beleaguered Aging Daugh ter, my sister Pat who shared caretaking responsibilities, and BAH, the Beloved Aging Helper, Lynn, who would take my mother to the Senior Center for lunch, exercise and other activities. It was tremendously consoling that the indispensable Lynn came to truly love my mother. Being caretaker for my mother was one of the most challenging things have done. have never married or had children, so this was altogether uncharted territory for me. required degrees of patience and understand ing that are not characteristic of me. learned to focus on my beloved and very needy, vulnerable mother; to be pa tient with answering repetitive questions to the point of exhaustion by the end of breakfast; to spend significant amount of time every day looking for items my mother had put somewhere; and to accept that efficiency held no Vulnerability Trying to understand what my mother was experienc ing was essential. Many, many mornings and evenings we had conversations of this sort that revealed surpris ing self-knowledge and also understandable anxieties: BAM: “I am really worried about myself.” BAD: “Why is that?” BAM: have lost my memory. just can’t remem ber anything. My memory used to be so good.” BAD: Don’t worry about it. will remember whatever it is that you need to know.” BAM: “Do other women go through this? Did my mother go through this? don’t remember her going through this. never thought would get like this.” BAD: “Your mother did go through this: lot of women do.” My efforts at consolation didn’t always work. BAM: “I am really losing my memory.” BAD: “Even young people have trouble remembering things. You are doing very well for an 88-year-old.” BAM: “I appreciate your insight, but would rather be the self that remembers than a self Helpfulthings For me, two items became essential. The first was crock pot. Those with dementia often go into what is called “sun-downing.” In the evening around sundown, they rush around madly wanting to get things done,
REGULAR COLUMNS THE WHOLE STORY by Katrina Zeno, MTS
How we live our lives as a gift to others is highlighted through vocation stories -- be that married life, religious or consecrated.
An exploration of the main theology of the body principles, unpacked for the everyday reader and tied to real life.
THE CALL TO LOVE by Father Walter Schu
TOB PARENT CORNER by Lindsay Caron Advice, guidance and tips for parents to bring theology of the body to their children.
Summer 2022 • TOB brings a more accurate vision of God • Vocation story: From radical feminist to joyful nun • The power of wilderness retreats to discover God • Stories of God at work during quarantine • Tips for parents to get teens’ attention • How to watch for evil in the culture • One woman’s reflection on a life without contraception • The experience of attending a TOB course • Being attentive to the dignity of a parent with dementia • Learning to accept your body size • Healing from anorexia • New swimwear line that merges faith and fashion
The WeGuaranteeEmbodieddeliverreal answers to life’s really big questions.
St. John Paul II taught us that self-gift is the key to becoming more fully human, which leads to the happiness we seek. Embodied delivers inspirational real-lfe stories of people who have found that this way of life brings them peace, fulfillment and understanding.
JUMP IN! Story by Kathleen M. Basi
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Reflections on how God draws us to himself through beauty, often illustrated through a work of art, music, drama, etc.
ORIGINAL BEAUTY by Katie Lovett
Swimsuit Retreat With Jen Messing Theology of the Old Body Volume 2022 embodied_summer22_fnl.indd 5/31/22 PM The Research Catching up WhenCHAPMANSTIMPSONEMILYwithGodmovesquickly The Rome Boys Classroom Conversions The Culture of Distraction embodied_winter22_fnl.indd LeahABOUGHTWEFARM!&RickySoldinie’sbigadventure A Compelling View of Dr. SeussKimberly Hahn for City CouncilA Better Approach to Mental Health Volume embodied_fall22_cvr.indd 8/4/22 6 Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
• 63 percent of U.S. millennials (aged 25 to 40) prefer print on paper for reading. They report it is less distracting than reading on screens, they retain more, and they love the touch and feel of a printed magazine in their hands [2021 MPA Magazine Media Factbook]. Better
Because of today’s “print is dying” mindset, launching a new print magazine is certainly a venture that needs to be questioned. But even with challenging odds of succeeding with print, there is a compelling argument that should not be ignored: an electronic theology of the body magazine would be, frankly, bad theology.
THE NUMBERS Despite common perceptions, current statistics back up the viability of print magazines.
• In 2020 there were 221.9 million magazine readers in the United States over age 18. While that was a decrease of six million readers from 2019 (partially attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic and less pass-along reading), the 2019 figure of 228.7 million readers was the highest figure since 2012 [Statista.com].
LIVELIFENOWLoveyourbody,embraceyourfamily&makememories Finally, A
• In 2020, 88 percent of U.S. adults reported having read magazine media (print or digital) in the last six months, including 90 percent of those under age 35. Surprising, right? This confirms a desire to sit and savor, to enjoy a mental break without annoying pop-ups [2021 MPA Magazine Media Factbook].
A key tenet of St. John Paul II’s treatise is that we were made to share in God’s creative nature. A magazine is a creative work of art, be that of talented writers, editors, designers, artists, even the press operators. While people can read the very same words on both a screen and a piece of paper, TOB is also very much about our created world—all the things we can see and touch and experience with our God-given senses—and those words cannot be experienced the same way from cyberspace. There’s something about a magazine that feels like an invitation. An invitation to slow down and unplug. An invitation to get lost in its pages. An invitation to discover your better self. With fewer magazines being produced now, we aim for readers to look forward to receiving their latest issue of Embodied in the mailbox, a stark contrast to the junk mail it accompanies. With so many other things coming at our readers digitally these days, we want them to savor each issue, to save it for the next quiet moment and read it with a relaxing drink or a hot bath, or in their favorite spot on the front porch, and when they are finished with it, to pass it on to a friend who will surely appreciate a particular article.
The Plan Embodied Publishing was established as a nonprofit organization that will produce Embodied magazine to inspire further knowledge and understanding of the theology of the body. Any income or donations that exceed operating costs will be used to expand the magazine both in size and to audiences within and beyond the Catholic sphere, and to offer the magazine to other TOB and like-minded ministries or the Church at reduced costs in order to help further their own missions. Embodied belongs in the hands of parents, teachers, RCIA candidates, engaged couples, young adults.... and anyone who wants support in understanding their purpose in life. As the only magazine that celebrates life lived through the lens of the theology of the body, it also belongs in every Christian home, especially so that it can be seen regularly by older children and teens in their formative years who are being assaulted from every angle by the destructive voices of the Culture of Death. We plan to grow Embodied’s reach through both individual subscriptions and partnerships with like-minded and affilated ministries who will become distribution channels. Partners can be: parishes, schools, TOB organizations, pro-life and marriage ministries, dioceses (family life, marriage, evangelization offices), Christian churches, and more. We offer unique partnership options to strengthen and expand our partners’ ministries: Partnership benefits could include any mix of:
• Affiliate subscription links We look forward to working with organizations to discern what partnership benefits would best help their own ministry.
The Embodied Goal “A theological timebomb, set to go off with dramatic consequences.” That’s how papal biographer George Weigel, described Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body. When pressed on the timing, he said he thought it would be sometime after 2030. Our goal is for Embodied magazine to help light the fuse— To be available to 5 million in the U.S. by 2030!
• Bulk magazine copies
• Author a regular column
• Contribute to or sponsor an article
• Ad package
7Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
• Individual paid subscriptions increased 74% • Total distribution = 3,782 copies
• Secured first three school orders (elementary schools in Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan gifted their school parents with subscriptions) What readers are saying: “I love the magazine!” —L.H.
Highlights
• Secured first two diocesan orders Archdiocese of Cincinnati providing Embodied to all engaged couples Diocese of Columbus gifted all school principals with subscriptions to “support and inspire them as they introduce a TOB curriculum in their schools.”
These projected costs for year two are based on publishing four issues per year, with 48 pages per issue. There is also an online edition for subscribers, and plans to create compelling free online content (written and video) in between issues to support and keep subscribers engaged and to introduce even more people to TOB. We have an ambitious 10-year goal: To make Embodied Magazine available to 5 million Catholics in the US by 2030. We need investors to make this happen. Is God calling you to help launch Embodied magazine? of Year 1 All issues produced on time, on budget Individual subscriptions increased 75% from issue 1 to issue 3
“I am really enjoying Embodied. I love that I can share with my older daughters. There is something in it for all ages.” —J.B. “I am so pleased with Embodied. It is always a joy to find it in my mailbox! What a blessing!” —B.M. “I’m writing to tell you that I LOVE Embodied. I read it all. I read it more than once!” —W.W.
The Need 8 Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
• Four ministry partners secured • First two customers in Catholic school market and first diocesan customer secured Donors, through their contributions to the operating costs in the first few years, will have the satisfaction of bringing the life-changing knowledge of the Theology of the Body to new audiences. TOB-minded and other likeminded ministry partners will have opportunities to expand their reach, provide their supporters with more benefits, and gain greater visibility to audiences they may not currently be reaching.
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We are seeking donors and partnersTOB-mindedtohelpsustain Embodied magazine as we build our subscriber and customer base. Embodied Publishing was founded in January 2021 by Ann Gundlach who secured enough funding by September 2021 to produce a Gift Issue. She also received start-up grants from the Theology of the Body Foundation and her bishop, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In November 2021, an online subscription drive was held and the first official issue was published January 1, 2022. Highlights by August 1, 2022:
YEAR 3—Goal: 5,000 individual subscribers, 4,000 bulk subscribers, 5,000 copies via bulk orders SALARY & WAGES Cost Photographers, Designer, Writers, Executive Editor, Senior Editor, Sales, Social Media $190,000 PRODUCTION COSTS Printing, Inkjetting, NCOA, Mailing $52,275 ALL OTHER COSTS Software, hardware, subscriptions, accounting, warehouse, website, legal, etc. $303,600 YEAR 2—Goal: 2,000 individual subscribers, 1,000 bulk subscribers, 2,500 copies via bulk orders SALARY & WAGES Cost Photographers, Designer, Writers, Executive Editor, Senior Editor, Sales, Social Media $110,000 PRODUCTION COSTS Printing, Inkjetting, NCOA, Mailing $34,975 ALL OTHER COSTS Software, hardware, subscriptions, accounting, warehouse, website, legal, etc. $52,765 INCOME Subscriptions, bulk sales, advertising $69,150 Projected need $128,590 INCOME Subscriptions, bulk sales, advertising $380,700 Projected surplus $77,100 9Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
Ann’s extensive knowledge of natural family planning has dovetailed with a robust education in Theology of the Body, positioning her as a thought leader who appeals to the hearts and minds of Catholics. She has become a trusted voice, and her first-person column was recognized as an awardwinning editor’s note by the Catholic PressAnnAssociation.andherhusband, Greg, live in Cincinnati near their three children and four grandchildren.
The Team With a combined 50+ years of experience in the Catholic press, the award-winning team of Ann Gundlach and Christina Ries have the talent and experience to launch and grow Embodied into a magazine that gets noticed and draws readers closer to the lives God designed for them. Ann has spent years delivering inspiring and supportive content to readers using natural family planning in a world in which they often found no other support. She witnessed firsthand the profound difference it made in CCL’s effectiveness when their program was rewritten to introduce NFP to couples from a TOB perspective, focusing on an experiential approach. With Christina on the Family Foundations editorial team, together they found unique angles to approach the Church’s teaching and presented them through the experiences of real couples living it out. With Embodied they intend to use that same experiential approach to remind people who they are— beloved sons and daughters made in the Father’s image created to reflect Him in the world in countless different ways.
10 Embodied Magazine Partnership Proposal
ANN GUNDLACH Founder & Executive Editor Ann Gundlach has been a leader in Catholic communications for more than three decades. In her work with the Couple to Couple League, she developed CCL’s Family Foundations from an 8-page blackand-white newsletter into a fullcolor 40-page magazine which was repeatedly recognized for excellence in writing, editing and design by the Catholic Press Association, including “Best Magazine.”
CHRISTINA RIES Senior Editor Christina Ries is an award-winning journalist with 20 years of experience in the Catholic press. Her nationally syndicated column reaches 2 million households in the U.S. and has been recognized by the Catholic Press Association. Her writing has appeared in a host of Catholic magazines, including Catholic Digest, U.S. Catholic and America. Christina served as the assistant editor for Family Foundations, editorial director for CatholicMatch, and was the inaugural editor of Tobias, the national magazine for Catholic singles, which won first-place honors as “Best Magazine” by the Catholic PressChristinaAssociation.alsocontributes to the secular press. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and Huffington Post, among other publications.Sheandher husband, Ted, and their four children live in Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
9 Learn how to help others. This is content you will want to share—to either pass along or purchase as gifts for family and friends.
4 Join this hub that connects all TOB ministries. Let us help and support each other.
10 Easy to implement. We will provide promotional materials, social media posts, email messaging... just copy and paste to your channels.
5 Enhance the support of your followers. Offer your audience Embodied as continued TOB education.
3 Feel inspired and awestruck. You are a beloved human person made in your Father’s image and likeness.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO EMBODIED
6 Learn that it’s not just about sex! Discover the true breadth and depth of the theology of the body and how it impacts our whole lives.
1 It’s TOB 101: An introduction to theology of the body for anyone. You won’t need a theology degree to enjoy it!
The Top 10 Reasons
3 Advertise your programs, products, events. Broadcast your latest product or service.
10 Treat yourself so you can best serve others! We serve our families best when we’ve first cared for ourselves. Self-care begins here by delivering faith and hope!
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2 Get answers to life’s really big questions. Who am I? How can I find happiness?
EMBODIED CAN HELP YOUR MINISTRY
2 Gain exposure to new audiences. Embodied is designed to reach the less-engaged Catholic.
5 Learn how to equip and protect your children. Receive the words you need to guide your children on all the hot button topics and help them thrive in today’s culture.
8 Discover theology of the body-based resources. Find everything from training to retreats to counseling/therapy and more.
9
8 Earn income via an affiliate subscription link. Receive a commission on Embodied subscriptions sold through your unique link.
7 Get listed in a TOB Ministry Directory planned for the Embodied website. We want to connect our readers to you.
1 Showcase the fruits of your work. Let us tell your ministry’s impact through story.
4 Enjoy beautiful storytelling about the good, the true, the beautiful. Witness stories will resonate and stir you as you grow in your faith.
7 Jump on the St. John Paul II bandwagon! Explore your faith through the new lens he provided and begin to understand why so many people became his raving fans.
6 Consider creating a special issue based on your needs. Impact your unique audience with an issue of stories designed to meet their needs.
Count on a magazine that delivers the good, the true, the beautiful. Our award-wining team knows how to deliver memorable content.
• At Embodied, we ground ourselves in prayer, both individually and as a team, in order to continue to be creatively inspired by the Holy Spirit.
• We are mindful of our colleagues and customers’ needs and find ways to prioritize them.
everythingprinciplesareEmbodiedestablishedvaluesforPublishingtheguidingforwedo.
• We always acknowledge the gift of the other by giving respect automatically.
• We seek to reflect God’s beauty in elegant design, captivating photography and illustration that draws in the readers’ attention.
4. Excited to share with all.
• We celebrate and use our Godgiven talents and gifts in our work.
The Core Values
• While not shying away from difficult subjects or failures, we weave the reality of human weaknesses into stories that showcase change, growth and new insights that point toward something hopeful, thus inspiring hope in readers.
2. Self gift starts with us.
3. Create beautiful storytelling.
Thank You! For prayerfully discerning your role in helping launch Embodied! Ann Gundlach Embodied Founder & Editor 2615513.532.5213ann@embodiedmag.orgFairhillDriveCincinnati, OH 45239 www.embodiedmag.org •
The core
1. We work for the Lord.
• We use a warm, conversational tone with an emphasis on rich personal narratives, designed to affirm and awaken readers, reminding them what it means to be fully human and stirring them to be generous in living self-gift.
• Our products and our message are for everyone, and therefore our tone throughout all avenues of communication reflects that each person is unique and unrepeatable, and acknowledges each person’s inherent dignity.
• We acknowledge that Embodied Publishing is a work of the Lord. It was established through a call from Him, and the leadership continues to discern how He is leading the organization.