Welcome to SHINE brightly!
SHINE brightly Mission
We believe when young girls are equipped, motivated, and passionately engaged in living out their faith in Jesus Christ they have the potential to be world changers. Our mission is to bring girls into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ, a relationship that empowers them to see how God can work through their individual personalities, situations, and talents. Christ was an activist. He did not neglect the needs of the people as He brought His message. We strive to encourage girls to look more like Christ by reaching out of themselves to serve the needs of others—in their homes, schools, communities, and across the world.
The Annual Theme
In the past we have published an Annual Theme Update for our authors. This Update listed specific themes and topics we wished to see for each issue. While we will still have an overall theme for each season, we will not be publishing a list of specific topics. Instead, we want to see how you, our dear creative writers, connect our theme and our mission. |
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2008-2009 Theme
Walk the Micah Road
What does the Lord require of you? Whether you’ve answered that question reciting Micah 6:8 at GEMS Girls’ Clubs for 50 years or its truth is quoted for the very first time, His command is unchanged and for all generations: God’s children must act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
It’s a call to get moving and join Jesus in His work in this world. It’s an activism mandate! Even as we strive to learn more, we must move from a mere knowledge of God’s justice, mercy, and humility to actually being His servants. We must purposefully work to set things right (justice), to love others (mercy), and to depend on God to lead the way (humility).
The Micah Road is not for the apathetic, the comfortable, or the faint of heart. It’s for those who know the deep compassion of Jesus and follow His Spirit reflecting Jesus’ love to everyone in every way. It’s for those who humbly say, ‘Yes, Lord!” no matter where He calls, whom He calls us to, or what He asks us to do.
When the truth of this theme pierces your heart, be ready to kiss normal good-bye. That is the justice, mercy, and humble walking God is seeking! |
Theme Topic
God is a God of justice, love, mercy, and compassion. As His children, God requires that we obediently walk the Micah Road of justice, mercy, and humility.
Theme Verse
He has showed you, O man (O daughter), what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
Concept
God requires His children to act justly (take action to help set things right), love mercy (love like Jesus loves), and to walk humbly with God (humble dependence on God, trusting His lead).
Aims
To teach girls how to purposefully live out the Micah 6:8 command to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
To teach each girl to reject apathetic living and be an activist for Jesus, joining in Jesus’ work to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned.
To teach girls that they need God’s help to walk the Micah Road, Jesus’ heart to love the people they meet, and the Holy Spirit to guide the way.
Urgent Needs:
We are currently in need of the following topics. We are looking for manuscripts that connected the following with our annual theme.
Inspirational Biographies: We are in need of inspirational biographies. We are looking for people (preferably girls and women) who have in some way changed the world and will inspire girls to do the same.
Length 200-800 words.
Stories from Zambia: We are looking for stories, articles, and biographies from Zambia, Africa. Please remember to present information in a manner that is relevant to girls. When writing about another culture, it is very important to write with a deep respect for both the people and traditions of that culture. We are not interested in “westernized” stories. Instead, we are looking for manuscripts that are researched and culturally true to Zambia.
Length: 200-800 words
God’s Green Team: We are in need of stories, articles, and biographies about living a green lifestyle. These should be written from the Christian perspective that we are charged with caring for and protecting God’s Creation.
Length 200-800 words
Take the SHINE brightly Challenge! We look forward to your creativity! We will be accepting manuscripts based on the above theme until January 2009.
Articles Appearing Frequently
Quizzes or Personal Self-Assessments
Girls love doing quizzes to rate how they are doing in a specific area. We are always on the lookout for a good quiz that fits the theme of the magazine.
Games
We occasionally print puzzles, activities, or other games in the magazine.
Crafts with a Purpose
We are looking for new and fresh craft ideas that benefit others, not just the girl making it. Crafts should have a modern look, be inexpensive, and use material that the girls might readily have at home.
You'll Want to Know This We like to see articles that relate to girls ages 9-14 and the experiences they can connect with at this age. Most of their time is spent at school, in sports, after school activities, with friends, dealing with peer problems/pressure, family, church groups, beginning service projects, and learning to reach out beyond their small world. Manuscript topics should build girls up in Christian character, but they should not be preachy. Pollyanna endings, where everything is wonderful in the end, are not always realistic and our readers want realistic stories. They have a great sense of humor, so your manuscripts should be fun as well as educational and inspirational. Stretch our readers by challenging them to new vision, new experiences, and setting new goals.
Manuscripts should be between 500-900 words.
Adventure Stories Wanted! We have found that there is a great void when it comes to adventure stories for girls. Whether fiction or actual accounts, we are looking for stories that highlight our theme within the text of an exciting story.
Deadline: January 1, 2009
SHINE brightly fills up quickly, so get your manuscripts in early. We read manuscripts each week. You can expect to hear from us in four weeks.
If you would like a copy of SHINE brightly , please send an 81/2 x 11-inch self-addressed envelope and include $1.00 for postage and handling.
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