Photo by Amanda Woods
It is God’s world was the title of the first issue of a children’s news magazine that we began publishing over four decades ago. The name was more than just clever marketing. It encapsulated Joel Belz’s entire view of life and journalism.
The magazine was well received and eventually expanded to six issues for different age groups. Current events were the “hook,” but a biblical view of the world and everything in it was the goal.
Within a few years, the story goes, parents of these student subscribers began asking for a similar publication for adults, and thus WORLD Magazine was born. Of course, there is much more to it than that, but Joel always stressed that it is important to remember that we started with students and then turned to adults. As he always said, “Tell your story to a 12-year-old and you’ll be surprised how many adults will listen.”
We still publish student magazines and over the years have expanded our offerings for students to include daily online news and daily video news. WORLD Clock. I know it’s hard to keep track, so here’s the summary:
- God’s Big WORLD is a bimonthly print magazine for preschool and early school age children ages 3 through first grade. There is also a website with daily updates, age-appropriate activities, read-along videos, and related book recommendations: Godsbigworld.gwnews.com.
- WORLDkids is our magazine for middle elementary school students, ages 7 to 10. The WORLDkids website is fun and offers daily news and features, interactive Explore It! features and original videos, and a book recommendations section for this age group: kids.gwnews.com.
- WORLDteen is aimed at elementary and middle school students ages 11 to 14. The site has the most news of any student website, but also includes book reviews, cartoons, video reports on selected news stories, and articles of interest for young teens: teen.gwnews.com.
- Then there is WORLD Clocksomething completely different. WORLD Clock is a daily, 10-minute video news program aimed at young teens, but accessible to all ages – we’ve heard from viewers over 90 years old and those so young they haven’t started reading yet. WORLD Clock is a daily treat for all the family and the production quality is on par with anything you see on network television: worldwatch.news.
In addition to these subscription-based products, we provide parents and teachers with resources to help them incorporate biblical wisdom into the news they discuss with their children and students. Some of these resources are included in the products themselves, and others can be found on our News Coach website: newscoach.gwnews.com.
I don’t have enough space here to tell you all about our work with students, so I’ve included website addresses with my brief description of each of our products. But I strongly encourage you to offer subscriptions to one or more of these products to the students in your life – children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, young families in your church – whoever comes to mind. Even to yourself. (I learn something new every time I read or watch.)
The development of our work for students in recent years reminds many long-time residents of the early years of It is God’s worldTens of thousands of young families, most of them new to the WELT orbit, are watching WORLD Clock and read the school newspapers. Some parents are already asking us to produce something like WORLD Clock for them.
We’ve introduced this magazine, our digital content, and our podcasts to these young parents, but I wouldn’t be surprised if our adult content eventually becomes video as well. However we deliver content to these young families, it’s notable that we’re following the same path that Joel took: talk to the kids first, then the adults. Joel’s vision is in our DNA, and it shows in the way we see God’s world.
