The Beacon Lights staff thinks we have a problem. In fact, we are convinced that we have a problem. The problem concerns the reading of the magazine, or more accurately, the lack thereof. Our subscription numbers have historically been tracked by our business manager and reported at our monthly meetings. For the last several years […]
When I moved into Sunset Village, I had to part with so many “goodies” that I no longer would have room for in my small room. That included many memories like the things you are asking for, but I’ll give you a few things that I recall. My earliest position with Beacon Lights was Assistant […]
I joined the Beacon Lights Staff sometime in 1993 while attending Calvin College in preparation for seminary. My memories of working with Beacon Lights include the monthly meetings with a staff who became life-long friends working through the routine, never-ending task of generating topics and encouraging writers. From time to time we also worked through […]
When I was growing up, there was an antique wood hutch in our living room. The top half of the hutch had open faced shelves filled with knick-knacks. Later those knick-knacks were replaced with religious books. The bottom half of this hutch had little doors with pretty hinges. When I was very young I was […]
Although I became editor of Beacon Lights only in 1959, I managed to stir up controversy over the magazine as early as 1958. I had the help of others, who with me were members at that time of the Federation Board of Protestant Reformed Young People’s Societies. The Federation Board had the oversight of the […]
On a typical Sunday afternoon, my family eats dinner, has devotions, and eventually gathers in the living room to read. For many years, I spent this time doing written work or studying catechism, and afterwards, I would pick up whatever novel I had been reading during the week. Our coffee table almost always held a […]
Like an eaglet returning from its first long flight back to its nest high up on some towering cliff, so the first issue of Beacon Lights returns to the editor’s desk, breathless and excitedly happy over its warm reception. It is true, this first appearance was not without its disappointments. The greatest of which was, […]
The mail delivery man on a snowy, frigid, winter day, January, 1941, followed the usual delivery route with mail for the day to be placed in a diminutive mailbox at 609 Peace Street, Pella, Iowa. This time the mail was almost too large for the mailbox. It was a brand new magazine, Beacon Lights for […]
Sorry, but Beacon Lights is not being offered at $.75 for a yearly subscription. You can, however, get a subscription (or give one) for $7.50 in 2016. $7.50 in year 75! What you see above is the first advertisement for Beacon Lights taken from the January 1941 issue. This vintage ad was […]
This issue marks the 75th anniversary of the magazine, which began publication in January of 1941. We intend to celebrate this anniversary throughout 2016. The staff has been researching the archives for some time, and will continue to search for more interesting material in the coming year. We plan to continue our usual rubrics, but […]