Our Purpose

Just Between Us is a quarterly magazine especially for women committed to ministry - pastors' wives, women's group leaders, Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers, missionaries, seminary students, leaders in parachurch organizations, and any woman, married or single, who wants practical encouragement, biblical inspiration, and ministry resources. Our goal is to provide timely features, interviews, resources, and columns written by Christian women in leadership and serving roles around the world who have faced the same issues. The publication is uniquely reader written by ministry women who candidly and honestly inspire, encourage, and affirm one another through their ministry hearts and deep love for Christ. Internationally known author and speaker, Jill Briscoe, is the Executive Editor.

Our Readers

JBU readers are a diverse group of ministry wives and women in ministry. They include women in small congregations and mega churches; they live in rural areas and large cities; they are Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Assemblies of God, Episcopal, Pentecostal, Lutheran, and many other denominations. They are married to a person in ministry or are themselves serving in various leadership and ministry roles with all the unique challenges and opportunities that involves. Our readership also includes single leaders and both married and single missionaries on the field.

Our reader's top needs are: 1) Balancing ministry and family, 2) Having a closer walk with Christ, 3) Having a close friend, 4) Handling conflict, 5) Handling emotional issues and stress, and 6) Dealing with expectations and roles.

JBU articles should be personal in tone, biblically based, and full of real-life anecdotes as well as quotes/advice from noted Christian professionals. Articles need to be practical and have a distinct Christian and ministry perspective throughout. JBU seeks to apply the truths of Scripture to everyday life and ministry situations. All articles using Scripture should use the NIV translation if possible.

Topics

We are looking for articles that address any aspect of living as a woman serving the Lord in ministry and as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We'd like to see articles that apply biblical principles to everyday relationships, help readers with personal ministry in the church, and articles that help them and others grow in Christ.

Topics such as: balance, intimacy with Christ, handling criticism, friendship, conflict, faith, church life, prayer, evangelism, change, spirit-filled living, finances, forgiveness, God's will, spiritual warfare, staying committed to Christ through all kinds of trials/good times/hard times, parenting, ministry helps, ideas, and resources, leadership principles and issues, pain, fighting weariness in ministry, church wounds, and anything that will be helpful to women with a heart for ministry. (Also, articles on any of the top needs mentioned in the "Our Readers" section above.)

• Feature Articles take a topic of interest to ministry wives and women in leadership and deal with it in a practical and enjoyable manner. Word Count: 1,200 to 1,500.
• What's My Story? This is a short testimonial about how God has worked in your life or ministry. Word Count: 450.
  
• Ministry Helps provide practical ideas and resources for any area of ministry in the church that would give other women help for their own programming and ministry development. Word Count: 450 to 1,200.
• Leadership Focused Articles tackle issues that women in leadership face. Articles on topics like training women, lay counseling, moral issues, mentoring, team dynamics, working with volunteers, reaching the next generation, keeping fresh, leadership skills, working with men, etc. Word Count: 500 to 1,200.

Submissions

Freelance submissions are always welcomed and reviewed. Articles should be double-spaced and all paragraphs indented three spaces, instead of tabbed. Please send your manuscripts via e-mail in a Word document if at all possible. In addition to the author's address, the first page should include your phone number and the word length. (Manuscripts will not be returned unless requested and accompanied by a self-addressed return envelope with the correct postage.) Along with your submission, please include a brief autobiographical paragraph, including your current place of ministry, vocation, family, special ministry experience, etc. JBU is unable to provide financial remuneration, but will provide five complimentary copies of the issue in which your article appears.

• Due to our small staff, it will take six to eight weeks for a response to manuscripts.
• A request to see your manuscript doesn't guarantee JBU will accept or print the article.
• The editors of JBU reserve the right to edit your manuscript for clarity and space, and to reject any article at any stage of our editing/production process.

Sample issues are available at a cost of $4.00 each. Send your check made payable to:
Just Between Us
777 S. Barker Road
Brookfield, WI 53045
Unless you request otherwise, the most recent issue will be sent.

Magazine Deadlines
Fall 2007
Deadline for Manuscripts: April 13, 2007
Winter 2007
Deadline for Manuscripts: July 13, 2007
Spring 2008
Deadline for Manuscripts: October 5, 2007
Summer 2008
Deadline for Manuscripts: January 8, 2008
Fall 2008
Deadline for Manuscripts: April 12, 2008
Winter 2008
Deadline for Manuscripts: July 13, 2008
Spring 2009
Deadline for Manuscripts: October 6, 2008