Citing a highly polished, eye-catching quality that complements a diverse collection of inspiring stories, readers of the debut edition of the UCC's StillSpeaking Magazine are already anticipating the fall edition.

"StillSpeaking Magazine doesn't just tell the story of the United Church of Christ – it paints a picture for us," says Vicki McGaw, a former UCC Wider Church Ministries staff member. "The story of Bob Page's incredible generosity with his employees, his children and his community offers a mural of what stewardship looks like in the realm of God."

The Rev. John Humbert, former general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), agreed. "I read with great interest about Mr. Page and how the church met his bigger faith needs and put him in a position that he wanted to give back to the church."

The interview with the Rev. Felix Carrion, Stillspeaking coordinator – detailing his UCC connection that broadened his worldview so that he could pastor his parents through his brother's coming out as a gay man – also moved McGaw. "I can literally feel God's arm reaching out to embrace all of God's children."

The Rev. David Greenhaw, president of Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, calls the magazine's debut "a great initial effort."

"It reflects a desire for diversity, and it doesn't pull punches on the social agenda," says Greenhaw. "It'll be a lightning rod because of that, and that's good. I think it's a great initial effort."

Adding pizazz to the buzz are the consistent kudos the magazine is receiving for photography and layout.

"The cover shot really took me in," says Humbert, who served as deputy president of the Disciples from 1977-85 and general minister and president from 1985-91. He was also on the UCC's restructure committee from 1991-1995. Referring to the photo of the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, minister for racial justice in Justice and Witness Ministries, "It made me want to look within and read to see what is happening."

Greenhaw also praised the text-to-photo ratio and the effectiveness of the ads. "The ads work because they tell the story about the programs." Adds McGaw, "I often found myself reading the ads as though they were part of the articles."

"Its layout and photography pulled me in like 'Look' and 'Life' magazines did in my childhood," says McGaw, director of wellspring, a new Cleveland-based group exploring spiritual renewal and justice advocacy. "The tight shots of people's faces create strong human connections – something often missing in the impersonality and perfection of airbrushing."

Humbert said that when he served with the Disciples, he stressed that local churches and the national church both have a sense of ownership – and of unity. "We have to remember that it's not 'others' out there, it's 'us' out there. I think a publication like this helps a lot."

Kiely Todd Roska, a newcomer to the JWM board, says her excitement in anticipating StillSpeaking Magazine has been well warranted. "It's so well-formatted ... you WANT to read it," says Roska, a 2005 graduate of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

"The diversity of people in the UCC came through. It's definitely more on the progressive end of things. There were several stories lifting up the LGBT folks and racial diversity," says Roska, development coordinator at CUE Seminaries in Minneapolis. A non-profit, collaborative body, CUE provides regional seminary support to bring together more than 2,000 UCC churches to support Chicago, United and Eden seminaries.

Roska got her first peek at the magazine April 17 while in a bus in the parking lot of Federated UCC in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She and a busload of others had just attended the installation of the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black as UCC general minister and president. Copies of the magazine were distributed to attendees as they exited the sanctuary.

"Our bus had to leave for the airport before the program was over," says Roska. "We all packed onto the bus, and someone said, 'Did anyone get a magazine?' In our hurry, none of us had, so someone ran back inside, grabbed a couple armfuls and ran back to the bus. We cheered wildly."

Even the red "God is Still Speaking" wrapping paper that the magazine was presented in was a winner. "People saved the wrapping paper because they wanted to re-use it," says Roska. "They really liked it."

Bulk copies and subscriptions to the inaugural edition of StillSpeaking Magazine are available at ucc.org/magazine or by calling 800-537-3394.