Appeal for Prayer and Support

Something new is on the way! And we are very excited to share...

As we move toward the heart of Advent and the glow of Christmas, I’m excited to share some news that fills me with joy. Our next issue of Always Toward the Light magazine, the December 2025 edition, is almost ready. The theme says it all: Light Has Come.

This is our second inaugural edition, and we will be releasing it early so you can sit with it throughout the Advent season. I often wish we could bring you a magazine every month, but for now we’re still working on a quarterly cycle. Even so, I’m already drafting ideas for the third edition coming in March 2026. Little by little, step by step, this community is growing into something beautiful.

What makes this magazine so special is that it isn’t just mine. It’s created with the art, writing, reflections, and love of people right here on Substack. Every time I turn the pages, I’m humbled by what we’re able to create together. My hope is that each one of you will help us keep this project alive by purchasing your own copy (or a few, if you’d like to share them) once we mark the issue ready for launch.

Your creative voice matters too. If you have a conversion story, poetry, art, photography, or a reflection of faith that you’ve been thinking of sharing, please send it along. I want this magazine to be a mosaic of the many ways God has touched the hearts of our readers.

Our printing partners at MagCloud continue to amaze me with the quality of their work. They’re ready to deliver something truly beautiful this Advent. But I need your support to make it happen. Not the kind of support where you hand over money and walk away. We’ve all seen enough of that, from drive-thru donations at fast-food restaurants to one-click asks. What I want is participation, and in return, I want to give you something that carries meaning, beauty, truth, and warmth.

In the December issue, you’ll find new features such as The Chosen: Through a Catholic Lens, articles from our Substack supporters, a word search, crossword puzzle, Catholic 101: Quiz, original artwork, a movie review, and even a little Christmas cheer from our German friends in the form of family-inspired cookie recipes.

So how can you help us continue this work?

You can start by subscribing to our Substack newsletter. We’re still small at 113 subscribers, but our goal is to grow into the thousands so that this mission can flourish. You can also become a premium member and receive automatic access to the digital flip-book version of the magazine, along with upcoming digital editions of our books. Visit the “Books in Print” section on our Substack site if you’d like to explore what we’ve already published this year. Of course, your prayer is needed. We ask for guidance, inspiration, and financial assistance, all of which must be supported by prayer.

It also helps more than you know when you click the little heart at the bottom of each post or leave a comment. It may seem small, but it lets me know the message reached someone, touched someone, or meant something.

Can you help us grow? Can you help us shine this light a little farther?

This project is my gift to you, and I hope it becomes something you look forward to again and again. My desire is simple: to offer beauty, truth, inspiration, and a bit of wonder in a world that desperately needs all three.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for walking toward the light with me.

And one final word about a publishing project that started long ago: Enter the Wonder: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Catholic Faith. A pre-release early copy is already on our author’s page at https://lulu.com/spotlight/alwaystowardthelight.

Enter the Wonder: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Catholic Faith invites readers to see the Church with new eyes—to rediscover its mystery, beauty, and divine presence woven through every sacrament and symbol. Through Scripture, sacred tradition, and vivid storytelling, John Henry guides readers from the ache of longing to the joy of encounter, from ritual to relationship, from familiarity to awe. Each chapter reveals how the Catholic faith is not a system of rules, but a living invitation to holiness, wonder, and love. Whether returning home after years away or seeking deeper understanding, this book opens the door to a faith both ancient and alive.

Thank you! I appreciate your support. Please let me know that you are receiving these emails and hit the heart button if you like the kind of light we are shining on our beautiful faith of love for Christ.

Kind regards,

John

---