|
With
this issue of JCN we have passed another
milestone. As managing editor Melodee Yohe retires
March 1, we welcome Cathy Walker to the JCN
team. I’d like to stand back and let them greet
you in their own words.
Melodee
begins
“I’m calling from Bogotá, Colombia. Is the
job with JCN already filled?”
It was spring 1985.
We had only a few months left in our short-term
mission commitment when I
received my first issue of JCN and saw the
ad. I knew I would be out of the technological loop
if I returned to my 11-7 ICU staff nurse position
in Illinois, and so I was trusting the Lord for
direction for my next step. I got excited as I read
the ad, thinking, This is me!
It was-and it
has been ever since, except for a two-year absence
to serve again in Colombia ‘89-’91. Being managing
editor has been the perfect way to end my formal
working career, using all the interests, knowledge
and experience that God has brought into my life
along the way.
Anticipating fires
and putting them out before they’re conflagrations
is a good description of what I do. I make production
schedules and try to see that they’re met, in spite
of exciting situations like these: “What do you
mean you can’t find the photo?” “For this cover
we need an attractive, young, skinny nurse of Asian
descent-by Thursday!” “Between the acceptance and
the editing of the article, the author has disappeared!
If we can’t find her, we’ll have to pull it!” “Oh
no, we have a last-minute full-page ad-we’ll have
to carry over that one-page article till next spring.
The author’s not going to be happy!”
Somehow, God has
always been in control, and each JCN comes
together just as our heavenly Editor wants it. My
husband teases me that with every issue I comment,
“This is the best issue!”
I am sad to leave
because I have loved this job immensely. Being Judy
Shelly’s coworker and a part of Nurses Christian
Fellowship has been a wonderful privilege. But it’s
time. I look forward to more time with Stan, our
children and our grandchildren-and more time to
travel, to help with some volunteer ministries,
to whittle down the stuff in our house, to
make photo albums for our children, to have open-ended
times with God.
During these years
as managing editor, I have felt like a missionary
to nurses around the world. Many nurses tell us
that JCN is an important source of encouragement,
modeling, information, inspiration and fellowship,
guiding them in showing the love of Jesus in their
care at critical points in patients’ lives. Now,
more than ever, that’s important. I trust that your
support of JCN, its mission and its staff
will keep its light burning brightly for many years
to come.-Melodee Yohe
And
now meet Cathy
 From
the storehouse of my childhood memories, I recall
passing out at the sight of blood. I get squeamish
watching television hospital shows. As a regular
blood donor, I still look away to avoid seeing the
needle insertion. However, when rushing my injured
children to the emergency room for stitches or removal
of a lodged nickel, I have felt a remarkable sense
of calm.
I imagine being a
nurse requires steadiness in the storm. My responsibilities
as the new managing editor of JCN also require
a steady hand. From my home office I will read manuscripts,
coordinate schedules, work with a design team and
tackle a host of other daily tasks necessary to
produce JCN while simultaneously managing
my household of four. Working from home requires
self-discipline-something is always calling my name,
beckoning to be completed.
I enjoy the opportunity
to use my editorial skills and work primarily from
home. We live in a small town a few miles from Madison,
Wisconsin. Bob and I have been married thirteen-and-a-half
years. Our two children keep us busy with football,
soccer, social and church-related activities. I
also coordinate a women’s Bible study at church.
For relaxation and
renewal I enjoy reading, sweating at the health
club, time with friends and family, coffee and chocolate.
I am falling more and more in love with a personal
God who loves me more than I’ll ever understand
or appreciate.
Since
1985 I have worked in various positions in the Christian
publishing industry. I look forward to teaming with
NCF/JCN to bring you a magazine that provides
encouragement and resources to help you remain steady
while caring for people who need comfort and healing.
I
feel that God has clearly opened this door of opportunity
for me to work with JCN. My skills and interests
exactly match the role of a managing editor. That
I can fully embrace the mission and ministry of
InterVarsity makes working an investment with eternal
rewards.
I
trust you’ll be challenged and encouraged by the
stories and articles you read in JCN. While
managing this magazine, I anticipate learning about
your work world. I look forward to going to work
with you. It is with each of you in my mind and
prayers that I will be working on this publication.-Cathy
Walker
Please welcome Cathy with me. Pray for us in the
transition. Melodee and I have been a well-oiled
team for a long time. I will miss her greatly. She
has learned to think my thoughts and anticipate
my needs, so I will be learning to communicate more
explicitly all over again. Melodee is not going
away entirely, though; she will still be involved
with JCN as a freelance proofreader.
Please note, too,
that with a new managing editor comes a new address:
JCN Managing Editor, P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI
53707-7895. Phone: (608) 274-4823, extension 379.
E-mail: jcn.me@ivcf.org.-JAS
|
