Chairman’s Notes – November 2026

In the eighty-one years that the Precious Seed magazine has been circulated it has been through many different challenges, none more so than our present situation. With reserves now almost exhausted and income falling significantly, we are faced with some difficult decisions.

Those who have been readers of the magazine for many of the years it has been published will know how it has changed. When first published in 1945, its size was quarto, or 10 inches by 8 inches (254 x 203mm). It ran bi-monthly in this format through until 1948. A reduction in its size may well have been generated by a need to save money – the statement is made ‘our income has only just kept pace with our expenses’ on the first page of volume 2 of the magazine. Thus, from that volume the size of the magazine was reduced to 7 inches x 5 inches (180 x 125 mm). The next major change came in 1976 when the magazine moved to an A5 size and a thinner paper. It continued in this format, although with fewer pages and a move from a double column to a single column format, until the end of the twentieth century. In 2000, the magazine moved to an A4 format and full colour, which it has retained to the present. At every stage of development, the trustees have kept a close watch on costs, making appropriate changes when needed, as well as moving production and distribution of the magazine to companies that provided reliability of service and value for money.

As assembly numbers have declined, so has our income from the free-will offerings of the Lord’s people. Apart from last year, Precious Seed has been running at a loss for a number of years. Changes have been made to reduce our costs, reminders issued to only order the correct number of copies required, and regular purges of our subscriber database have failed to stem the slow decline in our reserves.

Thus, were it not for a recent significant gift, trustees felt that we could have to make this magazine the final issue. However, its temporary continuance is a testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord and His people. Against that background, we would encourage readers to pray with us for the Lord’s guidance and, if it be His will, continuing help to sustain the work in whatever form He deems appropriate in 2027.

On a personal level, after twenty-five years of service in Precious Seed, I will be making a phased retirement from the role of Chairman and General Editor during 2027 DV. I would extend my sincere thanks to trust members past and present who have supported me in the work. It has been my joy to serve the Lord in this His work, and we continue to seek His blessing upon the material that is yet to be published and that will remain on our website.

I would also express my sincere thanks to contributors from across the world that have written for us. Their patience and understanding as their material has gone through various editorial processes, not least at my hands, underlines their willingness to write humbly, and solely for the benefit of the Lord’s people.

Finally, to those who have supported and continue to support us both prayerfully and practically, we extend our thanks.

JOHN BENNETT Chairman and General Editor, Precious Seed International