A New Christian Digital Magazine for Mothers: Announcing Heaven Held
Building a resting place online for Christian mothers seeking biblical community, faith-centered articles, and creative inspiration.
Big news!
I am launching a digital magazine next month!
Okay, I am getting ahead of myself, but I am so excited to finally share this with you.
If you spend time on the social feed aspect of Substack called Notes, you know it functions a bit like Twitter or a Facebook newsfeed. It is a fantastic space, not only for following people whose work you enjoy (whether they are casual writers or well-known speakers), but for getting behind-the-scenes insights from your favorite authors and connecting with others in a genuinely community-driven space.
Over on Notes, I frequently post updates about my creative process, what is on my mind, and the evolving direction of this publication: which I know changes often! I swear it is the ADHD in me; every few months, I feel the urge to rebrand, pivot, or launch something completely fresh.
However, this specific vision has been resting on my heart for a long time, and I have been working through how to make it a reality. I am officially starting a digital magazine.
I actually tried this once before. When I first joined Substack about two years ago, I ran a digital magazine where I rarely wrote the content myself. Instead, I built a home where women could share their experiences and passions with other women. It was such a wonderful experience. Over time, I transitioned back to personal writing, focusing on rebuilding and romanticizing life after burnout.
Earlier this year, I attempted another magazine concept called The Selah Project. After a month, it just did not feel right. I want to be open about why that happened, share the real vision behind this new direction, and lay out what you can expect as a subscriber.
What Is Heaven Held Magazine?
There can sometimes be confusion around what really defines a digital magazine. If you hear this concept and think of a better title, please let me know! But for now, this format best fits the vision.
Having written for online publications over the last decade, I wanted to build a collective space where readers can engage with a variety of voices beyond just my own.
The publication is named Heaven Held Magazine, and its heart is for Christian moms, by Christian moms. You do not have to be a Christian or a mother to read it, but that is the core group I feel called to serve, encourage, and collaborate with.
During my time on Substack, I have met so many incredible Christian mothers. Yet I also see how isolating motherhood can be, and how challenging it is to build authentic biblical community in daily life.
Whether you are new to faith, working through church hurt or religious trauma, relocating constantly as a military family, or managing chronic illness, this space is designed to be an online refuge: a place where you feel encouraged and equipped for the ministry of motherhood.
Coming from a family of missionaries, storytelling and evangelism are deeply rooted in who I am. I feel God calling me to come alongside mothers, supporting them so they can run the good race and live missionally both inside and outside their homes.
It can feel defeating when you lack regular adult connection, or when you feel like you are failing because your life does not look like traditional models of community. Heaven Held is meant to be a resting place where you can sit and be refreshed, rather than resorting to doomscrolling.
An online publication should never replace in-person discipleship or local church community. But for those in a season of transition, those new in their walk with God, or mothers just trying to navigate the daily grind, this is a space to hear from women who have walked the path before them.
Blending Visual Creativity and Preventing Burnout
I also wanted to lean into visual design. I have thoroughly enjoyed creating graphics, and stepping back slightly from heavy writing allows me to focus on creating a rich visual experience. Magazines offer a distinct mix of aesthetic design and written depth.
Operating as a collaborative magazine also protects against burnout. Because I am not the sole writer, I can focus on the creative challenge of pairing words, visuals, and themes together, similar to translating a long-form essay into a dynamic, multi-faceted visual piece.
I miss aspects of short-form platforms for that very reason: combining words, visuals, and music to communicate a focused message. This format lets me bring that creative element into long-form publishing.
The Inspiration Behind the Name
The idea began when I started outlining article concepts around a central back-to-school theme. As I put the pieces together, I prayed:
”God, I really feel like You want me to turn this into something more than just standalone articles. What should it be? I just want women to feel seen.”
Then the word “held” came to mind.
It reminded me of Natalie Grant’s song Held from the 90s, written for a friend who lost a two-month-old baby. It is a moving song about one Christian mother stepping up to give voice to another mother’s grief and pointing her back to Jesus. It highlights what it means to be held, even when everything falls apart. That was the initial spark and the acronym followed: a magazine helping Christian moms feel HELD:
Heard
Equipped
Loved
Discipled
After checking online, I found a university student publication already using that name. Wanting to avoid overlap, I went back to brainstorming. That is when the name “Heaven Held” surfaced.
It serves as a reminder that we are held in the arms of our Creator in heaven, and this world is not our final home.
The name reflects two things: women wrapping their arms around one another in support (whether celebrating a milestone or sitting with someone in grief), and the deeper truth that our lives and eternal souls are held securely by God.
What You Can Expect in yourEach Monthly Issue
While details may shift as capacity and direction evolve, the goal is to publish one themed issue per month.
For September, our debut issue will focus on the **Back-to-School** season. Here is a preview of the ongoing structure:
• Christ-Centered Causes: Highlighting specialized experiences, such as a special-needs mother sharing her journey of faith, practical advice on how the church body can better support the modern day “widows and orphans”, or features on active ministries serving the marginalized.
• Theological Community: In our September issue, my friend Haley is contributing a piece on “Theology 101 for Moms”, discussing why sound theology matters for mothers and offering beginner resources. Isolation and overwhelm often keep moms from digging deeper into scripture, so we want to foster an environment where iron sharpens iron.
• Creativity: Lighthearted features designed to help mothers bring joy, beauty, and creativity into their homes. September will feature a curated list of practical products that simplify mom-life, alongside a resource guide by a sweet friend on adding simple crafts and monthly hobbies into your routine.
Every issue will balance practical guides, contributor panels, and essays built around three pillars: *highlighting a cause, deepening theological community, and encouraging creativity.*
Taking a Step Back to Keep God at the Center
If you have been subscribed specifically for my personal essays, thank you so much. It is genuinely humbling that anyone takes time out of their day to read my work.
I will still write or design at least one feature for every issue. However, taking a step back from weekly personal publishing is a choice I am making for my mental and spiritual health.
Writing publicly about your personal life, faith, and struggles can be difficult to navigate. It is easy to take it personally when an article does not receive engagement, or to compare your work to others when the algorithm favors certain content over yours.
If I am not careful, personal writing can shift from serving others to striving for visibility and self-promotion. I noticed that subtle shift happening in my own heart. Writing became tied to reception, and I do not want this work to be about me or my own name.
Stepping into an editorial role allows me to bring writers together, highlight other voices, and build a collective space focused on glorifying God rather than promoting myself.
Why Collaboration Over Self-Promotion Works Better
Back in college, I loved writing research papers: gathering sources, organizing thoughts, and synthesizing distinct pieces into a cohesive argument. Designing a magazine scratches that exact creative itch. It blends writing, visual layout, and curated themes into one finished project.
That is why *The Selah Project* did not work out earlier this year. While the concept was similar, my heart at the time was still focused on trying to write what I thought the algorithm wanted. Positioning it as a magazine was an attempt to rebrand my own writing rather than building a truly collaborative platform. I felt clear conviction that it was the wrong path.
Heaven Held is built on a completely different foundation: a multi-author magazine designed for mutual encouragement and Kingdom work.
Community Extras, Paid Subscriber Benefits, and How to Contribute
The core monthly issue of Heaven Held Magazine will always be free.
To support the time and resources required to produce it, I am building out optional paid subscriber tiers focused on community and extra content:
1. The Heaven Held Huddle (Substack Chat): A dedicated, private space in the Substack app for readers and contributors to connect directly, share prayer requests, and read exclusive devotionals. If you currently only receive posts via email, I recommend setting up a free profile on the Substack app to access the chat space.
2. The Heaven Held Podcast: A companion audio show featuring personal reflection episodes and interviews with guest speakers sharing practical wisdom and specific life experiences.
3. Letters from the Editor: Periodic behind-the-scenes updates, resource roundups, and personal notes sent between monthly magazine issues.
I plan to keep paid options as low as Substack permits (around $1 to $2 a month to start) so it remains accessible.
Write for Heaven Held
If you are a writer interested in contributing an article, resource guide, or essay to an upcoming issue, I would love to connect! I am currently building a contributor list for future themes.
Please reach out via email at **sarah@bysarahsmith.com** with your interest and the specific topics or areas of expertise you would like to write about.
Thank you genuinely for being here, for reading, and for supporting this new chapter. I am so excited for what is ahead with Heaven Held!
Much love,
Sarah Smith