Joel Belz, the founder of World, a pioneering Christian magazine covering politics, culture and other topics through a biblical lens while occasionally drawing wider notice for its reporting on prominent religious figures behaving less than holy, died on Feb. 4 at his home in Asheville, N.C.
His brother Andrew Belz said the cause was complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Before World, a biweekly, was launched in 1986, religious periodicals were often cheaply mimeographed and filled with church news.
Mr. Belz, a preacher’s son who grew up reading Time, wanted to replicate the journalistic ambition and crisp look of Henry Luce’s publication for an evangelical audience.
Today, World News Group, which includes the magazine, website, children’s publications and podcasts, says it has an audience of about 500,000 people.
Persons:
Joel Belz, Andrew Belz, Belz, Henry Luce’s, ” Mr
Organizations:
Gazette, World News
Locations:
Asheville, N.C, Cedar Rapids , Iowa