A magazine for people who live with a chronic illness, invisible illness, or chronic pain encourages through articles that address the faith factor.

San Diego, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/19/2009 -- Over 100 million Americans live with a chronic condition and despite what we may assume, 60% of are between the ages of 18 and 64.1 This is nearly 1 in 2 people. HopeKeepers is a consumer magazine which offers spiritual support to those who live with a chronic condition, such as fibromyalgia, diabetes, or degenerative heart disease. It's published by Rest Ministries, Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It began in 2003, but has now moved to a digital format to be able to reach more people and double its size from a digest version to 8.5 x 11. You can read 18 pages for free at www.hopekeepersmagazine.com .

This 64-page publication subtitled "joyfully serving the chronically ill," is Christian in nature, and addresses diverse topics such as spiritual struggles, family challenges, alternative medicine, and caregiving, and includes devotionals, doctor's advice, and profiles of celebrities and national HopeKeepers groups.

The current article features articles on how our personality makes a difference in dealing with difficult times, grand-parenting with an illness, a checklist for a successful support group, a feature on Adoption coach Sherrie Eldridge who lives with lupus, and more.

Research has shown that patients who seek a connection with God and support from church members are less depressed and rate their quality of life as higher, even when the diagnosis is less than favorable.

"There are many health magazines," says Lisa Copen, 40, founder and editor-in-chief of HopeKeepers, "but for those who may live for decades with a chronic illness, there are few resources, especially Christian ones, that address the roller coaster of emotions they experience and the practicalities they need to live effectively with disease."

Lynn D. Morrissey, author of Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer and AWSA/CLASS speaker. "Its articles are encouraging and enlightening, written by real people who have overcome their pain with the hope of Christ. Hope is more potent than any medicine from a bottle—it's the love of God poured into our hearts."

Copen, who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since the age of twenty-four, is the founder of Rest Ministries, Inc., the publisher of HopeKeepers and National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, an event held annually in September featuring a free 5-day virtual conference at http://www.invisbleillnessweek.com . HopeKeepers is one of the sponsors of NICIAW.

Read 18 pages for free at www.hopekeepersmagazine.com . A one-year single subscription is $17.97 or one issue is $6. All proceeds support Rest Ministries, Inc.

Source: 1-Chronic Care in America: A 21st Century Challenge, a study of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Nearly 1 in 2 Americans has a chronic condition, and 96% of them live with an illness that is invisible. These people do no use a cane or any assistive device and may look perfectly healthy. Sixty percent are between the ages of 18 and 64.

San Diego, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/05/2006 -- September 11-17, 2006 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. The theme is "My Illness Is Invisible But My Hope Shines Through!" It is a major public awareness campaign sponsored by HopeKeepers Magazine, a consumer magazine that offers spiritual encouragement for those who live with chronic illness or pain.

Paul J. Donoghue and Mary Siegel, co-sponsors of the week and authors of "Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired: Living With Invisible Chronic Illness" say, "Invisible chronic illnesses (ICI) have symptoms that are difficult to see and impossible to measure such as pain and fatigue. So those with ICI frequently encounter not compassion and support but impatience and skepticism from physicians and loved ones."

"Living with an illness that is invisible to those around us can often have a more devastating affect on our emotional health than the physical pain," explains Lisa Copen, 37, editor of HopeKeepers Magazine who lives with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. "Each day we must choose to have hope, despite how medications and alternative treatments may help or hinder us."

Copen is the author of a book, "Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend." "Part of our campaign is to encourage people to 'care enough to be informed," says Copen. "Just because someone isn't using a wheelchair doesn't mean that she doesn't have a disability. Friends and family of those with chronic illness care a great deal about what their loved ones are going through, but oftentimes the invisibility of the illness sets up an environment for misunderstandings and even doubt about the validity of the illness. We hope to increase awareness of how many people 'look great' but are hurting deeply."

Outreach includes various events: the distribution of free literature such as a 5.5 x 8.5 card with multiple ways to encourage a chronically ill friend. Other resources include "You Look So Good: A Guide to Understanding and Encouraging People With Chronic, Debilitating Illness and Pain."

Three online seminars will be held during the week featuring chronic illness coaches, authors, nutritionists and other professionals. Promotional items like t-shirts, bumper stickers and bracelets are available.

For a complete list of events and resources visit http://www.invisibleillness.com or call 888-751-7378.

"The feeling of knowing that one's illness and pain is acknowledged can have a great impact on how a person copes with living with illness," says Copen. "We hope that by recognizing people with illness rarely feel as good as they look, they will begin to feel better understood, leading them to a more invigorating life!"

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm