After 39 years, this Marriage is on the rocks

Can this marriage magazine be saved?

Jerry and Marilyn Sexton, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this month, have been publishing Marriage magazine since 1971. But the South St. Paul couple -- he's 80 and she's 78 -- say they're ready to turn the nonprofit magazine over to an individual or organization so it can continue.

They've worked as unpaid volunteers for the Christian-focused magazine, which has been plagued by declining revenue and circulation. The 56-page quarterly doesn't take outside advertising and relies on subscriptions from individuals and organizations, primarily church-based.

But Jerry Sexton said that with marriage on the decline in the United States, the need is even greater for what he says is a one-of-a-kind magazine that offers advice on everything from finances to ways to keep the romance alive.

"It's just getting squeezed out and people have so little time," he said. "We give people hope and specific things they can do to improve their relationship."

Sexton, who has eight children, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, said "spending $50,000 on a wedding" doesn't mean it will last. Instead, he said, the key to a happy and long-lived marriage is simple:

"You have to believe in marriage, because you are going to run into times when you think you want to leave it."