Back to Church Sunday's surprising results

The Diocese of Saskatchewan will be joining Anglican churches around the world this fall to mark Back to Church Sunday. As the day approaches, be inspired by this story from Toronto about a surprising effect of their 2009 Back to Church Sunday.

Talk about one good act achieving two positive outcomes.

Back to Church Sunday, which the diocese of Toronto celebrates for the second time on Sept. 26, “is doing more than bringing people back to church,” according to The Anglican, the diocese’s newspaper. “It’s also helping Eva’s Phoenix, a shelter for homeless and at-risk youth in Toronto.”

Last year, the shelter’s print shop – which employs professional staff and trains youth for a job in the printing industry – produced 350 Back to Church Sunday kits for the diocese. The kits include posters, invitations and postcards.

Youth from 16 to 29 participate in the 14-week program that trains them how to use printing equipment and teaches them basic layout and design. Upon completion of the program, the shelter helps them with their resume and prepares them for job interviews to help them land work in the printing business.
“It has tremendous value for youth,” said Alexandra Djukic,  business manager of the training program.