Church roars past goal

It didn’t take long for the Rev. Canon Stephen Fields to realize that the diocese’s fundraising campaign, Our Faith-Our Hope: Re-Imagine Church, was going to be a hit in his parish.

Just three weeks after Canon Fields and his fundraising committee at St. Stephen, Downsview, started the campaign, they had already reached their goal, and more pledges were coming in. The committee increased the goal and that too was surpassed.

“We were overwhelmed by the response,” said Canon Fields. “When we met on the third week and realized that we had already achieved the goal, we just sat there, awestruck. It was an amazing experience.”

St. Stephen’s is one of 10 churches taking part in the campaign’s pilot project stage. The next phase of the campaign, beginning in the New Year, will involve groups of up to 40 churches. When the campaign winds up at the end of 2011, every church in the diocese will have been asked to participate.

Canon Fields said one of the reasons for the campaign’s success in his church was that the needs of the parish were clearly stated and parishioners were well aware of what they were. The church plans to repair its building and parking lot and expand its ministry to youth. It also wants to hire a part-time director of Christian education.

The campaign also worked because parishioners understood the needs and opportunities beyond the parish boundaries, he said. “We’re part of a family, a community. We’re a small parish, but there are others that are smaller than us, and the support we give to the diocese will help them as well. It’s about helping ourselves and helping others, both large and small.”

He said his church supports the goals of the diocesan campaign, particularly to improve communications in a wireless world. St. Stephen’s already uses technology in its worship services, including a camera and videos on YouTube, and wants to expand on that.

“I really believe in the campaign,” said Canon Fields. “It’s got the right intentions, and we support it.” His parishioners do, too. A family who pledged a donation, said: “When we heard of the plans put forward by the diocese, we were motivated to give because we have seen the effort that ministry is making in this community to carry on the work that the faithful few have started. The more each member of St. Stephen’s gives, the more our parish benefits financially.”

Canon Fields said CCS, the fundraising company that is assisting parishes, provided excellent advice and resources. “They’ve been very helpful, and we’re very pleased.” He added: “Giving is a joy. Christ gave himself for us, and God gave a son for us. It’s a joy to give, knowing that in giving we are blessed and we’re blessing others as well.”