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The following article from our new ministry partner

St. Stephen in-the-Fields’ outreach program

in Toronto is an example of the work

that your donation to FaithWorks supports.

St. Stephen in-the-Fields’

outreach program

in Toronto

by The Reverend Canon Maggie Helwig

Our vision is to create space in which all people can be safe and cared for, especially those who experience regular exclusion and devaluation elsewhere.

Our Mission Statement is,

“We are an inclusive and affirming Anglican community in the heart of the city, where we strive to live out God’s mission of compassion and justice for all people, and for all creation. We are committed to being a community of solidarity with those who have been pushed to the margins of our society, and to the task of building a better world.”

Our core values, as expressed in the mission statement, are community-building, a position of solidarity rather than charity, inclusiveness (which includes a commitment to a harms reduction philosophy and consistently low-barrier programming), and responsiveness to those most marginalized and their own identification of their needs and desires. Our programming has changed and developed as we try to live out these values.

Although we do not place geographic limits on who may access our services, and the homeless population can be quite mobile, in a practical sense we serve the Kensington Market / Chinatown / Alexandra Park neighbourhood. We are the only organization in the neighbourhood regularly serving prepared hot dinners or breakfasts available to anyone in need.

Our ministry is very largely carried out by volunteers. Though numbers vary from time to time, we have approximately 35 actively engaged volunteers.

Programs include the Friday night Safe Space drop-in/dinner, weekend breakfasts, encampment support, weekday open hours, and inclusive worship services.

To a large degree, success can be found in continuing and deepening relationships, greater trust, more willingness on the part of our clients to talk about their issues, needs and decisions, to seek us out for spiritual and social support, and to involve us in their life events and life transitions.

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FaithWorks Sermon or Presentation

To assist and inspire, you can arrange for a sermon, presentation or visit by representatives of our ministry partners, the Director of Stewardship Development, Peter Misiaszek, or me, by contacting the FaithWorks Speakers Bureau at

fwspeakersbureau@toronto.anglican.ca

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If you wish to highlight your Parish's events in support of FaithWorks, please forward the details to faithworks@toronto.anglican.ca

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FaithWorks Videos



The FaithWorks website, faithworks.ca has been updated with new videos to promote FaithWorks and our ministry partners. There are short, medium and long videos to include in your parish's online presence or in-person gatherings. They can be downloaded directly from the website.

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