|PIC1|Jesus taught us that the good shepherd would leave the 99 to find the one lost sheep. And that is the truth that many churches will live out later in the month as they prepare to welcome back prodigals to their folds on Back to Church Sunday.

Churches up and down the country will say “hello again” on 24th September to friends who haven’t been to church for a while or old members who have the desire to return but need the reassurance that they can make the move back.

Last year’s event was a major success as testimonies on the Back to Church website clearly demonstrate.

St Cuthbert’s and All Saints Church in Ackworth in the Diocese of Wakefield welcomed 21 newcomers over three services and experienced a better turnout among regular worshippers.

The church added: “We think there may also be an ongoing ripple effect as word gets out that we are a welcoming church. Thanks be to God.”

Meanwhile, St Hilda Firswood in the Diocese of Manchester reported that at last year’s Back to Church Sunday Service around 100 of the 170 gathered were new guests.|AD|

And if you need more convincing, 450 people came for the special service held by Christ Church in South Ossett in the Diocese of Wakefield – just over twice the normal Sunday attendance.

And what about the returnees? Julie Dawson had not been to church since she was 11 years old but felt compelled to return after the birth of her daughter Alice. At just the right time her friend popped into the local ‘mums and tots’ group to hand out invitations to St John Mossley’s Back to Church Sunday service.

Julie decided to go along with husband Steve and baby Alice and has been going ever since.

“Back to Church Sunday worked for me because, rather than going to a strange church and picking up information as I went along, we heard on one Sunday about other Christians’ experiences and what activities and facilities were available at the church. The vicar and other members of the church told us what was what and some people told their stories of faith – it was very informative and inspiring.

“I must say my perception of what church is and does has really changed,” said Julie, just one of so many people whose lives have been transformed through the return to church made possible by Back to Church Sunday.

The initiative is backed by Christian organisation Traidcraft which is supplying thousands of bars of delicious and fairly traded white chocolate bars for churches to give away to new guests on the day.

Special resources for the day have been made by Back to Church Sunday and are available from the Back to Sunday website at www.backtochurch.co.uk