Small Shops Serve God in Big Ways

NORMAN HOWARD sums up the feelings of most faith-based in-plant managers in just one sentence:

“I just feel like I’m serving God here doing what I’m doing,” says Howard, director of printing for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Va.

It’s a sentiment shared by countless in-plant managers at religious organizations—and one that drives them to put forth their best efforts in the service of their faith.

“It’s not just a job; I’m working for the Lord,” echoes Trout Davis, print shop manager at Grace Baptist Church, in Santa Clarita, Calif.

The devotion of in-plant managers like these has certainly been a blessing for the churches and other religious groups that depend on their services. The resulting hard work and attention to detail is one reason the religious sector is such a strong supporter of in-house printing.

Across the country, hundreds of religious institutions from various faiths run in-plants. Some are quite large (See related story: www.ipgonline.com/story/story.bsp?sid=56830&var=story) but most employ just one or two people. These organizations feel their in-plants play an important part in their success. The in-plants print the materials that help their churches grow, and do it quickly and cost effectively. And because they identify strongly with their church’s mission, these in-plants are inspired to produce high-quality work that presents their churches in the best light.

“We believe putting your heart and soul into what you do, whether it’s a business card or a four-color brochure, it’s working unto the Lord,” proclaims Charles Yamshak, manager of the two-employee print shop at Grace Community Church, in Sun Valley, Calif. In-plants, he continues, understand better than outside printers what their church is trying to convey.

“We are members of the church, and we have a mindset of what the church is looking for,” he says. His shop provides quality control from beginning to end, he adds.

There are also more practical reasons that religious organizations have in-plants—namely, cost savings.

“We’re really not here to make money,” points out Kevin Riley, print department manager for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. His three-person operation charges back just enough to break even. A new two-color press is letting the in-plant bring additional work in-house, saving even more money for the archdiocese—money that can be put to better use funding various outreach programs.

A Funding Source

At some religious organizations, the in-plant is not just there to save money but to generate revenue to support the organization.

“The Marian Press here is very important to keeping the [organization] going,” says Charlie Parise, manager of the in-plant for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, a community of Catholic priests and brothers in Stockbridge, Mass. His 12-employee staff produces religious greeting cards, books and prayer cards, all sold to support the Marians.

Near Chicago, a congregation of nuns started an in-plant in 2004 for similar reasons. The Congregation of St. Joseph, in La Grange, Ill., began with an HP Indigo 1000, later replacing it with an HP Indigo 5000, to print greeting cards and posters, the sale of which has helped support the order.

“We decided we had to find something that was going to make money for us,” says Sr. Judy Sikorski, operations manager for St. Joseph Press, and the daughter of a Linotype operator. Starting an in-plant was also a way to keep some of the older sisters employed. Many of them, like her, have retired from teaching and are looking for a way they can still contribute.

“It’s kind of making use of the resources that we have to enable us to support ourselves,” she says.

When things get busy, Sr. Judy adds, help is just a shout away.

“When we get to a point where we need help, I just get on the PA system here, and they’ll come from all over the place,” she says.

Of course, many who work at religious organizations feel they have another “helper” they can call on when the work gets difficult.

“We’re always calling upon the Lord to help us,” notes Yamshak, of Grace Community Church. “He’s our help. Our refuge.”

And when equipment goes down...well, Sr. Judy puts it best:

“I’m praying fervently when this thing doesn’t work,” she says, with a laugh.

Spreading the Faith

Like many who work at faith-based in-plants, Sr. Judy is pleased to be able to spread the faith through print.

“We’re spreading the message,” she says. “All the work that’s coming from the Ministry of the Arts (the congregation’s catalog of spiritually oriented products) has a Gospel message to it, and that’s what we’re about.”

“I see the print part of the job as being a way to communicate with people...and get the Word out,” adds Larry Willis, of the First United Methodist Church, of Lubbock, Texas.

“You feel like you’re doing work for a purpose. Your work might reach somebody,” explains Lynn Baskerville, director of print operations for the Central Community Church, in Wichita, Kan.

This idea of spreading the faith through print is mostly a Christian one. This may explain why the vast majority of religion-based in-plants have a Christian affiliation. Of the Jewish organizations with in-plants, proselytizing does not seem to be part of their mission.

The one-employee in-plant at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, in New York, for example, does not print religious materials for distribution to the public. It produces mostly classroom materials and booklets for the use of its 700 affiliated congregations, says Flora Camhi, who heads the Department of Operations and Personnel.

The Chicago-based Institute of Islamic Information does try to bring its message to the public, but mostly for educational reasons.

“Our major goal is just to educate and to present the message,” explains cofounder Mary Ali, who also runs the in-plant’s Ryobi press. “There’s so much misinformation out there about Islam.”

She prints simple brochures and flyers that explain Islam and discuss the role of women in the religion.

Religious messages also need to reach church members, and many in-plants print posters, newsletters and brochures to alert their congregations to meetings or get them to volunteer.

Wichita’s Central Community Church is helping build a church in Uganda, and Baskerville is aiding the effort by printing materials to raise funds and get more people involved. Likewise, First United Methodist Church, in Lubbock, is planning a mission trip down to Mexico, so Willis has printed brochures to help get volunteers.

“It’s a small part,” Willis says, “but I feel like I am part of the mission of the church.”