The "Sharing Church Project" was launched with unceasing prayer and meticulous planning. A steering committee interviewed and selected one hundred volunteer callers, appointed group captains, and divided the neighborhood into areas, setting down strict ground rules. Callers would go out to behold the perfect man, let God direct their every call, and follow the Golden Rule in every contact as they extended their warm verbal and printed invitations. There would be no proselyting or theological discussions.
In May, the volunteers set out in pairs to meet the neighbors. Many of them admitted it took courage to knock on those first few doors. But they knew that a good Samaritan does not pass by on the other side. Their instructions were: "We are uplifting mankind, pouring in love and healing, and helping them to the inn, the Christian Science church, where their further needs can be met."
Within one week the Scientists had invited five thousand people to come to church. The response was reassuring. True, there were some who refused to open their doors or their minds. But the great majority were friendly, interested. To the question "Have you ever been invited to the Christian Science church here in the neighborhood?" hundreds replied No, and one gently scolded, "I've been working for a Christian Scientist for ten years, and I've never been invited before!" Of course, many neighbors already had church affiliations, but naturally the invitation still stood. "We're Unitarians, but we'd be glad to visit," said one. "I'm Roman Catholic," another explained. "We're Jewish."
