A branch Church of Christ, Scientist, has great possibilities for outreach and expansion when its members dedicate themselves more to loving God and man, as well as to understanding and being motivated by the spiritual idea of Church. The latter is defined in the Glossary of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy as "the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle."Science and Health, p. 583;
As branch church members learn more of the spiritual sense of Church, and recognize that it embraces all mankind, they find themselves wanting to reach out more in love toward the community their branch serves. To pray most effectively for the community, they need to know about the specific problems seemingly besetting it.
They might start by asking themselves if they have studied their locality to discover its problems. Is there poverty, overcrowding, lack of housing, crime, apathy, disease—or even just smug self-satisfaction? The discerning church member should know what goes on in his community and its local government to see where the healing power of God, infinite Love, is needed. Then, as he finds out the facts, he'll have something specific to pray about.
