What is it like to sponsor and prayerfully support a Christian Science lecture that only a handful of your church members can attend? A large church in New York City had that opportunity this past year— and it was one of their most rewarding lecture-giving experiences ever.
The lecture, one of 15 to 20 given each year at correctional institutions, was held at Riker's Island, a large New York City detention center. Christian Science services had been conducted there at one time, but long since discontinued. It took a visit to the facility by the executive secretary of the state's Christian Science Committee for Institutional Service to set up the lecture. But the program director at Riker's enthusiastically agreed to the idea. And the date decided upon turned out to be the only date available for the lecturer, who was leaving the following day on a European tour. Obviously prayer was playing a big part in all the arrangements.
An inspirational meeting was held by members of the sponsoring branch church to help the members thwart claims of apathy, inertia, uncooperativeness, and occultism that might be found in a prison environment. A letter went out, too, to all members, showing the unique opportunity the prison lecture afforded them to see the transforming effect of the Christ on the community. It underscored the necessity for daily prayer and also urged specific metaphysical work before, during, and after the lecture.
