Our branch church membership has been learning that a church grows through Mind's eternal mandate (see Science and Health 520:23). In the Bible we read, "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes" (Isa. 54:2).
This passage inspired us to enlarge our concept of church by opening our thought to the light of Truth. We saw "spare not" as a demand never to withhold or be stingy with our love for God and His children. "Lengthen thy cords" impelled us to reach out more to our community and to all mankind. We need to "strengthen [our] stakes" through deep, consecrated study of the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy—rather than just rest on yesterday's accomplishments.
The membership began to spend five minutes each day praying for the children of the world. This prayerful activity brought growth to our church in an unusual way. The immediate result was a readiness to embrace children in our church and to serve them through the avenues provided in Manual-based church activity, whereas before we had not been able to find enough willing members to staff the Sunday School and Children's Room.
