When branch churches have good relationships with groups in the community, it can often lead to successful lectures. Lecture chairman David Jackson, at the Christian Science Society in Merrill, Wisconsin, discovered this recently when arranging a lecture-workshop conducted by Board of Lectureship member Cynthia Neely, who is also now serving as President of The Mother Church.
Says Jackson, "Two years ago a lecturer spoke with me about a workshop format for a lecture and how this could enable our church to respond to a wider audience in our community. Our members were receptive to this idea, and our clerk suggested doing a workshop for HAVEN (Household Abuse Victims Emergency Network)."
Making personal contact with HAVEN was easy, says Mr. Jackson, because their church has been one of HAVEN's financial supporters for years. "HAVEN was truly excited about co-sponsoring a talk with the Merrill Christian Science Society when I told them the title, 'Healing the Hurt,' and told them about the lecturer's background, both personal and professional."
