I had been reading the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy for a couple of years before I discovered there was a church connected to it. I had experienced many healings through reading the book, so I felt very happy to find the church. I began attending Sunday services and testimony meetings on Wednesdays at a Christian Science church near me in Brazil, and I became a member of the church a few months later.
Soon after, there was an announcement at one of the services about becoming a member of The Mother Church in Boston. On my first visit to a Christian Science Reading Room, the attendant had given me some literature, including a Portuguese edition of The Herald of Christian Science and the Manual of The Mother Church. I had no idea what The Mother Church was other than what I learned about it from reading its By-Laws in the Manual.
I asked myself: “Why would I become a member of The Mother Church? This is a big responsibility! Do you feel you are prepared and ready to commit to so great a Cause?” I felt so much love for the things I was learning in Christian Science about God, and I wanted to be part of the solution to help reduce suffering in the world. And here was a church that was focused on healing and bringing relief to millions of people through this wonderful Science of the Christ. My desire to unite with this Cause with all my strength and love led me to apply for membership in The Mother Church.
