Branch Church News
I’ve listened to both sides of the debate as to the best way to promote church growth. Some say updates, modernized appearances, relaxed atmospheres, new music, relaxed membership qualifications, and so on, are needed.
When someone wants to join a Christian Science branch church, he or she generally fills out an application form generated by that branch. Each branch church has a different procedure for new applicants based on its bylaws, but many churches have membership committees that then meet with the applicant to discuss his or her commitment to Church and to Christian Science.
“I would love to know more about how to save a closing Christian Science church or society. There are only a few members left at this church, and it will be sold if something doesn’t happen quickly.
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ” These words found in Isaiah ( 55:1 ) typify the call of the Christ, God’s divine manifestation or ideal, to suffering humanity throughout all ages.
As an employee of the International Service Department (ISD) at The Mother Church, I was delighted when asked to help plan and accompany the Christian Science Board of Directors on a visit in March to Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. The Board wanted to join hands with African members of The Mother Church as a Church family, to further unite and strengthen the Christian Science movement.
In the Church Manual Mary Baker Eddy shared a description under the heading “Prayer in Church,” for the direction of our prayers. She wrote: “The prayers in Christian Science churches shall be offered for the congregations collectively and exclusively” ( p.
Since my awakenin g to Christian Science in 1970, I have studied deeply the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, along with Mary Baker Eddy’s other writings. This naturally led to my becoming an active Christian Scientist, including serving at The Mother Church for the past several years, and previously in its branch churches.
Our members wanted a place of worship they could call their own. For over a decade, our Christian Science Society, and then church—Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Lagos, Nigeria—had been holding services in the Christian Science Reading Room belonging to First Church, which had its church edifice 25 kilometers from the Reading Room.
I was a Reader in my Christian Science branch church for 19 years. All but one of those years I served as First Reader.
I love attending my branch church in Nigeria. There is such a warm, palpable sense of fellowship, and always a vibrant expectation of witnessing another’s spiritual progress through a testimony of healing, or of hearing an acknowledgment of God’s goodness.