Of Good Report

Over the past year , Second Church of Christ, Scientist, in Fresno, California, has placed a greater focus on uniting to bless the community by demonstrating the power of prayer. This sense of commitment to blessing the community through prayer was grounded in Mary Baker Eddy’s definition of Church , which says in part, “The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick” ( Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures , p.

Several years ago while teaching a high school English class, I learned a valuable life lesson—that we cannot ignore or avoid problems that arise, but must confront and heal them. I was assigned a student who, by all appearances, from day one, had nothing but disgust for both me and everything I said.

Several years ago , one cold winter day in Utah, I was to read for the Wednesday night testimony meeting at my local branch Church of Christ, Scientist. And while I had prayed for myself and church, the readings were extremely hard to put together.

In September 2014 , the Christian Science Society in St. Petersburg, Russia, had the opportunity to participate in the Moscow International Book Fair, an annual multi-day exhibition, where organizations from many countries set up booths and share literature.

Though I was raised in a home where my parents knew of Christian Science, it was not practiced, and I grew resentful of it. Despite the marvelous things I knew about it, I blamed my parents and Christian Science for my unhappy life.

Sitting in my high school English class several years ago, I could have sworn that the hands on the clock on the wall never moved. I was watching it, I confess, hoping the bell would ring, signaling the end of class.

When I was a child and out with my mom doing errands, holding her hand was natural. If we were confronted with situations that involved potential danger, she would remind me to take her hand.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote a wonderful article called “Love Your Enemies” (see Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, pp. 8–13 ).

A very valuable truth we learn in Christian Science is that God is divine, infinite, eternal Life and Love. God is ever-present Truth, and this can be affirmed with certainty in the midst of any fearful situation.

Dear friend who wants to know … On a topic such as this, it’s fair to expect full disclosure. So, I’m obligated to say that I was raised in Christian Science and I’ve spent most of my life regularly attending Sunday School (and irregularly attending church after that).