Years ago my wife was suffering from severe hemorrhaging. This had gone on for weeks, and she was under the observation of three physicians. Friends told me about Christian Science and advised me to seek the help of a Christian Science practitioner, which I did immediately. After returning home from my first visit with the practitioner, I learned that the hemorrhaging had stopped. The doctors were surprised and unable to explain this change. My wife was well, healed through prayer alone.

Longing to understand better this wonderful healing method, I began to search and to seek. This involved regular attendance at the Sunday services and Wednesday testimony meetings in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. Also, the Christian Science literature, translated into German, was of inestimable value to me, especially during the difficult time from 1933 to 1945. The divine truths, which I absorbed eagerly and unreservedly, protected our family from many a trouble, including starvation and the concentration camp.

One day, as the mayor of a small municipality, I was arrested and sent to prison. Although I was aware that Christian Science was prohibited in the country in which I was living, I refused to part with my copy of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and I carried it around with me. The most amazing thing happened—nobody confiscated it! One of my fellow prisoners, a physician who had observed me for some time, inquired, "What kind of book do you have there? You look so radiant!" I handed it to him, and from then on we both studied enthusiastically. Two other physicians also took notice of us and what we were reading. Thus the Christ message of man's true liberty as the offspring of God illumined our prison cell. Within a short time, the four of us were released.

After the birth of our son it became apparent that one of his little legs was approximately five centimeters (two inches) shorter than the other. According to the law of our country, a physician had to be notified. He examined the child and told us that our son would be crippled for life because his pelvic bones were too soft. The doctor also urged that the baby be hospitalized. Faced with this verdict of permanent disability, I declined medical care for the infant and adhered strictly to the rules for Christian Science healing.

Immediately I contacted a Christian Science practitioner, who agreed to pray for the child. She recommended that I ponder this statement by our Leader (Science and Health, p. 250): "Spirit is the Ego which never dreams, but understands all things; which never errs, and is ever conscious; which never believes, but knows; which is never born and never dies. Spiritual man is the likeness of this Ego." One evening when my wife and I looked into our son's crib, we were overjoyed to see that the healing was complete. Both his legs were the same length! Later on, as he grew, he was able to walk and run normally, and he was in no way handicapped. Today he pursues his occupation as a welder.

Healings of a nervous breakdown and a cardiac infarct were also accomplished solely through unshakable reliance on the rules of divine Science.

I am deeply grateful to God for our inspired Leader, who showed us how we can follow the Christ, Truth. In addition, I thank our practitioners for their faithful devotion. Membership in The Mother Church, and in a branch church, which I am happy to serve, is very precious to me.

For quite some time, I had been suffering from severe headaches. One day they occurred with such severity that I lost consciousness, and my family had me taken to a hospital. When I woke, medical authorities said that I had a brain tumor and needed an immediate operation. Knowing the reality that God is my Life, and that this Life is independent of material conditions, I declined the operation. No medical care was given me.

Confident that Christian Science could heal me, I prayed, pondering these words from the Bible (Isa. 41:10): "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Also, with all my heart I endeavored to follow this admonition of Mrs. Eddy's (Science and Health, p. 14): "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual,—neither in nor of matter,—and the body will then utter no complaints. If suffering from a belief in sickness, you will find yourself suddenly well."

The following day I left the hospital of my own volition. And within a week, solely through prayer in Christian Science, and complete healing came about.

HANS KARBERG
Barsinghausen, Federal Republic of Germany