why unite with CHURCH? December 8, 2003 Issue

A place of belonging, a healing ministry

Frank Magwegwe

Unemployed, homeless, and devoid of religious views, I was turning toward God only because I was searching for something to take me out of my misery. Everything else had failed.

One night, I saw a window display with Christian Science literature and an address for the local Reading Room. The next morning, I went to this Reading Room and poured out my heart to the attendant. She told me that God loved me and that my real job was to express Him. She let me borrow a copy of a book called Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Immediately, I started reading it, and although I didn't understand much of it, I carried on because I wanted to learn how I could receive the blessings promised in the first sentence of its preface: "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings" (p. vii).

After studying the definition of Church on page 583, I decided to attend Christian Science services at the local branch Church of Christ, Scientist, because I wanted to experience this concept of Church. At the branch church, I felt welcome and loved, as well as a strong sense of belonging. After a few months, I applied for membership, and found that it involved much more than regular attendance. It was an opportunity for me to support the branch church prayerfully and to serve God and my community. I saw that membership was a privilege and duty to carry with me the helpful definition of Church set forth in Science and Health.