What does it take to change a life?

It is a great privilege to see a life change for the better. I saw this happen many times during a seven-year period when I was a volunteer at a youth correctional facility as a Christian Science chaplain. With the help of my husband and another Christian Science practitioner, this ministry grew to over fifty students who met regularly to study the Bible along with Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Before I share an example of how these teachings make a difference, let’s explore a little about them.

There are many accounts in the Bible of people who experienced life-changing spiritual regeneration. The most dramatic turnaround in the Scriptures is probably that of the Apostle Paul. 

The book of Acts tells us his given name was Saul, and describes him as a passionate persecutor of Christians. But on his way to Damascus to wreak more havoc, Saul was struck blind by a light from heaven. He heard the voice of Christ Jesus and realized that he had been mistaken in persecuting Christians. Filled with a new humility, he was transformed from a self-righteous religious zealot, subsequently took the name of Paul, and became a devoted servant of Christ and builder of the Christian church (see 9:1–20).