Early in my college years, I gave music lessons to a little boy, and as I got to know his family, I learned that they were Christian Scientists.

Since my mid-teens, I had been dissatisfied and uncomfortable with the faith I had grown up in. I was deeply afraid of God and felt unworthy to be in His presence, and those feelings just didn’t seem right to me. However, because these and other mistaken beliefs about God were so ingrained in me, when I heard that my new friends were Christian Scientists, I felt I needed to save their souls from what I then believed would surely be eternal damnation.

The little boy’s mother and I met many times. During each of our get-togethers, she would patiently and lovingly respond to the viewpoints put forth by my “soul-saving” pamphlets and explain Christian Science insights into such concepts as sin and salvation. During our talks, I had numerous “aha” moments. In short, I was learning of God’s incredible love and amazing grace. And I really wanted to learn more.