When I was growing up , my family occasionally attended nondenominational church services, but I don’t think I ever opened a Bible. I recall asking my dad when I was about eight, “What is God?” He responded by showing me a plant and saying, “Man can’t make this leaf; only God can.” That was a good start. I asked the same question in the Sunday Schools I visited, but received vague answers.

Then, when I was 14, a relative introduced our family to Christian Science. In Sunday School, the teacher showed me the definition of God from the Glossary of Science and Health (see p. 587). We discussed its meaning, and the teacher offered examples to help make God real to me. From that day on, I knew I had found God and that I was a Christian Scientist.

The rest of my family eventually drifted away from Christian Science, but I kept going to Sunday School and then on to church. Why? Because it was working for me. My deepest questions were being answered, I was learning how to pray, and I started experiencing healings—including pulled muscles restored overnight, warts disappearing in days, and, later, broken bones mended and usable within a week. All of these left a huge impression on me, and kept me hungering to understand more about this Science. So several years later I took Christian Science Primary class instruction.

My deepest questions were being answered, I was learning how to pray, and I started experiencing healings.

Later, working as an architect and developer, I attended a seminar where one of the speakers asked us to write down what we feared or hesitated to do most. I wrote down, “I hesitate to share Christian Science with non-Christian Scientists.” The instructor said: “To be successful in any endeavor, we must overcome our fears. This seminar is recessed for the rest of the afternoon for you to go out and conquer your fear.”

After getting over my initial shock, I purchased six copies of Science and Health at a local Christian Science Reading Room and then sought a means of sharing the books. An opportunity presented itself when I saw a group of homeless men in a park. My heart started pounding when I approached them, but I was put at ease as I listened to their stories and inspiration. Four men graciously received the book and accepted the few things I shared. What an inspiring experience! The next day I thwarted an attempted robbery when I gave the other two copies of Science and Health to some surprised thieves!

The next week, I was invited to serve on my church’s institutions committee, reading the weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson to inmates, handing out literature, and giving Christian Science treatments to individuals when asked. Soon the inmates started requesting Christian Science treatment and experiencing healings. I found that this ministry carried over into my day job, too, as people started sharing challenges they were having, which I addressed by introducing clients to Christian Science. 

With all this practice, I considered becoming a full-time Christian Science practitioner, thinking I would probably do this sometime after retirement. Boy, did those plans change, moving up about 25 years sooner! One Sunday in 2001, after hearing an inspiring talk about the public practice of Christian Science, I turned to my wife and said, “Honey, if you’ll take over our business, I’d like to become a practitioner—starting today!” Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes, I’ll do it.” The very next day I started my public practice.

The first patient who came to my office knew little about Christian Science. As she listed all her challenges, including many life-threatening diseases, I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” Then, “This is a case for my Christian Science teacher, not me!” The third thought was more inspired: “It is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony” (Science and Health, p. 390). She was completely healed, joined the church, took class instruction, and continues to be a dear friend over a decade later.

The Christian Science practice has been a joyous and blessed journey.