Ryazan, Russia: The leader of an Evangelical group ran across a
reference to Christian Science in an atheist dictionary. After reading
it
he realized that he agreed with the statements made about Christian Science
and found
reference to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, on the Internet.
He requested information, which led to the church providing his group
with a lecture/workshop
by Marie Helm in March 2007. The clerk’s representative for the
Russian-speaking
field accompanied Marie and the day after the lecture she and the
group leader, as first and second readers, performed the first reading
of the Bible Lesson for the group.
The group was so pleased with the
experience
that they asked
for markers, chalk and erasers so they could each mark and study
the Bible Lesson. The Foundation sent them ten sets of markers, chalk,
and erasers. The Foundation
is also delighted with requests like these, especially when they
come from the reading of an atheist dictionary. Not even the serpent and the apple
can keep Christian Science from being discovered.
THE SPIRITUAL RESOURCE FOUNDATION
Supporting Christian Science activities in the Russian-Speaking Field
Post Office Box 7278, Olympia, Washington 98507-7278
www.spiritualresource.org
Newsletter Volume IV May 2007
Dear Friends,
There is news eagerly waiting to be shared! And much of it is delightful!
Russian Lectures
Marie Helm, CSB has just completed a lecture tour in the Russian-speaking world
and keeps us well-informed. She reports that the Minister of an Evangelical
group came across a definition of Christian Science in an Atheistic Dictionary
and was surprised to find that he and Christian Science were in agreement.
He found The Mother Church on the Internet and asked for a copy of Science
and Health and later for a lecture to be given to his group. Marie lectured
to them in March and the ideas were well-received. She met with them the
next day to explain Christian Science further and to introduce them to the
Bible Lesson. The Minister was First Reader and the Clerk’s Representative
Second Reader. They loved it and wanted to mark and read the lesson themselves.
The Foundation sent them 10 sets of markers, chalk and erasers.
Russian Herald
The Russian Language Herald of Christian Science that we mentioned in the last
newsletter was printed in St. Petersburg and is being sold and given away
at lectures and to people responding to the shortwave radio broadcasts. Dr.
Hildegard Arnesen, CSB flew to St. Petersburg to negotiate the publishing
and the Foundation hired a manager there to supervise the printing of this
and all future Heralds. The current model is for The Christian Science Publishing
Society to review articles and copyright each issue and for the Foundation
to handle the design and printing. It is a great partnership! We are waiting
to hear from CSPS on the status of the next Herald. We are especially grateful
that a single donor came forth with the funds to pay for the first printing
and has also offered to pay for a second one. We will need to expand our fund raising if the Herald becomes a regular publication
and the Foundation is to handle printing.
Soviet-era CS Church History
As this Newsletter ‘goes to press’ a 400+ page publication, funded by the Foundation,
has just been printed in St. Petersburg, Russia. We are eagerly awaiting
our first copy of this book, which is the result of work by Doctor Michael
Krapivin, a history professor at the University of St. Petersburg. He was
inspired by the fact that, during the Soviet era, the KGB gathered more information
on Christian Science than on any other religious denomination. The Foundation
will provide a copy of this work to the Mary Baker Eddy Library and will
have parts of it translated into English.
Russian MBE Biography
We expect the translation of the biography: Mary Baker Eddy: Persistent Pilgrim,
by Richard Nenneman to be finished this fall. Given the resources, we would
like to translate another biography in the near future.
New CSB for Russian-speaking field
Did you notice the CSB after Marie’s name earlier? We are so blessed to now
have two Christian Science Teachers in the Russian-speaking field. Hildegard
is very appreciative of the help and can now begin to scale back her time
in Russia. The financial support of class instruction and Association attendance
is another important part of the Foundation’s work. It is often difficult
for people desiring to take class to come up with the funds to travel to
St. Petersburg and pay for their lodging.
Something very new!
Even more delight! First Church of Christ Scientist, Bedford, Bedfordshire,
England voted to sponsor a lecture in the Russian-speaking field as part
of their lecture outreach this year. The Foundation can’t take any credit
for this development, but sends them our most heartfelt gratitude for this
support. One of the members of the Bedford Church is going to be the Foundation’s
representative for the UK for future information sharing and joint projects.
The Church has reported that: “it is a privilege to be included in daily
supporting the work for our world and to be alerted to the apparent needs
in world consciousness - it makes praying for oneself and others stronger.”
Sister Churches
In the last Newsletter we introduced the idea of creating ‘sister churches’
as a way to support the informal groups and Christian Science Societies in
the Russian-speaking world that do not have any near neighbors from whom
they can learn all the details of church organization. The response has been
wonderful! Many more churches and individuals have responded than there are
groups to be ‘little sisters.’ Until the groups reach out for help, we have
asked the ‘big sisters’ to join with us in a large metaphysical support committee
to pray for spiritual solutions to some of the problems that seem to be in
the way of spiritual progress. The Russian Parliament is responsible for
the latest problem that the groups in Russia are facing. The law now requires
all religious organizations and NGOs to keep records and report on everyone that attends every meeting and how much money they contribute. This is similar
to what the KGB did and has the effect of scaring people away from attending
meetings. Ralph Emerson, CS is chairing this metaphysical support group and
keeping it informed of specific needs for prayer. From the bottom of our
hearts we thank all of you that are participating in this wonderful work.
Board Visit to Russia
AND … we have just learned that the Christian Science Board of Directors will
visit St. Petersburg in September to hold one of their Open Forum meetings.
It will be held just after Hildegard’s association so that many people will
already be in St. Petersburg. Those who want to attend this important event,
but who need financial assistance, the Foundation will help. This will also
help to show the love and interest that The Mother Church has for the Russian-speaking
field.
Changing of the Guard
You will notice that the Foundation has a new Board member! We sadly say goodbye
to Samantha Gudger and thank her for all of her good work as Secretary, and
joyfully welcome Catherine Crossman to the Board to replace her.
To You, our Special Friends
We very much welcome your support of Christian Science activities in this seemingly
challenged part of the world. We could never fully express our gratitude
for all that you have done to help us, but we will try by continuing to respond
to the needs that come to us. We will be posting future newsletters on our
website. Let us know if you prefer to download them from the website, or
would rather have us e-mail the Newsletter directly to you. This will save
on postage and will help with our pressing need for funds to support the
shortwave radio broadcasts. We must also send special thanks to Kimberly
of Quality Printing and Graphics in Williamsville, New York, for contributing
the printing of all of our Newsletters. This has been a very big help.
With much gratitude for your loving support:
William T. Arnesen, Charles Glover, Ralph W. Emerso,n Catherine C. Crossma,n
Leslie C. Knowle,s Sonny O Lindvall
THE SPIRITUAL RESOURCE FOUNDATION
Supporting Christian Science activities in the Russian-Speaking Field
Post Office Box 7278, Olympia, Washington 98507-7278
www.spiritualresource.org
Volume III July 2006
Dear Fellow Christian Scientists,
It is love which started The Spiritual Resource Foundation, and it is Love
which continues to guide it in the most appropriate way to support Christian
Science activities in the Russian-speaking field. We appreciate all of the
love and support you have provided through your prayers, your time and your
contributions. Without this, we would not be able to help the new groups
that are forming or continue to fund existing activities.
First we would like to share some new developments:
A group has formed in Tbilisi, Georgia. After their first Christian Science Lecture
they established a Reading Room which they call “Mary Baker Eddy Library”
where they hold services in Russian and English.
A Russian Christian Science Herald is being prepared for printing for the first
time in St. Petersburg. Articles were translated from Sentinels and Journals
and some were written especially for the new Herald. It is a wonderful
publication, which will herald the healing power of God's Law to the
Russian-speaking field. A second one is planned for later this year,
and we pray that this will become a quarterly publication.
Two women in Kherson, Ukraine have volunteered to undertake the production of
new radio programs for broadcast to the Russian field. This is a wonderful
development because we are now rebroadcasting existing programs. We just
received word that our broadcasts are heard as far away as Japan.
A new special lecturer has been appointed who is a native Russian and Ukranian
speaker. This will help with the eleven lectures given annually by Hildegard
Arnesen and Marie Helm.
As in previous years, we will provide the staff for the Christian Science exhibit
at the annual Moscow International Book Fair. The Board of Lectureship
will sponsor a lecture during this weeklong exhibit.
It seems that one of the major needs in the Russian-speaking field is solid Christian
Science governance. We have been praying about and discussing ways we
can mentor churches and groups to help foster a better understanding
of the all-important Manual-based concepts of democracy and accountability.
The idea of 'sister-churches' came to us, to bring churches in different
parts of the world together for guidance and support. Would your church
be interested in helping these beginning groups in such a capacity? Would
your church be interested in being a 'sister-church'? Another way groups could be helped is by providing subscriptions to periodicals,
for example, the Sentinel, the Herald, the Journal, or the International
edition of the Monitor. The Clerk's Representative for the Russian-speaking
field will ask the groups and Societies if they would welcome such a
connection. It could be a marvelous adventure. Most of the Societies
and groups have English speakers.
The greatest support we can give groups and individuals is our prayers. Some
countries even refuse to allow Christian Science church groups to register
and establish themselves as legal entities. This makes it difficult or
nearly impossible to rent space or start a reading room. We would greatly
appreciate any involvement and support your church could offer the groups
in the Russian-speaking field.
With much Love,
Bill, Ralph, Charles, Samantha, Leslie, Sonny
Check out our Website and listen to the Bible Lesson in Russian. It is a beautiful
language.
earball
media