Outreach and Events

Volunteer

/ Volunteer / Outreach and Events

Outreach and Events

Many Christian Scientists are aware of the work of The Principle Foundation and have donated to help others. Some have received grants. Others in the CS movement don’t know about TPF and its activities — and so a Local Committee (LC) can be a valuable source of information, benevolent inspiration, and action that serves a Christian Science community.

Spreading the Word

There are several ways LCs can aid in “spreading the word” about The Principle Foundation (both as individual members and as an LC):

Tell Christian Scientists in the local community about the financial assistance TPF offers — especially when there’s a need expressed
Encourage others to join a Local Committee. This includes both one-to-one conversations and through letters to local branch churches from an LC that include an invitation for more members
Sponsor a local event to encourage inspired thought and benevolent action and to make local Christian Scientists aware of TPF. These events can take different forms:
- An inspirational talk on benevolence given by a qualified Christian Scientist (can be offered in person, online, or a hybrid)
- A hands-on workshop run by a member of the TPF leadership team to deepen understanding of “inspired benevolence” as practiced by TPF (generally, only offered as an in-person event)
Events are fully supported by the national office, including engaging or providing speakers/facilitators, collaborating on promotional materials, and covering all the associated costs.

Holding a TPF event is a bit like doing Paul’s work:

“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”

– Acts 13:49)

GRATITUDE POSTS

Why I love being on a Local Committee

This is the highest paying job I’ve ever had, even though I don’t make any money! Whenever we get a case I think, “Good, I get to see where this applies to my own experience right now.”

I come away from each committee meeting bursting with a renewed desire to pray for my fellow man, and to be more aware of the needs in my church and community.

What I love about being on a local committee is being able to provide fellow Christian Scientists with practical assistance.

I'm learning what benevolence means by applying this Manual By-Law to the work: "God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of [our local committee's grant team]!

We see each requester as desiring to work out their need from a spiritual perspective, always acknowledging the ever-present goodness and provision of divine Love. Committee members listen to discern the real need and prayerfully address the claim in their own thought.

My experience on a LC has led to my spiritual growth by affording me opportunities to apply the healing truth to impositions that have come to my thought. All are reciprocally blessed by engaging in this work.

Benevolence is always present, and wise, and good, but many times it turns out to be expressed quite differently from what one may originally expected it to be.

Serving on a local committee puts one onto the fast lane of spiritual growth filled with gratitude. It is patterned as that of the "pattern of the mount" — principled, inspiring, healing, and blessed!

LC work has taught me that benevolence must involve growing spiritually, and with Christly love that uplifts and inspires both the giver and receiver.

What I most love about volunteering for TPF is the opportunity to help fellow Christian Scientists on their path to understanding the true source of supply.

Being a local committee member has taught me that the need is never money, although money may help get a person through a rough spot while they figure out that the need isn’t money.

The force of our metaphysical work is felt by more than just the requestor. We've seen neighborhoods stepping in to help the requestor where the needs were many and overwhelming, with every need met; where committee members were hours away by car, but the benevolence was there where needed.

What I love about the work is that it's the “practice” even though we might not officially be listed in the Journal; we are “in the practice” and we experience the results.

What I love about working with a Local Committee is sharing powerful statements of Truth and Love as we prayerfully work through each case.

Being on a Local Committee supports the requester to find their already available abundance. In fact, the requester is validating their worth by asking for help.

This work has taught me how to look at our requestors more spiritually — not with pity, but with expectancy of lifting up our fellow man. In the story of Noah and the Ark, the ark was kept up, up, up, as the waters were flooding more. When we seem to be flooded with troubles, we’re actually being lifted above life's challenges.