Outreach/Facebook Fruitage

Our Facebook Outreach Plan is uniquely designed to reach the non-Christian Scientist living within driving distance of your branch church or society.

The dialog I have with people below is no different from the loving exchanges and chats I’ve had with visitors in the Reading Room when I was the attendant on duty. Another way to think of Facebook outreach is that it is a 24×7 online-version of  your group’s Reading Room / Usher activity – it’s being out int he community and making yourself  present and available to answer the same questions Reading Room attendants and ushers are asked when guests come.

What this activity is not is a venue for public debate (The Manual of The Mother Church, Article X, Section 1).

How successful are we?  Check it out:

Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Jacksonville

[March, 2020] This church’s Facebook ad campaign received a message from someone in their field of labor asking for help about homelessness.  Of course, we attempted to meet her practical need with a link to State and local resources. We also helped her with links to some inspiring articles on homelessness, as well as a poem from our Hymnal.  You can see from her response that she was grateful for the information.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clearwater

[March, 2020] This church’s Facebook ad campaign received a comment from someone in their community clearly confused about Christian Science.  Read our response and her follow-up!

It’s heartening to see how our patient, loving outreach is removing burdens of confusion in our communities.

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Christian Science North Texas

[March, 2020] This group’s Facebook page received a comment from one of their ad campaigns which has as a tagline, “Like our Facebook page and receive your daily Bible-based inspiration.”  Read her comment and our response.

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Christian Science in Greater St. Louis

[March, 2020] This group’s Facebook page received three questions about Christian Science theology. I couldn’t recall offhand if Mrs. Eddy every used the exact phrase, ‘Holy Spirit’, but after some quick Concord work was able to confirm that she indeed did!  Thanks, Concord!  🙂

She was also invited to an upcoming church service.

It’s heartening to see this group’s outreach to their St. Louis community – and the gentle and loving introduction we’re making to them about Christian Science.

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Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist Washington DC

[March, 2020] This church’s Facebook page received a question about their name, and we responded.

It’s wonderful to know that we this church’s outreach to their community is helping individuals get a clearer understanding of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

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Christian Science South Carolina

[February, 2020] This joint media group for South Carolina received comments resulting from a post about how Jesus taught us to pray. Two women took the time to give thanks for this post.

This is a great example of wonderful fruitage from their statewide outreach.

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Christian Science South Carolina

[February, 2020] This joint media group for South Carolina received a negative comment from someone clearly confused about Christian Science. I responded to him.  What’s incredible (and wonderful to see over and over again) is that he came back three days later and Liked my response so much that he clicked Thumbs Up!

This is a big deal!  It means that we helped one person in the community to see more clearly what Christian Science is. It means that there’s one less person burdened with a misunderstanding of Christian Science.

This is a great example of why this kind of patient, consistent, 24×7 responsive outreach is so important.

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Christian Science Society, Valdosta

[February, 2020] This gentleman in Valdosta saw our Valentine’s Day post just, and requested to read it in Spanish. I translated it for him and then asked if he’d like to have the Bible and Science and Health in Spanish and provided him the links to TMC’s online store – the Spanish editions. He’s already expressed Thank You twice for the information.

This Facebook outreach that the Joint Media Committee has established for each church in Georgia’s field of labor, but with everyone across the state – through the 16 Facebook pages it maintains – is a 24/7 open door outreach to the community. And it’s so important! It’s a place where people each week reach out with questions or comments or requests, like Mr. Martinez below – and they are lovingly addressed or answered.

This steady, quiet, un-pushy outreach to the non-Scientists is blessing the community. Every week people express gratitude for not only the pictures, but the texts and the healing articles.

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Christian Science South Carolina

[February, 2020] Two expressions of gratitude from one post. It’s wonderful that they are active in and responding to the ‘hungering hearts’ in their community – and if some are taking the time to express appreciation, that is a good indication that many more are appreciating the inspiring posts, but may not take the time to say so.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Decatur, IL

[January, 2020] This church’s Facebook page received a comment from someone in their field of labor saying that they hope to stop by at the upcoming Wednesday service.

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Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Washington DC

[January, 2020] This church’s Facebook page received a negative comment from someone in their community. You can read his accusation and then read our patient and loving response, and then – the wonderful part – is his response after reading our response – He apologized for his words and wished blessings on us!

This is another great example of how having an active Facebook presence in your community can help transform understanding and perceptions of the people living within your immediate community.

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Christian Science Church, Wichita

[February, 2020] A member of this branch church’s community reached out for support through one of their ads, and was responded to.

Their presence in your community is ‘gathering beneath its wings the sick and sinning.’ – S&H 55:16

This group’s Facebook presence in their community and quick and loving response is just like a 24/7 Reading Room and is transforming thought!

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Christian Science in St. Louis

[January, 2020] This group yesterday received a comment from someone in their community, which was quickly responded to. The ‘thumbs-up’ at the bottom of my comments are from her! Showing her approval of the response, and – hopefully – showing forth her [now] improved impression of Christian Science.

I chose to respond to this particular question in a personal voice (‘Kimberley’) because given the type of question, it is a more loving and personal/intimate response to a question like this. Plus, in this case, I wanted to refer to personal experience, and not speak in impersonal generalities.

This group’s Facebook presence in their community and quick and loving moderation is transforming thought!

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Christian Science Church, Wichita

[January, 2020] A recent Follower of this church’s Facebook page Shared this post with her Friends early this (Sunday) morning along with her remarkable comment, “I believe we will go there this morning.”

Imagine how many others are feeling the same way all because of their Facebook presence in the community, and their clear outreach to the non-Scientist – the loving, patient, inspiring, and recurring posts being made daily.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Decatur, IL

[January, 2020] Members of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Decatur, IL received a question from someone in their community. Read the comment below, and the response.

This is what Facebook outreach is all about!
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Christian Science in Georgia

[January, 2020] The statewide Georgia Facebook page (we also maintain Facebook pages for each Georgia church and society – for special outreach to each church’s individual field of labor) got a lovely expression of gratitude for our posts from a Follower of our statewide page. Read the snip below. Imagine that if there’s this one – and how many others Like our posts daily and express quick gratitude (Amen!) – how many others are also reading and appreciating our daily posts and haven’t yet reached out or visited. They may someday stop by one of our GA churches.

Sometimes all it just takes is just patience, some repetition, and a bit of sweet familiarity.

Apparently, she now lives in Butte, MT. She requested to know about a CS church close to her, and you can see my response. I also emailed the two churches closest to her – FCCS, Missoula and FCCS, Bozeman to let them know to keep an eye out for her.

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Christian Science in Greater St. Louis

[January, 2020] This woman reached out to the Christian Scientists through their Greater St. Louis Facebook page. She made a statement about Christ Jesus, and we alertly and lovingly responded to her, invited her to the services tomorrow night and she expressed her gratitude.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, DeLand, FL

[January, 2020] This woman reached out to the members of FCCS, DeLand asking if they were the church of scientology.  Her response (!!) is the reason why an active Facebook page in the community, along with alert and loving moderation, is so important to the Cause of Christian Science.  It’s about being present and alert in the community.

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Christian Science Church, Wichita

[January, 2020] A Spanish-speaking member of their local community reached out to them through their Facebook page asking a question, and received a response in Spanish.

Translation

Question:  preaching in spanish ?? What bible do you recommend? Thanks God bless you

Answer:  We don’t hold services in Spanish yet! But we do sell Bibles and Science and Health in Spanish. Come by our Reading Room at 702 W. Douglas from 11:00 am till 5:30 pm. You’ll be warmly welcomed!  God bless you!

You should also come by our Sunday service today. We have Biblical authority (as in the day of Pentecost when the Spirit made Himself known to each person in his own language! (Acts 2:1-12)

Our Sunday service today is from 10:30 – 11:30 and is held at 4501 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS.  Hope to see you there! <HUGE hug!>

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Christian Science Church, Wichita

[January, 2020] A woman reached out through this Facebook page asking some hard questions about the Bible. This is another great example where we are in the immediate community available to respond to questions and correct misunderstandings.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clearwater

[December, 2019] Clearwater, FL is the home of a major center of the church of Scientology. This woman reached out to FCCS, Clearwater expressing her clear confusion of our church with them.  See our response below and her even sweeter response!  THIS is what Facebook outreach is all about – introducing what Christian Science IS and ISN’T.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Kalamazoo

[December, 2019] This man has been Following Kalamazoo’s page for a while, and today he liked one of our posts so much that he SHARED it with HIS Facebook Friends!  And he added to the share, his comment that it was a ‘Good read ty’ (ty means thank you).  Here is yet another example of someone in their church community who is not only receiving the daily inspirational posts, but reading and engaging with them by clicking to expand to read more, and then commenting, and then sharing them!  Learning about and sharing the good news of the promised Comforter!  What an effective method of outreach!

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Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, Washington DC

[December, 2019] This woman reached out expressing thanks for a advertisement that helped her. She wrote, “I NEED THAT TODAY…”.  We responded with an invitation for her to Like 4th Church’s Facebook page and she would get inspiration from it daily.  We also invited her to the next service (Wednesday). She seemed truly grateful.

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Christian Science in Greater St. Louis

[December, 2019] Someone reached out to the St. Louis group through one of the ads we’re running and asked a great question about the Christian Science theology.  It’s wonderful getting these questions, and getting the opportunity to respond right away and answer them!

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Decatur, IL

[December, 2019] A woman who lives within driving distance of the Decatur, IL church reached out through their Facebook page. The end of the conversation ended with her saying she’d try to attend an upcoming service.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Athens, GA

[November, 2019]  This relates to a Thanksgiving Banner designed by Glad Sound Outreach. A complete stranger who lives in the Athens community came to our Thanksgiving service. She said she has driven by the church lots of times in the past years and noticed the Thanksgiving banner (see image of the banner below, click to enlarge it) on the front lawn the past two years.  This banner is put up on the front lawn the first week of November each year. She wasn’t sure what she was doing on Thanksgiving, so she told herself this year she would come and see what Christian Science was all about.  Her comments after the service were filled with joy at hearing the Bible read, and all about Christ Jesus and healing.  She said she is most an ‘unaffiliated Baptist’.  She said she felt very connected with the theology she heard at our service and that we will see her again Wednesday and/or Sunday.  A few members invited her to their homes for Thanksgiving, but while she didn’t know where she would spend it, she did have a couple of offers from family and so politely turned the offer down.

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Christian Science North Texas (statewide group)

[November, 2019]  Another great opportunity to answer questions from folks living within the CSNT’s immediate field of labor!

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Decatur, IL

[October, 2019] “I would thou wert cold or hot” – Revelation.  So sometimes we have to respond to the ‘hot’ as well!  🙂  This nice woman left a comment accusing CS of being a cult.  See my response.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clearwater, FL

[October, 2019] A man today asked what Christian Science had to do with ‘science’.  Read the discussion below.

Without Facebook outreach – where a person like this man (and many below) can ask a question and get a pretty quick answer – he might have gone a lifetime not understanding or knowing about what Christian Science is – or even without a warm and personal invitation to our Wednesday and Sunday service.

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Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Wichita, Kansas

[October, 2019]  A man in the community reached out for a Bible. The church responded, sending it out (along with printed articles of healings of muscular dystrophy) immediately.

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Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Wichita, Kansas

[October, 2019]  A woman reached out asking for any books or magazines on Christian Science, and was invited to the services. She will go by their Reading Room to pick up a Spanish Science & Health and a Heraldo.

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Christian Science North Texas (statewide group)

[September, 2019]  Corrected a false understanding held by someone who reached out for further information about CS. He left with a whole new understanding of CS – a positive one!

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Christian Science South Carolina (statewide group)

[September, 2019]  This is a great example of how GladSoundOutreach connects seekers in their own community, with church members living locally – who can personally invite them to services and lectures.  This is where the ‘rubber meets the road’!

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Christian Science Georgia (statewide group)

[September, 2019] Gratitude from a man grateful for the inspiring posts.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clearwater, FL

[August, 2019] Follow the discussion below and see the exchange with a woman living in the field of labor of the branch church in Clearwater.  This woman (a non-Scientist living within 50 miles of this branch church) reached out to us through this branch church’s Facebook ad campaign (which goes to everyone living within 50 miles of that branch church) and commented on the ad.  There is a big Scientology center in Clearwater, and she had assumed that we have relationship with the church of Scientology.  She now is another heart gently and lovingly corrected of her misunderstanding.  Another great example of how Facebook outreach is reaching into the hearts of our branch’s community and introducing the Comforter.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Clearwater, FL

[July, 2019] Follow the discussion below and see the exchange with a woman living in the field of labor of the branch church in Clearwater.  This woman (a non-Scientist living within 30 miles of this branch church) reached out to us through the message function of Facebook to inquire as to our relationship with the church of Scientology. The exchange ended in her saying she was planning on visiting her local CS church in Seminole.  Isn’t this what outreach is all about?

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Decatur, IL

[May, 2019] Follow the discussion below and see the wonderful response from a member of First Church, Decatur, Illinois. This woman (a non-Scientist living within 30 miles of this branch church) read the recent JSH article entitled, “God taught me how to love my mom” and responded with comments. And her yearning was met with a tender and sweet personal invitation – to which she responded that she will ‘see about going there.’  Isn’t this what outreach is all about?

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Kalamazoo

For their 2019 lecture on April 14th, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Kalamazoo budgeted $200 for their lecture’s Facebook ad campaign. Their campaign went to people living within 30 miles of their church.

• They reached over 3,200 people,
• received 42 Event Responses,
• had one person (totally new to CS) request a ride to the lecture and 2 members arranged to pick her up,
• had 6 people Share the lecture ad with their friends,
• had 44 people click the ad content or header which explained the lecture topic or the church sponsoring the lecture,
• had 2 people Comment on the ad (see image below),
• and had 5 people RSVP that they were attending.

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First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rome, GA

[February, 2019] As a result of their continued Facebook activity (daily inspirational posts), FCCS, Rome has seen a visitor from their area attending their services. Written up by Belinda M. J. – a member of FCCS, Rome:

“I first heard from this young woman when she and two others “liked” the Rome Facebook page early in the year. I was led to check out her personal Facebook page and discovered she lives in Rome and found from a post on her page that she had a website selling inspirational items. Because one has the saying “There is no spot where God is not”  and another poster which listed synonyms for God, I felt a connection. From this, I discovered that she was an inter-faith minister. She also “liked” our page in February.”

“In late February, we had two visitors to our church. When I found out her name and recognized it from Facebook, it was like greeting an old friend. We were able to discuss her website and discuss the ideas which were familiar to us. She asked some questions about our service and I was able to introduce her to our other members. I’m still hoping to follow up on her visit.” – Belinda

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Athens, GA

In 2018 a young man found FCCS, Athens through Facebook and even posted this photo (see below) to show his Facebook Friends the new church he’d found. Since then he’s purchased a set of books at our Reading Room, is marking/reading his books daily, has applied for Class Instruction, has joined the church, and is now the Clerk.