3 moral and intellectual virtues for your church

Dear Friends of Mary Baker Eddy:

We are a group of sincere, practicing Christian Scientists in Kenya who want to spread our beloved religion through education.

Can you help? We would love it!

May I tell you what happened to First Church of Christ Scientist, Garden Grove, California? They were sad because of diminishing numbers.

We offered a solution to them: we said that their Church with all its beautiful healings in the past would continue its healing mission at our Sunrise of Africa School and Society!

That lovely Church accepted our offer! And so, one of our two Sunrise of Africa Schools took on the name of Garden Grove!!

Today that Church, Garden Grove, continues and progresses with us in a different location…growing bigger in grace and gaining richness through education half a world away from its original spot now right here in Kenya. You can see the sign.

We would like to offer the same kind of thing to you and your loving, loyal church members.

In 2004, we started our first of two Sunrise of Africa Schools with 4 kids on the West side of Nairobi, and in 2008 on the East side of Nairobi, Kenya.

We offer a high-quality private school education. All receive Monday School, which is like Christian Science Sunday School using the Weekly Bible Lesson in our classrooms.

We now teach over 440 children at our twin Christian Science schools.

Let me repeat that exciting news. In 7 years, from 4 children we have over 440 children from pre-school to 7th grade in our two schools, most able to meet our modest tuition fees. And those children who may be orphaned or raised by a widowed mother who cannot, we provide scholarships, yet another opportunity to express gratitude as a church congregation, adhering to the Bible’s mandate that we protect the widowed and fatherless.

Imagine 440 children in Sunday School learning about Mary Baker Eddy, singing our favorite hymns in their high-pitched, sweet, little voices, and learning that Perfect God and perfect man applies to them as they recite “The Scientific Statement of Being.”

This happens every Monday for an hour at both of our schools and it is a requirement in our curriculum.

Would you like to share the beautiful name of your church and pass on all the healing work achieved to our Sunrise of Africa Schools? We would love you to share it with us.

We can tailor something beautiful to honor your church. We, too, believe wholeheartedly the words Mary Baker Eddy gave us when she carefully defined Church for all of us.

Some of the children are from poor families; some orphans, some have drunken mums who don't care for them. Daily we welcome them with open arms of love.

Some have apparent learning disabilities and still blossom because they are in a healing, loving environment on our campus. Beautiful healings are taking place in our schools. Please see examples of testimonies as a separate, attached addendum.

As the children grow, we add a grade. It’s just that simple. But we must keep looking forward. Sunrise of Africa wants to have its own Christian Science high school equivalent so the children deepen their knowledge of Christian Science.

Will your Church be one of the sponsors in the building of a first in Kenya, the first Christian Science Sunrise of Africa High School? Our education system is a bit different, modified from the English school system so our high school equivalent comes the closest.

What is more, we started a Christian Science Society adjoining each school. Here is a picture of where we first held services. Now we meet in one of the classrooms. So far, one Society is listed in the Christian Science Journal.

Here is another way to give which will help the Societies, communities and schools immensely: your church can set up in perpetuity a special fund exclusively for lectures to be held in our schools and open to the public. Attendance would bring more than our student body and their friends and families to learn about the healing power of The Christ. Our local businesses, vendors and neighbors would have special invitations and easy access.  

For example, in 2011 most of the Christian Science lectures in Kenya took place far enough away from both Sunrise of Africa schools. Getting to those lecture venues was nearly impossible; thus, our faculty, staff and families could not attend. The desire was there. God provided the means by inspiring an anonymous American Christian Scientist to hire transportation on our behalf. That one act allowed a substantial number of our people - well over 150 - including many of our 12-14 year old students to attend their first Christian Science lecture ever! And they were deeply moved. It was Communion.

In fact, one staff member was so enthused she felt compelled the next day to hear the same lecturer by going “the extra mile.”

Our future lectures will be packed. Much like our classrooms. And those attending will be eager and active listeners applying the simple truths expressed by our lecturer because of your gifts.

The possibilities for your involvement are endless.

Depending on your commitment, we can name one of our classrooms after your Church, and your Church will live on in its healing mission. Or, we can honor your church by naming a wing, building or special project like a resource center or a Christian Science Reading Room, which we currently do not have.

We invite you to spread your wings and then alight in our beautiful land, Kenya, at our Sunrise of Africa School Garden Grove. You are always welcome.

Finally, take a look at our latest newsletter which details our hopes and desires for a real, working kitchen and dining room at one of our schools. Naming rights for these two areas are open to your congregation.

Right now the two cooks do a wonderful job preparing food mostly outdoors for almost 300 people. The cooking area is very small. The children line up for food and take it to eat in the playground as you can see. Providing a good meal keeps the children focused all day long on daily lessons.

More pictures are for you to enjoy and share with others. It will move you to see all these beautiful Kenyan children who are being blessed by the Christ and who are learning to practice Christian Science.

We have wonderful representation in the USA through "Friends of the Sunrise in Africa Inc". Fredrica Challandes-Angelini would love to tell you more about the school. Her cell phone number:415-602-9125; email:fedeone@gmail.com.

Also please take a look at the wonderful slide show that my two (grown) children recently made for the schools!

And if your Association is disbanding or thinking about disbanding, let us work with you the way we did Garden Grove to honor your Teacher. Let us honor and rejoice together.

To review some of the ways you and your church can share…
--Naming Rights for classrooms, wings, buildings, and special projects
--Lecture funds
--Scholarship Funds (named after your church, your Teacher)

I love the thought that Christian Science Churches, Societies and Christian Science Schools worldwide all share a great love and appreciation for our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy. We are all part of the same universal Christian Science Church, as we all study the beautiful weekly Bible Lesson Sermon with our Pastors, The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

With our warmest regards,
Corinne E. Corvin, M.A.