In-Person lecture: WHY EVERYONE IS NEEDED

Speaker: James Shepherd.

James Shepherd’s talk — “Why Everyone is Needed” — will focus on universal healing precepts found in the Holy Bible, especially in Christ Jesus’ life and teachings, showing how they are available for anyone to understand and experience through the lens of Christian Science. The talk is free, open to the community, and sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oak Harbor, and Christian Science Society, South Whidbey.

“I love exploring the nature of God, infinite Love, as the only cause, and our unbreakable connection to God as God’s offspring,” says James. “This connection gives us our purpose and worth by seeing everyone from a more God-like, or spiritual, point of view. I’ve experienced how this has an impact on my life and on the lives of others.”

Sharing examples of healing from his own life and professional practice of Christian Science, James will explain why Christian Science is both Christian and scientific, meaning that people can prove its effectiveness for themselves, as fully described in the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, written by the founder of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy.

James will also touch on the life of Mary Baker Eddy, who came to understand, confirm, and teach what she felt was original Christian healing. Eddy herself said she was especially inspired by Jesus’ demand, “He that believes on me, the works that I do will he do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go unto my Father” (found in the Gospel of John 14:12 in the Bible).

For over 150 years, people around the world have worked to follow Christ Jesus in this practice of Christianity and continue to do so today, experiencing healings of physical ills and personal difficulties.

About James Shepherd

James has been a Christian Science practitioner for many years, helping people on a daily basis through this scientific approach to prayer. He travels from his home base in Eugene, Oregon, to speak to audiences as a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.

James has seen the healing effects of God’s love since he was a youngster, romping through the woods around his home with his three brothers. They had their share of scrapes and bruises which were quickly healed through prayer. On the rare occasions they felt sick, they relied on Christian Science for quick healings.

In high school his family moved to a ranch where they had cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and turkeys. He graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, but realized that serving as a Christian Science healer was the best way he could serve others. He left the ranch and took up the full-time work of helping others find healing through prayer. Thirty years later, he still loves this work as much as ever.

Over the years, James has enjoyed being active in many roles in his local Church of Christ, Scientist, and has worked at summer camps for Christian Scientists and their friends. He has also shared the message of Love’s transforming power in prison settings and youth detention centers. When his four children were little, he coached their sports programs. He finds other ways to help his community, such as by volunteering at a neighborhood church to help cook a free breakfast for those in need.

James loves spending time with his family and doing any outdoor activity. But his greatest joy will always be to find, and to help others find, a more tangible sense of God’s love for everyone and how that improves every aspect of our lives.

Main photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash