Got to know George in the early 90s after joining the Alton-Godfrey church. I employed him as a practitioner many times, and when I say employed, he went years without getting paid much in the 90s because we had little money. In 94’ he was praying for one of our sons on a long term case. He was the 4th or 5th practitioner we had employed. Eventually I called him to tell him we elected to take our son for surgery. Due to the dogma George describes in his book, I felt horrible guilt and shame for taking this step. I fully expected George to drop the case. Much to my surprise, he offered to keep praying and asked if we needed him at the hospital. I almost fell off my chair. The guilt and shame disappeared instantly as we talked further. Surgery was successful and I became a better Christian.
What I find most impressive is his reaction to the numerous issues he describes in his book. So many Christian Scientists left the church because of what he succinctly describes, and I understand their positions. But George was exceptional in that he did not “throw out the baby with the bath water”. Instead of quitting the church or becoming a cynical dissident after witnessing many offensive practices in the church, he embraced the logic, beauty, and strength of Mrs. Eddy’s teachings (the baby) and took extraordinary actions to flush out the dirty water (dogma and hypocrisy) in his practice and in his book. I am most grateful for his work.