Why, with its long history in the Midwest, did Clifton House close its doors in 2002? In addition to immediate cash flow problems, the Board wanted to renovate the building to better facilitate Christian Science nursing. The staff designed "the perfect nursing room" and this design was used in our new six-bed facility. After determining that repairs and renovations would cost more than the building was worth, and finding no other building to remodel, we thought of new construction. We put out a call for land, and a local Christian Science church offered us two acres of lakeshore property for a new facility.

Our Christian Science nurses took Christian Science nursing out of the box of the facility. They started a Visiting Christian Science Nurse Service (VCSNS), so that Christian Scientists would have a choice of care and continue to be free to practice spiritual healing with Christian Science nursing support. They visited every area Christian Science Reading Room; held meetings in many churches to let people know about the VCSNS and our plans to build a new facility; held workshops for branch church workers on how to meet mobility needs; encouraged consultation calls and received them from around the world; nursed people in their homes; mentored families in the care of their loved ones; responded to calls from "out of town" visitors at their hotels, or hosted them in their own homes to provide care. Their services blessed many.

 

We hired a consultant to do a feasibility study. He found that people really loved Christian Science nursing but there were serious doubts about whether it could affordably provided.

 

There was discussion about whether or not we should continue to provide a Christian Science nursing facility. Some in the community felt that the Christian Science movement was dying. So the first big decision by the Board was to CHOOSE LIFE. It was important to choose Life not just for our organization but for the entire Christian Science movement!

 

We developed a mission statement that was larger than the facility which states, "To support proper care and an atmosphere expectant of healing." We later added the words "through Christian Science nursing" to clarify it for the public. At first our Christian Science nurses were confused about the "and" in the mission statement because they thought it should read "to support proper care IN an atmosphere expectant of healing." One of our goals was to nurse the atmosphere of thought in the community. We soon came to measure every decision by whether it helped us to fulfill our mission.

 

Friends from the community were invited to discuss the new facility. They were assigned word studies on different parts of the new facility (foundation, roof, windows, HVAC, etc.) Highlights from the word studies were included in our contract with the architects who were amazed at our spiritual approach.

Later a smaller committee made up of trustees and Christian Science nurses worked closely with the architects to design the facility. We went through four major revisions of the design in order to bring our wants (beautiful, homelike), our needs (government standards), and budget into balance.

 

Against advice from some to "fly under the radar", we decided to build a facility that could be licensed by the state. We felt it was important that we be recognized and fully accredited. As a result, we had opportunities to correct misconceptions about Christian Science.

 

We hired a construction firm early so they could "add value" to the plans. We were assured that since this was to be a place for healing, everything on the job site had to respect that purpose. They GOT IT! We made the conscious choice to take a metaphysical approach, honoring principle over personality. This approach was successful.

 

Fund raising was a challenge. Not one Board member wanted to do it. We had long relied on the generosity of our field and sent out emergency appeals, but no regular fund raising had been done. The Board now recognizes its fiduciary responsibility to our organization. BoardSource (An organization dedicated to advancing the public good by building exceptional nonprofit boards and inspiring board service.) materials were helpful in changing our thinking, and we all read the book Relationshift: Revolutionary Fundraising by Michael Bassoff and Steve Chandler. A fund raising consultant was hired, and weekly development meetings were held. We were no longer just fund raising, but now we were "friend raising" and sharing our story with everyone who would listen. Board members gave before we asked others to give. It was helpful to be able to say, "Won't you join us?" when asking for funds. Some individuals were generous from the start because they already had a vision for Christian Science nursing. Others needed more persuasion, making pledges that would be fulfilled after we started building. We asked for prayerful support and one donor sent us metaphysical articles by Mary Kimball Morgan from her book Education at the Principia.

 

Finally, it was time to build. We began working regularly with a Christian Science practitioner for the building itself. Also during this time, we assessed what we had and what we needed to furnish the new facility. It turned out to be more beautiful than anyone could have humanly planned.

 

The new facility name, Beacon Haven, was inspired by our lighthouse logo and the idea of a safe haven. We've retained our legal corporate name, Clifton House, Inc.

 

With state approval we opened. For a month, no patients came. Before the first patient arrived, he had a beautiful healing. Then the second potential patient was healed. Was this a trend? Finally, in the middle of the night a patient arrived. After her healing she wrote, "The minute I arrived, I knew I would be healed." Other patients came. At one point we were so busy that we had to turn away patients. Now we have beds available.

 

Today we have a highly motivated new administrator (Terese Erickson). Our Director of Christian Science Nursing has prepared the way for our next Director. We're praying for the right candidate to come to us. What a welcome she/he will receive!

 

If the Christian Science nursing facility in your area desires to make changes, here are some recommendations from the Clifton House, Inc. Board:

1. Think forward. Christian Science nursing is for ALL time.
2. Metaphysical work has to come first.
3. Clarify your mission and move with it.
4. Self-examination shows what works, and what doesn't.
5. Nurse yourselves. Get help when you need it.
Be prepared for hard work. Remember "the song of Christian Science," which states,  "The song of Christian Science is, 'Work - work - work - watch and pray.'" (Message to The Mother Church for 1900, 2:7)