Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith played a major part in my spiritual development both directly and indirectly. I was introduced to Religious Science in Dayton OH in 1991. I attended Celebration of Life for about three years when the minister left to follow other opportunities.

      Within United Church of Religious Science, now called Centers for Spiritual Living, churches use a co-creation process to select a new minister. Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith came to Dayton to lead that process. After a great workshop on Saturday, he led the Sunday process.

      Not planning to attend the Saturday workshop, I was encouraged to and did. It changed my life. The second time I attended the Dayton church I knew that I was to be a practitioner, but I had not taken any classes toward that goal. After hearing Rev. Dr. Michael and his wonderful musician, later to be wife, Rickie Byars, I knew it was time to start immediately.

      Rev. Eunice Chalfant came to Dayton about 1994. Rev. Eunice was one of 20 who visioned in Rev. Dr. Beckwith’s living room to create the foundation for Agape Center of Truth, the largest New Thought community in the world.

      Rev. Eunice said when they started the process, Rev Michael took Ernest Holmes' Science of Mind textbook in his hand and said, “We are either going to prove this works or we are throwing it out.” He continues to prove it works every day. Rev. Eunice taught all my classes and practitioner training. Rev Michael has come to Dayton several times, including for Rev. Eunice’s installation and orientation.

      At Rev. Eunice’s installation, I had the opportunity to tell Rev. Michael how much he had influenced my spiritual path and how grateful I was. He put his finger on my forehead and asked if I was spending enough time in the Silence. I thought, “Oh my, he can tell I don’t meditate enough!” I know from the limited time I have spent with Rev. Michael that he is a powerful modern day mystic and he has one of the deepest spiritual consciousnesses I have ever known.

      After finishing practitioner training, four years of ministerial school, and founding Beacon of Life, I was at a conference with Rev. Dr. Michael and his beautiful wife, Rickie. I was honored to be called their granddaughter because I was a student and minister from a community of one of the original Agape ministers.

      I sometimes wonder if I had made the choice not to go to that workshop in the early 90’s where we would all be now. Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith certainly had a powerful part in my understanding that as I change my thoughts, I change my life. He helped me to understand The Secret which is to ask, believe and receive. He helped to create the foundation on which Cincinnati's Beacon of Life Spiritual Community was built.