SLC's Board of Trustees
New Minister Announcement
Hello SLC Family and Friends,
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This is Jose Johnson, SLC's Board of Trustees President. Thank you to all who attended the Prayer Vigil held on Wednesday, May 7th, to hold space for our ministerial search process. The Board held a Special Meeting on Thursday morning, May 8th, to select our new minister. I am pleased to announce that we have made an offer to Rev. Dr. Rick Belous to be our Senior Minister. He is happy to be coming to Spiritual Life Center.
For your convenience, below is Rev. Rick's full bio and details on the workshop and links the Sunday Service and Question & Answer session he provided during his interview weekend.
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Thank you for all the ways you participated in this decision.
Peace and Blessings,
​Josie Johnson, SLC Board President ​​​​​​​​​​​​
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MEET REV. DR. RICK BELOUS
Rev. Dr. Rick Belous
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Rev. Dr. Rick Belous has been the Senior Minister at Unity centers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia. He currently serves as an Advisor to Unity Worldwide Ministries. His passion is about Unity’s links to world religions and spiritual paths. Rick is a noted speaker who can bring home complex metaphysical principles and apply them to modern situations that we all face.
At all three of his previous spiritual centers he was able to significantly increase membership, and attract more Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers. This led to many more children and parents in the congregations, and a revitalization of Youth and Family Ministry programs.
He co-chaired the Unity Worldwide Ministries task force that reformed ministerial education. During Covid Rick’s church pioneered a model that was followed by many other Unity churches. They held “parking lot” services, and broadcast the audio into people’s FM car radios. “It was almost like a drive-in movie theater, only because of Covid we didn’t serve popcorn,” he notes.
Rick also has a passion for social justice and neighbor helping neighbor. For example, while he was in Lynchburg, the congregation put in and stocked an outdoor refrigerator which serves the community 24/7.
Prior to his call to ministry, Rick was the chief economist for the United Way movement. He has also served as an Advisor to two U.S. Presidential Commissions.
Rick was adjunct professor at George Washington University in business and economics, and he has authored and/or co-authored 13 books on a wide range of economic and social topics. He is a graduate of Columbia University, George Washington University, and Unity Institute & Seminary. He has a Ph.D. in economics and an M.A. in theology and religion.
Rick lives with his two daughters, and Sphinx (their cat). His late wife, Debbie, made her transition several years ago from cancer. He loves reading, hiking, classical music, and the Grateful Dead.
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Saturday Workshop, March 29th, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT
"The Evolution of Spiritual Consciousness and What It Means for Us Today"
​with Rev. Dr. Rick Belous
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Recently many in Unity and other New Thought circles have become very interested in the EVOLUTION OF SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS (ESC). This has included such things as Spiral Dynamics, Integral Thinking, and new ways of looking at metaphysics.
Join us for an interesting workshop, led by Rev. Dr. Rick Belous, that will explore the “who, what, and why” of the EVOLUTION OF SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS and how it is impacting the direction of the Unity movement, our understanding of the Bible and other spiritual writings, and current social trends.
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There are no recordings for candidate workshops.
Sunday Experience, March 30th at 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. PT
"Lessons from the Laughing Buddha"
Message and Meditation by Rev. Dr. Rick Belous
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Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? You thought you had outgrown or recovered from some negative behavior pattern. But there it is again nipping at your heels!
At the Sunday March 30 services, Rev. Dr. Rick Belous will suggest that the so-called Laughing Buddha— who lived in China 800 years after Jesus— has a lot to teach us concerning how to deal with these situations. “In fact, the Laughing Buddha is really one of the great grandfathers of New Thought,” Rev. Rick says. Join us for these services and have fewer things nipping at your heels.
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Click Here to Watch "Lessons from the Laughing Buddha" Sunday Experience.
Rev. Dr. Rick Belous Introduction 7:06; Meditation 26:10; Message 34:46 minutes into video. Read video description for more chapter time markers.
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Click Here to Listen to Listen to "Lessons from the Laughing Buddha" Podcast Message.
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Q&A Session, March 30th with Rev. Dr. Rick Belous
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Click Here to Listen to Rev. Dr. Rick Belous' Q&A Recording.​
Select Your Ministers Fund Donation
Thank you to all who generously donated toward our Ministerial Search Fund to help cover the cost of the on-site weekend visits of our new minister candidates. Now that the Board has selected Rev. Dr. Rick Belous, we are continuing to fundraise to cover relocation costs for Rev. Rick and his family to California and to also fund the celebration for Rev. James Trapp. You can contribute online below or in person at Spiritual Life Center via cash, check, or card, which helps save on transaction fees. We greatly appreciate your support, no matter how you choose to contribute!