It was about 5 weeks before Easter last year (2020) that we had to make the difficult decision to suspend in person activities. Throughout all the uncertainty, fear and doubts, this community leaned on spiritual principles - we prayed - and instead of falling into a “we can’t” mindset, we pivoted into a “we can” mindset and together we did so much in a year that was anything but normal.
We gave away over 1500 boxes of groceries to Miami-Dade residents who desperately needed food.
We donated $50,000 to other Unity communities nationwide - those hit the hardest by the pandemic.
We provided free online webinars with top spiritual leaders such as Jack Canfield, the Ruiz Brothers and Panache Desai.
We started a new ministry to be advocates for racial justice and equality in America. We had over 60 participants in our 2020 “Healing Racism and Upholding Ethnic Fairness” sessions that were hosted by our Advocacy Committee.
We participated in an interfaith prayer walk for healing racism.
We helped our community here within our walls by giving away $100,000 in Publix gift cards so no one would miss a meal or their medicine.
We put all our programming online so that no matter where you are, you have access to spiritual teachings. This included programming in Spanish and our Youth & Family Ministry’s Kidz Zone.
We created more SpiritGroups to keep our community more connected than ever before.
We held our first Jingle Bells and Bumpers event as a SAFE community gathering and fundraiser during COVID.
We hosted our annual Toiletry Drive to support the homeless population in Miami-Dade, specifically including women and children.
We updated our live streaming equipment to provide our community the best possible online experience of our Sunday Celebrations.
We grew our online audience by 305 people.
We created new online programing to support our community spiritually - this included morning meditations with Rev. Juan, weekly prayer calls, a 30-day Fearless Living program and a 30-day meditation program kicked-off by Deepak Chopra.
We consecrated 21 new Prayer Chaplains in the Prayer Chaplain Ministry.
We had one of our most robust Unexpected Income Programs where our community received over $80,000 in unexpected income which proved very helpful during COVID.
We organized one of our largest backpack drives, even through the pandemic, and were able to raise over $42,000 which provided almost 5,000 backpacks to children in need.
For the first time ever, our Music Ministry created 4 virtual choir videos. Over 30 other Unity Centers have asked to play the latest video during their Sunday Services, some as far reaching as Australia.
Our Senior Minister, Rev. Chris Jackson, received the Charles Fillmore Award for leadership from Unity Worldwide Ministries.
We continued our support of homeless men and women in Miami by providing monthly financial support to Chapman Partnership.
We launched a 3-month Grief Support Group for dealing with Covid and other social and personal issues.
We manifested SO MUCH together through prayer, community and faith. We couldn’t be more proud of the community we built here together. Through God, expressing through each of us, all things are possible.