12/08/16

Leader Spotlight: Joan Kershaw of Unity of Santa Barbara, SpiritGroups Program Director

I am thrilled to Spotlight Joan Kershaw and Unity of Santa Barbara as they just completed their first SpiritGroup series and it was an enormous success! 

While all groups followed the “Thy Will Be Done” curriculum, they not only had incredible participation with 10 diverse groups involving 88 people but also made a significant impact in the lives of their community by deepening their spiritual practice and connecting in meaningful ways. 

With an average weekly attendance of 77%, participants were able to learn about and apply the five Spiritual Disciplines of Communion, Connection, Compassion, Community and Challenge.

Service projects consisted of an art project for supporting those in memory care, pillows made for post-mastectomy surgery patients and many groups helped around the church in work parties and decorating teams. 

At the Celebration Gathering at the end of the series, nearly 65% of SpiritGroup members were in attendance and shared how valuable the series was in order to connect with others.

One theme was about how wonderful it felt to experience such compassion from the members and for each other. Other themes that arose were of enthusiasm and deep gratitude for being a part of SpiritGroups.

Also at the event, many expressed their strong desire to learn and grow more spiritually and many plan to continue in a group during the next series. 

Joan shared the following about her group:

“I had a wonderful experience in the group I hosted, and learned so much about this ever-widening (even infinite) opportunity for connection and growth as the SpiritGroups Program Director. Unity of Santa Barbara’s mission: We are a vibrant, inclusive spiritual community, inspiring people to realize and express their divine nature. SpiritGroups helped us do just that!”