Nominees for the Board of Directors


This year at the Annual Business Meeting of the Membership of Unity Church of Jacksonville on Sunday, November 7, we will be electing three new Members of the Board of Directors and one Alternate Member. Two positions will be for a three-year term as Winnie Davies and Ray Nielson finish their terms, and one position will be for a two-year term, continuing the term of Liz Dixon who resigned in order to accept the staff position of Administrative Assistant for the Church.

The Nominating Team, consisting of d'elle Goslin, Katie Raven, and Rev. Gene Lynch, is recommending the following candidates who have graciously and enthusiastically accepted their nominations to serve our Church in the capacity of Board Member.

  Cheri' Hines

I feel honored to be nominated for the Unity Church of Jacksonville Board of Directors, and I would like to take this opportunity to share a little about myself. I am retired from AT&T/EDS after 32 years of service. The last 17 years I was an Information Technology Project Manager. Since my retirement, I have been volunteering at church and in the community.

I completed my undergraduate and graduate studies at Birmingham Southern College. My degrees are in Psychology and Business Administration.

I have been active in Unity Churches for approximately 24 years, and I am motivated Truth Student. My ongoing studies are part of the on-line Spiritual Education and Enrichment Program along workshops, seminars, and class, with individual reading and a personal search for knowledge. I practice daily meditation and prayer. 

In addition, I am an active member of the Twilight Brigade. The Twilight Brigade is an independent end of life care organization. We volunteer in Veterans Administration Hospitals, Hospice Organizations, and Facilities.
   

We do not have a local chapter; however, I maintain my affiliation and training with the Birmingham Chapter. Since returning to Jacksonville, I volunteer on an individual basis.

I have had the opportunity to serve as a Prayer Chaplain for 8 years, and last year I became a Prayer Chaplain Trainer. Also, I am the Team Leader of the Caring and Connecting Ministry, and I am so blessed with a wonderful team. Some of the projects that we are working on include our Church Directory, Souls4Soles, Linus Project,”Kuddles for Kids,” and Peace Cranes. Our Green projects include recycling in Grenson Hall and the office area, and using glasses/china cups to replace styrofoam products.   

Thank you for your consideration ~

  Danna Myers


I have attended Unity Church of Jacksonville for approximately twenty years.  In that span of time, I have attended many classes and have been a member of the Choir.  I have taught “Lessons in Truth” and Unity’s “Five Basic Principles.”  Needless to say, this is my Church and the Congregation is my extended family.


I believe I am qualified for a position on the Board of Directors because I have the heart for it.  I served on the Board for seven years about fifteen years ago. 

Also, before retiring, I operated a successful small business for a long period of time.  The majority of my employees were with me from the beginning until I sold my business.


I was among the overseers of our kitchen remodeling.  It must be the prettiest church kitchen in all the land.  I also was project manager for our beautiful bookstore, Awesome Books!

   In the last two or three years, I have taken training to become a Chaplain Trainer.  The experience has been wonderful.  Two months before the training, I attended a seminar on spiritual gifts.  To my great surprise, my spiritual gifts are: prayer, chaplaincy, evangelism, and wisdom.  So, when I was asked to attend Chaplain Training, how could I say no? 


Currently I am the Leader of our Church's Prayer Chaplain Ministry and also the  Team Volunteer Coordinator.

   Suzanne Myrick


So many facets of Divine Order have illuminated my life since last spring, all of them related to returning to Unity Church of Jacksonville.


A life long path of spiritual exploration has frequently led me to this Church, which I now recognize as home.  My spirit has been rewarded and my life enriched by the many Sunday services, special prayer gatherings and classes I have attended.

I am grateful for the wisdom and love shared by my Church Family; many of  you I have gotten to know more closely during my regular office volunteer time on Tuesdays. 

My participation in helping create our Energetic Healing Ministry Team has extended and enhanced my abilities and knowledge in my life as an alternative health practitioner.

  

  The honor of representing this Congregation as a member of the Board of Directors is a wonderful opportunity to serve and utilize the variety of talents I have developed

and skills I have acquired in many years of business management and alternative health practices.


I hope to provide new perspectives of the unlimited possibilities of our vision for Unity Church of Jacksonville’s purpose and progress in the coming years.

 


  Vandalia Smith


Born in Buffalo NY, I relocated to Jacksonville, Florida in 1972 with my mother and 3 siblings.  I pursued a career in nursing, graduating from Santa Fe Community College in 1982 as a Licensed Practical Nurse.  I went on to receive an Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 1984.  I recently received a Masters Degree in Nursing/Health Care Management and MBA at the University of Phoenix (Jacksonville) in 2008.  I have worked in Geriatric Nursing for the past 22 years.  I recently was the Director of Nursing at a Nursing Home in Orange Park for the past 7 years.  I am currently the Assistant Director of Nursing at a Nursing Home in Oceanway. 

My son (Alexander Smith) and I started attending Unity Church of Jacksonville in 1997; we became members in April 2000.  I have served as a Chaplain, and currently I serve as an Usher and sing with the Choir.

I had been on a spiritual journey since the early 70’s.  I was raised a Baptist, being taught fire and brimstone, and learning to fear God at an early age.  When I was lead to Unity (by a lady named Betty, whom I have never seen again) I knew I had found my home; I had found that peace that surpasses all understanding. 

  I learned God is not of in the sky to become one with after death if I am good and without sin; God lives within each and every one of us.  Through meditation and prayer my life has changed profoundly.  I live in the presence of God.  I found a place to raise my son to know God.  A place where we can be nurtured and find peace in knowing there is no separation between the Creator and his Creation, we are all one saluting the Christ within each other.  Through Unity I have been able to live the Truth I always felt and believed.  Wherever we are God is and all is well.


It is an honor and a privilege to be offered the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors. 

God Bless ~
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