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Minister's Message Barry Vennard

Namaste Dear Friends,

January 2012 marks the beginning of the fourth year of Unity of Omaha’s five-year plan to recreate itself as a mission centric, integral Unity ministry.

One of the first things we did was clearly define our new focus,  That focus is clearly stated in the mission statement or congregation created:  “The mission of Unity of Omaha, a growing spiritual community, is to support as many people as possible in discovering and living their spiritual purpose and potential.”  We believe that by increasing our effectiveness in meeting the spiritual needs of our regular attendees and our first and second time guests we will be the growing spiritual community we have envisioned. 

In our first three years we have been creating the consciousness and the organization needed to support our mission.  We completed an extensive facility renovation project.   We created and filled an “Organizational and Leadership Development” position.  We have engaged in and expanded on Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Enlightened Leader program.  We engaged in the UWM’s branding initiative which has resulted in attracting more and more of that population that has been identified as being most open to the Unity message. We’ve initiated the use of Connection Cards to help us monitor how effective we are at addressing the spiritual needs of our regular attendees and our first and second time guests.   

And, we have identified three basic needs that most of our regular attendees and our first time guests have:  These needs are:

  1.  The need for spiritual growth:  Developing a consciousness of the presence of God as the divine essence of one’s being and discovering and developing the capacity to live one’s spiritual purpose and potential. 

  2.  The need for community:  Connecting with like-minded people in positive, life affirming, supportive relationships.

  3.  The need to serve:  Finding meaningful ways to serve with others in fulfilling the mission and vision of Unity of Omaha.

This last fall we initiated a Spiritual Growth Group plan intended to increase our effectiveness in addressing these three needs, a plan that we hope to expand on in 2012.

We also know that, if we organize ourselves to intentionally and effectively address these needs as soon as possible in those who come to check us out we will dramatically increase our retention of new people and our spiritual community will grow.   We are ready and able to do that now.  That can be a great focus for us in 2012 as we continue our commitment to making a difference in more and more people’s lives in Omaha. 

I’m excited… I hope you are as well. 

Barry Vennard
Senior Minister

2011 Annual Minister's Report