Mark Wenz
When I first was introduced to Unity in December of 2022, I found the church for which I had been searching. If you are unfamiliar with Unity, allow me to provide a brief account of its humble history and how it became a worldwide spiritual community.
A married couple—Charles Fillmore, a real estate salesman, and Myrtle Fillmore, a former school teacher—were raising three young boys in Kansas City in the late 19th century when they began attending New Thought classes. Neither Charles nor Myrtle set out to establish a church or spiritual movement. Both were suffering from physical pain. Charles had an ice skating accident when he was ten that broke his hip and left him with lifelong disabilities, and Myrtle was suffering from tuberculosis. Both were searching for ways to heal.
Under these conditions, how did they lay the groundwork for a movement in which everyone belongs?
Their vision was not carefully planned out. They didn’t stand on top of a hill and shout, “We’re going to start a global spiritual movement!” Instead, they built a community by opening their front door, putting an extra chair at the table, and offering a simple message: you are a child of God; you are whole; you belong.
Several of Myrtle’s family members had died of tuberculosis before Myrtle was diagnosed with the disease. Rather than succumbing to what many believed was inevitable death, Myrtle instead spent months in prayer and meditation, and within two years was cured of her tuberculosis. Seeing how prayer and meditation had transformed Myrtle, Charles began doing the same, and his disability also began improving. He ended up living until he was 93 years old, and before he died he declared, “I fairly sizzle with zeal, energy, and enthusiasm; eager to do that which ought to be done by me today.”
Over time the Unity movement expanded in the following ways:
* The Fillmores launched Modern Thought, a publication that later became Unity magazine, in which they shared uplifting messages, poetry, and positive affirmations.
* They created the Society of Silent Help, which is known today as Silent Unity, which has a 24/7 prayer line that has never charged a fee for prayer.
* They began publishing Wee Wisdom, designed to foster spiritual self worth in children.
* They opened the Unity Inn, a vegetarian pay-if-you-can restaurant. If you had money, you paid; if not, you were fed a healthy meal for free.
Charles and Myrtle opened their door and listened when others were in pain. They prayed when others felt hopeless. They published words of hope and truth. They fed the hungry and welcomed the seeker. Above all, they held a vision of Unity in which we are all inextricably linked as one family of spirit.
We at Unity Church of Sun Lakes are the continuation of the Fillmores’ legacy. We welcome all to join us at Sun Lakes Country Club (follow the signs) at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings.