2019 Region Business Meeting Info

Southwest Region Business Meeting Agenda – Tuesday, October 8, 2019 10:30 AM

• Call to Order – Karen Epps
• Opening Prayer
• Welcome new Ministries
• Approve Agenda
• President’s Report – Karen Epps
• Secretary’s Report – Arlene Meyer
• Approve minutes from October 3, 2018 meeting
• Treasurer’s Report – Richard Maraj
• Approve Treasurer’s report
• Election of Board Members – Lori Fleming
  • Running for Regional Office:
    Michael Schoonover    |     Lori Fleming     |     Richard Maraj
• Family Ministry Liaison Report – Jacquie Hardesty
• Regional Representative’s Report – Lori Fleming
• Welcome LUT’s and LUT Report – Jacquie Hardesty
• Alhambra Foundation Report – Foundation Board
• Closing Prayer

Bios of those running for Regional Office:
Michael Schoonover    |     Lori Fleming     |     Richard Maraj

Rev. Michael A. Schoonover, a California native, has attended Unity Way Church in Vista, California, since 2005. He became Minister in 2017. He holds a BA degree in Communications. Rev. Michael’s grandmother was a long-time Unity student. He started diligently studying Unity in the early 1990’s and became a LUT in 2012. Attended Unity Urban Ministerial School and was licensed in 2015 and ordained in 2016. He is fond of saying he is a loyal Fillmorian Unity Truth student of the Holy Invisible Ethers.

Rev. Michael assisted in background research material for the Unity-published book “The Many Faces of Prayer: How the Human Family Meets Its Spiritual Needs,” by Dr. Rev. Thomas W. Shepherd. He also had one of his questions submitted to Shepherd’s Unity Magazine column published in the Unity book entitled “Good Questions.” Rev. Michael sends out weekly inspirational Truth affirmations to over 300 people.

A meta-inspired Bible scholar, Rev. Michael has an extensive collection of originally signed Truth book editions and a massive collection of Unity-printed books, pamphlets, magazines, Daily Words, Weekly Unity, etc. And a loyal Truth student of famed Fillmore teachers, Emma Curtis Hopkins and Annie Rix Militz. He is a practicing meta-physician, lover of ancient metaphysics, and cherishes the healing histories of our beloved Unity School of Christianity movement.

Rev. Richard Maraj inspires people to live better lives through his powerful spiritual teachings. His charismatic, relatable speaking style combines a depth of spiritual knowledge, sharp intellect, great sense of humor and contagious enthusiasm to touch and energize his audience into expanding their understanding of God, life and themselves. Richard’s positive, uplifting messages have helped many people experience greater joy, peace and prosperity through the practical application of basic spiritual principles.

For many years Richard worked as a successful motivational speaker who traveled throughout North America to address large Fortune 500 and other companies. During the early 1990s he felt a strong call to ministry, and was compelled to attend ministerial school. He was ordained as a Unity minister in 1998, and began his ministry as an Associate Minister in Raleigh, NC. Soon afterward he became Senior Minister of Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, MO, and quickly became a much sought-after guest speaker for churches throughout Canada and the United States. He is currently the Senior Minister of Unity of Phoenix, one of the largest Unity ministries in the world, where he has served since 2005.

Richard has a degree in political science from McMaster University and continues to have a passion for learning. He is a strong advocate for community service, and also enjoys a variety of activities and hobbies, which include performing as a stand-up comic. In addition, Richard is currently completing a book called The 4 Most Important Questions You Can Ask Yourself.

 Rev. Lori Fleming has a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from the University of South Florida with a major on religious studies.  She is an ordained Unity Minister who graduated from Unity Institute in 2006 and has served at the Unity Church in Sarasota, FL, the Unity Church of Hawaii in Honolulu, HI, the Unity Church in Venice, FL, Unity of Chandler in Chandler, and Unity of Carefree Cave Creek.  She is currently the Pastoral Care Minister at Unity Phoenix Spiritual Center.

Lori was a Youth of Unity Teacher/Sponsor for more than fifteen years and in 1999 was awarded the Distinguished Youth Services Award from Unity Worldwide Ministries.   Her greatest passion is living and teaching Unity principles and watching people transform as they learn to use these principles in their lives.

Lori has served on Unity Worldwide Ministries’ L & O Ministry Team, Leadership Recruitment and Development Team, Annual Summit Team, Ethics Review Team, and Ministry Wellness Team.  She is past President, current Vice-President, and Regional Representative for the Southwest Region.

Lori lives in Cave Creek, AZ with her husband, Mark. They have three grown children and two grandsons.