Unity Open Heart Center

Warm and welcoming
Feb 4th, 2019

I have been searching for truth about God and religion my whole life. Unity has taught me that this truth lies within me. That when I connect with my Christ, the truth is clear. This Unity Open Heart Center is the first place that I have experienced Agape (the love of God) and Philia (brotherly love). This a special place.
May 18th, 2018

(Continued) On December 27, 2018, the president’s wife, Cathy Kemper-Pelle (President of RCC, but not a member of the Unity Board) came during one of my classes, kicked out me and my students, had the locks changed and called the police for trespassing, saying, and I quote, “I’m tired of your bull$#|t.” Talk about ungrateful, unfaithful, and uncommunicative! I had done just about everything for this Open Heart Center, was acquiring more teachers and energy healers, had other helping with supplies and upkeep, getting the NA members contributing MAJORLY, musicians looking to hold concerts, and on and on and on! I do not know what they plan on doing now, losing all that energy and momentum I worked very hard to create; it was clearly the saving grace of the space who’s numbers were in continual decline. Now that I am writing it all out, even I am stunned! I held the congregation in good head/heart-space until I had put in over a year of service and observed little to no change in any of its members; the congregation added THE LEAST to the space itself, minus the president, Robert Pelle, who truly put his heart into it with me as much as he could and always showed much gratitude. I do not feel this story is over, and I will not give up on growing a new paradigm of Unity and the inclusion of All in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Nov 6th, 2018

Grateful for this space, and for a time, its congregation. I, Jesse Hart, joined Unity Church of Grants Pass (renamed Unity Open Heart Center when I was present) in October 2017 to do a speech for Global Oneness Day. Never had I been a part of a congregation before, but from their welcoming vibe and their principles I could agree with and see as a good bridge between the dogmatic and the spiritually scientific, I decided I would join. Like many places in GP, it held a stagnant energy, like 20 old women all living together; which was pretty much what it was. But since it seemed those in charge were ready for change and growth, I was happy to hit the ground running and began to teach classes as well as do lectures/sermons occasionally on Sundays. It wasn’t long until my massive amount of energy and action started to change things and bring unsettlement to the old ladies. I realized how much their stagnant energy was polluting the space, themselves and the possibility to truly grow into something great. After I had heard through the grape vine of all the nasty non-serving gossip that was going around, I channeled a massive ego bashing e-mail that I sent out to all members, and then most of the congregation promptly left. To others, it looked as if I was being politically incorrect, which still is impossible if they really believed in their first two Principles (1. God is Good, every present. 2. I am made of God, so I am good.). Though we had a plan to get the space fully functioning and thriving, every member in the congregation, minus the president, dragged their feet and did the bare minimum; never even owning and producing what we had discussed would be done and wrote down TWICE for all to see. The vibe was now clear to me to be lazy, woe-is-me, and all around helpless. So I took on even more duties, and within my first year I was taking care of the outside garden, janitorial work, holding space for the Narcotics Anonymous group to meet, organizing a Men’s Support Group, teaching classes throughout the week, speaking regularly, and was appointed Secretary on the Board of Directors; also putting in extra days creating a new sign, two full days of cleaning, regular landscaping work, and extra curricular activities, still too balancing and growing the rest of my life. When still the complaints and naysaying commenced, I first tried to meet up with the Spiritual Advisor and Vice-President, Katie (Kate) Castaldi, which turned into a half hour of her projecting my being “a bully”. Though I am a highly energetic and direct person, I am hardly a bully, looking to pick on others; I don’t see the point. I saw through the charade and realized this was all to further excuse herself of all her shortcomings. Katie was supposed to become a minister and lead a working women’s group, neither making ANY progress during my 1 year and 2 months of participation. So it seemed it was up to me for I was not getting any support nor gratitude; so I stopped interacting with the Sunday congregation but continued to grow momentum and numbers of people during all other times. (More on next review...)
Oct 17th, 2018