Rev. Dr. Joan Steadman

Senior Minister

Rev. Dr. Joan Steadman has been an ordained Agape and Centers for Spiritual Living minister for 19 years.  She has served as the Senior Minister of our beloved community since January 2019. Prior to that, she served as the assistant minister and assistant spiritual director of Agape Bay Area starting in 2015. Our community is blessed to be guided by her consciousness and leadership.

A few years ago, she reFIRed, releasing her position as Spiritual Leader at the Oakland Center for Spiritual Living where she served for fifteen years.  Previous to that, she was an assistant minister at the Agape International Spiritual Center for two years and a licensed spiritual practitioner for thirteen years.

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In 1986, she joined Dr. Michael Beckwith and was a founding member of Agape where she served in many capacities.  Rev. Joan was on the Vision Core and the original Board of Trustees. 

She was the founder and director of One From the Heart, the pastoral care ministry at Agape.  Under her leadership, that ministry grew and became one of the largest pastoral care ministries in the New Thought movement.  While at Agape, she also facilitated accredited classes and many workshops centering in the mystical aspect of New Thought/Ancient Wisdom.

Rev. Verona Garland

Assistant Minister

Rev Verona Garland is an Emerson Theological Credentialed Interfaith and Religious Science Minister.

She serves as the founding minister of Blossoming Truth Global Ministries-a ministry dedicated to joyously opening to Spirit's Invitation of Delight, Play, and Transformation and as Assistant Minister at Agape Bay Area.

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   Rev Verona's ministry encompasses classes, workshops, spiritual exploration, global cultural learning, prosperity mentoring, and spiritual counseling.

Her speaking includes: The Lighthouse Center for Spiritual Living ,The Gathering, Unity Center for Inspired Living-Brentwood , 1st Church of Religious Science Vallejo, Corinthian Baptist Church,  Oakland Center for Spiritual Living, and Sacramento Center for Spiritual Living.

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   Rev Verona's effervescent enthusiasm is sourced in her desire to bud, blossom, and bloom in Spirit. She serves playfully, boldly, wondrously, and joyously opening to the Divine Potentiality within each and every Expression of the One.

Rev. Dr. TJ Woodward

Founding Minister

Rev. TJ Woodward is an Agape ordained minister, spiritual author, inspirational speaker, awakening coach and revolutionary recovery specialist who has helped countless people through his simple, yet powerful teachings. 

He is the founding minister of Agape Bay Area and served as the senior minister for over a year. Previous to serving as the senior minister of Agape Bay Area, TJ served as the founding spiritual director of Awakened Living from 2012- 2017. He also served as the ministerial associate of Unity San Francisco from 2008-2011.

He is the graduate of both the Spiritual Development and Spiritual Leadership programs, at Unity Institute. Additionally, he is the creator of The Conscious Recovery Method which is a groundbreaking and effective approach to viewing and  treating addiction.

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TJ is also in private practice as a spiritual counselor and awakening coach, and the host of Conscious Being Radio on Unity Online Radio. TJ is the author of the books, Conscious Being: Awakening to Your True Nature and Conscious Recovery: A Fresh Perspective on Addiction. 

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Our History

Learn about the origin of Agape Bay Area and our connection to Agape International