Agape is love.
A 21st Century Movement
for Spiritual Explorers
The essence of Agape is best described by its founder, Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith:
“When I founded the Agape International Spiritual Center and community in 1986, we 'visioned' it as a movement that would take a stand for love, for peace, for being a beneficial presence on the planet."
That’s why it was named “Agape,” which in Greek means unconditional love. Agape’s vision is fueled by the love of the One indefinable yet unmistakable Presence whose vehicle on earth is the human heart and soul.
Our Board of Trustees
President - Patty Castaneda-Davis
Secretary - Virginia Chapman
Acting Treasurer - Cindy Edelson
Allison Williams
Val Roberts
Rev. Dr. Joan Steadman
where we are
510.424.5777
3630 TELEGRAPH AVE
OAKLAND, CA 94609
every week
Every Sunday
Celebration
10:30-10:50am Meditation
11am-12:30pm Celebration
Workshops Every Sunday
1:30-3:30pm
Details during Celebration
Sunday
Evenings
Sacred Sundays
Satsang Neuroscience meets Mysticism
Every 2nd Sunday, 4-6pm
Celtic Shamanic Journey & Drum Circle
Every 3rd Sunday, 4-6:30pm
Primordial Sound Meditation
and Chakra Balancing
Every final Sunday, 4-6pm
monday
Evenings
mindful mondays
InToMeSee: Practices for Presence
Every 1st & 5th Monday, 7-8pm
Life Visioning
Every 2nd Monday, 7-8pm
Mind and Healing
Every 3rd Monday, 7-8:30pm
Yoga Nidra
Every 4th Monday, 4-6pm
wednesday
Evenings
the wednesday experience
your mid-week spiritual tune-up
Every Wednesday, 7-8:30pm
Special events
THE ART AND PRACTICE OF SPIRITUAL HEALING
This 4 week class is an opportunity to join with your practitioner sisters and brothers to connect, commune, and dive into the healing/revealing Consciousness of Spirit.
this is a test event
It has been added so we can see how a strip with multiple upcoming events will look. We can add several more to highlight upcoming events!
MINISTERS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
practitioners
Spiritual Practitioners are available for prayer support and spiritual counseling sessions for a fee. Please contact them directly to set up an appointment.
Cindy
edelson
Jacquie Onipede
michael
allen
christine breit
Sandra
smith
lina
quesada
robert pomonis
beverly
green
bonnie sita
lina st.michael, alsp
Interested in becoming a Practitioner?
“A practitioner is not merely a body of knowledge, but rather a state of consciousness that realizes oneness with the Infinite. Dedicated to first demonstrating New Thought / Ancient Wisdom principles within their own life, a practitioner then serves as a spiritually therapeutic agent of the Spirit for the upliftment of every man, woman and child who requests healing of body, mind and spirit."
-Rev Michael Beckwith
Space Rental
Rent our 1700 sq foot space for your ceremony, wedding, celebration and more!
Giving Club
Become the sustaining force of Agape with your generous gift
Ministry Teams
Reach the head of a specific team - offer help, ask questions, or voice a concern
Our History
Learn about the origin of Agape Bay Area and our connection to Agape International