Dr Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith
Michael Beckwith was born in 1956. His first experience with religion was not entirely pleasant, and he left his native Methodist and Congregational church at the age of 16. As he has since said, “He just wouldn’t feed me. I liked the teachings of Jesus, but I didn’t see people practicing what he said.” Like many other baby boomers, he began investigating Eastern and African modes of spirituality in the 1970s. However, unlike many of them, he decided to start his own church when he turned 30.
The interdenominational church that became Agape was founded on the New Thought-Ancient Wisdom notion; in general, that focusing your mind and training your thoughts allows you to more fully experience the one divine force at the heart of every living being and communicate it to others. through your actions. Although the New Thought Movement is quite old, going back in one way or another to figures from the turn of the last century like William Walker Atkinson and Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, it is still vital today as several different denominations, such as Religious Science. .
Michael was ordained in Religious Studies in 1985 and soon began teaching some friends at home. In 1986 he founded the Agape International Spiritual Center in Santa Monica, California. In just a few years, membership increased. Eventually the ministry found a new and much larger home in Culver City, California, where it remains today.
What started as a small gathering of practitioners has today grown into a center serving an estimated congregation of nearly 10,000 each week. While the message may seem different from more “mainstream” churches, Reverend Beckwith’s church is responsible for a number of ministries, such as helping poor and disadvantaged people in the US and around the world. Other campaigns include supporting orphanages for AIDS survivors, the peace movement, distributing food to local homeless populations, and defending the environment.
Today, the Church itself is a model of interracial and interdenominational harmony. In fact, many members continue with their various religions in addition to feeling the message in Agape. While the congregation includes wealthy and powerful people who live and work in the nearby area, people of all backgrounds witness the exciting spectacle that is a Beckwith church service.
As a founding member of the Association for Global New Thought in 2000, “dedicated to creating a spiritual transformation of the Earth as a whole,” Michael continues to work to promote peace and forgiveness. The charter documents state an emphasis on the shared nature of all life and the birthright of abundance that is the right of every member.
Rev. Beckwith has received a lot of attention lately, from other devotional and service groups, appearing as a guest columnist on various websites and devotional magazines. With other members of the New Thought movement, he had an audience with the Dalí Lama. At Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, the all-black institution has installed it in its Wall of Preachers exhibit. He and the ministry have traveled the world carrying the message of peace and prosperity, calling for an end to nationalism, racism, environmental degradation and the conditions that foster unhealthy living.
Michael has also been the subject of a lot of media attention lately due to his involvement in the powerfully profitable The secret. He was a featured interviewee on the film and has appeared in television interviews promoting the film and the companion book along with the practice it contains. He has also participated in The secret seminars in the United States.
Continuing his education to better serve the 35,000 people around the world who have interacted with the message of universal love and peace preached by Beckwith and Agape, the Rev. earned a Doctor of Divinity in Religious Sciences from the United Church of Religious Sciences in 2003.
While serving as the leader and keynote speaker for Agape, she fell in love with and married the choir director, the former Rickie Byars. Rickie BB is prominent in his own right as a musician, songwriter, and performer. She joined Agape in 1988 and Michael convinced her to form a 30-voice Christmas choir. Almost 20 years later, it continues with more than 200 members and tours all over the world. She continues, to this day, in her role as director of the church choir. The pair have appeared together on several devotional music albums. His four children are all grown up and have children of their own.
Reverend Beckwith continues to bring his message of peace and self-love to millions with his inspiring ideas. He is the author of several books, including recently heart inspirations Y a peace manifesto.