Previous NextGEN Retreat Leadership Team Members
We are so grateful for the support these individuals have provided over the years! Current Leadership Team MembersPast Musicians
Q Roberts| 2024
Center for Spiritual Living | They / Them / Theirs / He / Him / His
Q Roberts, or also known as Quinnus grew up in CSL formerly known as religious science from age 2. They were a member of Covina, California CSL until they were 18-years-old and branched away from the community entirely to find their own guiding path. They have attended countless pre-teen/teen camps as a teen and even aided in the creation of a few of those camps. It was one of those very teen camps that helped them find the authentic self they were hiding deep within. Although Q had stepped away from CSL, they continued to practice the philosophies in their daily life. NextGEN inspired Q back into a community, hoping to find their light within and continue their spiritual path. Taking on a leadership role was always in the back of Q’s mind, and finally took the leap.
Q is currently working on their Psychology Bachelors while also being an English tutor at the college level. Language and the brain’s function have inspired Q to learn more about the world around them in hopes to better aid those around them.
Tejash Patel | 2024
Zoe Zielinski AKA ZZ | 2024
Oakland Center for Spiritual Living, Oakland |
Zoe Zielinski, better known as ZZ in the CSL community, is a glowing ball of creativity and passion. She has grown up with New Thought and CSL always being present in her life. She and her mother would go church hopping with the knowledge that they could always learn something from any message given at any center, but with the intent of finding a center to call home. That home was Om Center for Spiritual Living in La Mesa, CA. Thanks to Rev. Suzette Wehunt and her Om family, ZZ attended her first CSL Teen Camp and discovered her calling to be more involved with CSL. She was Co-director for one winter camp and an International Teen Leader that served from 2019-2021. Throughout her spiritual journey she has made so many connections with so many people all over the country and wishes to utilize her connections and creativity to inspire people to get more in tune with their Mind, Body and Spirit. She is a passionate dancer and performer, and through her expression of creative movement, she allows the Divine Spirit to guide her on her journey.
Through the 2023 CSL Summer Internship Program at Camp Cedar Ridge, she was recognized for her standing in the CSL community and her intuitiveness with the Universe and was invited to be part of the NextGEN Leadership team. Trusting in the Divine and taking this opportunity by the reins, ZZ has become a valuable asset to the team and continues to bring her creativity and connection to Spirit into the light. She has so much gratitude for this team that allows her to speak freely and without shame or hesitation. She wishes to use this opportunity to inspire others to trust in the unknown and consciously listen to Spirit in action and to make space for people to express their Divine Selves.
Rev. KC Taylor| 2023
Rev. KC Taylor (they/them, formerly known as Rev. Karen Frost) is the senior minister and co-founder of Spirit Uncensored, described as “a spiritual playground highlighting the value of choice, faith and gratitude.” They also serve as the office administrator of the Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL), a staff minister at United Life CSL and as case manager at Sisu Youth Services in Oklahoma City (OKC). Sisu Youth Services is a low-barrier, LGBT+ affirming youth homeless shelter. Prior to OKC, Rev. Taylor was a TV Creative Executive at JuVee Productions, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s production company in Los Angeles.
Lu Evergreen | 2023
Center for Spiritual Living, Seattle |Lu Evergreen is a God-loving, nature loving, genderqueer social worker. Lu was raised Jewish and found their way to New Thought practices and traditions in 2009 after attending a Sunday service at the Bodhi Spiritual Center in Chicago for the first time. Lu has centered their life around maintaining their own inner peace through spiritual practices so they can show up as their highest Spirit-led Self for those who are in need of love and compassion in this world.
Lu is a licensed social worker and has worked in the mental health field on and off for several years. Currently Lu works with transgender adults in a medical system to help folks access gender-affirming care. Lu is interested and committed to helping create systemic changes that will make this world a friendlier place for QTBIPOC folks and others on the margins of society. Lu loves to commune with nature and recognizes the power of Spirit that shows up through hugging a majestic tree, marveling at the sight of a magnificent sunset or sleeping under a starry night sky.
Luchan Baker | 2023
Oakland Center for Spiritual Living, Oakland | Luchan Baker III, fondly known as Brother Luchan is a proud Oakland, Ca native. In 2004, at 23 years old, Brother Luchan became the youngest practitioner to obtain their license, which was such an honor. He is the immediate past Director of Youth and Family at Oakland’s Center for Spiritual Living, having served at OCSL for 3+ years.
Elijah Barbee | 2023
Rev. Abigail Schairer | 2014 – 21
Associate Minister, Center for Spiritual Living, Seattle, WA | As a vibrant minister, dynamic speaker, and compassionate spiritual counselor, Rev. Abigail Schairer is inciting a global Love-olution by awakening people to their spiritual magnificence and radiant essence.
Her spiritual journey began at the age of 21 after walking into Center for Spiritual Living San Jose, CA where she instantly found her “tribe”. Diving passionately into spiritual studies, she became a licensed Religious Science Practitioner in 2005 and later in 2011 graduated from the Holmes Institute of Consciousness Studies with her master’s degree and ministerial license. In 2012, Rev. Abigail founded Center for Spiritual Living Peninsula in Redwood City, CA, where she lovingly guided a growing congregation to embrace their own Divine potential. She was hired in 2018 to be the Associate Minister of Center for Spiritual Living Seattle, WA, where she currently resides.
Inspired by the awesome collective potential of women in this world, she birthed SisterSpirit Women’s Retreat in 2008. She continues to facilitate this annual retreat, empowering women to live fully in their authenticity, allowing their love, creativity, and spirituality to heal themselves and the world.
In 2015, Rev. Abigail also created this remarkable experience designed for spiritual adults ages 18–35, the NextGEN Retreat, as an investment in the future leaders of the world. This retreat educates participants about social justice, engaging in healthy relationships, leadership skills, and emboldens them to create a sustainable future of prosperity, service, and love for all. In 2017 Centers for Spiritual Living recognized her powerful and impactful work with the emerging leaders in the organization by bestowing her with the global Youth Champion award.
Rev. Abigail draws inspiration from the great spiritual masters of all religions and seamlessly marries it with practical guidance in her speaking and teaching. With a spirit as fun as her hair, love is at the core of all she expresses. She believes we are all a part of the human race, here to help create the life God intended us to have – one of absolute joy, complete abundance, and freedom.
Abigail resides in Washington with her wife, Geena, their two cats, a stuffed “Dino-Kitty,” and an assortment of spiritual books that threatens to take over their house. When she’s not changing the world, she loves to cook healthy food, illustrate books, doodle, dance, watch plays, hike, and travel the world.
Rev. Kris Ashley | 2014 – 21
Previous Senior Minister, Celebration Center for Spiritual Living, Falls Church, VA | As the youngest minister in our organization, Centers for Spiritual Living, Rev. Kris is a rEVOLutionary possibilitarian, social artist, spiritual badass, global transformationist and truth-teller. She loves to explore the lines between the mystical and the mundane, the sacred and the profane. She has an inherent gift of holding paradoxes and seeing life from many angles. She is committed to always telling the truth in love and is willing to have the challenging conversations that are necessary for individual and collective growth. She believes that all people deserve freedom, love, respect, equality, safety, and happiness, and she strives to live by these values in all that she does.
Rev. Kris is a founding member of the NextGEN Retreat Leadership Team and is committed to bringing Science of Mind principles and tools to the world, especially to adults under the age of 40. In addition to her work with NextGEN, Rev. Kris was the Senior Minister of Celebration Center for Spiritual Living in the Washington, D.C. Metro area and a member of the Board of Directors for the Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation. She is consistently grateful that she found New Thought as a young adult, and believes that these tools have the potential to change lives and truly create a world that works for EVERYONE – all people, plants, animals, and the planet itself.
Miranda Baker | 2020
Unity Worldwide Ministries | Miranda Baker first got involved in New Thought through Atlanta Unity at age three. She attended Unity off and on throughout her childhood until high school. Once involved in the Youth of Unity, she dove into leadership and spirituality. In 2013, Miranda began attending Elon University, and graduated in 2017 having double majored in Religions Studies and Creative Writing, and minored in Leadership Studies. During her time at Elon, Miranda worked at the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life where she founded Elon’s The Ripple Conference. Additionally, while at Elon, Miranda started working with Unity in Greensboro (NC) on their Youth Ed Team.
After graduation and relocating, Miranda has continued to serve as an adult Sponsor with the Youth of Unity. In 2018, Miranda joined forces with two other former YOUers to restart the Southeast Next Generation Unity. Currently, Miranda is also working with Unity Worldwide Ministries on their NextGEN Team. She is thrilled to be a part of the NextGEN Retreat!
Emily Randalow | 2020
Unity of Nashville Unity Worldwide Ministries | Emily was introduced to the new thought movement when she was 12-year-old; shortly after her move to Nashville, TN. She attended Unity of Nashville then later transitioned to Unity For The Spiritual Living Church then backed to the Unity of Nashville again. Emily spent 5-years at UCPL studying under the mentorship of Charlie Hailey. At 17-years-old Emily was elected to be the Regional Representative for the Southeast Region of Youth of Unity (Y.O.U.). The youth of Unity is a youth-lead program that hosts three-retreats a year for teens 13-18 years-old. During this time, Emily focused on cultivating a community to be the stepping stone to spiritual enlightenment and self-discovery, not to show you what path to take but the ways to lay the stones yourself. After graduating Y.O.U., Emily became a sponsor for the Uniteen Program (10-13 year-olds) then later a Y.O.U. Sponsor.
After years of serving the established Pre-teen and teen organizations, Emily felt this want on her heart by Divine Spirit to cultivate a young adult community of spiritual enlightenment. She had the desire to develop a group where a young adult that is coming out of Y.O.U. Wouldn’t have to conform or shrink their beliefs to feel included. From that, she and her team rebirthed Next Generation Unity. A young adult group dedicated to love, acceptance, and radical vulnerability. This has lead to the inclusion of interfaith thought and bridging the gaps to true coexistence and unconditional love.
When Emily is not cultivating spiritual expansion, she is usually playing with her dog, Koda. This Siberian Husky is the light of her life. Nashville is Emily’s current home, but she tends to jet-set any chance she gets. Traveling is a real passion of Emily; she plans on reaching all 50 states before she’s 30-years-old (9 states left to go)!
D. Ann Williams | 2019
Center for Spiritual Living, Eugene, OR | D. Ann was born and raised in Southern California and thought she’d spend most of her life there. However, in 2012 she started her spiritual journey and it opened her to listening to her intuition. A 10-day silent meditation retreat and a few services as Agape International Spiritual Center showed her there was something more to life. After a phone call with her sister, a feeling that she was supposed to move to Oregon, she walked into work the next day and told them she was moving.
After a few years of working on her life, she realized that she needed a spiritual community. In 2016 she joined the Center for Spiritual Living, Eugene. Once the minister started talking, D. Ann knew that this was the path. She was supposed to be a minister. Since then, D. Ann has attended, volunteered, and taken classes at the Center. Currently she is the Youth Ministry Director and a Practitioner I student. After attending the 2018 NextGen Retreat and undergoing a radical transformation, she’s excited to support the 2019 team.
When she’s not growing and expanding spiritually, she is working and volunteering in her community with children or the LGBTQ+ community. She co-owns a Montessori preschool with her sister and is the Marketing Chair on the Board of Directors for Soromundi Lesbian Chorus of Eugene, the Vendor Coordinator for Pride Eugene, and a site coordinator for the SMART Reading Program. In her spare time, she sings, runs, writes books, and travels.
Tony Richardson | 2019
Riverside Center for Spiritual Living, Riverside, CA | Tony Richardson was born and raised in California. He grew up living the church lifestyle whether his grandfather was officiating a wedding, his grandmother was playing the piano or organ, or his father was leading congregational music. At a young age, he knew his purpose in life was to be a minister. At the age of 11, he taught his first Sunday School class. This led to him speaking at youth rallies to up-to 600 teens starting at 13 years old. Additionally, he was a natural performer and sang with his family and in choirs, performed in theater, and plays multiple instruments.
Tony spent most of his life not only in churches, but as performer and speaker. He says that he has had many characters in my head my entire life. As I grew up, I held onto these characters. As a musical theater performer, they could sing, act, and dance. As a dramatic theater performer, they could show anger, confusion, and even cry. As a voice actor, they have become experts at promoting products and communicating to all audiences.
His experiences led him to be an AmeriCorps Ambassador where he developed spontaneous volunteer plans along with developing youth programs in Fresno, CA. This service lead him to work in disaster relief for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005 and even sent him to Banda Aceh, Indonesia where he provided humanitarian aid as a part of relief efforts to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. He furthered his career by working for organizations such as the American Red Cross and United Way.
Tony is now a motivational speaker and voice actor where his passions live. He currently is Director of Operations for United Way of the Inland Valleys and leads a production and theater ministry at the Center he attends. Additionally, he is on his Center’s finance committee and does “other duties as assigned.” With a calling for ministry, Tony is ready to enter Practitioner studies and then continue his work in consciousness to become a minister in divine time.
Elisha Christopher Hayden-Berrios, RScP | 2017 – 18
Jason Muraira | 2018
New Thought Center for Spiritual Living, Lake Oswego, OR In 2007, at age 23, Jason left his home town of Olympia, WA on a journey of spiritual awakening and self-discovery. He has since lived in Southern California, Colorado, and Oregon. Studying creative writing and literature in college, Jason nurtured his love for creativity and self-expression. He has extensive experience in the business world where he works as a corporate buyer, creative problem solver, and advocate of win-win business solutions. In his spare time, Jason enjoys playing guitar, hiking, reading, and writing. Overcoming an abusive childhood, early drug addiction, gang affiliation, and depression, Jason has developed a passion for personal growth and connection with Spirit. He seeks to serve humanity by unfolding his gifts and helping others do the same. Jason currently leads the Young Adult Group at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Rev. Masando Mike Hiraoka | 2018
Rev. Masando Mike Hiraoka received his BA in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado -Boulder in 2004, was introduced to his Buddhist meditation practice in his travels to India through Naropa University’s Buddhist Studies program in 2003, and received a Masters in Consciousness Studies from Holmes Institute in 2016. He has a monthly column, “The Art of Being Human” in the Science of Mind Magazine and is a member of CSL’s Diversity Commission, whose charge is to foster a greater culture Diversity & Inclusion within Centers for Spiritual Living.
Masando’s greatest passions include inter-faith and social justice ministry, finding that place where socially engaged participation and action can meet spiritual growth and the creation of greater communities of kinship and belonging.
Jeffon Seely | 2017
Spiritual Living Center, Atlanta, GA Raised at the base of the snow capped Wasatch Mountains in Holladay, Utah, Jeffon Seely is a speaker, entrepreneur, community leader, author and family man currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Standing upon Mahatma Gandhi’s message of “being the change he wishes to see” Jeffon is committed to shining a light of hope, peace and power into every environment he enters. On a mission to empower One Million Minds, Jeffon has spoke with students in Seattle, entrepreneurs throughout California, spiritual communities in across the southeast and held workshops as far away as Roatan, Honduras.
Troy Marjenhoff, RScP | 2014 – 17
Launching Pad I love creating space for people to unwind, relax, and hear the truth of themselves. Crafting retreats is one of my passions! I love helping people to feel more at ease, aligned, in harmony, and inspired. I graduated from the University of Florida with my BA in Religion. There, through work with Shands Hospital’s Arts in Medicine’ program, I fell in love with ‘Spirituality in Healthcare,’ and in the power of creativity and the arts in the healing process. I’m now a yoga teacher and a licensed CSL Practitioner at the Launching Pad. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I am especially fond of dance (free style, and West African in particular), soul friends, and breakfast.
Kristine Anderson | 2014 – 15
Launching Pad, Berkley, CA Kristine is a third generation metaphysician. She first discovered Religious Science at Inner Light Ministries Santa Cruz. She fell in love with the CSL community, and it has been her joy to be a teen advisor for many years. Kristine has served CSL in many different capacities, and is excited to help rebirth the new version of the Young Adult Retreat. What appeals to her most about this philosophy is the incredible people she has met in this movement, and how they have used these principles to transform their lives and the world. Kristine currently lives in the Bay Area, and is finishing Prac 2 at Launching Pad Berkeley. She loves having deep conversations about what people feel called to do in this world, and she loves supporting and encouraging people to use these principles to follow their hearts and live their dreams. Kristine is a bona-fide beach girl and loves to recharge by traveling and visiting great friends (many of whom she’s met at CSL camps over the years).
Rev. Elizabeth Rowley | 2014 – 15
Rev. Elizabeth Rowley became a Practitioner in 2007 and a licensed minister in 2012. She answered the call to ministry as the senior minister in Vallejo in 2013, prior to founding the Center for Spiritual Living Benicia later that year. She believes that through the use of a daily dedicated spiritual practice, transformation can take place in ease and grace with little or no resistance in the external world; and loves to assist others in bridging the gap between who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming. The spiritual awakening process! She is a compelling, and charismatic speaker and teacher known and loved for her practical, down-to-earth approach to spirituality. You may find out on one Sunday she is joyfully pursuing the path of patience following a recent 20 minute wait in line at Peet’s coffee, and the next week you’ll hear about her facing her fears in a flying trapeze class. She enjoys traveling, especially to India, silent meditation retreats and other high spiritual practices; is very passionate about outdoor sports like water skiing, snow skiing, cycling, mountain biking and has also been known to enjoy extreme sports such as the flying trapeze and sky diving. Rev. Elizabeth has left a mark of joy and service in each position she has occupied on her journey from the Corporate world to Ministry. Elizabeth is a visionary, charismatic leader; creative, passionate, genuine, authentic and above all, a people person. She lives her ministry and walks the talk. Ministry is the fulfillment of her lifelong dream. She’s thrilled about spending time with the Next Generation of Spiritual Adults and co-creating the space for growth and expansion as we all continue to step further into the Truth of who we are while making an impact in our own lives, those around us, our communities, and the world.
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