Today we’d like to introduce you to Rev, Karen Frost.
Rev, Karen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2011, I moved to LA from Chicago to break into the TV industry. After struggling to achieve my goals, I took every class the Global Truth Center offered, all the way through the ministerial program. The moment that I became a minister, my television career and my ministry skyrocketed.
After five years of applying, I was hired at Creative Arts Agency (CAA). At the same time, spiritual centers begin reaching out to me with paid requests to serve as their Sunday speaker. My experience at CAA led to a job at JuVee Productions, Viola Davis, and Julius Tennon’s production company.
People in my industry began to ask where they could hear me speak. At the time, I was often in Bakersfield, Simi Valley, and other spiritual centers in the outskirts of Southern California. In March of 2018, I teamed up with my classmate, Rev. David Allan Cruz, to co-create a monthly spiritual event in Los Angeles.
We launched on September 9th, 2018 at SpiritWorks Center for Spiritual Living in Burbank. There were 65 attendees, a volunteer band and sound technician. We brought in more than enough donations to cover the costs of the event. Spirit Uncensored was born.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I intended to create a monthly event where my colleagues could hear me speak. I hadn’t realized I was stepping into the senior minister role of a spiritual community. I wasn’t prepared for teenagers asking to represent Spirit Uncensored at spiritual teen camps, vetting outreach project requests, or managing dissenting opinions from our Board of Trustees and our members.
Around the same time, I was promoted to a TV Creative Executive at JuVee. The position was created for me, so I didn’t have a clear idea of what the job entailed. Learning both roles at the same time was daunting. However, I felt a responsibility to practice what I preach. I chose to be grateful for the life I created and have faith that everything would turn out perfectly.
Faith and gratitude aren’t easy choices to make. But I believe that if more people recognized that they have the power to choose to live a faith-driven and grateful life, the world would be a much better place. These challenges led to my realization of the three spiritual principles that now serve as the foundation of Spirit Uncensored: Choice, Faith & Gratitude.
Please tell us about Spirit Uncensored.
Spirit Uncensored is an interfaith, radically-inclusive spiritual community that teaches love as a religion. Jesus wasn’t a Christian. Buddha wasn’t a Buddhist. Love was their religion. The world is filled with messages of fear, division, and uncertainty. Spirit Uncensored provides an alternative. If we want to see more love in the world, we have to choose to be more loving. Through an exploration of science, philosophy, and world religions, our purpose is to inspire each individual to be the change they wish to see in the world.
Every Spirit Uncensored experience is structured differently, to allow space for spontaneity and community participation. Second Sundays of the month are slightly traditional, with a blend of inspirational talks and music. Fourth Sundays at the Ahiah Center for Spiritual Living in Pasadena are 100% immersive, with a group exercise designed for personal transformation. We are in the process of developing an online monthly event.
I am not aware of a spiritual center in the world that follows this model for spontaneity and group participation, and I’m very proud of that. The tagline for The Centers for Spiritual Living is: “Creating a world that works for everyone.” I feel like we’re executing that in the microcosm of our Spirit Uncensored community.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My wife has been my biggest cheerleader. She appointed herself as my personal photographer, taking pictures at every spiritual center I spoke in and created advertising materials for every speaking engagement. One year into ministerial school, I woke up one morning to discover she launched RevKarenFrost.com that included testimonials from my classmates. She serves on my board and leads every marketing campaign.
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon have served as my models for success. They provide the space for me to use my voice, be authentic, and learn from my mistakes. Their dedication to producing socially-relevant, high quality, and entertaining stories told from marginalized perspectives, inspires me daily. Our Head of TV, Andrew Wang, has consistently advocated for my success and supports my balance between TV development and my ministry.
Rev. Dr. James Mellon trained me to become the minister I am today. The Global Truth Center’s classes and mantra: “Love Only, Forgive Everything and Remember Who You are”, gave me the guidance to live with love as my religion. Rev. Dr. Mellon hired me as a speaker within days of completing the program. Rev. Stephen Rambo, Rev. Doug Lebow and Jenepher Lapp, RScP supported and mentored me in my first year as a minister.
The Spirit Uncensored board members are called “The Spiritual Rockstars”, and our organization would not exist without them. I am so grateful for the abundance of volunteers and financial supporters that allow us to thrive.
Pricing:
- We accept Love Donations at all Spirit Uncensored events.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spirituncensored.org
- Phone: 323-362-6726
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/spirit.uncensored
- Facebook: facebook.com/spirituncensored
- Twitter: twitter.com/spirituncensor
- Other: revkarenfrost.com
Image Credit:
Background art provided by www.theartofsandradee.com
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