Minister, Reverend Billie Martini

Reverend Billie Martini is the pioneering minister of Unity Church of Surprise, founded in 2002 in Surprise, AZ. She was ordained as a New Thought Minister in March of 1999 and received her second ordination as a Unity Minister in April 2005.

Marcia Gonyea, President 

I was one of the founding members of Unity of Surprise and served on the steering committee board. I have also served on the board as secretary.

Currently I am the Adult Education coordinator. I facilitate classes by myself and have had the honor of co-facilitating a class with Reverend Billie. I facilitated the class Celebrate Yourself and a review of the book Gift From The Sea. I am now facilitating The Twelve Powers of Man class.

I have attended classes at Unity of Phoenix and was blessed to go to Unity Village for a retreat.

I serve as the Worship assistant and do the meditations once a month during the services. I also take part in the Creative Arts programs.

I am the mother of a wonderful son, Gregory, and am a new grandmother to a wonderful grandson named Zachary.

I am an avid reader and can go for weeks without turning on the TV when I'm reading a good book. I love to dance. Have recently taken up golf, and have had three lessons so far so I'm not very good but sure do like it.

I work full time as a nurse and enjoy doing that, however, I want to be an active part of a dynamic growing church and have decided to run for the board again.

Love and Ught to you ALL, Marcia 

Laura Hans, Vice President & Discernmentarian 

I have been a member of Unity of Surprise for a year and have been attending for about a year and a half. During this time I have served in the bookstore, facilitated Discovery Circles for the Board and the congregation and have helped Reverend Billie with Board training.

Prior to coming to Surprise, I attended Christ Unity in Lincoln, Nebraska. I served on the Board there for 4 1/2 years and ran their bookstore. If elected, I will serve this congregation with a prayer consciousness, a loving heart and an openness to all the good that God has in store for Unity of Surprise.

Jan Karns, Treasurer 

I am originally from the Northwest. I completed my bachelor's degree from Portland State College in Portland, Oregon. I taught Business Education at Pendleton, Oregon for 3 years. From there I took a position in Marketing Support for IBM where I specialized in office systems. I held various positions in the 21 years I worked for IBM.

My late husband Jerry and I retired in 1987 and took up the motor home life. My constant companions were "Daily Work" and "Unity Magazine".

I n 2001, we purchased a lakeside home on the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. This is where I found "Friends of God Unity Church". I seriously began my spiritual journey by attending church regularly and taking various Unity sponsored classes.

Even though we were in Missouri, we wintered in Happy Trails RV resort, which is about 1 mile from Unity of Surprise. I have regularly attended worship services and classes here as well.

Last year I sold my house in Missouri and chose Surprise as my permanent address. I was asked if I would fill a vacant board position for a year. I consider it an honor to serve in this capacity.

Patti Masters, Secretary 

Unity of Surprise played a key role in my decision to relocate from Wisconsin to Surprise. I began attending when we visited during the winter, several years ago. After every service, or class, I experienced this great “aha” - This is home. This is where I belong.” Previously I had been a member of several different denominations, but never experienced the sense of belonging that I do here. 

About 10 years ago I found Unity in Madison, WI. What I heard resonated deep within me. I am delighted to be a member of this loving, caring spiritual community. I’ve taken numerous classes at Unity, and have grown through all of them. As a member of the Pay it Forward committee, I hope to encourage sharing of time and talents among the community. It would be an honor to join the board, to give back some of what I have received here and to utilize my experience in journalism, anti-poverty organizations and sales to help Unity continue to nourish its members.

Terry O'Brien, Operations 

After being asked to consider running for the Board of Trustees, it took awhile to think about the commitment I was undertaking. Having decided to become a candidate, I am presenting my resume as requested.

My life in Unity began 11 years ago when I began attending Fox Valley Unity in Batavia, IL.

Having practiced a more traditional religion for 55 years, I was drawn to Unity’s belief in the right of each individual to follow his or her own conscience.

The first Sunday I attended our minister, Rev. Bob McCartney spoke about biblical truths but from a metaphysical viewpoint. This was new to me and very refreshing.

Week after week I realized I wanted to be there. I wanted to participate and help out in any way I could. Shortly thereafter, I was helping with the Hospitality Committee, ushering, and acting as platform assistant. I become a member about six months after attending my first service. I was home.

I found myself interested in learning more and took classes on the Bible, How to Keep a True Lent, the Course in Miracles, World Religions. My wife Lorraine and I hosted several study groups in our home and became dear friends with many of our fellow members. I joined the Men’s group and a Drumming Circle at an annual retreat.

Lorraine and I joined Unity of Surprise in the fall of 2004 and since that time I have made many deep friends who have supported me during challenging times, have been able to help as an usher, in the sound booth, and renovation of the sanctuary. I have taken classes including “The Eye of the Storm”, and “Lessons in Truth”.

As a member of the Board of Trustees I hope to continue Jim Berg’s excellent work on Building and Grounds, bring my open mind, willingness to listen to all opinions, and to be of service as needed. I look for the experience to help me deepen my own spiritual well being, my friendships with fellow members and contribute my gifts to this community.

Sherry Ritchie, Special Events 

I graduated from high school in 1955 and from nursing school in 1958. I’ve worked from coast to coast, Bar Harbor, Maine, Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, UCLA Medical Center in California and John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. OB nursing was always my love and I was fortunate to become an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner.

I met and married my husband Bill in California and moved to Arizona in 1965. We have raised 3 children. I was a leader with my daughter in Indians Maidens and a soccer Mom for the boys.

While living in California in 1964, my mother came for a visit and asked to go to church. She is a member of Unity so we looked in the yellow pages for the closest Unity church. Bill and I attended the service with my mother. The minister was Reverend Mays. He had a profound affect on me. In 1965 we moved to Arizona and found Reverend Mays once again. We   attended many classes he taught and was comfortable with the Unity church. We moved again to Georgia and then later back to Arizona. Of all the churches we attended, Unity was where we felt most comfortable. Unity of Surprise is where we found the most love and support.

I feel it would be an honor to serve on the board and I enjoy church work. I help with hospitality at both services and on special projects like painting the building.