Paige Thomas DeHart

I was called to ministry in 1986 after reaching out to a God I did not believe in. The prayer was simple: “I do not believe in you, but if you are there, please help me.” Three days later, my 25th birthday, a great thought entered my mind: “You are loved. It’s not too late to change the path you are on, but you must turn the other way. But do not be afraid for I am with you always; even until the end of time.” That was 32 years ago; and our relationship has been ever-unfolding.

Following this immediate contact, the Spirit began to inform me that I would be a spiritual leader in the 21st century; that my ministry would be about leading people to the kingdom within. As those that knew me at that time will attest, I began to tell everyone that I was a future leader and expected them to drop everything and follow me. Instead they thought I had a psychotic break; and maybe I did. But that break has continued to shatter my delusions and I am indeed an ordained minister today with the mission of leading people to the kingdom within.

As my journey continued, I became aware that the “I am with you always” line is a direct quote of Jesus in Matthew. At that time, I had never read the Bible. But I knew that Jesus was the voice that was talking to me and I began a deep search into the understanding of who he is. That search led me to Unity Church, the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Church, and to no church at all. It seemed that the Jesus I know was not represented properly in any of those venues. To me, the Unity people did not give him enough credit as the living proof that death is an illusion, but the others had him in a box that was so constricted and fear-based that he wasn’t really Jesus anymore. As a matter of fact, I don’t even like to call myself a Christian because it has come to be synonymous with bigotry, racism, sexism, and hatred. That is not the Jesus I know.

I am a follower of the Risen Jesus. I am convinced that he is alive and available because I know him quite well. He has been everything from a mother, father, sister, brother, friend, partner, and my truest self on our journey together. He has taught me everything I know and much of it is interestingly unique from the doctrines of the Church.

First, he has proven to me that he is real and that I can trust him; not an easy task. The final strand of unbelief was extinguished when he literally saved my then 18-year-old daughter from death after being shot in the head in 2015. Second, he has instructed me to get him out of the box and to rest assured that he does indeed have sheep of other flocks that the Church knows nothing about.

Jesus has explained to me that the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Old Testament and the New are not the same Holy Spirit. He told me that, during the time between his death and resurrection, he did great work in opening the gates of hell that earth may eventually become heaven’s promise land. He told me that his risen spirit is the reconciled spirit of good and evil; the spirit of wisdom and understanding. He told me that the point of our existence is to balance our illusions of duality with our examined experiences in order to learn to be in this world, but not of it. I can whole-heartedly exclaim that Jesus saved me from the hell of childhood trauma, addiction, bulimia, mental illness, and the conditioning of this world. He wasn’t about keeping me from going there after I die. He set me free immediately and continually: in every NOW moment.

As mentioned before, I have searched the Christian religion to find a community where my Jesus is the leader, but have been unable to find it. However, I have been led to the most ancient religion of all; Hinduism, where the teachings he has personally taught me resonate. In Hinduism, service to others and adoration of the guru are just as important as they are in Christianity, but they also emphasize meditation and knowledge as being just as important. Each of those paths or “yogas” are helpful to a person like me; who cannot leave reason behind in my understanding of God.

Jesus told me that he’s all about a new yoga, the yoga of relationship. He told me that the Hindus have the right idea in understanding the energy centers, or chakras, in our bodies. He said that the Eastern Mystics focus on the opening of the chakras with the goal of living, moving, and having their being in the final chakra, the crown, which represents a oneness with the universe. He said that this chakra opening is necessary because it is the city on the hill; a beacon of hope sending the call that God is real. But he also said that for me to truly follow him, I must make my way back down to the 4th chakra, the heart, and extend to others from that place where the kingdom lies. Jesus is not about pitching a tent at the top of the mountain. He calls us down from the mountaintop to meet people where he is most needed: in the valley. He told me that we need the vertical alignment of having all the chakras open to have true union with him, but the goal is to extend horizontally from the heart chakra; hence the symbol of the cross.He told me that these two alignments are vitally necessary for the future of both humanity and the planet.

So, that’s the backstory of my ministry. If any of this sounds intriguing to you, then I invite you to join me for gatherings at Spirit Realization Fellowship. You may come with skepticism but remain to discover an abundant inner world.💕

Namaste and Amen

Rev. Paige Thomas DeHart