08 May We Let, We Let it Be
If you’ve never been to a service at the Agape International Spiritual Center, you ought to go if just for the music. Or the sense of joyous celebration, or for the fact that your neighbor will greet you with loving kindness. Services are definitely a finely crafted show: the entertainment value is enormous.
Agape was founded and headed by the charismatic Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of several books including Life Visioning and Spiritual Liberation. You may have seen him in one of his frequent media appearances on shows such as Dr. Oz, Oprah, The Secret (which wasn’t really a secret, now was it), or his own PBS special.
Founded in 1986, Agape grew to prominence with the partnership of Musical Director Rickie Byers, who for many years was Rickie Byers Beckwith. At the time of this writing the Beckwiths are involved in what appears to be a contentious divorce.
Agape is a proponent of New Thought spirituality. It has an active educational component in its weekly classes and in its University of Transformational Studies. There is a large outreach emphasis in its various ministries, such as to the bereaved, elderly, LGBT, youth and families, and other volunteer opportunities.
During a service one can feel the spirit of agape, the Greek word for unconditional love. With nine thousand members and up to a million attending on livestream, attendees are a strikingly attractive, well-dressed, intelligent group of people of cultural and racial diversity. (Single people have been known to attend for the hopeful planned or “cute meet.”)
What are you doing this Sunday? If you haven’t been, why not? Agape is one of the mainstays of Spiritual LA. You will be treated to Michael Beckwith’s message of hope and love and to a joyous choir singing the songs of Rickie Byers. If you go at 11:00, there’s also an interpreter who dances and sings for the deaf community.
Services held Sundays at 8:30 and 11:00 am
Saban Theater
8440 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
This is an excerpt from Catherine Auman’s book Guide to Spiritual L.A.: The Irreverent, the Awake, and the True
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