Our History
Our church was founded in 1961 by Catherine Ponder, a Unity minister who has become an internationally known author and lecturer on the principles of healing, prosperity and prayer for common use in daily life. The first Unity services were held in the magnificent Driscoll Hotel.
Some other key dates in our development are 1979, when the ministry moved into a small house on Del Curto Road in south Austin. A sanctuary was built and added on under the direction of the minister, Jim Dawson; although in 1984 the congregation voted to buy a new facility, it did not move. Three years later, the congregation purchased 10 acres on which to build a new facility. No funds were raised for this project, and in 1995 the land was sold at a considerable profit, which enabled the church to pay for the limestone structure used for the Youth Education Building.
The church kept its dream of a new facility and purchased 35 acres in 1996 on the Capital of Texas highway. In 1997, the congregation began working on its dream to build the Miracle in the Hills church. The capital campaign did not result in enough funds. Rev. Linda Pendergrass, who was the minister, retired, and in 2005 the church under the direction of the Revs. Bill and Nancy Worth purchased the huge facility Light House for the Blind located on the property behind the church.
Rev. Analea Rawson replaced the Worths in 2006, and under her guidance, the church, all its property and buildings were sold. In 2007 the congregation voted to purchase an existing building on Hwy 290 in southwest Austin, and a beautiful and dynamic renovation completed in 2008 has been our church home since.
During its years on Del Curto, some powerful Unity ministers served the church as interims and as permanent placements. Among these Unity Lights are Rev. Tim Cook, Rev. Bernard Dozier, Rev. Jack Graf, Rev. Sig Paulson, Dr. Robert Marshall, and Rev. Sallye Taylor. Rev. Taylor was present at the new church’s dedication in 2008. All of these ministers, including the ones named above and others not named, are responsible for building a foundation of spiritual consciousness that has resulted in our new church.
We invite you to experience a Sunday Celebration Service with Rev. Analea Rawson. Services are at 11 a.m.