By Rev. Tami Johns
Called to Community: Expanding Engagement at Unity of the Triangle
When God calls you for a purpose, it is hard to say no. Well, you can try. Believe me, I have tried. But when I finally stopped running from my call to ministry, my life began to unfold in ways I could not possibly have imagined. Today, I serve as the Community Engagement Director at Unity of the Triangle, and I truly believe I have been called to be here, in this place, at this time. Community Engagement is not just a title or department. It is a living expression of who we are
becoming together.
What Is Community Engagement?
At Unity of the Triangle, Community Engagement includes small groups, outreach, member engagement, and volunteer opportunities. It is about helping people feel connected, seen, welcomed, and invited into deeper participation in our spiritual community.
What Spiritual Groups Are Available at Unity of the Triangle?
We currently have 14 active groups, seven of which are either new or have been revived within the last year. These groups provide welcoming and safe spaces where people can engage in meaningful dialogue, build relationships, and strengthen their sense of belonging. Through regular gatherings, these groups reach almost 100 people each month. The people who participate in our groups represent a beautiful range of ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, backgrounds, and life experiences.
Whether you are looking for a women’s group to reflect and share (Sisterhood Saturday), a men’s space for honest dialogue, a group for veterans to share their experiences, hiking companions, or a place to discuss Unity principles, there is a place for you here. And if you haven’t found the right group yet, but you have an idea you feel passionate about, I would love to hear from you
What’s New: A Spiritual Direction Group
This June, we are launching a new Spiritual Direction Group. This group will offer a place to rest, be heard, and discover the sacred within your own story. It will be a gentle, contemplative space where people can come together to explore spirituality with openness and curiosity. Whether you come with deep faith, unanswered questions, uncertainty, or simple curiosity, you are welcome just as you are. No experience with meditation or spiritual direction is required.
Unity for Humanity
This year, we also launched Unity for Humanity, a new social justice group created to engage our community in meaningful dialogue, compassionate action, and consciousness-raising around issues that affect our shared humanity. Rooted in Unity principles, Unity for Humanity invites thoughtful exploration of social justice
issues through education, discussion, and community-centered action. We began with immigration as our kickoff topic and hosted a panel of experts to help guide the
conversation. We have also selected a community partner working in the immigration space. This partner will offer training and introduce ways we can contribute our time, energy, and resources. More information will be coming soon. We also heard from those who participated in our survey. Based on your responses, we are exploring future topics such as racial justice, health care access and mental health, media disinformation, and the environment.
Community Outreach at Unity of the Triangle
As always, we remain committed to serving beyond our walls through outreach. We call it Unity in the Community and in 2026, we will continue offering meaningful ways to serve, including opportunities with Oak City Cares, Habitat for Humanity workdays, backpack drives, and the Angel Tree project. We are also looking for additional organizations to partner with as we expand our outreach efforts.
How to Get Involved As a Unity Volunteer
I also have the joy of supporting our volunteer efforts alongside Barbara Holloman. There are many ways to get involved in this beautiful community. You can serve as a greeter on Sundays or during special services, help with the fellowship team, assist with the youth programs, or become part of our new ambassador program.
I encourage you to think about where your gifts, time, and presence might help us serve and grow.
Stay Connected
There is always something happening in Community Engagement, and the best way to stay informed is by subscribing to the Unity Newsletter, and coming back to this website regularly! You can also connect with us socially on YouTube, facebook, and instagram.
I look forward to continuing to serve you and this community as we discover new and exciting ways to expand Community Engagement together.
With gratitude,
Rev. Tami
