Unity Church of San Antonio

One of the sweetest privileges I have every day in ministry is to be present with beautiful beings who are appreciating a new perspective, achieved by living the truth they're learning at Unity Church of San Antonio, and through grace. Nothing thrills me like spiritual breakthroughs! One person shared that after many years of disconnection from his adult son, he courageously reached out and reconciled; today he and his son enjoy a relaxed, love-filled relationship. Another told of newfound harmony in her workplace after applying Unity teachings in a difficult relationship with a co-worker. Leaving behind judgment and competition, the two serve today with cooperation and respect.

Others share with me how their experience of daily living is so improved because of practicing the spiritual teachings they learn at Unity Church of San Antonio. Improved health, financial wellbeing, self-respect, purposefulness; these are some of the observable rewards of participating in our spiritual community. These are made possible when our divine identity is recognized and nurtured.  Take a close look at what is offered to you at Unity Church of San Antonio. I would be honored to become your minister; others in our ministry join me in service, poised to uphold your divine identity and champion your spiritual breakthroughs.

About Rev. Linda

Rev. Linda Martella-Whitsett is the senior minister at Unity Church of San Antonio. She formerly served Unity Church of Omaha as youth educator director, Licensed Unity Teacher, and Associate Pastor over seventeen years.  Her partner in ministry is Rev. Linda's husband Giles Whitsett.  They are parents to son Adrian, who is a television news reporter in Omaha, and daughter Alicia, who is a student in San Antonio and adds her lovely voice and musical talent to the UCSA Music Ministry Team.  

Rev. Linda's first book, How to Pray Without Talking to God moment by moment choice by choice, is the result of her manuscript being selected in a competition of nearly 3000 entries, a competition that is the brainchild of New York Times bestselling author, James F. Twyman, author of The Moses Code, and fellow author Robert Evans. The publisher is Hampton Roads Publishing Company, a premiere publisher of spiritual titles, most notably the Conversations with God series by Neale Donald Walsch.

With this book, Rev. Linda develops the basic tenant that, in her words, “Instead of talking to GOD, we acknowledge Divine Nature and our Divine Identity, knowing Oneness.  Instead of asking GOD to change us, other people, or our conditions, we affirm the highest truth revealed in the moment.  Instead of saying “thank you” to GOD, we feel and express appreciation in many other ways.”

Among Rev. Linda's other accomplishments are teaching classes at Unity Village and other Unity churches and mentoring in Unity’s Field Licensing Ministerial Training Program. 

Words that inspire Rev. Linda

“Pronounce every experience good, and of God, and by that mental attitude you will call forth only the good.  What seemed error will disappear and only the good will remain.  This is the law, and no one can break it.”

Charles Fillmore, Talks on Truth (Unity Village, MO: Unity School of Christianity, 1926). Page 107

About Community:

I'm passionate about living and supporting a community in living our collective spiritual purpose, to be the face of God for one another. In my own life and in my community, I promote practices that lift us into God’s light so our hearts open, our lives transform, and life becomes a celebration of our divine identity. I'm here to nurture this growing awareness as a pastor to individuals, as a coach to lay leaders, and as a cheerleader of the people.

About healing:

Relying not on my own understanding, but inspired by Spirit, I believe I am not in ministry for healing; in fact, healing is not what ministry is for. When I'm present with you in a session of spiritual direction, I don't focus on your problems. I focus on your wholeness. I'm in the business of wholeness demonstrating! I may cry with you. I may hold your hands through tough times, but I can uphold you best by calling upon the indwelling Christ of your being to establish within you a consciousness of your wholeness. Jesus taught, “The eye is the lamp of the body.  So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light…” (Matt 6:22). Nothing is missing; instead, I affirm the truth that every inner resource for every life circumstance is present and available.  As such, I do not attempt to specialize in family systems, or gender identity issues, or relationship problems, etc. To me, there is always only one thing going on, your passionate desire to experience your life as whole, just as it is. I celebrate your healthy eye, the vision of your divine identity.

About ministry:

Everyone ministering to everyone--this is a spiritual vision that inspires us to participate in its fulfillment. Leaders modeling compassion and congregates becoming leaders--these are elements of a thriving ministry.

About worship:

One of my most important functions is to facilitate my community’s worship experiences. Whether in Sunday Services, classes or in Board of Trustees meetings, I'm called upon to be an instrument of spiritual clarity. I'm meant to set the tone for a worshipful way of being.  I call us to recognize what we are worshipping, to be conscious and intentional about where we place our attention. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words ring true in my experience: “A person will worship something, have no doubt about that…That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.”