THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507120151
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
SHE MAY BE the Church Lady, but Judi Meyer has nothing in common with Dana Carvey's self-righteous character on television's ``Saturday Night Live.''
``I believe God takes ordinary people and leads them to the edge so they can make extraordinary things happen,'' Meyer said.
Meyer may describe herself as ordinary, but her parishioners don't agree. Recently, she was called the best minister in Hampton Roads by ``Port Folio Magazine'' in the annual Best of Hampton Roads Reader's Poll.
Meyer, minister of Unity Renaissance in Greenbrier, quickly downplays her title as best minister of the region. The former real estate agent, registered nurse and mother of four also stresses that she wouldn't be where she is today without the ups and downs she's endured.
``I didn't always think I would go into the ministry,'' said Meyer. ``In the early '80s, I was working in real estate, when what I call my inner voice told me to abandon the profession.''
``I said no,'' said Meyer. ``I was just beginning to make money and I didn't want to leave.''
But months later, Meyer changed her mind when a friend reiterated the message.
``She said she had a dream that I was doing spiritual work and working with multitalented people. I believe she saw what would become my life.''
She dumped her real estate work and began preparing for ministry.
She first became a licensed teacher with the Association of Unity Churches, then proceeded to jump through the many hoops of becoming an ordained minister, which she achieved in 1990.
Meyer's church had humble beginnings as well. Meyer and a small group of friends started Unity Renaissance at about the same time she decided to pursue the ministry.
In early 1982, they contacted the Association of Unity Churches and began the process of affiliation.
``We met in our homes for quite a while,'' said Meyer. Not long after, the group multiplied in numbers and moved from private homes to leased space in Norfolk and Chesapeake.
Today, the congregation of 400 has a permanent home on Eden Way. The building has a sanctuary, offices, a nursery, a book store and several classrooms on the four-acre parcel in Greenbrier.
``We're always growing,'' said Meyer. ``Our next step is to add another service on Sunday.''
As spiritual leader of the church, Meyer writes and delivers the weekly sermon, oversees the daily comings and goings of the church and makes herself available to all parishioners.
``The most important time to be present is when someone is going through a crisis, and you can't predict when a crisis will happen,'' Meyer said.
That means she is on call all hours of the day and night and has to juggle her schedule constantly.
But Meyer doesn't want to be the type of minister that only shows up during times of tragedy, so she started a one-on-one chat group for her parishioners.
``People sign up for 15-minute blocks of time and we talk one-on-one about anything. Sometimes people just want to talk about what's going on in their lives or how the church has made a difference to them. Others will talk about family problems.
``It's just one way for me to get to know people better. To know them as a friend.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
``I believe God takes ordinary people and leads them to the edge so
they can make extraordinary things happen,'' says Judi Meyer,
minister of Unity Renaissance in Greenbrier.
by CNB