Unity Church began as "Unity of Wyoming Valley" on September 26, 1979. A group of 17 students joined with the Rev. Yves Lafontant in the home of Bob and Ann Marie Acacio, 524 N. Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre. The purpose of the meeting was to study and pray, and to vision our dream of a loving, viable Unity ministry in the Wyoming Valley. A savings account was started that day as a seed planted in the rich soil of God's Unlimited Resources. Our faith was firmly established in the promise of the prospering power of God's Love, and our goal was, and is, to be instruments for the expression of God's Love in the community and on the planet. Some of the people who met at that time, and "put feet on our prayers" were Gertrude Kline, Lavonne Taylor, Audrey Palmer, Mary Urbanas, Bernice Schwartz, Eve Souchik, Carol Kotsur, Lenny Ceklosky, Anne Marek, Abby and Dave Garcia, and Bob and Ann Marie Acacio. The group continued to meet at the Acacios' until March 11, 1980 when it moved its weekly meetings to the Dorranceton U.M. Church in Kingston.Yves held an introductory meeting that evening and began classes in"Lessons In Truth" on March 18th. September 1980 brought the beginning of monthly Sunday Services at 7 p.m., led by Yves, as well as our first Dial-A-Prayer project! Ann Marie facilitated the Dial-A-Prayer from her home and sent copies to those requesting a copy of the prayer for the day. She served as Center Leader from an office in her home.

On December 1, 1981 the group moved to its first permanent location at 264 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre. We knew that this was a sign that our first minister would be coming to launch a full ministry soon! Yves and the Board members from Unity of Lehigh Valley, our sponsoring ministry, met with UWV's Steering Committee and deemed us ready to request a minister from Unity School. After interviewing several ministers, the Board, acting on the feedback of the congregation, invited Rev. Sylvia Scherer to be our first minister. Sylvia served from July 8 to Dec. 15, 1982. Ann Marie then resumed leadership of the Center until a second minister was invited to serve. Rev. Jean Grace Addison-Ebersole assumed the leadership of the ministry on April 1, 1983, along with her licensed teacher-husband Russell. The sponsorship of the ministry was transferred to Unity Church of Christ in Philadelphia with Rev. John Salunek in 1984, and Ann Marie transferred to serve on the teaching staff of Unity of Lehigh Valley in March. The name of the ministry was changed to Unity Church of Christ and the location was moved to Genetti Hotel in 1985.

   In August 1986 several Unity friends wanted to form a second group in the Pittston area in order to study with Ann Marie. The request for approval of the second group was denied and, after much discussion, Ann Marie chose to teach the classes through the Wilkes-Barre ministry, in order to support greater growth in the ministry. Unity Church of Christ incorporated and folded in October 1987, and full support was given by the Association of Unity Churches to restart Unity of Wyoming Valley. This took place on December 1, 1987 at the meeting place at the YMCA in Pittston.

The new group moved its location to the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre on Jan. 1, 1988, offering weekly classes and Dial-A-Prayer. In April 1988 Sunday Services were resumed which led to even greater expansion and to the relocation of the ministry to R269 S. Washington St. on December 1st. The name used was Unity of Wyoming Valley - Center for Positive Living, which was later changed to Unity Center for Positive Living when the ministry incorporated in March 1991 Ann Marie interviewed for and was accepted into the Field Licensing and Ordination Program through the Association of Unity Churches in January 1992. After successfully completing the four-year program, Ordination was conferred on Rev. Ann Marie by Rev. Jim Rosemergy on May 11, 1996 at the Dorranceton U.M. Church, Kingston. The ministry had felt that it had come full-circle since its first public meeting there in March 1980! On December 29, 1998 Unity purchased 11.649 acres of wooded land on Jumper Road in Plains Township, with the intention to build a new church home. Unity had been high-bidder on the land, which had been owned by Earth Conservancy. Many fundraisers were held and, through the generosity of its members and loving supporters, the ministry paid for the land outright and soon began working with architects to arrive at a design that the board and membership would agree upon. The new Church would be built in three phases: phase 1 would consist of a large Fellowship area which would also be used as a Sanctuary, a kitchen, and two bathrooms, minister's office and secretary's office. Phase 2 would be the addition of rooms for Youth Education and a Bookstore. Phase 3 would be the formal Sanctuary.

   In September 2001, six months before breaking ground, a church building was located for sale on South Grant Street. This offered our ministry the opportunity to relocate into an established Church building at one-half the cost of new construction for Phase 1 only! The purchase was unanimously approved by the membership, and on December 21, 2001, Unity became the new owners. We moved in on December 22nd, and held our first Service--the Christmas Candlelighting Service--on December 23rd!

   At the next Annual Meeting we voted to change the name to Unity Church. Although the name of the ministry may have been changed several times, the mission of this Unity ministry continues to remain the same - to be a light of hope and a haven of peace for individuals who are seeking a "wholier" way of life! Prayer guides our path. Faith keeps us keeping on, knowing that "God doesn't give half a blessing"! Unity Church IS a "Center for Positive Living" committed to being the "light of the world" by letting God be God in us! We reach out to all who are ready to be lifted up into a new understanding of the Presence of God in their lives, and "keep the High Watch" for all who are still in the process of "re-membering". We behold the Christ in every person and every experience, and know that only God is Real! God is in charge of this ministry! We are blessed, and we are grateful! Thank You, God!!. Ann Marie interviewed for and was accepted into the Field Licensing and Ordination Program through the Association of Unity Churches in January 1992. After successfully completing the four-year program, Ordination was conferred on Rev. Ann Marie by Rev. Jim Rosemergy on May 11, 1996 at the Dorranceton U.M. Church, Kingston. The ministry had felt that it had come full-circle since its first public meeting there in March 1980! On December 29, 1998 Unity purchased 11.649 acres of wooded land on Jumper Road in Plains Township, with the intention to build a new church home. Unity had been high-bidder on the land, which had been owned by Earth Conservancy. Many fundraisers were held and, through the generosity of its members and loving supporters, the ministry paid for the land outright and soon began working with architects to arrive at a design that the board and membership would agree upon. The new Church would be built in three phases: phase 1 would consist of a large Fellowship area which would also be used as a Sanctuary, a kitchen, and two bathrooms, minister's office and secretary's office. Phase 2 would be the addition of rooms for Youth Education and a Bookstore. Phase 3 would be the formal Sanctuary.

   In September 2001, six months before breaking ground, a church building was located for sale on South Grant Street. This offered our ministry the opportunity to relocate into an established Church building at one-half the cost of new construction for Phase 1 only! The purchase was unanimously approved by the membership, and on December 21, 2001, Unity became the new owners. We moved in on December 22nd, and held our first Service--the Christmas Candlelighting Service--on December 23rd!

   At the next Annual Meeting we voted to change the name to Unity Church. Although the name of the ministry may have been changed several times, the mission of this Unity ministry continues to remain the same - to be light of hope and a haven of peace for individuals who are seeking a"holier" way of life! Prayer guides our path. Faith keeps us keeping on, knowing that "God doesn't give half a blessing"! Unity Church IS a "Center for Spiritual Transformation" committed to being the "light of the world" by letting God be God in us! We reach out to all who are ready to be lifted up into a new understanding of the Presence of God in their lives, and "keep the High Watch" for all who are still in the process of "re-membering". We behold the Christ in every person and every experience, and know that only God is Real! God is in charge of this ministry!

We are blessed, and we are grateful! Thank You, God!!