A few words about
Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioners
We Take a Stand for Love
Prayer, Silence, Teaching and Counseling
We are a Sacred Order dedicated to anchoring a Consciousness of
Truth and Wholeness in the Agape community and the world at large.
Agape Spiritual Licensed Practitioners are licensed only after successful completion of 2 years of study and practice of Universal Truth Principles, and an additional 2 year Professional Practitioner Program. They must also pass both written and oral examinations to be eligible for licensure.
A counseling session with a practitioner typically lasts approximately one hour, and can take place in person or by phone. Each session begins and ends with Affirmative Prayer Treatment, a scientific form of healing prayer.
Practitioner sessions are a professional service, and most practitioners are flexible in their fees. While some people choose to have a weekly session with their practitioner, others make appointments as needed.
The Practitioner holds the confidence of clients sacred and inviolate. What is shared in a session is never discussed with anyone, except where the practitioner is legally bound to report specific events.
Contact an Agape East Spiritual Practitioner
Jessye Altobello, ALSP
Jessye Altobello is a newly licensed ALSP-class of 2021- and is ready to live, practice and teach these Truth teachings in an expanded way! Although newly licensed, she has been in the New Thought teachings since 2005. Jessye originally attended Centers for Spiritual Living, but found her calling and home at Agape International Spiritual Center. She has been serving in the One From the Heart Ministry at Agape since 2015, after being inspired by Rev. Victoria in the Prayer Warrior class. She resides in Long Beach, Ca and is married with 3 children. She is a life-long educator of young children and finds incredible purpose in using these Truth teachings in her everyday life. She is incredibly excited to join Agape East and is ready to pray, counsel, lead meditations and Life Visioning sessions.
Jessye can be reached via email at jessye@agapeeast.org
Jason Benefield, ALSP
Jason Adeniyi Ojudun Benefield is a speaker, author, and singer- song writer. He hails from Buffalo, NY, from a family of talented speakers and teachers. At the age of 17 he delivered his first trial sermon and realized his true connection to Source Energy. He has spoken on multiple stages from Niagara Falls and Rochester, NY, to and his hometown in Buffalo. Jason implements his knowledge of Source Energy and Agape Truth Principles, helping others in his various programs, Being Aware is Self-Care and his morning broadcast on FB and IG, Let’s A.M.P. Up (Affirmation, Meditation, Prayer.) Current projects in launching phase include a group-coaching platform, Feel- Heal- Freedom, with separate groups for men and women, and his new book, Essential Peace of Life: The Journey of Evolving Consciousness. He also has a one man show on YouTube called Shhh! Shut Up! His taglines are: “Only you can reveal the true you,” and “OOOOOO what a practice!” Jason currently lives in the greater Los Angeles area, serving in the Agape International community as well as virtually for Agape East.
Jason can be reached via email at jasonbenefieldalsp@agapeeast.org.
Michelle Born, ALSP
Michelle has been an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioner for 9 years. She served as a co-leader of the One From The Heart’s Wholeness and Visitation Team for 10 years, presenting workshops, leading the Spiritual Healing Circle, Training Agape Practitioner Interns and leading a team of over 60 volunteers in supporting those who are ill and shut in with prayer and visits. Most Thursday evenings she could be found facilitating and teaching in Agape’s Practitioner Studies Licensing Program for the senior Practitioner students, which she loves dearly. She also serves as Stage Manager for Rev Michael’s Revelation conference and other large events for Agape and Rickie Byars special events as well. She has recently answered a call within her to facilitate A Course In Miracles for the Agape East Spiritual Community. She has been studying and practicing The Course in Miracles for 12 years and a dedicated practitioner of Ho’ oponopono for 13 years.
In 2008 Michelle had a miraculous healing of multiple diagnosis’ which she credits to practicing Truth Principle through her own spiritual practice. She is committed to waking up, to a successful completion of her shamanic initiation and living the eternal quest to reveal more God in all that she does.c
Michelle can be reached via email at michellebornalsp@agapeeast.org
Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, ALSP
Dr. Jacqueline Kitson Jackson (she, her, hers), a career educator, was introduced to New Thought early in life by her mother, Katherine Strawbridge. After studying with Reverend Marie Strzykalski at the Center of Peace in Philadelphia she became a licensed Religious Science Practitioner in 2012. After moving to Norfolk, Virginia, she began service as the first licensed practitioner at the Hampton Roads Center for Spiritual Living with Reverend Ruth Littlejohn. She currently continues to serve as an ALSP licensed practitioner with Reverend Victoria Thomas at Agape East Spiritual Center in Norfolk, Virginia. Jacki’s spiritual focus is on transitions through the life cycle, especially issues related to diversity and equity, parenting and loss and grief in its many forms. Jacki recently completed training as an end life doula, offering comfort and end of life support to caregivers and the dying.
Jacki can be reached via email at JackiJackson@AgapeEast.org
Shay Jordan, ALSP
Shay Jordan has been an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioner since 2006, through the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles CA. Rooted in Spiritual Principle, she offers Spiritual Counseling sessions and vocal healing and coaching sessions, both in person and virtually. She is a public speaker and facilitates sacred ceremony and blessing rituals, such as baby blessings, house blessings, memorials, and weddings. She currently lives in Austin TX and virtually serves with Agape East Spiritual Center in Norfolk VA., leading Meditation Services, facilitating Zoom classes and workshops and as a powerful prayer support with Agape East’s pastoral ministry.
Shay can be reached at shayjordanalsp@agapeeast.org
Ardell McCoy, ALSP
Ardell McCoy is a longtime licensed practitioner in the New Thought Movement.She became a licensed Religious Science Practitioner in 1997 through the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles CA. In 2000, she relocated to Norfolk VA., where she served as an outreach Practitioner for Agape International and Guidance Church C.S.L. She now serves at Agape East Spiritual Center in Norfolk, Va. with Rev. Victoria Thomas, leading Meditation Services, facilitating classes andin prayer through the Agape East pastoral care ministry.
Ardell can be reached at Ardell@AgapeEast.org
Tammi McKinley, ALSP
Tammi McKinley, ALSP, has been a practitioner since 2014. She loves supporting people as they learn and use Principle to live their best life! The power of Affirmative Prayer brought Tammi’s dream to live at the beach alive and she now lives by the Chesapeake Bay. Tammi lives in gratitude and knows that God is all there is, at all times; it cannot be any other way. She is anchored in the Truth that you are the perfect expression of the Divine, as yourself, in all ways! Tammi is a home birth midwife and has a TEDx talk on maternity care and maternal mortality. She’d love to hear from you!
Tammi can be reached via email at Tammi@AgapeEast.org
William Norman, ALSP
Rev William Norman, ALSP, RScP, is an Ordained Interfaith Minister since June of 2016, has served as a Centers for Spiritual Living, Licensed Practitioner since June of 2018, and dually licensed as an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioner since 2019. He is a board member of the Agape East Spiritual Center in Norfolk, VA., where he leads the monthly Life Visioning process, facilitates meditation services, workshops, and classes, and serves powerfully in Agape East’s pastoral prayer ministry.
William can be contacted via email at wenorman@AgapeEast.org.
Tara Robinson, ALSP
Tara Robinson (she/her) is a newly licensed Agape International Spiritual Center practitioner after predominantly live streaming services since 2006 and taking courses since 2019. Over the years, Tara has studied and practiced the teachings of Howard Thurman, Rev. Dr. Johnnie Colemon, Deepak Chopra, and other New Thought practitioners. Tara served as the Youth Leader with a Unity Church in the St. Louis area for five years. As part of the Agape community in Los Angeles, she currently serves as co-lead with the One from the Heart Animal Kinship Ministry and is part of the facilitation team for the Agape University Practitioner Studies Year One Program. Additionally, Tara is also a celebrant who officiates weddings. She facilitates premarital counseling and baby dedications as well. Love is her ministry. Tara lives with her wife and family in St. Louis, MO and she is committed to practicing the Presence of God daily.
Tara can be reached at Tara@agapeeast.org
Ann Worthington, ALSP
Ann Worthington is a newly licensed ALSP, graduating in 2022. Ann’s family brought together teachings of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, Unitarian Universalism, and Science of Mind. In 2007, Ann started attending a Church of Religious Science in Oakland, CA and took the Foundations Class with Rev Joan Steadman. Eventually landing at Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, where she took her pre-requisite classes from 2014-16. Ann credits her recovery in 12-Step programs with her keen awareness of old thought patterns. Mindful application of the spiritual principles of the 12-Steps prepared her for the New Thought/ Ancient Wisdom principles and practices. Her intention is to be available to expand the awareness of Truth teachings to all who wish to recover from old thought patterns and open their heart to God and to service work. Ann is presently expanding her spiritual counseling practice Life Supports You to share her most recent experiences and spiritual practices. www.lifesupportsyou.com.
Ann can be reached via email at ann@agapeeast.org. 
Prayer
We Pray
After services
In the Prayer Ministry
Without ceasing
silence
We Are Silent
Meditation practice
Prayer Vigil at services and events
teach
We Teach
By example
Classes
Inner Visions magazine for inspiration
Workshops
We are professionals available for spiritual counseling sessions.
Work with a Spiritual Practitioner is similar to working with many types of therapists except that spiritual practitioners are applying spiritual principle. We begin with the idea that the client is already perfect and our work is to assist them in revealing that perfection.
counsel
We Counsel
Crisis Support
Individual, Couple, Group Counseling and Visioning
Individual Sessions