REV. VAN AUSTIN, Senior Minister

Throughout his youth, Rev. Van had a huge love of the outdoors and a keen awareness of Spirit’s presence throughout the cycling of the seasons. When he reached college, he became fascinated by the Romantic poets, by Hindu and Buddhist texts, by psychology and the arts and philosophy—all the disciplines that concerned themselves with the human spirit. His twenties were focused on creativity and the quest to be immersed in the well-lived present. Then, in his mid-thirties, he had a deep spiritual awakening, and began the ardent pursuit of his lifetime—realizing God.

After re-investigating the Christian roots of his youth, he ventured into Robert Bitzer’s Hollywood Church of Religious Science and knew he had found home. Dr. Bitzer was a protégé of Ernest Holmes, and transmitted to Rev. Van the essence of Holmes’ original teachings. From that point on, the spiritual path was always paramount—even Rev. Van’s work as a Marriage and Family Therapist became strongly inflected by spiritual values.

After re-investigating the Christian roots of his youth, he ventured into Robert Bitzer’s Hollywood Church of Religious Science and knew he had found home. Dr. Bitzer was a protégé of Ernest Holmes, and transmitted to Rev. Van the essence of Holmes’ original teachings. From that point on, the spiritual path was always paramount—even Rev. Van’s work as a Marriage and Family Therapist became strongly inflected by spiritual values.

During his training as a Practitioner through the United Church of Religious Science, Rev. Van more and more discovered the joys of “the pathless path.” He launched his own radio show, interviewing the leading lights of both New Thought and the personal development movement—Dr. Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Thomas Moore, Dr. Bernie Segal, Dan Millman, Brian Tracy, Mary Manin Morrissey, and hundreds more.

In 2002 Rev. Van received his ministerial license from Emerson Theological Institute. His first pulpit was his own television show—Empowerment—on which he spoke about a different spiritual topic every week, weaving in psychology, philosophy, and stories to illustrate his ideas. The show was carried on New Thought Broadcasting. It wasn’t long before he was asked to join the ministerial staff of a New Thought church on the central coast of California, speaking many Sundays, leading all Wednesday night healing services, and composing and performing spiritual songs. During this time, Rev. Van also spoke and gave workshops at other area New Thought churches.

When he and his wife Miriam moved to New Orleans to help out after Hurricane Katrina, Rev. Van led a “church within a church” at the one New Thought venue in town. He wrote a book for this group, The Courage of Love, which is a collection of meditative essays on the shared truths of world spiritual paths. Ordained in 2008, Rev. Van is now Senior Minister at the Center of Awakening in Parker, Colorado. He is immensely grateful to be a leader in the work that is his true heart’s desire.

Rev. Van and Miriam delight in living under the epic skies of Colorado. He envisions the Center of Awakening becoming an expansive, vibrant and joyful New Thought spiritual center, imparting the life-giving essence of New Thought and world religions into many, many lives.