Reverend John McLaughlin graduated from Unity School for Religious Studies in 1997 and was ordained by the Association of Unity Churches. In 1996, John served as Assistant to the Minister, The Reverend Barbara Jung, at Unity Church of Independence in Independence, Missouri. Following his ordination, John served as Senior Minister of Unity Church of Independence through 1999. In June of 1999, when his wife Lauren was Ordained, John resigned as Senior Minister and was rehired as Co-Minister with Reverend Lauren.  Together they served Unity Church of Independence as Senior Co-Ministers until 2002, when they returned to Florida to live closer to John’s family.

In the spring of 2003, John and Lauren became Temporary Ministers at Unity Truth Center in Port Richey, Florida and were hired as Senior Co-Ministers in September of that year. They served Unity Truth Center until their retirement from church Ministry in June of 2005 to found UnityNow – a Spiritual Awakening Center – on the Internet at www.unitynow.com.

John has been a guest speaker and Seminar Presenter at Unity Churches in Florida, Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, California, Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma.  He has served the Association of Unity Churches as a member of the Licensing and Ordination Team and as a member of the Bachelors Degree Equivalency Team.  He has also been a presenter at the International Conference of the Association of Unity Churches and has served as an adjunct teacher at Unity School of Christianity.  With Lauren, he has served as a Seminar presenter for the Retreat Center at Unity School of Christianity and as guest Minister at the closing ceremonies for World Day of Prayer at Unity School of Christianity.  John is also Board Trainer and has worked with Ministers and Boards in Virginia, Florida and in Missouri.

Before his call to ministry, John’s business background was in the Real Estate field.  Over a 25-year career, he managed a five-office Real Estate Company, Tourtelot, Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida and also owned his own company, Sunworld and Associates. After merging Sunworld Associates with Coldwell Banker Real Estate in the mid-80’s, John managed a Coldwell Banker Real Estate Office and subsequently managed two, rapidly growing ReMax Offices. 

John is well known as a motivational speaker, teacher/trainer, seminar leader and Corporation Board trainer – and producer of motivational subliminal recordings. He has worked extensively with the Florida Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors and with Unity ministries.  For a period of time, he owned and operated his own motivational speaking and teaching company called Awareness Promotions. He also served on the adjunct Faculty of St. Petersburg College teaching Real Estate Licensed Law to Brokers and Associates.

John is the father of two sons, John and Kenneth and the stepfather of William. He and Lauren now live in Clearwater, Florida.

The Reverend Lauren McLaughlin graduated from Unity School for Religious Studies in 1999 and was ordained by the Association of Unity Churches. Prior to Ordination, she served Unity Church of Independence in Independence, Missouri as Volunteer Coordinator and in 1998 as the Assistant to the Minister. Following her Ordination, she joined her husband John as Co-Senior Minister of Unity Church of Independence.  In 2002, Lauren and John returned to Florida to live closer to John’s family. 

In 2003, she joined John as Co-Minister of Unity Truth Center in Port Richey, Florida.  Since their retirement from church Ministry in June 2005, John and Lauren have founded UnityNow – A Spiritual Awakening Center – on the Internet at www.unitynow.com. UnityNow designs and presents Spiritual Awakening seminars, workshops and home-study programs for Unity Truth students who, in the Fillmore tradition, wish to pursue their Spiritual Awakening in ways that supplement their Unity Church Experience.

Lauren received her Licensed Unity Teacher designation from the Association of Unity Churches in 1997 and later served as Chairperson of the Licensed Unity Teacher/Minister Task Force.  She also served as Chairperson of the Planned Giving Team of The Association of Unity Churches.  With John, she served the Association as a member of the Bachelor’s Degree Equivalency Team. 

While living in Missouri, Lauren served as part of the adjunct teacher Team at Unity School for Religious Studies and was a facilitator of the closing ceremonies of World Day of Prayer at Unity School of Christianity.  With John, she also presented for the Retreat Department at the Couples Retreat at Unity Village.

Lauren is a past Board Member of Thriving Churches Ministries, has served as Board President of Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Pinellas County, Florida and as a member of the Board of Directors of The Young Women’s Residence, also in Pinellas County.  For seven years, she co-hosted a television talk show for the Unity Way of Pinellas County.

Before answering the call to ministry, Lauren worked as a Realtor with John for several large companies in St. Petersburg, Florida and served as an adjunct faculty member at St. Petersburg College teaching Real Estate License Law.  She also worked as the Community Development Director for Neighborly Senior Services – a public service agency that served the elderly in Pinellas County Florida; as a writer and research assistant for Congressman C. W. Bill Young in the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D. C. and as Editor of the National Newsletter, “The Good Neighbor” for the American National Red Cross, also in Washington, D. C.  In the early 1970’s, Lauren co-owned and edited a weekly newspaper, called The Advocate, on the Pinellas County Gulf Beaches. Lauren’s articles have been published in Unity Magazine and in The Tampa Bay Newcomer. 

Lauren has one son, William and four grandchildren, Daniel, David,Eden and Anya Gloria Millard; and two stepsons, John and Kenneth McLaughlin. She and John are currently living in Clearwater, Florida.