Senior Minister Jeanmarie Eck goes from a mega-church in Houston to a more intimate role in Delray Beach. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Unity of Delray Beach has filled its senior minister position, a job vacant since Greg Barrette left in 2019. South Florida native Jeanmarie Eck returned from Houston in November to fill that role.
“We had a feeling the right person would come along. We were steadfast and we refused to water down our standards,” board President Harvey Brown said. In Eck, “we found so much substance, and she more than met our standards. She’s a thinker.”
Unity of Delray Beach is “one of the flagship churches in the Unity movement,” Brown said. It serves an important role for people in search of spiritual enrichment in an environment that is less structured and “dedicated to inspiring individual spiritual empowerment through the practical teachings of Jesus Christ.”
Since Frances Jarrell held the first Unity class in Delray Beach in 1948 (with one student in attendance, the legend says), Unity of Delray and Unity School, founded in 1964, have grown into a center for spiritual teaching and enlightenment.
Eck had served as lead associate minister at one of Unity’s mega-churches, Unity of Houston, for the last 10 years before she was called back to Florida. She goes from working with a staff of 20 ministers to a more intimate role.
“I welcome the chance to work more closely with the community,” she said. “It’s a privilege to be the leading voice.”
Eck graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale. She was raised a Catholic but slowly transitioned from that faith and was ordained as a minister in 2014.
“I’d never thought about being a minister before,” she said. “All the Catholic clergy were male.”
After high school, Eck studied the performing arts in college, earning a BA from Rollins College and an MFA from the University of Mississippi. She had a successful and blossoming career in film and theater, but everything seemed to lead back to the Lord. Eck heard a voice that said, “There’s something more.”
She visited different churches, drawn in by the music and to expand her knowledge beyond Catholicism. She went on “a prayer quest,” asking “what is my purpose?” In the early 2000s, she discovered Unity and in 2009, she joined the choir, using her talents to bring her closer to God. “I was ministering through singing, and it became about service,” she said.
Eck went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Unity Institute & Seminary in 2014 and earned certifications from Southern Methodist University in 2019 and Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute in 2024. She continues to pursue her own spiritual growth to better serve her community. Eck offers classes for new members and encourages anyone with an interest in what Unity does to come to a service.
Eck sees a lot of similarities between performing and preaching. “You have to have the skill to get up and deliver your message,” she said. It’s a challenge for which Eck is prepared. Her approach to service melds with Unity’s mission: “It’s a positive, affirming, uplifting environment.”
Eck lives in Delray Beach with her husband, David, their 9-year-old daughter, Felicity, and their rescue Pomeranian mixes, Duchess and Bentley.
Unity of Delray Beach is at 101 NW 22nd St. 561-276-5796 or www.unityofdelraybeach.org
Spanish River volunteers step up to serve the city
The Spanish River Church family made a mammoth contribution to the community during its Serve the City 2025. At least 226 SRC volunteers gleaned 1,788 pounds of peppers with CROS Ministries, collected 98.3 pounds of trash at the beach, collected 3,085 diapers, 1,012 wipes and 227 books for the Junior League, and donated 35 bags/boxes of clothing to Changing Lives of Boca Raton.
The church is at 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. www.spanishriver.com
HOPE Fest Florida offers music, fun
HOPE Fest Florida, a free festival of Christian music and guest speakers, takes place from 4 to 10 p.m. April 5 at Boca Raton Community High School, 1501 NW 15th Court. Sean Smith from Sean & Christa Smith Ministries and Kevin VanDermyden from Jesus Encounter are on the ticket. Donations are appreciated. For more information, visit www.hopefestflorida.com.
Ascension Catholic Church to host food packing event
Ascension Catholic Church will team up with Cross Catholic Outreach to pack 60,000 meals on April 12. Volunteers are still needed to work from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the church, 7250 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Register at https://ascensionboca.org/latest-news-upcoming-events or call 561-997-5486.
Grace Vacation Bible School seeking student volunteers
Middle and high school students are encouraged to apply to become Grace Vacation Bible School youth volunteer team members and make a difference this summer.
Applications are open until May 14. Volunteers must be available noon-4 p.m. June 8, 8:15 a.m.-1 p.m. June 9-13 and 10 a.m.-noon June 15. This is Grace Community Church’s active Amped Student Ministries.
The church is at 600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Register at www.graceboca.org/amped or call 561-395-2811.
Ride 4 Orphans returning for 13th annual event
The 13th annual Ride 4 Orphans bicycle ride takes place at 7:30 a.m. April 26, beginning at Spanish River Church, 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton.
Partners include Spanish River Church, The Avenue Church in Delray Beach and Gospel Fellowship in Boynton Beach. The charity ride benefits children in need in Chad, Malawi, Haiti and India, and local children in foster care via 4KIDs and Place of Hope.
The ride is 15, 34 or 62 miles. Registration is $40 via www.ride4orphans.com. There’s also a family ride escorted by Boca Raton police officers with lunch and activities.
All adults and children must register to ride and are encouraged to attend a safety briefing prior to the ride. Registration price includes a T-shirt, goody bag, snacks, lunch, raffles, a silent auction and family activities.
Call 561-994-5000 for more information.
Send religion news to Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.
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