Our Ministers

Rev. Richard Maraj, Chris Kennedy, Rev. Jimmie Scott

Rev. Richard Maraj
Lead Minister

Rev. Richard Maraj Rev. Maraj joined Unity of Phoenix in April 2005 as Minister of Education, and became our Lead Minister in 2006. Since his arrival here, Rev. Maraj’s contagious love and enthusiasm, dynamic lessons and powerful Sunday morning messages have continually inspired, energized, touched and transformed us. He is truly a blessing to our spiritual community!

Prior to joining Unity of Phoenix, Rev. Maraj served as Associate Minister in Raleigh, North Carolina for two years, and as Senior Minister at Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Missouri for five years. He has also been a wildly popular guest speaker at more than 50 Unity churches throughout Canada and the United States.

Prior to his ordination in 1998, Rev. Maraj was a professional speaker who addressed such groups as Xerox, The Royal Bank of Canada, Speedy Muffler King and The Cooperators Insurance. A long-time member of the National Speakers Association and Toastmasters International, Richard was a finalist in Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speakers in Dallas in 1990. He has worked with a number of community service organizations and has been recognized for his service with several awards, including the Peter Street Inspiration Award and a Canada’s Literacy Volunteer Award.

The eighth of 10 children, Richard was born on the island of Trinidad and grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He has a degree in Political Science from McMaster University and has a passion for learning. Richard enjoys a variety of activities, including live theatre, NBA basketball, being on the water, traveling, juggling and has even tried skydiving twice! His greatest joy, however, comes from just being with and enjoying the company of his wonderful family and friends.

Rev. Maraj feels blessed and excited about continuing to work with the incredible ministry team and serving the spiritual community at Unity of Phoenix.

Rev. Jimmie Scott
Pastoral Care Minister

Rev. Jimmie Scott The Reverend Jimmie L. Scott is a Unity minister who brings a diversity of experience and interests to his new position as Pastoral Care Minister for Unity of Phoenix.

Rev. Jimmie not only has a calm, loving and gentle presence that is exactly right for his role in Pastoral Care, but he also has a great sense of humor! And he already has an indirect personal tie to Unity of Phoenix: while serving on the Board of the Association of Unity Churches 10 years ago, it was Jimmie who actually ordained our own Rev. Richard Maraj!!!

Jimmie officially began his ministry at First Church Unity in Nashville, Tennessee, in February 1985, an Associate Minister with a base of 14 people and one 9 a.m. Sunday service. He was selected as First Church Unity’s Senior Minister in May of 1988. During his time as Senior Minister, Jimmie ministered to a rapidly growing congregation that today numbers over 450 persons.

From June 1997 to June 1998, he was Chairman of the Executive Board of the Association of Unity Churches International. From 2000 through 2003, Jimmie served as the Chaplain at Unity Institute and was on the Board of Directors of Renaissance West, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Renaissance West is an alcohol and drug treatment center for adults.

Reverend Scott’s secular interests have included services as vicechairman of C.O.P.E., an organization founded to provide training and job placement for the mentally and physically handicapped. He also served as an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau’s Automobile Arbitration Program. He is a past advisor for Junior Achievement, counselor for abused and neglected children, and past chairman for the advisory board of Community Enhancement, an alcohol and drug abuse council for teens.

From May 2006 to July 2008 Jimmie served as Associate Minister at Unity Renaissance Church in Chesapeake, VA. He supervised the Finance Department, resided over the Chaplain Program and the Youth Education Department. Jimmie officially began his ministry at Unity of Phoenix as Pastoral Care Minister on August 1, 2008

Jimmie and his wife, Mary, have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Chris Kennedy
Ministerial Associate

Chris Kennedy first became a part of our spiritual community eight years ago, when a congregant invited her to worship at Unity of Phoenix. She knew immediately that she’d found her spiritual home. She began studying Unity principles, taking classes and becoming a dedicated volunteer in Pastoral Care, Youth Ministry, Outreach and Facilitator Group Trainings. In addition, Chris has also taught many of our core classes, including Unity Basics and Prayer Basics.

Chris also began working at the church as Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator and, more recently, as Prayer Chaplain Coordinator. In the midst of her studies, volunteer and staff work, she discerned her own call to ministry. She is currently continuing on her ministerial path, studying as a part-time Ministerial Student at Unity Institute. Chris says that Unity principles have changed her life and it is her joy to be able to share them with others.

Chris has a passion for people, ministry, life and God. She seeks to realize greater God and greater Good in her life and the lives of those she encounters. Chris is grateful for our spiritual community and is honored to continue serving in her new role as Ministerial Associate while she continues fulfilling requirements to become a licensed and ordained Unity minister. Chris’ dedication to her own spiritual growth and her prayer consciousness is a tremendous asset to her new position.

Chris is a devoted mother of two children whom she loves dearly: Ashley, 8, and Brian, 6. Both attended the Unity of Phoenix preschool program, and also love attending Sunday School and Unity’s Easter Egg Hunts, Halloween parties and Peace Camp. Chris is grateful that Ashley and Brian love coming to Unity as much as they do. They often ask if it is Sunday morning or Wednesday evening, which are the times they get to come with her!

Chris holds a Master’s degree in Health and Public Policy Analysis from University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from University of Rochester. Her professional career prior to ministry spanned 20 years in the health care arena. She began as a nurse (serving in the areas of pediatrics, medical, surgery and psychiatry), and also spent several years in health care administration, filling numerous different roles, including Vice President of Clinical Operations serving Maricopa County’s seriously mentally ill population. Upon the birth of her children, she returned home to be a full-time mother for several years. When she returned to work again, she pursued both paid and volunteer work in ministry, along with some work as a hospice nurse.

When Chris isn’t working, volunteering at her children’s school, playing with Ashley and Brian or tending to household affairs, she loves reading, boating, skiing (snow or water), hiking, biking, visiting with family and friends, crafts, ceramics and crocheting/knitting. She will be the first to admit that -- as a single, working mom -- she doesn’t spend as much time on her hobbies and interests as she once did, so she appreciates the time she does even more! Please join us in welcoming Chris to her new role.