Featured Volunteer: Jeff Basham

I’ve been attending the Center since 2008 and have been a Practitioner since 2015. My full-time day job is as an Information Techology Coordinator with the County of Sonoma. When the Center was closed to the public due to the pandemic in March, I was called into service combining my professional and spiritual worlds. Within a couple of weeks of transitioning to a completely online service, Rev. Tara Steele approached me with an idea—can we find a way to create a virtual prayer chapel modeled after our After-Service Prayer offering in Grinton Chapel in person.

I went to work exploring the features of Zoom and within a matter of days, Tara and I had a draft concept plan, conducted a few tests, and determined our concept was viable. After a few training sessions teaching the Practitioner Body to use Zoom, we launched our After-Service Prayer Online Room in mid-April.

Each Sunday one of the ASP Hosts facilitates those seeking prayer to connect in a one-on-one confidential online 5-minute prayer after each service broadcast at 9:30, 11:00 and 12:30. I serve as one of those facilitator/hosts and rotate with Rev. Tara and fellow Practitioner Teresa Jansen.

I am also regularly consulted and serve as a Zoom technician for classes and meetings that the Center holds online and help problem-solve online-related technical issues that come up in this new world we find ourselves navigating.

This new “ministry” serving as a “Zoom Master” is one that I never would have seen coming when I was licensed as a Practitioner. It’s been a blessing in many ways since I am single and live alone—the connection I have with our Spiritual Community through this service has been a very welcome change of pace from my daily activities of work and sheltering in place. I am overjoyed that I am able to bring my life-long technology background to service in such a meaningful way to create a world that even now connects us all.

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Volunteer Community at the Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Rosa

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