George D. McDaniel

George D. McDaniel, Visitation Minister, Polk Presbyterian Church, Franklin, Pennsylovania

But not once did her daughters or husband, George McDaniel, question her about her spiritual path.

"I kept that letter and the card with the picture of them on my dresser, and they helped me get through some difficult times of missing them," said the pastor of Unity Church of San Leandro."I have some great kids."

Now Gerri, 28, and Lori, 31, are mothers themselves -- Gerri to 4-year-old George McDaniel, who is named after his grandfather, and Lori to 3-year-old Aiyana Redwood.
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McDaniel has been the minister at Unity Church of San Leandro for the last five years.The Oakland resident is the only African-American woman pastor in San Leandro.

Since she came to town, her non-denominational church has grown into an ethnically diverse congregation.Her spiritual family is very close, and those who know "Reverend Diana," as she is mostly known, seemingly have nothing but good things to say about her.
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"McDaniel is a woman of infinite faith," Bondura said.
...
About 15 years before, McDaniel wasn't even a church-goer.

She was married, living in a nice home, and her kids were doing well, but it wasn't really enough for her.While McDaniel said she was happy, she kept feeling that there was more to life.

At about the same time, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and received a grim prognosis from her doctor -- in a wheelchair in five years and dead in 20.Then a teacher at her daughters' school had an accident and became a quadriplegic.

That was the pivotal point.Why did God let this happen? she asked herself.

"I'd never been a religious person, but all these experiences made me start searching," she said.

McDaniel had tried a number of religions throughout her life, starting with Christian Science, then moving on to African Methodist Episcopal.She even dabbled in Buddhism as a teenager, but none of them stuck.

Then, during her crisis, she shopped around from church to church, looking for answers, and she ended up in a Unity church.

"I walked in, and it was like coming home," she said.

Intrigued by the belief of the Unity movement, which she describes as "East meets West," McDaniel started taking classes that explained more about the religion.

Little did McDaniel know that her quest for answers would lead to her spiritual role.In 1995, with her family in attendance, she graduated from the Unity School of Christianity seminary in Missouri.

McDaniel said her family has always stood by her decisions.

But her husband of 35 years, George McDaniel, said it is his wife who has stood by the family.

"She's supportive and very reflective about everything, especially the kids and grandkids," said her college sweetheart.

But not once did her daughters or husband, George McDaniel, question her about her spiritual path.

"I kept that letter and the card with the picture of them on my dresser, and they helped me get through some difficult times of missing them," said the pastor of Unity Church of San Leandro."I have some great kids."

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Now Gerri, 28, and Lori, 31, are mothers themselves -- Gerri to 4-year-old George McDaniel, who is named after his grandfather, and Lori to 3-year-old Aiyana Redwood.
...
McDaniel has been the minister at Unity Church of San Leandro for the last five years.The Oakland resident is the only African-American woman pastor in San Leandro.

Since she came to town, her non-denominational church has grown into an ethnically diverse congregation.Her spiritual family is very close, and those who know "Reverend Diana," as she is mostly known, seemingly have nothing but good things to say about her.
...
"McDaniel is a woman of infinite faith," Bondura said.
...
About 15 years before, McDaniel wasn't even a church-goer.

She was married, living in a nice home, and her kids were doing well, but it wasn't really enough for her.While McDaniel said she was happy, she kept feeling that there was more to life.

At about the same time, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and received a grim prognosis from her doctor -- in a wheelchair in five years and dead in 20.Then a teacher at her daughters' school had an accident and became a quadriplegic.

That was the pivotal point.Why did God let this happen? she asked herself.

"I'd never been a religious person, but all these experiences made me start searching," she said.

McDaniel had tried a number of religions throughout her life, starting with Christian Science, then moving on to African Methodist Episcopal.She even dabbled in Buddhism as a teenager, but none of them stuck.

Then, during her crisis, she shopped around from church to church, looking for answers, and she ended up in a Unity church.

"I walked in, and it was like coming home," she said.

Intrigued by the belief of the Unity movement, which she describes as "East meets West," McDaniel started taking classes that explained more about the religion.

Little did McDaniel know that her quest for answers would lead to her spiritual role.In 1995, with her family in attendance, she graduated from the Unity School of Christianity seminary in Missouri.

McDaniel said her family has always stood by her decisions.

But her husband of 35 years, George McDaniel, said it is his wife who has stood by the family.

"She's supportive and very reflective about everything, especially the kids and grandkids," said her college sweetheart.