The Reverend Evan W. Reid and The Reverend Rose Lester

During Rev. Evan’s studies in London, he was introduced to the English translation of the Bhagavad Gita and it is out of reading and eventually studying it, that he realized all ancient writings must be taken as metaphors, and not literally‎.  

Out of a health challenge in his thirties, he began to seek methods and techniques that could help him to align himself with who he really was and not what others thought of him. This search led Rev. Evan to disciplines of meditation and breathing, and through them, he realised the power that the mind has over the body.  

In 1982 he enrolled in the Johnnie Colemon Institute and became a licensed teacher in 1985 and eventually, a minister in 1987 and in that year became the teacher-director and then minister of Christ Universal Centre, Toronto, ON. 

In 1995 Christ Universal Centre was renamed and incorporated as Verity Centre for Better Living Inc.  Rev. Evan was UFBL's Regional Director for the Caribbean, and a faithful panel member of the Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary Licensing and Ordination Committe. Rev. Evan Reid made his transition in 2020. 

 

 

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The Rev. Rose Lester was born in Chicago, Illinois and was baptized by the Rev. Johnnie Colemon at Christ Unity Temple, a ministry she founded after being ordained by Unity School of Christianity in the 1950's.  Rev. Colemon later ordained Rev. Rose Lester on July 27, 1980.  Shortyly after, Spirit revealed a divine idea to Rev. Lester, leading her to found Christ Universal Center for Better Living (CUC) in Mississauga, Ontario, which later moved to various locations in Toronto.

Rev. Lester nurtured many spiritual students, including Evan Reid, who became her successor and later renamed the ministry Verity Center for Better Living.  Today Verity Centre continues to thrive under the leadership of Rev. Lameteria Hall, who answered God's call with a heart rooted in Christ consciousness.

We share this history with gratitude and love, honoring Rev. Rose Lester's foundational vision and the service of Rev. Evan and Rev. Lameteria moving the enduring light of Verity Centre forward and beyond.