Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Del Hierro.
Hi Juan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I first walked into Unity on the Bay in 2002. I was in my early twenties and felt guided to explore spiritual community. I had been raised in a more traditional religion that no longer fit who I was becoming. I also felt somewhat lost in the struggles of everyday life. I was simply trying to survive, though something deep within me whispered that I was meant to thrive.
At Unity on the Bay, a spiritual community that has been in Miami for almost 100 years, I was inspired to realize a deeper connection to God and began to explore how worthy of my good I truly was. Through that exploration, I discovered a more intimate relationship with the Divine and felt called to fully uncover who I was and what I was here to do. It also created with me a deeper commitment to sacred activism – to be a voice for social justice, equality and the sacred worth of all people.
Over time, I began serving in different ministries within the community, from volunteering to joining the staff until I eventually answered the call to ministry. What started as a search for belonging became a journey of becoming. It is here that I came to know my mission in life: to compassionately and boldly awaken the human family.
Today, as Senior Minister of Unity on the Bay, I have the honor of guiding the same community that grew me and first helped me awaken to my own worthiness and spiritual power. Alongside an incredible team and congregation, we are reimagining what it means to be a spiritual community. We are rooted in love, inclusivity, service, and transformation. And, we are excited about the next 100 years of Unity on the Bay, as we get ready to move to our new 4.2 acres property in Miami Gardens in June of 2026.
I’ve also been blessed to serve the broader Unity Movement worldwide as Vice Chair of the Board of Unity World Headquarters. Through it all, I’ve come to see that all of us have the innate ability to recognize just how blessed we can be and what a great blessing we are to the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been anything but smooth. All of it has been sacred, though. Like many spiritual journeys, mine has included times of doubt, deep questioning, miracles and blessed lessons. Early on, I wrestled with feelings of unworthiness and the belief that I had to earn my place in the world. Letting go of those old patterns and embracing my inherent power was both liberating and humbling.
Leading a spiritual community through a pandemic, being in a temporary space in search of our new property and the challenges people have been experiencing in their lives and the life of our country has been a growing experience. The way the LGBTQ community has been increasingly marginized, the lack of compassion for immigrants and the pushback to the progress that had been made towards racial justice and equity has been challenging for many in our community. While it has been difficult, I know we have within us all we need to not only make it through these difficulties, we will awaken even more fully as a result of it.
Leading through times of change and facing the unknown with faith when the path ahead wasn’t clear has created resilience in me and those we serve at Unity on the Bay.
I share often with our community that rather than letting our challenges get the best out of us, we can get the best out of the challenges. All of them are growing expeirences and all of them can be catalyst for the breakthroughs that lead us into a world that works for all. We are all stronger knowing that everything, even the hard parts, can serve a divine purpose.
As you know, we’re big fans of Unity on the Bay. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Unity on the Bay has been a vibrant, inclusive spiritual community in Miami for nearly 100 years. Our mission is to help people thrive through a deeper connection with the Divine, awakening peace, purpose and passion in everyday life.
We gather on Sundays for uplifting celebration services filled with music, meditation, and spiritual inspiration, and throughout the week we offer classes on abundance, forgiveness, wellness and more. Our youth programs empower children to know their worth and live with confidence and compassion.
For decades, our community has been a catalyst for good in South Florida, from supporting those experiencing homelessness, to leading the South Florida’s largest backpack drive (which has provided more than 75,000 backpacks to local children), to standing at the forefront of LGBTQ equality.
I am most proud that even through times of great change, we’ve walked in faith and unity. As we prepare to move to our new 4.2 acres spiritual home in Miami Gardens next year, we’re filled with excitement for what is ahead. We are also continuing to strengthen our interfaith partnerships which includes our prayer vigils at the Everglades Detention Center and our 3nd Annual Interfaith Service next month that bring together people of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith traditions in a spirit of love and shared humanity.
Unity on the Bay is, and will continue to be a positive, progressive and practical path for spiritual living. We invite everyone to be part of this unfolding journey of faith and transformation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unityonthebay.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unityonthebay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unityonthebaymiami/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsUiS4m9Chhm_PHR8l_kXKA
