A NOTE ABOUT OUR USE OF "GOD" AND DIVINE TERMINOLOGY

An Inclusive Approach to the Divine

Dear Friend,

At People Architecture Ministry Trust, you'll notice that while we often use the word "God," Pastor Kerry intentionally employs a variety of terms to describe the Divine Presence that animates and sustains all creation. This is not an accident, nor is it a rejection of traditional Christian language—it's an invitation to everyone seeking spiritual truth, regardless of their religious background or comfort level with conventional terminology.

Why We Use Multiple Terms for the Divine

Throughout our teachings, you may encounter various descriptions of the Ultimate Reality:

God
The Divine
Universal Intelligence
Source
Infinite Spirit
Divine Mind
The Universe
Higher Power
Creator
Divine Presence
The Absolute
Universal Life Force
Ultimate Creative Force

Each of these terms points to the same transcendent Reality—the creative, loving, infinite Power that is the foundation of all existence. We use this varied vocabulary intentionally and thoughtfully.

Pastor Kerry's Perspective

Pastor Kerry teaches that what you call this Universal Power is far less important than recognizing its presence, aligning with its principles, and experiencing its transformative effects in your life.

Many people come to spiritual seeking having been wounded by religious institutions, alienated by dogmatic language, or simply raised outside traditional religious frameworks. For some, the word "God" carries associations with:

Judgmental, punishing deity concepts
Patriarchal religious systems
Childhood religious trauma
Exclusionary theology
Cultural imperialism

For others, "God" is the most natural, comfortable, and meaningful term—deeply connected to their faith journey, cultural heritage, and spiritual identity.

Pastor Kerry honors both experiences.

The Principle,
Not the Label

What matters is not the word we use, but the Reality to which it points and the results it produces in our lives.

Consider these questions:

Does your understanding of the Divine inspire you to live with greater love, compassion, and integrity?
Does your spiritual practice connect you to something larger than yourself?
Does your relationship with the Ultimate help you become a better person?
Does your faith produce peace, purpose, healing, and transformation in your life?
Does your spirituality call you to service, justice, and care for others?

These are the measures that matter.

Whether you call it God, Universe, Source, or Divine Intelligence, if your spiritual practice is producing love, healing, growth, wisdom, and positive transformation—then you are connected to the same Reality we're all seeking.

Biblical Foundation for Inclusive Language

This approach is not a departure from Christianity—it's deeply rooted in biblical wisdom:

"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)

The Divine transcends human language and conceptual limitations. Every name we use is a metaphor, a human attempt to describe what is ultimately beyond description. As the Tao Te Ching wisely observes, "The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao"—and the same is true of God.

"The Lord our God, the Lord is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)

There is only one Ultimate Reality, one Source, one Divine Presence—regardless of the countless names humanity has given it across cultures, languages, and traditions. We all drink from the same spiritual well; we simply call it by different names.

"In Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)

This Universal Presence is not separate from us, not distant from creation, but the very ground and source of all existence. Whether we call it God, Divine Intelligence, or Universal Life Force, we're describing the One in whom all things exist and from whom all things flow.

An Invitation,
Not a Requirement

At People Architecture Ministry Trust, you are welcome to use whatever terminology feels authentic and comfortable to you:

If "God" speaks to your heart, use God
If "Universe" resonates with your understanding, use Universe
If "Divine Source" better expresses your experience, use Divine Source
If "Higher Power" connects with your journey, use Higher Power

You will never be corrected, judged, or told your language is "wrong."

What we care about is your spiritual growth, your transformation, your connection to the Divine Reality—however you name it. We care that you discover your divine potential, build a life of purpose and meaning, and express love and service in the world.

The Divine is too vast, too magnificent, too infinite to be contained in any single word or concept. So we embrace the richness of multiple expressions, honoring that:

Different terms resonate with different people at different stages of their journey
Language that helps one person connect may create barriers for another
The Divine reveals itself in culturally and personally meaningful ways
Unity of Spirit doesn't require uniformity of terminology

Our Theological Position

To be clear about our Christian foundation: Yes, we are a Christian ministry. We honor Jesus Christ as our master teacher, follow his teachings, and believe he demonstrated the fullest expression of divine consciousness available to humanity.

AND we recognize that:

The God Jesus revealed is not limited to Christian language or understanding- a) Jesus himself used multiple metaphors: Father, Shepherd, Vine, Light, Way
Divine truth transcends religious boundaries- a) The same spiritual principles work regardless of terminology-Love, compassion, faith, and consciousness operate universally
Meeting people where they are is ministry- a)Jesus spoke to Samaritans, tax collectors, and gentiles in ways they could understand, b) Inclusive language opens doors rather than closing them
Results reveal truth more than labels- a) "By their fruits you shall know them" (Matthew 7:16), b) Spiritual principles prove themselves through transformation

Practical Application

In our teachings, Pastor Kerry will:

Use "God" frequently as the primary term, honoring Christian tradition
Alternate with other terms to include diverse spiritual backgrounds
Explain concepts multiple ways to reach different understanding styles
Never assume one term is universally comfortable or meaningful
Focus on experience and transformation over theological terminology debates

You might hear Pastor Kerry say things like:

"When you align with God—or Source, or Divine Intelligence, whatever term resonates with you..."
"The Universe—God—the Divine Presence within and around us..."
"Connect with your Higher Power through prayer or meditation..."
"Open yourself to receive from the Infinite Supply of Divine abundance..."

This isn't theological confusion—it's intentional inclusivity. It's building bridges rather than walls. It's recognizing that the Ultimate Reality is vast enough to embrace all sincere seekers, regardless of their vocabulary.

Our Promise to You

Whatever brings you to People Architecture Ministry Trust—whatever language you use for the Divine—you are welcome here.

We promise to:

Honor your spiritual language and experience
Never impose theological terminology as a barrier to participation
Focus on transformation, not conformity
Celebrate unity in diversity
Teach principles that work regardless of your naming preferences
Create space for authentic spiritual seeking and growth

We believe that when we gather in sincere pursuit of spiritual truth, divine love, and conscious living—when we commit to building lives of purpose, service, and fulfillment—we are united in the most important ways, regardless of our theological vocabulary.

The Bottom Line

Call it what you will. Experience it as you do. Connect with it in your own authentic way.

What matters is that you:

Recognize a Power greater than yourself
Align your life with spiritual principles
Grow in love, wisdom, and consciousness
Serve others with compassion
Build a life that reflects your highest values
Transform through spiritual practice

Do this, and you're walking the path we're walking together—regardless of the words we use along the way.

A Final Thought from Pastor Kerry

"I've seen atheists who lived the teachings of Jesus more faithfully than many who called themselves Christians. I've met Buddhists, Muslims, and 'spiritual but not religious' seekers whose lives demonstrated divine love more powerfully than churchgoers who knew all the 'right' theological language.

What God cares about—what the Universe responds to—what Divine Intelligence honors—is not our vocabulary but our consciousness, not our labels but our love, not our theological correctness but our authenticity and transformation.

So please, use whatever language opens your heart, connects you to Source, and helps you become the person you were created to be. That's the language God speaks—the language of the heart, expressed in a life of love."

With love and blessing,

Pastor Kerry Michael West
People Architecture
Ministry Trust