Rev Marquita Pierre-McAlister
Although I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, my spiritual journey began after my mother moved my brother and me to California when I was eight. In Santa Barbara, she discovered Unity church, but she sent me to the Christian Science church down the street because they had a better children’s program.
My mother didn’t drive, so church members would pick us up, drop us off, and then she would often walk around the corner to her Unity church. Sometimes, after church, we’d stop at Thrifty’s for ice cream—a sweet ritual that became my escape route as a teenager. When my mother sent me to church alone, I’d slip out early, spend my offering money on ice cream, and read greeting cards until it was time to go home.
Despite my creative detours, something from those early years took root. I was captivated by Mary Baker Eddy’s story of hearing God’s call and mistaking it for her mother’s voice. That story stirred a deep desire in me to know God for myself.
Read More At fourteen, my mother introduced me to Transcendental Meditation. Though I didn’t practice regularly then, it planted an important seed. During my teens, I was drawn to the expressive “Holiness” style of Christianity—the music, the preaching, and yes, the food—but I wasn’t allowed to attend often. Still, I kept searching for something real, something that made spiritual sense. At twenty, I married a man who introduced me to silent meditation. We moved to Lompoc, California, where I soon became pregnant. We were financially challenged, but full of hope. Believing opportunity awaited us, we moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to live near his sister. She took me to a non-denominational church, but the sermons didn’t answer my questions. If God knows everything, why do we pray? If God is love, why fear Him? I wanted a faith that satisfied both my heart and my intellect. So, I turned inward. Meditation brought experiences I couldn’t explain—moments of deep peace, supernatural experiences and strange synchronicities. I felt close to Spirit but couldn’t find anyone who understood what I was experiencing; except for my sister-in-law. Though we lived in different cities, we were both receiving the same spiritual insights (while not talking to each other)—one of which was the realization that there is no devil and that divine guidance was leading me forward, even through divorce. The latter decision made me a single mother of two, but I was assured by Spirit that I would be okay. A new chapter began when I remarried. My husband introduced me to aspects of Islam and spiritual discipline, but eventually our marriage began to unravel. We sought counseling from Rev. Nancee Sweeney, a Science of Mind minister. At the time, I was exhausted—wife, mother, employee—and felt completely disconnected from myself. When my husband suggested I see her alone, I resisted. But Spirit nudged me to go. After listening to my complaints and I can’ts, Rev. Nancee asked me three simple questions: I said yes to all three. Then she stood up, looked me in the eye with a stern tone, and said, “You need a spiritual life-saving surgery. Do you understand?” Tears streamed down my face. She prayed with me and gave me a list of things to do. When I followed up, she handed me a plane ticket to California and told me to meditate—with one condition, visit one particular church while I was there. That church was Agape. The moment Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith began speaking, I cried through the entire service. He spoke the language my heart already knew. Every word echoed what years of meditation had revealed to me: that God is not outside of us, but within. That we are spiritual beings having a human incarnation. That prayer is not begging—it’s aligning. For the first time in my life, someone understood me. When I returned home, I immediately sought out Rev. Nancee and the Science of Mind community and began taking classes. The philosophy answered every lifelong question I had carried. It integrated everything I had ever believed but couldn’t articulate—faith, reason, mysticism, and practicality. Now, the world made sense. Now, God/Spirit made sense. Science of Mind taught me that the Infinite is not a faraway deity but an ever-present Intelligence expressing through each of us. It gave structure to the relationship with Spirit I’d always known intuitively. And it reminded me that courage—real courage—isn’t about fighting or proving. It’s about trusting the Presence that has been guiding us all along. Today, I live in gratitude for every step of the journey—the traditional Christian roots, Christian Science, meditation, and all the detours that prepared me to recognize Truth when I heard it. If you’re searching for a spiritual path that welcomes inquiry, honors your personal experience, and teaches you how to co-create your life with the Divine—this philosophy will speak to you too. The Science of Mind isn’t about fixing you. It’s about reminding you who you already are:
“If you needed a life-saving surgery, would your boss let you take time off?”
“Would your husband take care of the kids?”
“Would your mother let you recuperate with her?”
an expression of Infinite Intelligence, capable of peace, prosperity, and purpose beyond measure.
What I really want you to know about me is My suggestion—Listen to that still, small voice within you—it’s the same Voice that guided me. Trust it enough to follow it. Check out and explore CSLDallas, take a class, or simply sit in meditation and ask, “What is Spirit showing me now?” When you do, you’ll find—as I did—that Spirit within you has been patiently waiting for you to recognize your own divine knowing. I love people. They fascinate me because they are not uniquely Me! I love to laugh with people, learn from people and give to people. I would rather spend the day with people than sit behind a desk all day. Professional Bio Rev. Marquita Pierre-McAlister is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. However, much of her childhood was spent in Santa Barbara, California. At the tender age of 22 she moved to Anchorage, Alaska where her leadership skills, teaching and facilitation abilities along with her singing voice developed, while raising 3 of her own children, she raised 4 other children. Later, she became the Senior Minister of the Alaska Centers for Spiritual Living for seven years delivering inspiring and thought provoking sermons, dynamic New Thought teachings, and using her singing voice to open hearts and minds. While living in Alaska, she served on the Centers for Spiritual Living Department of Ethics and Professionalism. In 2012, she moved to Nevada and then served on the Centers for Spiritual Living Convention planning team from 2012-2014 including being a featured evening speaker and co-chairing the 2013 Convention. In 2014, she founded and leads as the Spiritual Director of the Center for Spiritual Living Southern Nevada (CSLSN) located in Las Vegas. In 2020, she became a Hospice Chaplain comforting people of all religions and walks of life as they approach the end of their life on the planet. While directing CSLSN, serving as a Hospice Chaplain, she currently serves as Co-chair on the Center for Spiritual Living’s Ministers’ Council. She believes she is at her best when she fulfills Her life’s purpose; which is to assist people in becoming their Authentic Selves.
Curriculum Vitae Rev. Marquita Pierre-McAlister Resume and Curriculum Vitae 2014 – 2025 – Founder and Sr. Minister, New Life Vision (formerly Center for Spiritual Living Southern Nevada), Las Vegas, NV 2013 – Staff Minister, Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living, Las Vegas, NV 2012 – Presenter and Facilitator, Marquita’s Motivation, North West States 2006 – 2012 – Sr. Minister, Alaska Center for Spiritual Living, Anchorage, AK 2005 – Claims Representative, Dollar Rent-A-Car, Anchorage AK 2004 – Office Manager, Loan Network, LLC, Tacoma, WA 2002 – 2004 – Sales Representative, Guaranteed Sales Results, Anchorage AK 2001 – 2002 – Branch Manager, Airflow of Alaska, Anchorage, AK 1985 – 2002 – Clerk, Eligibility Technician, Public Assistance Analyst, Community Liaison Welfare Reform, Supervisor, State of Alaska, Anchorage, AK Education 2024 – 2025 – Neuro Linguistic Programming Certification, The Noble Touch, Brooklyn, NY 2024 – Pranic Healing Certification, The Noble Touch, Brooklyn, NY 2005 – Holmes Institute, Masters in Consciousness Studies, Encinitas, CA Campus 1998 – 2000 – University of Alaska, Anchorage, General Studies 1997- 1999 – Leadership Anchorage, PEW Foundation, Anchorage, AK 1997 – United Church of Religious Science, Practitioner License, Anchorage AK 1985 – 2001 – State of Alaska, Numerous Supervisory, Management and Leadership Trainings, Anchorage, AK Positions of Merit 2021 – Present – Co-Chair, Centers for Spiritual Living Ministers’ Council 2014 – 2024 – Founder, Sr. Minister, Center for Spiritual Living Southern Nevada 2013 – Featured Speaker, Centers for Spiritual Living Convention 2011 – 2013 – Co-Chair, Centers for Spiritual Living Convention Planning Team 2009 – 2012 – Member, Centers for Spiritual Living Department of Ethics & Professionalism 2003 – Organizer – Alaska Center for Spiritual Living, Terry Cole Whitaker Event 1999 – Organizer – Anchorage Church of Religious Depak Chopra Event 1997 – 1999 – Co-Chair, Leadership Anchorage 1995 – Co-Organizer of the Alaska Million Man March Program 1994 – 1995 – Co-Organizer & State of Alaska Walk-A-Mile Program 1994 – Organizer, Co-chair, House of Imani Rite of Passage Program 1991 – 2000 – Speaker, Public Kwanzaa Celebrations, Alaskan Community Recognitions of Distinction 2016 – Life Long Dreams, Danny Titus, Annual Fundraiser 2013 – Recognition by Carolyn Goodman, Mayor Las Vegas, NV- 1st World Day of Service by Las Vegas CSL & CSL Greater Las Vegas 2000 – Alaska Federation of Business & Professional Women, Business Communications Panelist for One Source Services 1999 – State of Alaska, Community Organizer, Welfare Reform Publications 2016 – “Order Up Your Life” perpetual journal calendar with Judith Pinkerton, Music 4 Life, Inc. 2016 – “Order Up Your Life User Guide” with Judith Pinkerton, Music 4 Life, Inc. 2021 – “Your Biggest, Highest Self”, HarambeeCSL, daily devotional articles for August “Insights and Impact”. Curriculum Personally Developed and Presented 2017 – The Embracing Project, Life Skills for Youth Survivors 2016 – Music 4 Life, Meditation & Life Skills for Rehab Centers 2008 – Holmes Institute, Seattle Campus “Music & Ministry” 2007 – Alaska Center for Spiritual Living, “The Secret” 6 week course 2003 – 2008 – 1, 3, & 5 day Meditation Retreats
Dallas TX
RevMarquita@csldallas.org
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