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Activist-author-journalist addresses ‘Be the Change: Creating Peace Within and Without’
MILLS RIVER — Dr. Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mohandas K. Ghandi, aka “the Mahatma” or “great soul”), addressed “Be the Change: Creating Peace Within and Without” during two separate sold-out addresses — one in the morning and one in the evening — Oct. 5 in the sanctuary at Unity of the Blue Ridge.
Approximately 230 people attended each of Gandhi’s two talks at Unity.
What’s more, on Oct. 6, the Unity church in Mills River celebrated its 70th anniversary with a combined service with a rededication blessing by Dr. Arun Gandhi.
“Unity, known informally as Unity Church, is a New Thought Christian organization that publishes the Daily Word devotional publication,” Wikipedia said of Unity.
In conjunction with his visit, Unity held a weekly fall book study, led by the Rev. ´Élan Lambert, of Dr. Arun Gandhi’s book, “The Gift of Anger and Other Lessons from My Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi,” which ran from Sept. 19 to Oct. 24.
The morning program, which the Daily Planet covered, opened with an interfaith processional, which included Gandhi; a welcome and opening prayer by the Rev. Darlene Strickland, Unity’s senior minister; a haunting version of “Song of Peace” ballad sung by Asheville’s Kat Williams, who was the event’s featured vocalist, along with her soul-stirring rendition of “If You’re Out There,” which drew much applause from the audience — and other songs.
Williams was accompanied by Unity’s Unitic Band, led by Asheville’s Richard Shulman, who plays piano in the four-piece group, along with serving as its music director.
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