Michael B. Beckwith is a spiritual teacher, meditation guide, and founder of Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles, where he has led a congregation rooted in New Thought Christianity and interfaith practice since 1986. He is known for his "Consciousness First" teaching, a framework that positions awareness as the foundation for personal and collective transformation, and for his work on intention-setting, forgiveness, and what he calls manifesting one's highest potential.
His approach draws from New Thought tradition, particularly the lineage of Ernest Holmes and Science of Mind, while integrating practices from Buddhism, Vedanta, and contemporary psychology. Beckwith emphasizes meditation as the primary tool for shifting consciousness, and his Sunday morning Way of Meditation Service at Agape combines guided meditation, music, and spoken-word teaching. His work is distinct in its commitment to racial, cultural, and spiritual inclusivity, a principle he has woven into the Agape community since its founding.
Beckwith has authored several books, including "Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul's Potential" and "True Prosperity: Creating Wealth From Within," both of which outline his methods for aligning inner awareness with external circumstance. He also offers retreats, podcasts, and livestream services that feature conversations with teachers across healing modalities, spirituality, and personal development. His media presence includes appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and a featured role in the 2006 film "The Secret," which introduced his teaching to a global audience.
Beckwith came to spiritual work after what he describes as a period of deep existential questioning in his early twenties. He studied at Ernest Holmes College and was ordained as a minister in the United Centers for Spiritual Living. In 1986, he founded Agape in his living room with a small group; the center now draws thousands to its services in person and online, with a physical home in Culver City, California.
Agape International Spiritual Center has become one of the largest New Thought congregations in the United States, with a membership that spans continents and a weekly reach that includes live services, recorded meditations, and social media teaching. Beckwith has been profiled in "The Los Angeles Times" and has spoken at venues including the United Nations and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. He co-founded the Association for Global New Thought and the Season for Nonviolence, a campaign inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
Beckwith continues to lead the Way of Meditation Service every Sunday morning at Agape, and he hosts ongoing retreats and courses focused on meditation practice and consciousness development. He remains active on social media, where he shares daily teachings on intuition, forgiveness, and inner transformation. For someone discovering his work today, Beckwith offers a structured path into meditation and New Thought spirituality, grounded in the conviction that awareness itself is the starting point for change.