Our Ministers

Our spiritual leadership is here to serve you on your journey of awakening. Please feel free to contact us, we look forward to serving you.

Rev. Dr. Sandy Jacob

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Rev. Dr. Sandy Jacob has been a Religious Science minister since 1987.  She received her Bachelors degree in Education and her Masters degree at Cal Poly University, Pomona.  Sandy was a teacher, a Girl Scout professional and a small business owner before entering the ministry.

Sandy served as the Senior Minister for the Visalia Church of Religious Science.  In 1992, she was elected to the RSI Board of Directors and the Board of Education serving in many capacities until 2006.  In 1998, Sandy received her doctorate through Religious Science International. She was selected Minister of the Year in 2002. In 2006 Sandy received the Dr. Robert Bitzer Legacy Award.  She was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity in 2007.  She is beginning her 25th year of ministry having served as Senior Minister and founder of Circle’s Edge Center for Spiritual Living in Reno, Nevada for the last 12 years.

Sandy lives with her partner Rev. Mel Minarik and continues to seek ways of inspiring others through her ministry at Circle’s Edge, her teaching, writing and recording. When not involved in church activities she can be found on the golf course, hiking, enjoying nature or playing with her two poodles, Hazel and Lucy and enjoying all that Reno has to offer!


Rev. Mel Minarik

Rev. Mel is our Staff Minister focusing on community ministry – outside of the wall s of CECSL.  She interfaces withMel_Minarik_photo.09 many different groups in ways that promote the empowering teaching of New Thought.  In her work at the University of Nevada Reno (as Dr. Mel), she is a lecturer and Graduate Director for the School of Community Health Sciences as well as with the College of Business and Extended Studies.  She teaches classes in leadership, organizational sciences, and personal and integrative health.  Her research interests are in the areas of personal leadership, cognitive sensemaking, the health service continuum, stress management, as well as spirituality and health.

She is also a Wellness Coach, focusing on stress reduction for individuals. You can visit her blog at http://salixpathwellness.blogspot.com/.  Prior to living in Reno, she was an executive in hospital administration for 20 years in California.


Rev. Monica Sandoval

Rev. Monica Sandoval became a licensed minister in 2006 and works under the direction of Dr. Sandy Jacob, Pastor of the Circle's Edge Center for Spiritual Living in Reno, Nevada.  Since Spanish is her native language, she is focusing her ministry within the Hispanic community to bring this wonderful philosophy to people who speak her language, and as part of her future plans, she is looking forward to moving back to Mexico and work at her retreat home in the northern city of Chihuahua teaching and ministering in the Science of Mind philosophy.


Rev. Liza Chapen

Rev. Mel is our Staff Minister focusing on community ministry – outside of the wall s of CECSL.  She interfaces with many different groups in ways that promote the empowering teaching of New Thought.  In her work at the University of Nevada Reno (as Dr. Mel), she is a lecturer and Graduate Director for the School of Community Health Sciences as well as with the College of Business and Extended Studies.  She teaches classes in leadership, organizational sciences, and personal and integrative health.  Her research interests are in the areas of personal leadership, cognitive sensemaking, the health service continuum, stress management, as well as spirituality and health.

She is also Wellness Coach, focusing on stress reduction for individuals. Prior to living in Reno, she was an executive in hospital administration for 20 years in California.