A New Kind of Sunday: Empowering Children at the Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living

Children decorate personal mirrors after a lesson on self-love. During a guided visualization, they imagined a warm, glowing light of love coming from within. Afterward, they decorated their mirrors as a reminder to see and celebrate the wonderful qualities they have inside. They also read the book Love by Matt de la Peña.

Redondo Beach, CA — On a Sunday morning in Redondo Beach, a quiet revolution is taking place—one that starts with children learning to love themselves just as they are. At the Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living, which has been a cornerstone of the community since its founding in 1947, the new Children’s Program, the Sunshine Kids Club, isn’t just about filling time while parents attend the service. It aims to cultivate a profound sense of self-worth and connection, empowering a generation that will soon influence the world in meaningful ways.

Leading the way is Robyn Willey-Pratt, the newly appointed Children’s Program Director. 

“It's kind of Redondo Beach’s best-kept secret,” Willey-Pratt said. “We’re not a church in the traditional sense. I describe it as a church for discovering the power within and creating your own reality. This is all about spiritual laws that anyone can use, no matter what you believe or what your denomination is. It’s for everyone—no matter your background.”

Rev. Gregory Toole, the Senior Minister at RBCSL, elaborates on the broader philosophy behind the Center. 

“One of the first things I always think of is that it’s like a big tent where people can come to explore their spiritual journey,” Toole said. “It’s a place where it’s safe to be wherever you are on that journey—even if you don’t have a spiritual journey at all.”

Toole further emphasized the Center’s commitment to inclusivity.

“We create a space where people can come as they are and feel affirmed. We want to work with the whole family—supporting both parents and children,” he said. 

Children participate in a guided visualization to discover empowering "I Am" statements, imagining the colors that matched the feelings of each statement. Afterward, they used watercolors to paint the colors they saw in their mind and wrote the "I Am" statements that came to mind during the visualization. They also read the book I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, which reminded us of all the amazing qualities we already have within us.

The Children’s Program, which begins each Sunday at 11 a.m., is an engaging blend of free play and meaningful lessons. 

“We start with some free play, then dive into a lesson that’s digestible for kids. We want it to be fun and engaging, so they want to come back,” Willey-Pratt said.

Recently, for Valentine’s Day, the children participated in a lesson on self-love, where they learned that they are “powerful and worthy just as they are.” 

This emphasis on affirming their self-worth serves as a foundation for their growth.

“I feel that much of what my generation and earlier generations were taught—while well-intentioned—sometimes made us feel guilt or shame where we shouldn’t have,” Elise Carver, the lead musician at RBCSL, said. “I’m really excited that my daughter, Elixandra, is hearing messages like 'your life is good, you are powerful, and you can do anything.’”

Carver hopes these teachings will help her daughter develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence that she will carry into adulthood.

“We believe that kids know they’re geniuses—they have so many ideas and possibilities within them,” Willey-Pratt said, adding that she firmly believes in fostering children’s unique identities. 

A previous week’s lesson focused on how the energy we put into the world comes back to us. After participating in a kid-friendly Qi Gong movement, children experienced their own energy during a guided visualization, imagining the colors surrounding their bodies and coloring what they saw. They also read the book “How Full is Your Bucket.” Volunteer Giselle Cabrera, a long-time member of RBCSL, enjoyed coloring alongside the kids. Photo submitted by Robyn Linh Willey-Pratt

Laura Salazar, a co-teacher in the children’s program along with Maureen McKinney, highlighted the significance of fostering kindness among children.

“We’re also teaching basic values, like kindness,” Salazar said. “There’s so much need for kindness in this world. It’s important to encourage kids to think about what nice things they can say to themselves and to each other.”

In addition to kindness, Salazar emphasized that the program is designed to promote overall personal development in a kid-friendly way.

“I would describe it as a program centered around personal development,” Salazar said. “Kids do the work themselves; they listen to the messages and learn to implement those teachings into their lives. We want to provide a kid-friendly version of that experience.”

By providing space for kids to explore who they are, the program teaches them to shed societal layers that may hinder their self-esteem and creativity. 

“If we can instill that sense of worth and empowerment in them, they’ll have a much stronger foundation when they face challenges later in life,” Willey-Pratt said.

By running the Children's Program alongside adult services, RBCSL ensures parents have the chance to replenish spiritually while providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children.

“We talk a lot about consciousness, oneness, meditation, and self-love. It’s all about loving yourself first, tuning into who you are, and then expressing that out into the world,” Willey-Pratt said. “In the children’s program, we really focus on helping kids learn that they can define themselves. If someone at school says they’re not good enough, they don’t have to internalize that; it’s just someone else’s opinion. We teach them that they are worthy and powerful, no matter what others may say.”

Inclusivity is at the heart of RBCSL’s mission, welcoming individuals of all orientations and backgrounds. 

Photo submitted by Robyn Linh Willey-Pratt

“We love and welcome everyone! Our focus is on personal spirituality. We’re here to help families discover their own spiritual truths,” Willey-Pratt said. 

As the Children’s Program continues to blossom, RBCSL is enthusiastic about engaging with the broader community. 

“In March, we’ll be offering tandem classes for parents and kids, and it’s about providing opportunities for families to explore different healing modalities together,” Willey-Pratt said. 

The classes aim to include activities such as creative visualization, Qi Gong yoga, and more, allowing families to deepen their spiritual practices in a supportive environment.

Through creativity, compassion, and connection, the Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living aims to redefine Sunday mornings, nurturing the next generation of empowered individuals ready to thrive in the world.

“When we attend a service, it’s about remembering that essence within ourselves and empowering it to act beautifully in the world,” Carver said. “It’s about making real changes in our own lives so that we can thrive and help others thrive as well. It’s not about taking power from outside sources, but rather placing that power within ourselves to create good in our lives and the world.”

For more information about the Children’s Program and other services at the Redondo Beach Center for Spiritual Living, visit www.redondocsl.org.