Our Senior Minister
Rev. Gregory Toole
Rev. Gregory Toole is an ordained minister with Centers for Spiritual Living. He is the Founding Spiritual Director of Somseva whose mission is to inspire authentic, compassionate relationships through spiritual education, tools, and practices that promote peacemaking and conscious action. Gregory is also the author of the book, "A Simple Guide to Planetary Transformation."
Gregory’s teaching is grounded in the idea that each person has great power to transform his or her life. He has taught thousands of students around the world through his classes, individual coaching, writing, and speaking engagements.
In his work with Somseva, Gregory has served five different Centers for Spiritual Living communities as their Interim Minister and has trained other ministers in the art and science of Interim Ministry. In this work, he has facilitated healing, reconciliation, and renewal by aiding communities in navigating transitions consciously for the purpose of long-term health.
Prior to founding Somseva, Gregory served for six years at the Centers for Spiritual Living Home Office, first as the Ecclesiastical Leader and then as Director of Member Support and Education. While at Home Office, he was also the President of Holmes Institute. Previously, Gregory served for five years as the Senior Minister of Center for Spiritual Living in Davis, California.
Before becoming a minister, Gregory was Executive Director of a non-profit youth development organization in Oakland, California. His early career was in the computer industry where he started as a software developer and then moved into marketing and business development.
He holds a master’s degree in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a master’s degree in Consciousness Studies from Holmes Institute.
Our Music Director
Deena Efferson-Williams
This multi-talented, visionary creative artist, serves as Music Director for the Center for Spiritual Living Antelope Valley, serving in this role for more than nine years. Featured on the Oxygen Networks reality show “Fix My Choir” Episode “Souled Out”, Deena worked with Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child and gospel singer Deitrick Haddon of Preachers in L.A., also on the Oxygen Network.
This Baptist Preacher’s daughter began her love of music as a child singing in church and school choirs.
At the age of 19 she was signed to a Culver City record label as a member of the R&B group The Company. She became a studio back ground singer for many artists including Super Stars Bobby Womack and Mary Wells.
As a touring member of a Platters tribute band, Deena was groomed for the role by Zola Taylor the original female member of the Platters.
Staff teacher for Cedar Performing Arts Academy in Lancaster, California, she inspires the youth of the Antelope Valley to express their own unique personalities as they discover their voice, stage preparation, movement, and personal development.
She also currently teaches voice classes for the city of Lancaster.
