Raised by an atheist father and a deeply religious mother, Reverend Xolani Kacela began early seeing the world through a lens of many faiths and beliefs. His broad experience helps him appeal to a wide audience, both secular and religious. He serves as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, NM, and has been minister at four other Unitarian Universalist churches as well as the United Methodist Church. He grew up a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). As Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, he served in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, as well as in Guam and Iraq. He holds a Ph.D. in Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling from Brite Divinity School.

His many publications on spirituality, faith development, grief, and relationships include articles, “Being One with the Spirit: Mysticism of Howard Thurman,” “One Session is Enough: Counseling African American Families,” and “Mature Religious Experience in the Midst of Death and Dying”; his book chapters include “To Wake, To Rise: Meditations on Justice and Resilience” and “Art and Wholeness in Church Life.”  His blog, masteringyourownfaith.com with an audience of thousands, explores issues ranging from maximizing one’s potential to race and politics. He contributes to NPR and community radio in Las Cruces, NM, and newspapers and radio in the Southwest.  He believes that everyone has the foundations for living a great life, using their own faith convictions as the cornerstone.