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About United
Research
The Founders
History of UR
Mission Statement
Code of Conduct
What UR Teaches
The Effective Prayer
History of the
7 Steps
Biblical References
Effective Prayer in other languages
The Light
Center
About the Light
Center
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Healing Labyrinth
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Lodge
About the UR Lodge
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Lectures
by Jim Goure
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A
Prayer
I
AM Prayer
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Asked Questions
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United
Research Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation
| United
Research The Light Center |
|
P.O.
Box 1146 2190 US Hwy 9 South |
| Black
Mountain, NC 28711 |
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Jim
and Diana Goure created the Light Center as a place where people
could come to pray and meditate anytime, any day of the year. It is
dedicated to prayer for personal and planetary transformation. |
Diana Goure was born
in the Gore Mountain Range of Colorado. Born to New
Thought parents, she grew up in a positive, spiritual environment.
Diana met Jim in church and they were married in 1947.
James V Goure was
born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, in
a Christian environment. When Jim was twelve years old, his father
died. This led Jim to a deep desire to know God and to seek answers.
When he was 21, he had read all the Holy Books of the various
religions and had received insights leading to the
"7 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE PRAYER"
which is available to all that visit the Light Center. Jim was a
graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a Commander in the
Navy shortly after World War II, then was attached to the Atomic
Energy Commission in Washington, D.C. as a Senior Executive Officer.
During his work with this commission, Jim became aware of the very
real threat of a nuclear war. He realized that none of the methods
tried had established world peace. For years Jim had been protecting
himself and loved ones by placing them in "bubbles of
light." The same could be done for the planet, he said, so he
asked friends in Virginia Beach to join with his family using the
Effective Prayer.
| In
1970, Jim and some friends met and prayed about where the family should
relocate and got just one word, "Swannanoa." The only
Swannanoa they knew about was a property in Virginia but that turned out
to be unavailable. Jim drove all over Virginia looking for a site.
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| One
Saturday night, he was driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and got lost in a
fog. Seeing a sign for STONE MOUNTAIN, Jim drove there. After
climbing the mountain he found what looked like a stone altar with seats
surrounding it. There he meditated and felt compelled to |
| go to the
southwestern part of the state. He drove 150 miles nonstop and arrived
at a house tucked into the hills. The gate was locked and the property
overgrown, but Jim found a newspaper on the porch with the owner's
name on it. Driving back from Asheville the next day to meet the
owner of the house, he
first saw the sign |
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Swannanoa which is a few miles from Black Mountain. Jim hadn't known
that there was a Swannanoa in North Carolina, but upon seeing this, he
knew he was to buy the house.
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In 1970, he took early retirement and moved
with his wife, Diana, and their eight children to Black Mountain,
NC. Here in the nurturing energy of these mountains, Jim and his
family began to pray for peace four times every day. |
| Within a few weeks a
group from Virginia Beach joined the family in prayer for the world.
When they left, they spread the word about this place and soon there
were visitors from all over the world. In 1976, Jim and Diana formed
UNITED RESEARCH, INC., a nonprofit corporation to provide a
vehicle for the receipt of donations toward education in
prayer and the building and maintenance of a Prayer Center. |
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There
was a groundbreaking ceremony
in May of 1975 and volunteers lovingly helped build the center. The Light
Center is a two-story, white geodesic dome surrounded by the
beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. There are no
memberships, require- ments, creeds, doctrines or dues. There is
information on how to use effective prayer and the use of colored
rays of light and inspired music as an enhancement for relaxation
during prayer. |
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In October 1979, the Light Center opened with a
dedication ceremony. Thousands of people have come to the Center
from all over the world to pray. In addition, United Research has
sponsored prayer missions to about 50 nations on six continents. |
In December 1986, Jim
made his transition, but his legacy continues. United Research has
grown with volunteers who present Jim's teachings at workshops and
Intensives. The Goure home was purchased by United Research to
provide housing for people while attending weekend workshops or just
as a quiet retreat from the affairs of the world. The Light Center
has numerous regularly scheduled and special events during the year
and publishes a monthly newsletter. A bookstore and an audio-visual
library provide opportunities to learn more about the teachings of
Jim Goure and other spiritual leaders.
United Research provides a
nondenominational supportive environment for encouraging personal and
planetary transformation through prayer. We are dedicated to helping all
people expand awareness of their inner Light and to pray more effectively.
Our site offers instruction in the use of Effective Prayer, a Calendar of
upcoming Events (including programs and speakers), and World Prayer
Missions. You may also purchase materials through our bookstore
(special orders are available) or reserve space in the UR Lodge for your
own personal retreat.
The Light Center's spiritual mission
requires physical, mental, and spiritual support. Help us light up
the world with your enthusiasm, energy, skills and prayers. Your
time and efforts are welcome.
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The Light Center
Upcoming
Events at the Light Center
This
month's prayer focus
The UR Lodge
The Newsletter
Make a Donation
Our Code
of Ethics
Recognition
of the Light in all
Respect for each being Respect
for earth, air and water Respect
for plants and animals Respect
for space and all things therein.
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