Paula Thompson (Administrative Director)

Paula has been an avid student of The Urantia Book since early in 1976, when, as she says, “It came into my life at a time of great crisis, as the answer to a fervent prayer for some good news.” She has read the book daily for many decades and has studied it weekly with a group since 1977. She joined The Urantia Book Fellowship in 1982 when it was known as The Urantia Brotherhood. She has served her local Urantia Society as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Study Group Officer. She started coordinating and facilitating regular public outreach with the book in 1983. In 1989 she went to work for the Jesusonian Foundation and was Executive Director there from 1993 to 2006. In that time she managed Good Cheer Catalog and developed numerous study and outreach aids for The Urantia Book, most notably the website Truthbook.com. She was elected to the Fellowship’s General Council in 1994 served as a General Councilor until 2021. She served as the Fellowship’s Outreach Committee Chair from 1997-2020 and as Secretary-General from 2009-2012. Paula accepted the job as the Fellowship’s Executive Director in 2006 and continues to work in that capacity. Paula has traveled all over the USA as well as to Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and South America to exhibit and introduce the book.

Derek Samaras (Administrative Assistant)

Chicago Native, now living in Lafayette, CO, Derek is a Filmmaker and Youth Minister, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism/Psychology from the University of New Mexico. He is an advocate for socially sustainable practices that reflect the life affirming qualities revealed in respectful, tolerant, and compassionate fellowship. Derek applied these practices for many years while teaching self-defense in Chicago to women and youth in troubled areas. Derek has been an ambassador for truth, beauty, and goodness on multiple continents. He continues to share the message to all who will come and listen: “We are all family; we may never look, act, or think alike, but spiritually we are, and that is what unites us; we are truly one family united in spirit.” Derek has developed his social ministry on the principles of loving service, mindful compassion, and spirit unity: “We are all loved equally by Divinity. Freely we have received this love; we must share it freely.”

Some of Derek's projects: •Directed/Wrote/Edited a documentary on the commercial sexual exploitation of children •Led many Youth and Young Adult Committee activities regarding youth ministry and leadership development •Director´s Assistant of The Urantia Book Fellowship (nonprofit spiritual) •"Urantia Book vs. Ancient Aliens" (public presentation Los Angeles)