Core Values
Values are what are truly important to you. Whether your values can be articulated or not, they direct your thoughts, words, and actions. As we align our hearts with God’s heart and adopt His values as our own, we live life at a higher level, accessing the freedom and fullness He intends for us. Since our values determine how we show up in the world, when what is important to God becomes precious to us, we become more like Jesus and begin to release His life wherever we go. These are the Upper Room Fellowship’s core values:
These values are at the core of our beliefs - principles that Jesus exemplified and that our church actively upholds. Our culture is shaped by these values, which we delve into extensively in our course "Values in the Kingdom." Those who align their lives with these values are richly rewarded, as there is indeed a blessing for those who dedicate themselves to serving God.
“There truly is a reward for those who live for God” (Psalm 58:11b NLT).
“There truly is a reward for those who live for God” (Psalm 58:11b NLT).
Our Beliefs
At the Upper Room, the focus is not on doctrine or ideology, but on coming together around our heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. God is a relational God, emphasizing a familial approach. While the essence of the Christian faith and salvation is crucial, certain beliefs have been fundamental since the early followers of Jesus and are reflected in enduring creeds adopted by the universal Church over centuries. These core beliefs are indispensable to us. Here is our statement of faith:
About The Bible
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired written expression of God and, as such, are authoritative. The scriptures reveal who God is and are intended to bring us into relationship with Him.
About God
We believe in one personal God who created the universe and exists eternally in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are equal in power, authority, and glory. They are so pure and so united, they operate as one.
About the Father
We believe Jesus came to reveal who God the Father is and what He is like. God is love and God is good. He loves all unconditionally and sacrificially. With God, all things are possible.
About Jesus
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who laid down His rights as God to become human. Being born of a virgin, He lived a life of love, bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. Jesus laid down His life, dying a cruel death on the cross to pay for the sins of the world and was buried. Triumphing over sin and death on our behalf, He rose again bodily, ascended to heaven, and is eminently seated with the Father for eternity.
About the Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who regenerates and indwells every believer in Jesus. He reveals Jesus, guiding us into all truth and goodness while steering us from sin and its devastation. He comforts, aids, and strengthens us, transforming us to be like Jesus and giving us supernatural abilities so we can effectively impact the world around us with heaven’s goodness.
About mankind
We believe that all people were created in the image of God to enjoy fellowship with Him, yet we willfully rejected the Lordship and glory of God for which we were intended. Because of this, sickness, death and judgment entered the world and now creation experiences the effects and consequences of sin.
About Salvation
We believe that the blood of Jesus Christ, which He shed on the cross, provides the only way for the forgiveness of sin and restoration with God. God freely grants salvation to all who place their faith in Jesus, receiving the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation cannot be earned; it is a gift from God.
About the Church
We believe in the universal Church, a diverse assembly of individuals from all races, languages, and countries who have faith in Jesus and have been saved through His completed work on the cross. Instead of being an institution, the Church is described in the Bible as the body of Christ, with Jesus as its head. Therefore, we function as His representatives and have the honor of working alongside Him to share His love throughout the world.
About eternity
We believe in the personal, visible return of Jesus to the earth for the establishing of His gracious Kingdom and that every human will stand before the Lord of all for the final judgment. We believe that our eternal destination of either heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ in our lifetime.
Having the proper beliefs is tremendously important as our beliefs shape us—especially what we believe about God. Since Jesus “is the radiance of [the Father’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Hebrews 1:3 NASB), we like to say that Jesus is perfect theology. As Jesus put it, “The one who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9 NASB). If you have a question about what God is like, take a good look at Jesus!
Our History
In 1971, a group of teenagers started the Upper Room Fellowship in a small room above a veterinarian's office in Columbiana, Ohio, to share the Good News. The group met regularly on Mondays and later added a Wednesday worship and prayer meeting due to a growing interest. In 1974, the Upper Room Ministry became a non-profit organization.
Due to growth, the fellowship moved in 1977 to the former VFW hall on North Main Street in Columbiana, known as the Kreidler Building. The first Sunday morning service and the ordination of the first pastor took place in 1978. The leadership structure changed to include more than one lead pastor in 1979, a model that continues today. In 1981, the fellowship moved to the Joshua Dixson School and built its first permanent home in its current location in 1988. The current Fellowship Hall was the sanctuary at that time. In 2008, the fellowship moved into its present sanctuary with additional classrooms. While the initial passion of the Upper Room Fellowship was to transform lives, other elements emerged. Worship played a major role from the beginning, leading to the development of worship teams. There was also a strong emphasis on knowing God, walking with Him, and heeding His voice. Additional elements included sharing life, encouraging one another, and serving others within and beyond the fellowship. |