journey church upci

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About the UPCI

The United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) is a Oneness Pentecostal organization with churches, ministers, and members across the globe. With roots anchored firmly in the Bible and a vision for ministering to communities around the world, the UPCI embraces its mission to carry the whole gospel to the whole world by the whole church.

The UPCI has been among the fastest-growing church organizations since it was formed in 1945.

The UPCI has been among the fastest-growing church organizations since it was formed in 1945 by the merger of the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. From 521 churches in 1945, the UPCI has grown to more than 43,000 churches (including preaching points), 43,000 credentialed ministers, and 5.6 million constituents worldwide. The UPCI currently has a presence in more than 200 nations, as well as numerous territories. Our goal is to engage and share the gospel with every language and people group. The international fellowship consists of national organizations that are united as the Global Council of the UPCI , which is chaired by the  general superintendent  of the UPCI.

The UPCI emerged out of the Pentecostal movement that began with a Bible school in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901 and with the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, in 1906. It traces its organizational roots to 1916, when a large group of Pentecostal ministers began to unite around the teaching of the oneness of God and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

The governmental structure of the UPCI is basically congregational in that local churches are self-governing: the congregation elects its pastor and other leaders, owns its property, decides its budget, establishes its membership, and conducts all necessary business.

The general organization embraces a modified presbyterian system in that ministers meet in sectional, district, and general conferences to elect officials and to conduct the business of the organization. The highest governing body of the UPCI is the General Conference, and between conferences, it is governed by the Board of General Presbyters (General Board). Its chief officers are a general superintendent, a general secretary-treasurer, and two assistant general superintendents.

From 521 churches in 1945, the UPCI has grown to more than 43,000 churches (including preaching points), 43,000 credentialed ministers, and 5.6 million constituents worldwide.

UPCI World Headquarters is located in Weldon Spring, Missouri, on the western edge of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The headquarters building houses offices for its general officials and seven ministry departments.

Among the endorsed institutions of the UPCI are six Bible colleges, a Christian college, a graduate school, two training institutes, a children’s home, a residency for troubled young men, a ministry to those addicted to alcohol and other drugs, an adoption agency with a home for unwed mothers, a chaplaincy for prisoners, an online radio ministry, an agency for community educational services, and an international relief agency. It also endorses chaplains in the military.

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for more information on Oneness Pentecostalism? Click here to read more.

For more information on UPCI beliefs, click here.

The United Pentecostal Church International is the largest Oneness Pentecostal organization. Our identity includes belief in the Oneness of God; the new birth experience as described in Acts 2:38; living an overcoming, holy life; passionate worship; and more. 

On Being Pentecostal  by David K. Bernard and Robin Johnston

Big Ideas  by David Norris

Understanding God’s Word  by David K. Bernard

God’s Infallible Word   by David K. Bernard

The Oneness of God   by David K. Bernard

The Oneness View of Jesus Christ  by David K. Bernard

I Am: A Oneness Pentecostal Theology  by David Norris

The New Birth  by David K. Bernard

The Conversion Experience: A Biblical Study of the Blood, Water, and Spirit  by Gary Erickson

In Search of Holiness  by David K. Bernard and Loretta Bernard

Practical Holiness  by David K. Bernard

Pentecostal Worship: A Biblical and Practical Approach  by Gary Erickson

Spiritual Gifts  by David K. Bernard

• Their Story: 20th Century Pentecostals  by Fred Foster

United We Stand  by Arthur Clanton and Charles Clanton

Howard A. Goss: A Pentecostal Life  by Robin Johnston

Click here to use the Church and Ministry Locator to find a church in your area.

UPCI World Headquarters 36 Research Park Court Weldon Spring, Missouri 63304

Email [email protected]

Phone (636) 229-7900

Local UPCI ministers in your area would be delighted to connect with you personally and discuss the Pentecostal experience. Click here to use the Church and Ministry Locator to find a location near you.

Click here to see a collection of upcoming UPCI events.

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Get in touch

• [email protected]
• (636) 229-7900

UPCI World Headquarters

36 Research Park Court Weldon Spring, MO 63304

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Welcome Home

We can't wait to meet you.

Whether you’re new to church, have been a Christian for many years, or are looking for a fresh start, we're glad you're here. Our hope is to give you a place where you can connect to Christ, Community, and your Calling.

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Next Generation

Journey kids.

Babies through fifth graders experience safe, age-appropriate environments where they learn to Love God, Love life, and Love others. 

Journey Students

Journey Students is a place where middle and high school students connect with God, each other, and committed leaders. 

What's Happening?

Stay up to date on what's happening at Journey Church this week.

Imagine what God can do with our resources when we are fully committed to the work of building his kingdom. Learn how you can make an impact for generations to come.

3 Sunset Way, Bldg D, Henderson, NV 89014 |  Sunday Worship 1PM

First Time? START HERE

YOU ARE OUR WHY

At Journey Church our entire reason for being is to help people find and pursue a life giving relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are passionate about helping people experience and follow Jesus in a real, Spirit filled way. 

We would love to have you join us thi s Sunday. Be our guest , and  encounter the presence of God in our worship experience!

You will connect with friendly, sincere, people who are glad to see you, and

you will be challenged by a message that is easy to understand and relate to. Come as you are, and take a step forward in your spiritual journey!

Our Worship Experience begins at 1PM

WHAT TO EXPECT

PASTORAL FAMILY

Pastor Jeremy and Erin founded Journey Church in 2012.  They have both been actively involved in Christian ministry since they were teenagers.  They married in 2006 and have worked together over the last decade, loving people and helping them follow Jesus. In 2011 they followed their calling to the Las Vegas area with the vision of a different kind of church.  It's that vision that has shaped the culture of Journey Church that you will experience at our gatherings. 

WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?

We believe that we are called first to love, no matter what. Love God, Love Others - Always. We believe that because God loves us, He wants to see us grow.

We believe that God has a plan and purpose for every person.

We believe the calling of every follower of Jesus, is to help people find and follow Him.

W e believe that life is complicated enough - church shouldn't be. So, we are intentional about keeping things simple and authentic .

Sundays at Journey Church

Church can be an intimidating place to visit — especially if you don’t know what to expect.

A church can be an intimidating place to visit — especially if you don’t know what to expect. At Journey Church, we believe that Jesus modeled hospitality as a way of life.  With His being the example we follow, we want to make you feel welcome and loved as soon as you get here.  We invite you to experience what the gospel means both intellectually and relationally at our 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship service. You can engage with others and find places for your whole family to connect. We hope that through visiting with us, you will experience the hope, love and joy that comes from a community of people who love Jesus.

We believe that the Church is not a building, but rather the people that make up the Body of Christ.  Therefore, our Sunday morning gatherings serve as a rallying point for believers to come together to be edified and equipped in order to be sent back out to live to the glory of God in their communities. 

We are located right off of Route 611 in Warrington at

272 Titus Ave

Warrington, PA 18976

Look for our signs on Sunday mornings!

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP

We believe that Sunday morning worship is about a vertical and horizontal outpouring to the One being worshiped.  We gather to worship corporately, rallying together shoulder to shoulder to declare our praise and adoration of God.  Corporate worship is also an opportunity for us individually to recount Truth and pour out our hearts to our Father.  We long to create an environment where it is easy to breathe in God's grace in a way that causes us to breathe out His praise. 

Teaching from Scripture

We believe that practical, relevant Gospel Centered teaching is the catalyst for transformation in an individual's life. Scripture is inspired by God, completely accurate and our authority regarding Christian doctrine and the guide for Christian living.  

Upcoming Events

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Journey Church exists to build a community of people that does life around the presence of God.

Our mission, our mission is to see our cities transformed by the power of the gospel for the glory of god in our generation., our unique characteristics, we are a presence driven church.

We are not built around any person or ministry. We are built around one thing, the presence of God. Through worship, prayer, and God’s Word, we lead people from corporate encounters with God to daily personal encounters with God.

We Put People First

People matter to God, so they matter to us. We prioritize relationship over ministry. We are more intentional about building people than we are programs.

We are a Diverse Church

We are a church of various cultures, backgrounds, and ages. We are all one body, called to be in unity with God and His mission.

Seek His Presence. Build His People. 

TAKE GOD ENCOUNTERS AND GIVE THEM AWAY We value the urgent responsibility and privilege given to us by God — to proclaim the Gospel to all people, tribes, and nations. We evangelize by sharing the knowledge and understanding of God that we receive in our daily encounters with Him.

PRAY FIRST In every situation, whether good or bad, we pray before we act. Prayer is our first response, not our last resort.

Discipleship

NEVER STOP As disciples of Jesus, we will never stop growing in our relationship with Him. We believe Jesus’ best plan for this is discipleship. We will be disciples that make disciples.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP We believe the greatest leadership is service to others. Every leader is a servant first. From the parking lot to the pulpit, everyone serves. Every role is different, but they are all important.

REAL PEOPLE We are real, not religious people. We don’t hide behind a mask or image. We all fall short at times, and we aren’t afraid to admit our shortcomings to one another and build one another up.

Celebration

TESTIFY GOD’S GOODNESS If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong! We make time to celebrate wins by testifying God’s goodness in our lives.

MAKE IT BETTER We represent the Lord by doing the best we can with what we have. Everything has room for improvement, and we will have an attitude of whatever it takes to make it better than yesterday.

TALK IT OUT We build the trust, character, and relationships of tomorrow by engaging in the tough conversations today.

PULSE CHECK We remain healthy by prioritizing personal encounters with God, pursuing purity, putting family first, and protecting our Sabbath so we can lead others in health.

Edification

SPEAK LIFE We see people the way God sees people. We call out destiny in others by speaking life and not death.

GIVE IT AWAY TO KEEP IT

We will be generous with pure motives, knowing God blesses the pure in heart. We give our time, treasure, and talents from a heart of compassion.

LEADERSHIP STANDARDS

Daily encounters.

We engage the Lord through daily personal encounters by welcoming the Holy Spirit, asking the Lord to speak to us, digging into God’s Word, praying the Lord’s Prayer, and listening for His response.

We honor the Sabbath and keep it holy by stewarding our time according to God’s teachings. We balance productivity with a commitment to take time away and recover in order to not risk our health, well-being, and effectiveness for the Kingdom.

We protect the unity of our church by acting in love toward other members, refusing to gossip, and submitting to leadership. We exercise forgiveness at all costs by asking for God’s forgiveness, forgiving ourselves and forgiving others. We believe there is no spiritual growth without forgiveness.

We recognize the difference between good ideas and God ideas. As we seek his wisdom, we will respond like Moses, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” We will be leaders who only go where He is leading and operate in His giftings to get there.

Stewardship

We honor what God has given us by tithing faithfully, using our resources effectively, stewarding His presence with humility, and using our time productively.

Upcoming Events

Operation Christmas Child

Drop Off November 13th

Welcome Party

October 26th 7-8:30pm

Harvest Party

October 29th 5-7:00pm

Return and Rest

November 12th 8:30-11:30am

Gingerbread Breakfast

December 3rd 9-11:00am

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We are glad you're here!

Journey with us!

Maundy Thursday – March 28, 2024 – 6:30 PM Easter Sunday Services – March 31, 2024 – 10:00 AM

We are journey community church, you are welcome here.

Journey CC is a growing urban congregation of faithful people of all ages who love God and our neighbors.

Whether you have never been to church, are newly baptized, or haven’t been in a long time, YOU are welcome here, and we invite you to our service!

Our traditional worship service begins at 10 am each Sunday in the sanctuary.

We are located in the heart of North College Hill, Ohio on Hamilton Avenue, right next to North College Hill High School.

We look forward to seeing you at our next service!

We are blessed to be a part of two denominations: The United Church of Christ  and The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) !

JOURNEY’S MISSION

Walking with christ; serving our community.

At Journey Community Church, our mission is simple – walk with Christ and serve our community.

We know that faith is a journey; one that has a thousand different points of entry and can lead us in a thousand different directions. But each of us share one thing in common – our faith in Jesus Christ and our desire to walk with him. 

And once we start walking with Christ, our mission becomes even more clear – to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Jesus actively calls us to serve our community and to help those who have need. And that is exactly what we plan to do at Journey Community Church!

We are proudly part of two denominations: The United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ!

What is the united church or christ.

Purpose Statement (from the Gospel of Matthew):  To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.

Vision Statement: United in Christ’s love, a just world for all.

Mission statement: United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.

What are the Disciples of Christ?

Our Identity: We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.

Our Vision: To be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. – Micah 6:8

Our Mission: To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps “to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

Since Christmas Eve is on Sunday this year, Our Christmas Eve Service will be held at 10:00 AM.  Our Christmas Eve Service will be Christmas Lessons and Carols.   

There will not be an evening service. .

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Journey Out: of the United Pentecostal Church Kindle Edition

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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B010YTR0L8
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 4, 2015
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Pope Francis Appoints Father James Mark Beckman as Bishop of Knoxville

WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has appointed Reverend James Mark Beckman, as Bishop of Knoxville. Bishop-elect Beckman is a priest of the Diocese of Nashville , and currently serves as pastor of Saint Henry parish in Nashville, Tennessee.  The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2024, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Beckman was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Father Beckman was born on October 19, 1962, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. He graduated from Saint Ambrose College Seminary in Davenport, Iowa, with a bachelor’s degree in history (1984). He attended The Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium where he earned a master’s degree in religious studies (1984-1989). He was ordained to the priesthood on July 13, 1990, for the Diocese of Nashville.  

Bishop-elect Beckman’s assignments after ordination include: associate pastor at Holy Rosary parish in Nashville (1990-1991); teacher, (1990-1996), and then associate principal for pastoral affairs at Father Ryan High School in Nashville (1991-1996); pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Springfield (1996-2002); administrator at Saint Michael Mission parish in Cedar Hill (1996-2002); and pastor at Saint Matthew parish in Franklin (2002-2015). Since 2015, Bishop-elect Beckman has served as pastor of Saint Henry parish in Nashville.

Bishop-elect Beckman’s additional service for the Diocese of Nashville has included: member of the presbyteral council (1993-2003; 2008-2013); member of the diocesan clergy personnel board (1995-2000); director of the diocesan youth office (1996-2002); priests’ vocation advisory council (1998-2000); member of the college of consultors (1993-2003, 2008-2013); dean of the northwest deanery (2001-2002) and central deanery (2008-2013); chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Council #11925 (2003-2011); state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus (2004-2005); chair of the priest personnel board (2018-present).

The Diocese of Knoxville is comprised of 14,242 square miles in the state of Tennessee and has a total population of 2,538,487, of which 71,274 are Catholic.

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An expert lays out the United Methodist Church's journey to end its LGBTQ ban

After years of internal division, the United Methodist Church has reversed its 40 year ban on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage. The issue had become so contentious in recent years that the United Methodist Church lost more than 7,000 congregations since 2019, with many departing over their stances toward LGBTQ people.

GBH's All Things Considered host Arun Rath spoke about this shift with Graham Kelder, who teaches religion, politics and law at Suffolk University, and who is a member of the Methodist Church himself.

Arun Rath: So as I mentioned, this has been a divisive issue within the church for quite a while. Can you talk us through a bit of the recent history and how it's been affecting the church overall?

Graham Kelder: The church formed from two different denominations in 1968. In 1972, that's when the language appeared saying that homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching. Then in 1984, the language was inserted saying that practicing homosexuals couldn't be ordained as clergy.

In 2019, a plan passed called “The Traditional Plan,” and that made the penalties for violating these rules stiffer and reinforced the policy. But the 2019 Special Conference, which was focused solely on issues of sexuality, also created a disaffiliation plan whereby congregations could leave the United Methodist Church over issues of conscience related to sexuality. So that's when congregations began leaving—once that took effect. That process accelerated in 2022 when conservatives formed the Global Methodist Church.

Rath: So put that in perspective for us. Over 7,000 congregations lost since 2019 — that sounds like a pretty massive shift.

Kelder: Yeah, it's about maybe 25% or so of the church's membership, so it is significant. The disagreements between the United Methodist Church and those who have disaffiliated run a little deeper and across issues like: How should you read the Bible? Should you read it with an historical critical eye or should you read it somewhat literally?

Those interpretive strategies basically gave rise to this conflict because I think most New Testament scholars and most biblical scholars think that the prohibitions in the Bible on homosexuality are, by and large, in the purity code and not in the morality code. The ancient Hebrews had the idea that you shouldn't mix things that didn't belong together. So you shouldn't wear garments made of mixed fabrics. You shouldn't touch the skin of a pig. And the taboo on homosexuality is first enunciated in the purity code.

Rath: So with this shift now, and we should point out that the shift is not just about LGBTQ clergy, but also about same sex unions?

Kelder: Yes, the shift removes the language saying that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. It lifts the prohibition on clergy performing same sex unions, and it lifts the prohibition on ordaining practicing homosexuals. Basically, these changes sweep away all of the longstanding prohibitions on homosexual behavior.

Rath: So do we expect that these 7000-plus congregations will now come back, or how do you think this will affect things going forward?

Kelder: I don't think that most of those congregations will come back because many of them disaffiliated purposely because they were tired of fighting about these issues. And they wanted to form a purely conservative Methodist church and so they formed the Global Methodist Church.

There may be a few congregations that disaffiliated on the progressive side and those congregations will probably come back. But basically, the General Conference this year also passed a resolution openly inviting any congregation that's disaffiliated to come back if they wish to.

Rath: On the other side, is there any indication or concern that congregations who might not like this change might now want to split away?

Kelder: Disaffiliation is officially over with, the policy that allowed for that to happen in a “no muss, no fuss” way. Some congregations may seek to leave the Methodist church, but that's going to be a much more complicated procedure because official disaffiliation ended at the end of 2023.

The whole issue is not really completely over with yet, because we passed a regionalization clause which allows churches to adapt the discipline to the region that they're in. One of those regions is Africa, where homosexuality is a deeply ingrained cultural taboo. So congregations in Africa are going to be able to adapt the discipline to their cultural setting. But many of the pastors in Africa were upset by what the General Conference did this year.

Rath: Is your sense in terms of the long view on this, that even if the congregations that split away don't come back, can the Methodist Church grow now, as a result of this?

Kelder: Yeah, I was involved in the litigation against the tobacco industry and in tobacco regulation as an attorney. And while we were engaged in that work, studies showed that when restaurants prohibited smoking, they actually got customers coming to that restaurant who didn't like tobacco smoke. So I think that people who were dismayed by the church's longstanding rules against homosexuals may now feel free to join the church.

Hopefully, the church can put that issue behind us and I think that would get some people to join. My older sister is gay, and I had to think a lot about joining the Methodist church, knowing that the prohibitions were there. But I felt hopeful enough about them being relaxed at some point that I was comfortable with joining.

Rath: Well, this is fascinating. Thank you so much for your expertise and insight.

Kelder: Thank you.

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