Our History

Life Tabernacle was founded by Pastor Harold Ray in 1969 as The United Pentecostal Church of West Salem, Ohio.  The Church in West Salem was led under the ministries of Pastors Ray, Sam Latta, and David Darst.  In 1984 the Church relocated to Medina, Ohio.  In November of 1984 Ed and Mina Nichols were elected to assume leadership of the Church.  Since then the Church grew out of two locations in Medina and then purchased a building in Rittman.  Six acres were purchased in Rittman and now the Church is in a major relocation project to spacious facilities in Rittman. Please see the tab  "Relocation Project" to view the progress of the building campaign.  Pastor Nichols has led the Church for nearly 25 years, being only the fourth pastor in the nearly 40 year existence of the Church.  Throughout the history of the Church, the teachings of the Church have been consistent.
   
We Believe:

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. God's Word is our guide for daily living as well as the plan of salvation (2 Timothy 3:16).

There is One God.  God is the Father in creation, brings salvation through His Son in redemption, and lives in our lives through His Spirit.  His name is Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh.  He is both God and man (Deuteronomy 6:4, Colossians 2:9, John 4:24, and 1 Timothy 3:16).

Salvation comes through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and obedience to the gospel. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Those who do not obey the gospel deny themselves the opportunity to enter into salvation (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, 1 Peter 4:17).  We die to sin through repentance, are buried with Jesus in baptism, and receive the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues (Acts 2:4, Acts 3:37-38, Romans 6:1-4).

Relationships are restored by living as a Peacemaker.  Matthew 5:9 declares: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."  One of the most godly ways to live is to restore broken relationships.  The manner in which we forgive is a reflection of how we view the forgiveness of God (Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:23-35, mark 11:25-26).

The gifts of the Spirit operate in the Church today.  Supernatural gifts found in Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, and Ephesians 4:11-12 operate and govern the Church.  Those who operate in the gifts should also display the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.

The "Day of the Lord" is near.  This will bring the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10).  Final judgment by Jesus Christ will bring eternal life to the righteous and eternal death to the unrighteous (Revelation 20:11-15).

The Way We Worship:

Worship is at once very personal as well as a corporate expression of our devotion to the Lord.  The Bible gives us encouragement to worship in ways that please the Lord.

We pray together aloud because scripture teaches "They lifted up their voices to God in one accord."  Acts 4:24

We lift our hands in praise because scripture teaches us to "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord."  Psalm 134:2

We sing with all our hearts because scripture teaches us to "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."  Psalm 98:4

We play musical instruments because scripture teaches "And all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments."  2 Samuel 6:5

We clap and shout to the Lord because scripture teaches "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."  Psalm 47:1

We dance before the Lord because scripture teaches us to "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs."  Psalm 150:4

We testify publicly because scripture teaches that "I will declare thy name unto thy brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee."  Psalm 22:22

We anoint with oil for divine healing because scripture teaches "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."  James 5:14-15

We desire the operation of Spiritual gifts because scripture teaches "When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation."  1 Corinthians 14:26

Adapted from WAP tract #6602