Upper Room 90th Anniversary
The Upper Room | Aug. 27, 2025
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Francis Craig approached her pastor Dr. Paul Kern with an idea for a regularly published prayer guide filled with stories and scripture, she never imagined the global impact to come. With more than 1.5 billion copies printed to date, The Upper Room devotional is now available in more than 30 languages across 100 countries in multiple formats.
The world’s longest-running daily devotional written by its readers celebrated 90 years of continuous publication at its all-staff gathering this August. On Aug. 20, 2025, a special liturgy was held at the ministry’s historic chapel in downtown Nashville, and on Aug. 21, a celebratory lunch for current and former staff and invited guests was hosted at the iconic Loveless Cafe. The event’s special guests included editors representing the last six decades of publication as well as representatives from Travis Park United Methodist Church (San Antonio, Texas), where The Upper Room originated.
“For 90 years, The Upper Room has been a faithful companion to millions, guiding hearts around the world in daily reflection and prayer,” says Stephen Bryant, former publisher, The Upper Room. “Its impact transcends borders, denominations, and generations—offering a simple yet profound invitation to encounter God each day. We celebrate this milestone with deep gratitude for the countless lives transformed through its ministry.”
Today, The Upper Room is available in more than 30 languages across 100 countries, and it is estimated that one-third of all of The Upper Room’s contributors live outside the U.S. From its earliest days, The Upper Room content was designed for all followers of Christ, regardless of nationality, age, race, or denominational affiliation.
According to a 2023 study from the National Institutes of Health, almost half of all people worldwide pray at least three times a week. And for millions of people who pray daily, The Upper Room has become a trusted, treasured resource. The ministry recently published an article describing nine ways a reader might interact with The Upper Room to enrich their prayer life, including prayer journaling, prayer walks, intercessory prayer, art prayer, breath prayer, Lectio Divina (“sacred reading”), and Visio Divina (“sacred seeing”).
The devotional’s name, The Upper Room, was inspired by a sermon on the story of Pentecost in Acts 1 and 2, and also refers to Jesus’s final meal with his beloved disciples. From its earliest days, the devotional’s content was designed for all followers of Christ, regardless of nationality, age, race, or denominational affiliation. As of 2025, it is estimated that one-third of all writers featured in The Upper Room live outside of the U.S.
“The Upper Room was created as a gift for the worldwide church from day one – a simple, effective tool for uniting Christians in daily prayer and scripture,” explains Rev. Jeffrey Campbell, general secretary of Discipleship Ministries, and The Upper Room’s interim publisher. “While culture has shifted and evolved since the devotional was launched in 1935, the eternal truths of scripture continue to guide and empower lives around the world. The word of God has no boundaries.”
Although The Upper Room is best known as a printed devotional magazine, its content has been published in many different formats through the years, expanding its impact and reach. Published formats have included:
- 1935: The Upper Room debuts in print
- 1938: Spanish edition launched — the longest-running non-English edition
- 1946: Radio edition begins broadcasting
- 1958: “Talking books” (LP vinyl records) are launched, transitioning to cassette tapes in the 1970s and CDs in the 1990s.
- 1974: Large print edition debuted
- 1997: Website and email versions became available
- 2001: MP3 audio edition is introduced
- 2016: The Upper Room app is launched for Apple and Android devices
- 2024: The latest non-English edition, Marathi, launched
The Upper Room is currently available as a printed magazine published every two months (pocket-size and large print), on The Upper Room app (Apple and Android), and online at Store.UpperRoom.org.
“Over the past thirteen years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the deep faith and vulnerability shared by contributors from every corner of the globe,” says Lindsay Gray, executive director of The Upper Room Editions, The Upper Room. “Each devotion is a window into someone’s walk with God, and together they form a tapestry of hope, struggle, and grace. As we celebrate 90 years of The Upper Room, I’m humbled to be part of a tradition that continues to inspire daily spiritual connection in such a personal and universal way.”
The Upper Room is a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual formation of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. The ministry has grown to include publications, programs, prayer support, and other resources to help believers of all ages and denominations move to a deeper level of faith and service. The Upper Room is a part of Discipleship Ministries, the United Methodist board providing resources for local churches and individuals. Visit UpperRoom.org to learn more.
This article was compiled from press releases written by The Upper Room staff.