Universal Foundation for Better Living

The Universal Foundation for Better Living, or UFBL, is a New Thought denomination that was founded in 1974 by Johnnie Colemon in Chicago, Illinois. Colemon founded the foundation as an association for African American New Thought ministers after breaking away from the Unity Church for "blatant racism".^[1] Rev. Colemon is often referred to as "the First Lady of New Thought".^[2]

Universal Foundation for Better Living
Abbreviation	UFBL
Classification	New Thought Christianity
Scripture	Bible (interpreted metaphysically)
Theology	New Thought
Founder	Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon
President	Reverend Dr. Sheila McKeithen
Past President	Reverend Dr. Mary Tumpkin
Associations	International New Thought Alliance
Language	English
Headquarters	Miami Gardens, Florida, United States
Territory	United States, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad, The Bahamas, Guyana
Origin	June 1974 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Separated from	Unity Church
Member Ministries	17
Seminaries	Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary
Publications	Daily Inspiration for Better Living
Official website	https://ufbl.org/
Slogan	"It Works If You Work It"

History

After founding the first predominantly African American Unity Church in 1954, Colemon broke away in 1974. Named the Universal Foundation for Better Living, the foundation had 22,000 members in the late 1980s, with a 32-acre facility in the Chicago-area.^[3] The foundation adheres closely to the principles taught by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore.^[4]

In 2009, the denomination had more than 30 churches across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, with a majority of African American members. Colemon appointed Mary A. Tumpkin as President of the foundation in 1995, where she served until she died in November 2013.^[5] In 2015, Rev. Sheila R. McKeithen became the foundation's third President.