The Intermountain West is one region of the United States where the Christian faith has never had a significant presence. At the center is Salt Lake City, a city settled by pioneer members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), who parted from Protestant Christianity in the mid-1800’s. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, in 2006 the LDS church’s Salt Lake City members included 790,764 of the area’s population-representing something less than 60% of the entire population. But, the demographics of Salt Lake City also indicate that a large percentage of the population, 30%, claim no religious affiliation. This leaves just 10% of the population who claim any kind of historic Christianity or other religious affiliation such as Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. According to the ARDA, less than 2% of the entire metro Salt Lake City area claim to be Evangelical Protestants.

How will Salt Lake City and the region be reached with the good news of the gospel of grace? Professors Harvie Conn and Manuel Ortiz state, “Utilizing indigenous leaders is the most effective way to reach urban communities for Christ, but it is imperative that anyone chosen to lead first be brought to spiritual maturity through adequate training.” If there is any place in great need of indigenous leaders trained for gospel ministry, it is Utah. In 2005, New Song Presbyterian in Salt Lake City took this challenge seriously by launching an internship program designed to train indigenous leaders for gospel ministry in Utah.

This internship program, now known as The Utah Leadership Initiative, exists to train ministers from Utah for Utah. To carry out this mission, the Initiative involves 4 phases of training. In the first phase, prospective leaders are given the opportunity to assess their calling and experience core aspects of ministerial work. In phase 2, once a calling is affirmed, participants complete a formal seminary education. Once theological education is complete they move to phase 3 where they participate in an apprenticeship which includes preparation for and completion of licensure and ordination. Finally, participants move to phase 4 where they begin to develop new ministry endeavors to reach communities across Utah with the gospel.

In order for the Utah Leadership Initiative to go forward and this vital work of gospel ministry in Utah to continue, we need the prayerful support of people like you. There are two primary ways for you to be involved. First, you can partner with us by praying for this important work and God's wisdom as we seek to follow God in reaching Utah with the gospel. Second, you can partner with us by giving a financial contribution that would support this Initiative and its ministry expenses as well as the financial needs of Mark and Nate and their families.