January/February 2016
Here’s What’s Happening
This month Utah Valley Church launched a small group series titled “Multiply”. The main focus of this study is to learn what a disciple is and how we can fulfil the Great Commission by becoming disciples who make disciples. Then in March Utah Valley Church will be hosting an LDS Transitions small group for those who have left or are leaving the LDS religion.
This month will be very busy. Matthew is speaking at Boise Bible College. The theme for the semester is “Engaging the Culture”. Matthew was asked to speak on Mormonism and the title of his message is “Engaging Mormonism: Cult or Culture?” This will be a great opportunity to educate the students on the foreign mission field right here in the US. The message will focus on how it is more effective to approach LDS people as a culture rather than a cult.
The Andersons will also be hosting their third annual Super Bowl Party for their neighborhood. This has been a really successful event with more than forty people from the neighborhood attending each of the past two years.
Then February 25-26, Matthew will be traveling to McKinney, TX to attend a training for church planting networks hosted by NEXUS, a sister organization. The workshop will focus on how to acquire financial support for planting new churches.
Looking beyond this month, we have so many more exciting things happening. We have someone coming from Virginia to explore Utah with the hopes of bringing out a mission team. There are a couple churches planning on bringing mission teams over the next couple of summers. We also have an intern coming for this summer and a couple of college students hoping to do an internship in the summer of 2017.
Plant Utah in a Nutshell
It has been almost 3 years since we left the safety and comfort of Missouri to embark on an adventure we would have never imagined for ourselves. We spent 8 months in Salt Lake City engaging with other pastors, learning the culture, and trying to discover exactly what God wanted us to accomplish in Utah.
The Anderson Family’s calling to Utah, the reality of the culture in Utah, and the experiences of others whom had gone before brought about the establishment of Plant Utah. Plant Utah was born out of the desire to see healthy churches planted and equipped to multiply in their own neighborhoods and communities. The God size dream for Plant Utah is to see indigenous people multiplying disciples and planting indigenous churches.
Plant Utah has planted Utah Valley Church in Spanish Fork, UT and has recently brought on Grant and Terri Clark who will be planting The Crossings Church in West Jordan, UT. Along with these two church plants Plant Utah is also assisting with other church plants and existing churches to equip and encourage them as they make and multiply disciples in Utah.
Our Needs
Did you know that just around Spanish Fork, UT there are several cities that do not have or have never had an evangelical church? Did you know that by supporting Plant Utah you are bringing Biblical Christianity to people who have never heard the Gospel? You can play a vital role in planting evangelical churches where there has been little to no evangelical presence. Romans 10:13-15 (ESV) says, For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
You can support Plant Utah financially, prayerfully, and/or physically. We are raising funds for salaries, insurance, outreach expenses, and transitional housing for those leaving polygamy. We are always seeking prayer partners. We desire people to commit to be intentionally and fervently praying for our missionaries and our mission. The spiritual warfare we experience is very real and we firmly believe we are where we are today, physically, emotionally and spiritually because of those who are praying. Last, but not least we need the “feet that bring Good News”. Will you provide the finances needed, will you commit to being a prayer warrior, or will you prayerfully consider if God is calling you to come to Utah?
Want to Know More?
If you would like Plant Utah to speak at your church or small group let us know. We are booking monthly engagements and we would love to share!
If you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to call, email, or contact us through our website.
