Jennifer and I sat in a Starbucks in Salt Lake City, talking with John who is the Director of Missions for the Utah/Idaho SBC. He told us a story that morning that confirmed in our hearts that the Lord was indeed calling us to serve as missionaries in Eastern Idaho, a story that neither of us will ever forget.
John never mentioned the man's name, but we will call him Tim. Tim was in his thirties, and life was good. Being raised in the Salt Lake City area, Mormonism was all that Tim had ever known of religion and he didn't see any reason to look elsewhere. He was raised by a Mormon family, married a Mormon wife, and was busy raising Mormon children. Tim met a man through work that would change his life forever. This man, that we will call Matt, was a "traditional Christian," which is what non-Mormon Christians are called in the region. As Tim got to know Matt, he observed that there was something very different about him. Tim knew that Matt was not Mormon, and that fact served as reason enough to avoid the topic of religion altogether. However, the more time that Tim spent with Matt, the more he hungered for what Matt had. Through their friendship, Matt was able to introduce Tim to Jesus and saw Tim miraculously saved by God's grace. Tim told his wife about his new-found faith, and though she was not happy, she tolerated this change probably figuring that it would eventually blow over. It didn't. Tim began to attend Bible studies and eventually Sunday services with Matt at the "traditional Christian" church. Tim was excited to share with his family what the Lord was doing in his life, but his enthusiasm was tempered by the deep roots of Mormonism in his family. The final straw fell one Sunday when Tim followed the Lord in obedience through baptism. That afternoon, when he got home from church, his father-in-law showed up to get his daughter and grandchildren, and they went and had the marriage annulled from the records of the Mormon church. Tim's decision to follow Christ had cost him his family, which might as well have been everything. They haven't come back.
John described this region, which includes Salt Lake City but extends north into Eastern Idaho, as the North American Saudi Arabia. While stories like Tim's are not happening every day, they are also not uncommon. When people follow Christ out of Mormonism it literally means to turn their back on their immediate and extended family, and their culture in general. Our family has been called to move into this region, to live as missionaries, and to plant a church that will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I write this, we are a little over seven weeks from packing a Uhaul and heading west. The North American Mission Board is willing to come along side us with some financial support when we get to the point of launching Living Water, but during the missionary/core team development phase of this journey we are on our own to raise support. The Lord has shown himself faithful in providing. Further posts to this blog will include an update of the fundraising progress being made. If you would like to partner with us by praying, or by providing montly or one-time financial support, please contact me at scplath@gmail.com for more information.
Financial Update: Budget Raised
Moving Fund $10,000 $5,300
Monthly Support $3,300 $625
