The Utah-Idaho region continues to be one of North America’s most unique and challenging mission fields. Spanning over 1,100 miles from the Canadian to the Arizona border, this region reflects a wide spectrum of cultural, political, and religious identities. Northern Idaho resembles the inland Pacific Northwest, while southern Idaho and northern Utah are marked by deep LDS roots. Boise remains one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, now nearing 840,000 residents, and presents increasing opportunities for gospel witness as new residents arrive with fewer religious ties. Several of our strongest churches in Idaho are leaning into the mission, partnering with Send Network to assess planters and identify new places to plant.
Metro Summary
The Salt Lake City metro region comprises Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, Tooele, Cache, Summit, and Morgan Counties and has grown to over 2.8 million people. Salt Lake City’s metro region now exceeds 2.9 million people and remains Utah’s economic and cultural hub. Its reputation as a business-friendly, high-quality-of-life city continues to attract newcomers. While the LDS Church still maintains significant influence, cultural shifts are accelerating. Salt Lake County is now majority non-LDS, and many who are leaving the church are not becoming Christians but rather embracing secularism, spiritual ambiguity, or atheism. 26% of Utahns now identify as religiously unaffiliated. At the same time, the presence of the gospel is slowly growing. Church plants and revitalizations are gaining traction and Send Network churches are seeing first-generation believers come to faith. Still, evangelicals remain less than 2% of the population, and the need for laborers, leaders, and long-term commitment is as urgent as ever.
Church Spotlight
Barry and Jennifer Smith with their family, planters in Utah County at Pioneer Community Church in Eagle Mountain
In 2019, Barry Smith, his wife, their two teenage children, and one intern launched Pioneer Community Church in Eagle Mountain, Utah. Barry already lived in the community and felt a deep burden for an evangelical church presence in a city overwhelmingly shaped by Latter-day Saint influence.
God opened an unexpected door when Barry’s wife discovered a dance studio, they could rent for less than the amount they tithed. Believing this was God’s provision, they committed to starting the church and left the outcome in the Lord’s hands. At that time, the only other non-LDS church in Eagle Mountain closed just a few months later. Pioneer Community was the only remaining evangelical witness—but God began to draw people, many of them coming out of the LDS faith.
Not long after, the WMU featured Barry and Pioneer Community Church in a national publication, which included a lighthearted note that Barry liked Chick-fil-A. The Smith family received hundreds of dollars in Chick-fil-A gift cards in response. Rather than keep them, Barry used the cards to buy lunch for local high school teachers, launching what has become a beautiful tradition of Pioneer Community Church serving the staff of their local school.
Pioneer Community meeting in Valley High School Auditorium in Eagle Mountain
In the fall, as the church began to outgrow its space, Barry approached the principal of the high school they had been serving to inquire about renting the school auditorium. The initial quote was $1,000 per week for four hours. Barry explained that the cost was more than they could afford. A few weeks later, the principal returned and said, “We love Pioneer Community Church. We’ll only charge you $500 weekly to use the 1,000-seat auditorium.” In March, Pioneer Community held its first worship gathering in the school—and 90 people joined them for worship that day.
Eagle Mountain now has nearly 50,000 residents and is projected to become the largest city in Utah. Today, there are three non-LDS churches in the city—two of which were started with the help of Send Network. Later this year, Barry is partnering with a Hispanic pastor from Send Español to plant the first Spanish-language evangelical church in Eagle Mountain.
God is writing a beautiful story through Pioneer Community Church: a story of faith, perseverance, generosity, and gospel light in a city long defined by spiritual darkness.
Highlights and Celebrations
The wives of Send Utah Idaho Church Planters were blessed by South Carolina Baptist with a retreat
Over 50 college students from Coastal Carolina University, the University of South Carolina, and Charleston Southern University visited the Redemption Family of Churches to learn more about church planting and ministry in Utah.
40 students from Cedarville University came on a vision trip to explore long-term ministry opportunities in Utah. In the past three years, more than 20 Cedarville graduates have relocated to Utah to serve and live on mission.
Pastors in Idaho are actively praying and preparing for a church plant in Rexburg, home to BYU–Idaho and considered one of the most unreached towns in America. Teams nationwide are being hosted to join them in this prayer effort.
Executive Director Rob Lee reported that the Utah-Idaho SBC has seen steady growth in baptisms over the past four years, a sign of God’s continued faithfulness across the region.
The South Carolina Baptist Convention recently hosted a Church Planter Spouse Retreat, providing care, rest, and encouragement for the wives of planters serving throughout Utah.
Prayer Requests
Pray for our churches as they disciple new believers and raise up pastors and leaders from within Utah and Idaho.
Pray for the conversion of respected and influential individuals whose testimonies could lead many others to Christ.
Pray for more Christians to move to Utah, where many residents have never met a follower of Jesus.
Pray for fruitful and effective summer evangelistic outreaches across our region.
Pray for the sendoff service of Gospel Fellowship Church on November 9, 2025. We are asking God to raise up 40 adults to be part of the launch team as this new church begins.
Join us for upcoming ministry opportunities to promote church planting in our region:
Send Network Vision Summits (Designed to share with and hear from Pastors) August 25-26-27, 2025 – Salt Lake City, Idaho Falls, Boise
Catch the Vision Tours: May 28-June 1, 2025 October 1-5, 2025
