May 2026 U&I Together: Stories from churches
We started U&I Together in UI Connections to provide a place where churches can promote upcoming events or celebrate what God has been doing in and through our churches. Send your submissions to State Missionary Jason McNair at jmcnair@uisbc.org.
This month, we focus most of U&I Together with reports and celebrations of special Easter services that took place the first Sunday in April in churches across our two states.
May 2026
Sowing the gospel
Redemption Church in Ogden sent 30 college students out twice – Jan. 2 and Jan. 10 – to share the gospel with people at their place of business, government offices and first responders’ stations in Ogden, as well as with students, staff and faculty at Weber State University.
The students reported 96 gospel conversations over the two days.
“The students did canvassing, handed out gifts to small business workers, government workers, and first responders, and shared the gospel in the process,” Anthony Jozwick told UI Connections. He’s director of Mission Utah for the Redemption Family of Churches.”
An evangelism grant from UISBC and NAMB provided financing for materials and gifts.
“We used the funds for ministry materials such as canvassing materials and materials for goodie bags and protein baskets for small businesses and first responders,” Jozwick said. “This led to tons of gospel conversations throughout the week in the Ogden area and on the Weber State campus. This made a great launching point for future teams and long-term missionaries to follow up.”
“At Weber, they tabled while sharing the gospel,” Jozwick continued. “They got multiple names and locations of individuals to follow up with for getting them plugged into the church. We wanted them to do the activity to point individuals to Redemption Ogden and to share the gospel with the LDS.”
Come sing!
Treasure Valley Baptist Association’s “Fifth Sunday Summer Sing” is to take place at 6 p.m. May 31 at New Covenant Baptist Church, 624 Lake Lowell Ave. in Nampa, Idaho. All Idaho and Utah churches are invited.
“If you have a special to play or sing, bring it!,” leaders say. Fellowship is to follow the quarterly music event. The next ones are set for August and November.
The association’s Momentum Kids Camp for 3-6 grade students is set for June 22-26 at Cathedral Pines near Ketchum, Idaho. Momentum Youth Camp for 6-12 grade students is set for July 12-17 at Living Waters Ranch near Challis, Idaho. More info available at TreasureValleySBA.com.
Idaho women retreat for strength
The 62 attendees at the tenth annual Treasure Valley Baptist Association’s Ladies Retreat April 10-12 were treated to Janis Jelke, who encouraged the women to seek after God and understand His heart, especially seeing His character in the Psalms. She also asked each woman to examine her own heart, discerning in what way it might be a stony heart, rather than one of flesh. Finally, she emphasized the importance of becoming God’s friend and spending time with Him.
The theme of the retreat was Ezekiel 36:26.
Activities included small groups meeting after each session for discussion and prayer; Ginny Clark wrote and narrated a “Tenth Year Fashion Show;” dinner and dessert fellowship Friday night, and rock painting, led by Linda Larkin.
Calvary Baptist in Idaho Falls celebrated 75 years of faithful ministry.
Calvary Baptist Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho gathered May 2nd and 3rd to celebrate the church’s 75th anniversary. Saturday evening was a gathering of church members, past and present, for informal sharing, church trivia contest and a video presentation of highlights of the history of the church. Highlights included listing of the six churches started in southeast Idaho by Calvary through the years and eight additional ministry points.
Opening the cornerstone of the original building to examine the contents placed there when the building was dedicated in 1957 was planned for the conclusion of the evening. But the granite cover proved to be too firmly secured to be removed. A newspaper article from the time shared details of the dedication service and listed the contents as: a Bible, roll of charter members, the full membership roll, list of church officers, pastor, deacons, roll of building committee and copy of the minutes of the last session of the Twin Buttes Association.
Sunday morning’s worship service featured worship music led from the keyboard by Mark Langley who was the Minister of Music and Education from 1984 – 1993. Rev. Kirk Casey, pastor from 1997 – 2008, brought the morning message. The eight pastors and 6 associate pastors who have served the church were honored.
Dale Perry led in prayer and was recognized as the longest continuous member. Messages from former pastors Kirk Baker and Matt McGukin were shared and the celebration concluded with a live feed message and prayer from Rev. Kevin Wauer who will become the ninth pastor of Calvary Baptist Church beginning in June.
Mary McFarling, long time Administrative Assistant at CBC, now retired from the staff but still faithfully serving in many volunteer capacities, oversaw the celebration that was attended by Associational leaders from Eastern Idaho Southern Baptist Association and UISBC Executive Director, Rob Lee.
Prophecy Watchers Idaho 2026
Pine Ridge Baptist Church is excited to host a Prophecy Conference featuring some of the world’s foremost experts on Bible prophecy and world events on September 18 & 19, 2026. Prophecy Watchers and three Bible prophecy experts are coming to Kamiah, Idaho. Join Mondo Gonzales, Joe Hawkins, and JB Hixson for this two-day event of fellowship and education. Topics are to include the Rapture of the church, Israel’s future, artificial intelligence, digital currency, and others.
Tickets are on sale now. Space is limited, so buy your tickets today. A local chef will be preparing lunch and dinner for both days. If you can’t attend in person, there is an option to purchase tickets to stream the event. Visit www.prbc-id.org/prophecy-conference for more information and ticket purchases.
Beauty from Ashes to provide information on how to best help children in domestic abuse situations
Join the folks at Mountain View Baptist Church in Layton, UT for a complimentary lunch meeting where Beauty from Ashes ministry will present information that will help church leaders best respond to children who are living in the midst of domestically abusive households. They will discuss the dynamics of domestic abuse for children and what God has to say about it from biblical counselors, survivors, and the BFA team. Register Online.
