The State of Utah is a Mission Field. Most mission boards will classify a place or people group as a “Mission Field” if the Christian population is below 5% of the total population of that particular region. The Christian population is only 1.5% of the near 3 million people living in Utah. This makes Utah a “Mission Field“, the largest mission field in the US.
This mission field is primarily in a rural setting along a range of the Rocky Mountains called The Wasatch Front. Along this front, there are pockets of different immigrant cultures that have settled in the two main urban areas of Salt Lake City and Ogden.
On average, 60% of the population of Utah is Mormon, also known as Latter-Day Saints, or LDS (follow this link to learn why Mormons are not considered above as part of the 1.5% Christian population http://www.utahadvance.org/?p=490)
38.5% of the population of Utah is either part of the pockets of immigrants or ex-Mormon.
Utah is a sub-culture of the US that is very unique. Since the majority of Utah’s population is Mormon, most Utahans have a very different worldview then most Americans. Dr. Ross Anderson, in his book “Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor”, puts it like this “ Mormonism is an all-encompassing way of life…particular ways of thinking, speaking, and living…Latter-day Saint beliefs take shape through the words and action of common rituals such as baptism, anointing the sick, priesthood ordination, the intricate rites of temple ordinances, and unique LDS death and burial customs…Mormon culture reflects a strong value of music, drama, and dance …various cultural expressions serve to identify insiders versus outsiders… A number of Latter-day Saint customs have a similar role as cultural boundary’s markers. The Words of Wisdom, which prohibits alcohol, coffee, and tobacco…cultural identity as a Mormon is shaped by a variety of reinforcing activities built into the pattern of weekly life in the Mormon community.”
Showing the love of Jesus starts with building relationships. As ADI Student Missionaries build relationships, we are growing our webs of influence and meeting more people. These relationships need to grow. The only way to cultivate any relationship is by investing time in people. ADI Student Missionaries focus on building and cultivating relationships in our mission field.
ADI Student Missions follow Jesus’ example of compassion to those in need. Our goal is to ease suffering and provide hope to those affected by poverty, or illness, as well as those in the midst of a life struggle or crisis. ADI Student Missionaries become the hands and feet of Jesus, by loving and caring for people in need and meeting practical needs, whether it is cooking meals, fixing up a house or just being a friend to someone in need.
ADI Student Missions has witnessed the change that takes place first hand when we cultivate relationships and demonstrate compassion to those in our mission field. There is a change that takes place in both the student missionary as well as in the community where they serve. The student missionary’s relationship with Jesus deepens and strengthens; their compassion for the lost and those in need develops.
ADI Student Missionaries have helped set up a Church Plant that meets in houses. Our vision is to continue to start more House Churches and, by September 2012, to start meeting in a church building. Then, we’ll continue planting more churches throughout the State of Utah. Utah will experience transformation, and the kingdom of God experiences growth in our mission field.
