More churches in Utah and Idaho — rather than from outside the two states — are becoming “sending” churches, Michael Cooper told attendees to Utah/Idaho State Baptist Convention’s recent annual meeting.
“Sending churches are those that “take responsibility for a church plant by sending them and ensuring they get the preparation, coaching and care they need,” according to Send Network Mobilization. “We are starting to see a shift,” Cooper said. “It’s becoming a trend.”
Church planting in Utah and Idaho is booming, with interest building among churches to help start churches and among men hearing a call to plant a church.
Mobilizing
“God is raising up leaders and sending new churches into strategic areas around Utah,” Cooper’s report read, followed by a listing of nine church plants anticipated at this time for 2026. Those areas are in Tremonton, Saratoga Springs, three in Salt Lake County, two in Utah County, and one each in Davis and Washington counties.
“Short-term teams is a great way for us to mobilize in Utah,” Cooper’s report read. “Will Galkin, the Send City Missionary for Salt Lake, and the Gospel Family of Churches use Plant Camp to do that.”
Plant Camp this year involved 29 churches and one college ministry — 483 participants — in serving nine churches.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention.
