Have you ever come back from a vacation only to feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? You return feeling just as tired and in need of some R&R as you did when you left. Summer has a way of changing our rhythms. We fill the calendar with vacations, VBS, camps and preparation for shifting school schedules as a new year approaches. The days seem to stretch a little longer. For some, summer brings the glorious opportunity to slow down. For others, it is a season packed with travel, activities and a different kind of busyness. We often enter summer hoping to fill our tank and finally feel rested. We plan the vacation, take the time off and look forward to a break from our normal routines. Yet, we can return home and realize we are still tired. Our bodies may have stopped for a few days, but our souls are still restless.

The truth is, we were never meant to create our own rest. We were meant to enjoy the rest God has already provided. Hebrews 4 reminds us that God's rest is available to His people. It is not simply a day off, a slower schedule or a week at the beach. Rest is not a feeling. Rest is a person, and His name is Jesus. True rest is found in Him. Christ invites weary people to come to Him and find rest for their souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

As we move through not only summer but every season of life, we have an opportunity to examine where we are looking for rest and intentionally draw near to the One who can truly satisfy us.

Slow Down: Notice His Presence

When a traffic light turns yellow, what do you do? Lawfully, you're supposed to slow down. Although, some of us do the opposite as if we're all competing in a game of Mario Kart. That yellow light signals a warning. You need to slow down because danger could follow if you don't. The same can be true for our souls. There are seasons when we need to slow down because the yellow light is signaling a warning. If we don't, we may miss true rest. We may not be drawing near to the Lord as we need to. Our fuel light is on. We're running on empty. The metaphors could go on. Scripture tells us that apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5). The same is true of our rest because He is the source of everything life-giving for our souls. Where He is, true rest is found.

One of the greatest challenges of a busy life is that we can move so quickly we fail to notice what God is doing around us. Even good things can fill our attention and distract us from God's presence. The Lord tells His people, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Stillness allows us to remember who God is and who we are. He is the Creator, Sustainer and sovereign Lord over every part of our lives. We are His people, completely dependent on Him.

Summer can offer simple opportunities to practice this kind of stillness. It may look like sitting outside for a few extra minutes in the morning, taking a walk without headphones or putting your phone away while watching the sunset. These moments do not have to be elaborate or perfectly planned. The goal is not simply to enjoy silence but to turn our attention toward the Lord. Creation itself points us back to the glory of our Creator (Psalm 19:1). The warmth of the sun, the details of God's creation around us, the sound of summer rain and the beauty of a long evening remind us that we are surrounded by evidence of God's goodness. Theologians call this general revelation. God has made His existence and power evident through what He has created (Romans 1:20). When we slow down long enough to notice, ordinary moments can become opportunities to worship.

Bring Your Restlessness to the Lord

Rest does not always come naturally to us. Even when our schedules slow down, our minds may continue racing. We carry worries up the wazoo. Between our families, jobs, finances and futures, we can become broken records of worry. We replay conversations and think through tomorrow's responsibilities. We can physically sit still while our hearts remain overwhelmed.

God doesn't ask us to hide our anxiety or carry it alone. Instead, He invites us to bring everything to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6). As we pray with thanksgiving, the peace of God guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Prayer reminds us that we are not in control, but we know the One who is. Isaiah 30:15 says, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Our strength is not found in solving every problem before we allow ourselves to rest. Our strength is found in trusting the Lord.

When you notice restlessness settling into your heart, allow it to lead you to prayer. Tell God what is weighing on you. Thank Him for His faithfulness. Repent of sin and remember what is true about His character. We find rest when we stop depending on our own strength and place our faith in Christ.

Let Gratitude Reorient Your Heart

Summer gives us experiences we look forward to all year. Vacations, family gatherings, slower evenings, warmer weather and time outdoors can become gifts that point us back to the Giver. But gratitude requires us to notice. Scripture tells us to give thanks in all circumstances because this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude does not mean every circumstance is easy or that we ignore difficult seasons. Instead, gratitude reminds our hearts that God remains good and faithful in every season.

Thank God for the small moments and the mundane ones. Thank Him for someone else's achievement, a small win throughout the day or something you may not have noticed before. Thank Him for the conversation around the dinner table. Thank Him for the morning coffee. Thank Him for the laughter of your children, the quiet drive home or the friend who sent a text at the right time. Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord (James 1:17). When we intentionally thank Him, our attention shifts from what we are missing to the faithfulness of the God who is already present.

Build Your Days From His Rest

The world offers countless ways to escape exhaustion. We are told the next vacation, purchase or experience will finally satisfy us. These things are not always wrong, but they were never designed to carry the weight of our souls. Only Jesus can do that. Hebrews 4:11 tells believers to "strive to enter that rest."

Rest is not the absence of effort. Instead, we intentionally fight against the unbelief that tells us something else can satisfy us more than Christ. Drawing near to God requires daily dependence. We open His Word because we need to hear His truth. We pray because we need His presence. We gather with the church because we need the encouragement of God's people. We worship because He alone is worthy. These are not ways to earn God's love. They are ways we abide in the One who has already loved us completely (John 15:9).

You do not have to wait for the perfect schedule or the next vacation to experience rest. The rest of Christ is available today. Pause, notice His presence and bring your worries to Him. Thank Him for His goodness and build your days from the rest He has already given you. Our hearts will continue searching until they find their satisfaction in Christ. Draw near to Him and rest in the finished work of Jesus. The invitation is available today.

In mid-June this year, Spartanburg County residents began to complain that their water tasted funny. It had an “earthy” taste. Local news looked into the situation, and the Water Company commented that while the water was completely safe to drink, the taste was caused by a significant algae bloom at Lake Bowen from the historic drought that our area is experiencing. If you continued to follow the Pacolet River, the river that feeds Lake Bowen, further downstream, you’d likely encounter other pollutants as the water flows toward the Broad River. But if you went the other way, if you went back upstream to the Pacolet River’s headwaters, you would find the purest, cleanest water at the source. 

The same is true of the Church—if you go back to the source, back to the headwaters, you’ll find the purest version of God’s intentions for His Church. 

In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and the Church was born. The apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached and 3,000 people were saved. Acts 2:42-46 give us a snapshot of these earliest days of the Church. While this passage does not give us a roadmap of everything the Church is called to, it is instructive to see what these believers did as they gathered at the headwaters of the Church.

They Were Committed to the Priorities of God for His Church 

The Bible uses many metaphors to describe the Church. It is the “body of Christ,” “the house of God,” “the Temple of the Living God,” “the Bride of Christ,” “the Family of God,” “the flock of God,” and others. All of these metaphors really point to two basic ways to understand what the church is:

1. The Universal Church – Wayne Grudem, a theologian and professor, defines this as “the community of all believers for all time.” In other words, everyone who ever has or ever will be part of God’s kingdom belongs to the Universal Church. We often call this “the Big ‘C’ Church.”
2. The Local Church – 9Marks, a Christian ministry that equips pastors and churches, defines the local church as “a group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.” The local church is what most people think of when they think about “church.” Notably, the local church isn’t the location where folks gather; it is the group who gathers, wherever that gathering may take place.

These definitions are important. 

As the believers in Acts 2 gathered, they devoted themselves to preaching, fellowship, communion, and to prayer. They committed themselves to God’s priorities, not their own. 

They were Conscious of The Presence of God in His Church

As they committed themselves to God’s priorities, they became aware of God’s presence. They witnessed in real time the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:43 tells us that they were filled with awe. While the age of the Apostles is long behind us, God is still at work! Many who gather regularly do not experience the awe of the early church because they are not committed to God’s priorities. God is present. He is not the variable. 

They were Connected in the Purposes of God for His Church

Committing themselves to God’s priorities overflowed into an incredible generosity toward one another. The testimony of these earliest believers is pretty remarkable. They sold their belongings, had all things in common, and distributed their goods as anyone had a need. This kind of love for one another is a consistent call throughout the New Testament. For example:

1. Love one another (John 13:35)
2. Welcome one another (Romans 15:7)
3. Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
4. Agree with one another (2 Corinthians 13:11)
5. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
6. Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)
7. Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
8. Do good to one another (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
9. Confess to one another (James 5:16)
10. Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

As a pastor, I love seeing how our people do this so well. We “casserole” one another. It’s an amazing thing to watch small groups rally to meet the needs of someone when a crisis strikes. The church mobilizes. Meals are delivered. Grass gets cut. Babies are watched. Hospitals are visited. Love for the Savior overflows into love for His people. 

They were Consistent in the Practices of God for His Church

Gathering matters. These earliest believers gathered day by day both in the temple and in one another’s homes. According to a recent Barna poll, the average American churchgoer attends church 1.6 times per month. This is not a new problem. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts us to “consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some.” Before the New Testament was finished being written, people were already skipping church. But not these earliest believers. They devoted themselves to gathering daily. What a stark contrast to our culture today. If gathering with God’s people is not a regular rhythm of our lives, we miss the many blessings that come through a rhythm of weekly worship.

They were Continually seeing the Promise of God for His Church

During those earliest days, back at the headwaters, things were far from stagnant. God was pleased to add to their number daily. Why? God has promised that He is going to build His church. As His people devoted themselves to His purposes, He was delighted to move among them. 

Are you stronger because of your local church? 

Is your local church stronger because of you?

If we want to rediscover God's design for His Church, we don't need something new. We need to return to the headwaters.

If you’re feeling like Summer has already been a whirlwind, you’re in good company. Between camps, sports schedules, meal planning, cleaning and fun activities with friends, life can feel…busy! One thing parents often learn is that they must intentionally prioritize what earns a spot on the family calendar.

Sometimes family discipleship can feel like you’re adding one more thing to an already full plate, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect to be meaningful.

Consider one of the most effective tools for teaching and discipleship: the "drip" method. This approach takes everyday moments that are already happening and turns them into opportunities for discipleship. Little by little, you weave biblical truth into daily life through simple conversations and intentional moments. Over time, these interactions build on one another and naturally become a regular part of your family's culture.

You may be asking, "Where do I start? Do I need to have a plan before we begin?" Don't overcomplicate it. Start by asking a question that sparks conversation while you're in the car or gathered around the dinner table. For example, "What's one way you showed love to someone today?" or "Why do you think it was important for Jesus to come to earth?"

These types of questions encourage kids to reflect on their lives while also helping parents assess their understanding of biblical truths. Topics might include ideas such as "God created me for a purpose" or "Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins." These conversations give parents a glimpse into what their children understand and provide opportunities to reinforce foundational truths that they need not only to know, but to truly believe and understand.

Bedtime prayers may already be part of your family's nighttime routine, but consider encouraging your children to share what is on their hearts through prayer requests. You can also give them opportunities to pray aloud for one another. Another simple way to incorporate discipleship into your routine is to choose a Bible verse to memorize together each week or month. As you work through the verse, take time to discuss its meaning and talk about how it can be applied to everyday life.

It's important to remember that you do not have to have all the answers to be a disciple maker. In fact, one of the most impactful responses a parent can give is, "I'm not sure of the answer to that question. Let's find out together." This models humility and teaches children where to turn when they need answers. Opening God's Word together demonstrates that Scripture is our source of truth and wisdom.

Discipleship naturally happens every day as parents guide, encourage and even referee their children through life's challenges while pointing them back to Christ. However, having a guide can be helpful for being more intentional in discipling children.

There are many resources available, and many provide excellent devotions and discussion questions for families. One resource that has been especially helpful this summer comes from Brite, the company that provides the Kids at The Mill Sunday morning curriculum. It is simple to use and includes engaging questions and activities that work well for a variety of ages. The resource encourages Scripture memorization, Bible study and meaningful family conversations, while also providing fun activities to enjoy together. Find a resource that works for your family and take the first step.

Missed a day or even a week? Don't stress. Just pick up where you left off and keep going. Discipleship is not about perfection. It's about faithfully leading and loving your children as you point them to Jesus each day.

Gather your family to talk, read, play and enjoy one another. May God provide opportunities for meaningful discipleship conversations, and may the Holy Spirit give wisdom as you lead your children. May your conversations continually point back to the foundational truths of Scripture, shaping your children's understanding of who God is and His purpose for their lives. These small moments may seem insignificant, but they can make an eternal difference.

In a world that celebrates busyness, God offers something better! The Rest of Your Life is a 5-week Bible reading plan to accompany the summer sermon series and is designed to help you discover the rest God has graciously provided through Christ. Together, we'll explore God's design for Sabbath, learn to rest in Jesus, and experience the peace that comes from trusting the Good Shepherd in every season of life. Whether you're weary, overwhelmed, or simply longing for a deeper rhythm of abiding in Christ, this reading plan will help you anchor your life in the One who says, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest." Click here to view the plan.

Carmen Arisenia Jaquez, known to her close family and friends as Aris, grew up in the Caribbean country of the Dominican Republic. Nearly three decades later, on a mission trip with Church at the Mill, back to the DR, she realized the kind of light God had been weaving through her story all along—one meant to be carried, spread, and shared.

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Aris’ childhood was anchored in deep faith and traditions passed down from generations of believers. Her great-grandfather, a Spanish missionary, planted the spiritual roots for their family. He lived on a mountaintop with no electricity, relying on lanterns and candles, and filling each night with Scripture, hymns, and preaching at the church that he planted right there in the DR, in a tiny town called Cabrera. Faith and worship were the center of their lives.

Aris was the youngest of five—also the only girl—and her brothers took on a fatherly role after her parents divorced when she was eight. They guided her, protected her, and helped shape her in the absence of her father, who at the time was not following the Lord. They were not just siblings; they were her community.

Two of her brothers eventually became pastors—the oldest in New Jersey, and the youngest, Dionnis, in the Dominican Republic. From childhood, everyone knew Dionnis was marked by something special. “He never got a ‘B,’” Aris remembers with a smile. “He was so good, I used to call him ‘mini Jesus.’” He lived with a Godly conviction and gentleness that made others take notice.

Aris, meanwhile, found her own ministry in worship. She grew up singing in church, believing that worship and missions were two expressions of the same calling: pointing people to Jesus. “When people walk into church, they see you worship first,” she said. “It’s another way of carrying the light.”

A New World

At 17, Aris’ life shifted dramatically. Her mother decided they needed to move to the United States, and Aris was required to follow her mother. “I didn’t want to be here at all,” she said. “Everything I loved was back home—my brothers, my friends, my church, my community.”

The transition was difficult—emotionally, spiritually, culturally. For the first time since childhood, she felt alone. The church her mother joined in the U.S. was legalistic and rigid, nothing like the Biblical truth she was used to. Without her brothers’ constant encouragement and accountability, her faith wavered, and she felt as if God had forgotten her.

Meanwhile, her youngest brother, Dionnis, continued pursuing ministry. As she watched her brother thrive in ministry, she never fully understood why he felt called to stay and serve in the Dominican Republic. She had begun building a life in the U.S. She found a church where she could lead worship, a small community of friends, a good job, and a home. She saw the benefits of living in the United States, a safer and more prosperous place. What could possibly drive him to stay?

Returning

In September 2025, she finally understood.

Through Compassion International and Church at The Mill, Aris had the opportunity to join the mission team traveling to the DR. She had sponsored a child through Compassion International and was thrilled at the thought of meeting him. But she also felt God pulling her toward something deeper—to love and serve her people, the ones she understood better than most.

She knew the hardships of her country: the broken homes, the absence of protection for vulnerable children, the lack of resources. She had grown up seeing kids arrive at school without breakfast, money, and sometimes without shoes. She shared what she had—her lunch, her time—but as a child, poverty hadn’t shocked her as it did outsiders. It was simply something normal she encountered every day.

But there were parts of her country she had never seen. Streets and homes she wasn’t allowed to enter. Neighborhoods you passed by, but never through.

On the mission trip, she walked straight into those very places.

“The level of poverty…” she paused, tearful during the interview. “It felt like my heart was tearing out of my chest. I hurt so deeply for them. Those children literally could have been me. If my mother had made one single decision differently, that would have been me.”

One home had 10 children in a single room—dirt floor, a thin curtain as a door, scraps of fabric serving as bedding. Another mother worked long hours cleaning houses, then sold homemade desserts on the street with her children because leaving them alone wasn’t safe. Children dressed in their very best outfits to welcome the mission team into homes made of cinderblock, with rusted tin roofs and furniture fashioned from whatever materials could be found.

“They were so proud,” Aris said. “So joyful. They smiled from deep down, because they were loved, and wanted to love us back.”

Everything she saw—the hunger, the danger, the vulnerability—broke her heart. And suddenly, her brother’s calling made perfect sense. “I understood him in a way I never had before,” she said. “These people need Jesus, and they need healthy, gospel-centered, truth-filled churches. They need the light.”

Carrying the Light

The highlight of the trip came on the day Aris finally met her sponsored child, a shy young boy who arrived holding his mother’s hand. She had prayed for him, supported him, written letters—but nothing compares to hearing a child’s voice, looking into his eyes, and fully knowing his reality.

After a full day together at a local water park, Aris, her Compassion child, his tutor, and mother began saying their goodbyes. Sensing that he was withdrawing emotionally, she leaned down and whispered, “Don’t forget to pray every day. Read your Bible. God will guide you.”

He looked down at the ground, embarrassed. Something tugged at her spirit.

“Do you know the Lord?” she asked gently.

Still looking down, he whispered, “No.”

Aris felt the Holy Spirit nudge her again. “Look at me in the eyes,” she said softly. When he lifted his eyes, she asked, “Do you want to ask Jesus to be your Savior?”

He nodded.

“Do you want to do it now?”

Another nod.

In that instant, fear washed over her—not fear of the moment, but fear of inadequacy. “I told my friend, who was there helping translate (someone Aris had known from childhood and was able to surprise her and be there to help at this special event), ‘I can’t do this. I don’t know what to say.’” Her friend gently encouraged her that she had all the knowledge she needed and the Holy Spirit to guide her. God met her with strength. Through tears, she prayed with him to accept Jesus as his Savior. His mother was filled with joy and gratitude—she had already accepted Christ and had prayed for this moment, unsure if her son would ever be ready.

“When he finished praying, he looked up at me and smiled,” she said. “Truly smiled. For the first time, he wasn’t hiding. He was my brother in Christ.”

It was her first time leading someone to Jesus. She had prayed her entire life to have that opportunity, and God saved it for the little boy from the Dominican Republic she had been sponsoring from afar.

Renewed Calling

Coming home to the U.S., Aris no longer saw missions as something just for “other people;” it had become personal, urgent, alive.

“I think more about those in need,” she said. “Especially back in the DR. I pray for them. I pray for more mission opportunities. I even pray for a job that aligns with growing the Kingdom. I realized I may be the only image of God someone sees, and my life needs to reflect His. The light isn’t mine—it’s His. I just carry it.”

The trip exposed something else: “God showed me I need to trust Him more,” she said. “Obedience blesses the one who obeys, not just the one being served.”

Her Mission Now

To anyone unsure of their place in global missions, Aris says, “Just go once. Don’t overthink it. It’s a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

“Resources alone don’t spread the light,” she said. “We must live intentionally to love God and love others.”

She points to Matthew 5:14-16 and Ephesians 5:1, 8-10 as Scriptures that now shape her mission. Walking in love, walking in light—that is how the world sees Jesus.

Her life, she says, is a story full of highs and lows, brokenness and healing, darkness and redemption. But through it all, the seed of faith planted in her as a child has grown into something she can no longer keep to herself.

“God’s plan is better and perfect,” she said. “And now that I know the sweetness of being known and loved by Him, I want everyone else to know it too.”

Aris carries that light—spread from her great-grandfather to her grandfather, skipped over her father, passed to her brothers, and now burning brightly in her.

A light strong enough to shine all the way from the Dominican Republic into the heart of one little boy—and into the world.

When God calls, a response is required. You can ignore it, disbelieve it, choose not to consider it, or you can treat it seriously and submit it to prayer. Who would have thought that a choir trip to Dallas and a torn ACL would constitute God’s call for 25 year-old Logan Golightly?

Born, raised, and educated in Spartanburg, Logan grew up in a Christian, church-going household. His father passed away when he was six years old, and his mother and grandparents became Logan’s world. But it was his grandfather, Rudy Huntley, upon whom Logan relied the most and who over the years became his “dad.” 

Accepting Christ as his Savior at six years of age, Logan continued to attend church. But, as he grew older, he said that he never really made Jesus a priority in his life, instead pursuing the things of the world and living for himself. 

When Logan was 23, his grandfather died of pancreatic cancer, an unimaginable loss for Logan and the family. At the same time, Logan was working a job he found less than satisfying, and to make matters worse, a serious relationship with a girl he hoped to marry, ended. Logan recalled that it was “the most broken and empty I had ever felt…I realized that everything that the world had to offer wouldn’t last forever, and that there would come a time when everyone I depended on would be gone, and I would be left with no one.” 

Logan explained, “I tried to run from God and forget He was even there, but He brought me to my knees. Since then He has been with me every day”. 

Knowing that some of the areas in which he was involved were not honoring God, Logan prayed that he “would come to know God more.” He asked to be discipled, joined the choir at Church at The Mill, joined a small group, and began serving on the Young Adult ministry team.

Last January, Logan’s life took a turn when he tore the ACL in his right knee while playing basketball. Unable to walk for a few months, he recalls thinking, “I don’t know how, but God’s going to use this for His glory.”

When he was able, and a month away from returning to work, he decided to drive around the country. Along the way, he had conversations with strangers about Jesus, but rarely stayed more than a day in one place. However, when he got to Utah, he felt a pressing need for people to know Jesus, and he couldn’t leave. After three days in Utah, Logan had to go, but couldn’t get Utah off his mind. God was up to something.

In June 2025, Logan drove to Dallas to sing with the choir at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Conference. When rehearsal ended the day before the conference, Worship Pastor Josh Epton asked the choir to go into the large conference room and pray. Logan knelt down and asked God, “What do You want from me?” Immediately he heard, “I want more of you,” and he knew that God wanted him to take the next step.

“I took a posture of defense,” Logan said. “I knew that I was going to have to give up so much—a house I had just bought, my Christian friends, all I was doing at church—and then I heard Him say, ‘When have I ever not provided for you? I already told you to die is to gain. Pick up your cross and follow Me.’ I opened my eyes, and I was the only one left in the conference room.”

Logan had spoken to a friend who had served with Will and Ashley Reynolds, a CATM family in Utah on long-term mission, and discovered that they were working at the Dallas conference. Logan met with Will and told him that he felt God’s call to Utah. Will suggested that Logan come out to Utah to get a feel for the work there and exchanged phone numbers with him. As Logan made the long drive home from Dallas, he said that anxiety began to creep in. He recognized it as a ploy that the enemy was using to make him delay. 

“But I knew that, when under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, my actions had to be in obedience to Him; that delayed obedience was disobedience,” he said.

Logan called the one person who might be able to hear his story and help him sort his feelings out—his grandmother, Jan Huntley. She waited up until after midnight when he arrived at her house, and they talked. 

After Logan told her what God had told him in Dallas about a call to a mission in Utah, she recalled, “I was so excited that God had called Logan to do this. I’ve seen him grow in his faith this last year. He has really blossomed. I pray that God will use him any way He wants. Rudy would have been tickled. He always called Logan ‘our preacher boy.’”

Logan’s house is now rented, and he is living with his grandmother for the time being. He plans to move to Utah in early February. In addition, he has prepared for future gospel conversations by spending time with Mormon missionaries. He is looking for a job in Utah and has made a contact who will rent him a room. Meanwhile, Logan is finishing his bachelor’s degree and plans on seminary in the future. He is unsure as to how long he will stay in Utah, but he is relying on God to make that part clear.

Vineyard, Utah and adjoining Utah City, have exploded in population and home-building. The projected population for Utah City is 60,000 over the next 3-5 years, added to Vineyard’s 25,000-30,000, with a median age of 24. Currently, Vineyard is 85% Mormon, and the Reynolds have found it difficult to live there. Will Reynolds says that he has been excluded socially because of who he is—an evangelical church planter and “worse,” a Southern Baptist. 

He said, “The cultural perception is that my being here will hurt their witness.”

Will and Ashley have done their best to foster community in their neighborhood by hosting game nights, birthday parties, barbecues—anything that will bring neighbors together and dispel the distrust, share the gospel, involve them in Bible study and discipleship. The Reynolds are looking forward to Logan coming. Will said, “Logan will be great here because he’ll have plenty of opportunities to have conversations about Jesus with people his own age.”

As God would have it, Logan just wants to do what Jesus did. “I’m really big on slowing down and having a conversation with someone, and to wash someone’s feet.” That’s just what Utah needs.