Salt lake city, Utah
The Need
As of 2021, the Salt Lake Valley has a population of 1.2 million with less than 5% being protestant Christian. The dominant religion in Salt Lake City is Mormonism making up over 55% of the population. Recent studies reveal a growing irreligious population. Statistics have shown that over 30% of Salt Lakers claim to be irreligious, believing in no religion and no knowable God. It is not unheard of to meet people in Salt Lake City that have neither heard the gospel nor ever seen a Bible. (from slst.us)
THE VIBE
Salt Lake City always tops the charts as one of the best cities to live in for outdoor enthusiasts, with 10 ski resorts, the Wasatch mountain range, and multiple national parks in the state. Salt Lake also has one of the highest populations of people that have run a marathon of any city in the U.S., and many Olympic athletes make Utah their home. On any given weekend there are tens of thousands of people enjoying the outdoors.
Salt Lake City also values education. The city has one of the highest percentages of college graduates in the country. In SLC, The University of Utah has long been a top university in the U.S. for engineering, medical research, and the arts. In addition to the U of U, many other colleges and universities make the Wasatch front their home, including Westminster College, Brigham Young University, Weber State, Utah State, Utah Valley University, and Salt Lake Community College.
Salt Lake City has 40% of its population between the ages of 20-39. It has often been noted as one of the most desirable cities for millennials. The economy in SLC and Utah has been booming for the last several years, particularly since the 2002 Winter Olympics. Recently, the tech industry has been growing with many tech companies relocating to Utah’s silicon slopes. This has also provided a rich environment for tech startups. (from slst.us)
THE DREAM
The Salt Lake Valley is expected to double in population by 2060. The high population of unchurched residents along with the cultural impact of the dominant religion proves the need for more bible based churches.